Anyone tried these?

[ScubaAndDreams]

AquaCam EX Underwater Camcorder Housings / Video Housings for Scuba Diving, Snorkeling and Kayaking

I am on a budget, a very small one. Am looking at getting a HD cam, and saving on the housing. Yes yes I know, I should just go ahead and do it right...but really I don;t feel like selling both my cars to do it

Any feedback on the housing is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Annie Crawley]

I do not want to slam a housing manufacturer because that is not what I do, but I have never heard of anyone happy with this system. As a matter of fact I know many people specializing in the underwater field that will not sell this system.

What is your budget? Have you considered a used system? Have you considered waiting and saving your money? I waited eight years before I could buy my system and in the end, I sold my car...

Most people are not as crazy as me...but that is how I entered into Underwater Video.

On another note, many of the point and shoot small digital cameras are shooting amazing video. One of my students has a canon and a canon housing...all under $750...and I have seen her videos on YouTube. It is not the size of your system in the end, it is how you shoot it.

Hope this helps...

 

[BeckyKagan]

Hum..i could say so many things about this housing..I probably shouldnt except...l why do all the pics i see of this housing above water what are you planning on shooting? If your going HD you should want to be able to use the functions on that camera. This housing wont allow you to do any of that except on/off zoom. No white ballance or any other function. If you do any editing you can play with it in post but wont be as good.

Is there a reason you want HD, Can you start with a used housing/camera that will be in your price range and have more functions so you can do more.

Becky

 

[RS]

Hi.

I don't have an HD setup but have been looking into it. Trying to do HD on the cheap is pretty futile. You need to have a great camera and a lot of light to make it worthwhile. And a housing w/ MWB. I didn't notice MWB on that housing. IMHO, you'd be better off using an SD setup that would give you MWB, or even any SD setup; vs. HD. Maybe w/ your clear vis you can get by.

JMHO.

 

[onfloat]

Alright,
time for a hijack........(It should probably be another thread, but I wanted to give some context. Sorry Sherm)
So, I'm checking the profiles of those that answered to see what there experience is and I see that BeckyKagan did some work as a videographer for the military channel and later that night, I surfed into one of the shows she did some work on. I thought the show was pretty cool, because it not only talked about the wrecks, and the diving equipment, but there was some talk about how they were using the video equipment.

So here is my question...Becky, who did the video editing for the video you shot for the show? For the editing that you do what type of equipment/software are you using?

Tom

 

[Empty V]

Alright,
time for a hijack........(It should probably be another thread, but I wanted to give some context. Sorry Sherm)
So, I'm checking the profiles of those that answered to see what there experience is and I see that BeckyKagan did some work as a videographer for the military channel and later that night, I surfed into one of the shows she did some work on. I thought the show was pretty cool, because it not only talked about the wrecks, and the diving equipment, but there was some talk about how they were using the video equipment.

So here is my question...Becky, who did the video editing for the video you shot for the show? For the editing that you do what type of equipment/software are you using?

Tom

If it's something that's broadcast quality and shot on video it was most likely done in Final Cut Pro or an Avid. I use either one on a daily basis

Billy

 

[diversteve]

What camera are you looking to get? If it's not a Sony the electronic controls on the Aquacam upgrade housing won't be of any use. I won't comment on the quality of the Aquatix product as others already have but here are other options to consider:

I know I wouldn't be happy without at least some basic camera controls beyond start/stop. So assuming you get the Sony HDR-HC5 with the upgraded housing, you're looking at $800 for the camera and $659 for the housing. Add $69 for the red filter. So ballpark $1525.

B&H has a package deal that bundles the HDR-HC5 with an Equinox housing - for $1459...

or a Canon HV10 in an Ikelite housing for $1449...

$1675 buys the Canon HV20 in an Equinox Pro 6 housing, free tutorial DVD and a $50 gift card.

The downside of any of these setups is that the housings use mechanical controls so are pretty camera model specific.

The same camera in a TopDawg electronic housing would be $1700. But you'd need to add a monitor back ($600) with the TopDawg to see anything other than through the viewfinder. L&M just announced a Stingray HD model with an integrated (SD) monitor back designed for most of the Sony HDR series of HDV camcorders - I think it's $1799 though.

If you're considering the Mechanical Aquacam to save $$ consider looking on eBay. Occasionally a nice, used TopDawg or Ocean Images Dolphin pop up there, the last two I saw sold for less than $500.

 

[ScubaAndDreams]

Thanks for the constructive feedback Steve especially with the alternatives mentioned.

I am curious what anyone here thinks about the HDR-SR5 vs the Sony HC series....

 

[diversteve]

Thanks for the constructive feedback Steve especially with the alternatives mentioned.

I am curious what anyone here thinks about the HDR-SR5 vs the Sony HC series....

Besides the obvious HDD vs. tape difference, there's two potential downsides to the SR5. The minor one is that it stores data in AVCHD format which will be slightly inferior in quality to HDV tape. Not every editor is supporting AVCHD import yet either, we're still waiting for Premiere CS 3 last time I checked. Even Sony just released an upgrade to support it in Movie Studio this summer along with Vegas 8.

The big issue for u/w use with the SR5 is that it completely lacks a viewfinder. So a housing will have to be wider to allow the LCD to open or have some sort or mirror like Ikelite. Or an add-on external monitor.