Any Sea-tool / Fisheye housing owners?

[Harley1962]

Just curious if any SB'ers might be using Seatool housings....this being a "USA centered" Board, it's logical that most of us would have Gates, L & M, Amphibico etc...but if there are any Seatool owners, I would like to know their experiences thus far, in terms of durability, reliability, customer service etc...

Japanese products have come a very long way, and although it is a relatively new brand in the US and Europe, Asians have had Seatool stuff for a few years already...and their accessory Inon lenses are of high quality, or so I am told.

Thanks!
HB

 

[H2O Photo Pros]

As a dealer for all of the above mentioned manufacturers, I would like to say that I have been using and selling the Seatool housings for the last 2 years or so, and in that time, their housings have become one of our bestsellers. The craftsmanship is top notch, right on par with those from Gates and L&M, and their compact size has made them one of our bestselling housings for the traveling diver. In addition to video, they have now entered the DSLR market, releasing the most compact DSLR housings made. Their housings truly fit the cameras "like a glove".

 

[DocWong]

Hi Mike, what is the depth rating for the Seatool housing for the Sony HC-7? Also what is the difference between the pro housing and the standard housing for the HC7?

 

[OceanObsessed]

I am a proud new owner of a Seatool housing for my HC3. I just purchased it yesterday from Reef Photo & Video along with an Inon 100 degree wide angle lens. I am upgrading from a Top Dawg II and from what I can tell the Seatool will be easier for me to use. I can easily tell if it is in record or standy mode and best of all I really like its small size. I can't wait to get it in the water. Now if I could just figure a way to attach it to my scooter I'll be all set

DocWong,
The depth rating is 200 feet for both the HC7 and HC3 housing.

Harley1962,
It looks like a very solid housing. I'll let you know what I think about it after I take it in the water and get more familiar with it.

Certianly I am not the only Seatool owner here ?

-Chris

 

[DocWong]

I just looked at the 3 main housings for the HC7 today, the Gates. Light and Motion and the seatool. The Seatool is certainly tiny!!!! As far as I know, it lacks manual white balance which is important to me.

Chris, please post the videos you get from using it!

 

[bfisher]

I have the Seatool model for the Sony HC7. It hasn't been wet yet, but plan to change that status as I'm going to Curacao Next week. One of the biggest reason for my decision for the HC7 housing was the size and weight. I have a bad back and the airlines sure aren't allowing heavier bags so I try to save some weight where I can, while still maintaining some semblence of quality, and I didn't want a manual housing.

Doc, corerect me if I'm wrong, but the HC7 camcorder doesn't have manual white balance adjust. It has Manual white balance SHIFT, which is something different.

This video stuff is totally new to me. This is my 1st camcorder so there's a big learning curve in store for me.

 

[pakman]

Doc,

Try browsing through digidiver.net. I recall a year back a number of their members, maybe one of their mods, had bought a Seatool HC-3 and had posted links to his footage.

For samples of the HC-7 on full auto (not MWB'ed), check out Wags n Kelly's site where they've got some samples (albeit at very shallow depths) of how the HC-7 works in auto in an Amphibico housing. Scroll down to the middle of the page.
HDV Underwater


Bfisher - the HC-7 does have manual white balance. But you can only access it through the LCD menu. Have fun with the Seatool. I had a chance to look at it during a local dive show and one of the guys on a liveaboard trip had one. In some of the ripping currents we had, I was really jealous of his Seatool housing

 

[ronscuba]

Nice video, but I was surprised at the poor colors for such a shallow depth. Then again, I was totally happy shooting auto everything until I saw in person with my own eyes, what MWB can do.

 

[pakman]

Nice video, but I was surprised at the poor colors for such a shallow depth.

FX-7/ 3 CMOS sensor snob :mooner:... j/k Ron

 

[ronscuba]

A snob ? Who me

OK, guilty as charged.