Newbie-your thoughts and suggestions please

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mad4wrecks

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I am a longtime diver looking to get into videography, as a means to record my treasure diving activities-but the cost is so prohibitive.

Are there any decent HD camcorders that do not require a housing?

Sanyo makes the VPC-WH1YL but it is only waterproof to 10 feet. I think it is ridiculous that the video housings usually cost expensive than the cameras.

Since the above mentioned camera is so small, I had the idea to buy an 8 D cell underwater flashlight (about $90.00), remove the guts and place the camera inside. It is waterproof to 500 feet and has a large, clear lens. Of course I wouldn't have access to the controls, but I could start the recording just before I jump in the water.

Any thoughts or suggestions to a low cost but quality set up for a beginner?

Thanks, Tom
 
You want low cost? Check out the DIY forum for plans to make your own housing. I did, and it worked great.

Now, you want something GOOD? You gotta spend the bucks.

As with almost everything in life, you have 3 options; Fast, Cheap, and Good. You can pick only 2.
 
mad4wrecks, sounds like you are going down the same path the I tread initially. We had a Sony Handicam and I got plans off the internet to make a homemade housing. I took it to an acrylic fabricator who followed the plans exactly and I had a housing. Problem was, he was not a diver, so he did not know about diving, pressure and such. I had to take it back to him a number of times to keep tweaking it to get it to what I needed, which probably cost about as much as buying a housing. However, it worked and I used it for my first bunch of videos, though it took alot of work.

I ended up buying the Equinox housing, which I thought was a real good price. Last year, I went to HD and was able to get the Equinox re-fitted for a couple of hundred to accommodate the new camera. Here is the video from that:

Grand Cayman East End Dive Report on Vimeo
 
mad4wrecks:
I am a longtime diver looking to get into videography, as a means to record my treasure diving activities-but the cost is so prohibitive.

Are there any decent HD camcorders that do not require a housing?

Sanyo makes the VPC-WH1YL but it is only waterproof to 10 feet. I think it is ridiculous that the video housings usually cost expensive than the cameras.

Since the above mentioned camera is so small, I had the idea to buy an 8 D cell underwater flashlight (about $90.00), remove the guts and place the camera inside. It is waterproof to 500 feet and has a large, clear lens. Of course I wouldn't have access to the controls, but I could start the recording just before I jump in the water.

Any thoughts or suggestions to a low cost but quality set up for a beginner?

Thanks, Tom
Click to expand...

If you really want cheap, then go for an underwater still camera that has video option. It is poor quality, image will be blue and grainy, but its cheap. You can do this for about $250-500.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Housing-Camera-Kits/ci/12980/N/4294551235

There are also some little camcorders with cases that have come out recently that are cheap but I don't think they produce great quality except shallow in very clear water with lot of light.
Housing & Camera Kits

If you really want to do decent video, then you are going to spend more.
here are some options:
housing: Housings
camcorder: Canon | VIXIA HF200 Flash Memory High Definiti | 3536B001 | B&H
So less than $1000 for both.

or

JVC GZ-HD40
housing and camcorder both less than $1500

these are just some examples, there are plenty of them out there. Look at B&H Photo website, Adorama, ReefPhoto, etc.
 
Wow, wasn't expecting so many replies and such great advice from everyone. Thank you all so much. Obviously I have some options to consider....I am leaning towards saving my money until I have enough to do it 'right.'

I do have use of a Sony DCR VX 1000 with an Amphibico housing with mini pro lights, but it is is going to take a few things to get it operational. Any thoughts on this set up? It just seems so bulky to me and I am not sure if this camera is considered outdated? It is digital 3CCD quality.

Tom
 
mad4wrecks:
Wow, wasn't expecting so many replies and such great advice from everyone. Thank you all so much. Obviously I have some options to consider....I am leaning towards saving my money until I have enough to do it 'right.'

I do have use of a Sony DCR VX 1000 with an Amphibico housing with mini pro lights, but it is is going to take a few things to get it operational. Any thoughts on this set up? It just seems so bulky to me and I am not sure if this camera is considered outdated? It is digital 3CCD quality.

Tom
Click to expand...
In it's time, it shot nice footage. I used to shoot a VX-3, it's predecessor. (not u/w though) It's not HD though as it shoots in mini-DV. 3CCD's do a better job in low light.

I believe you also have to do analog capture with that model - though it might've been the first VX-XXXX model with firewire. If so you'd need an analog capture card or one of those Dazzle or similar things - some kind of AV input - nothing that old has USB. Good thing about editing in miniDV is that it doesn't have the hardware requirements that HDV/AVCHD editing does.

I guess it would depend on how much it will cost to get it operational. What does it need? If there's camera problems, especially with the heads, it's probably not worth it as you can buy a new HDV camera for as little as $600 now - or less if you buy last year's completely housable HDV/AVCHD model from either Canon or Sony's line at close out or on eBay.

The bulk may be a hidden asset as it will be harder to move through the water so your pans will be smoother.

You can probably use the lights though with any housing - depends on how they're controlled. Do they plug into the housing or do they have a separate on/off switch on the battery pack or lightheads?

You could also watch eBay, I've seen a couple of good deals there lately. Early HDV adopters (from 2004...LOL) seem to be upgrading technology so they're selling off their old gear. But ask about it here before you buy something as there's a lot of misleading and wrong information often presented as fact. I recently saw a 20 year old housing touted as being compatible with the current HDV models - it would've been if you could magically move the port up about an inch so the centerline of the lens would be in alignment with the port. And contrary to what's often stated there, most Ikelite housings are extremely model specific - just because the camera physically fits doesn't mean the control rods line up correctly. And they're damn hard to bend...lol. Partially explains why you see a lot of them for sale.

One other option to consider is the seal n' go tube housings sold by Nemo, Aquatix, Shellicam and a couple others. With them you start the camera pre-dive and seal it in the housing. For long boat rides, the trick is to bring the camera remote and start it just before you splash. Most have visibility to the I/R sensor when sealed. Although if you buy one of the newer HDD models, they record for over 20+ hours now, battery life becomes the concern. With an extended battery, you could probably run the camera all morning if needed - I get 2h:20min with my bigger battery - and I'm running a tape drive motor.

There's no controls so you edit all the surface stuff out later. Generally speaking most u/w footage is shot in wide angle so the need to zoom is minimalized. I shoot a lot of stuff auto-focus when the water is clear also so that's not an issue. The real advantage to these housings is cost, I believe the Nemo or Shellicam sell for under $200. The Aquatix with an on/off control is more like $400.

Links to most housing mfr's are here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/un...using-manufacturers-list-updated-09-09-a.html
 
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Hello Mad4wrecks,
If you have the tools and the time making your own simple housing is very rewarding. If you use a simple groove and o ring sysytem and permanently seal the rear lens you will have a very reliable simple housing. Once you start adding controls that breach the housing wall you greatly increase the complexity and cost and to some extent, the reliability.

If you ever want to buy an inexpensive and reliable housing I make and sell the Nemo 200 Housings.
I recently added a few of the customer videos to a playlist on youtube, you can see them if you search the youtube playlists for Nemo 200.

Having videos of your dives will be one thing you will always be glad you did later on.
best of luck,

Robb Moffett
 
mad4wrecks,

I forgot to mention that I was involved with an underwater video podcast a couple of years ago. The site is gone, but the podcasts are still up on itunes. Just run an itunes search for underwater videographer.

I talked to some big names in the field about beginning and advanced advice and techniques. Also, there was a few housing manufacturers that I talked to in order to help people make educated buying decisions. Hope they help.
 
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