Cheapest Functional Dive Housing ??

[PAFirefighter]

What's the cheapest, but still functional dive housing out there for a D2x with say a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8? Everything I am finding costs more than the camera, or is a weird "bag" type setup. Do those "bags" work?? Thanks for the help.

 

[diversteve]

Only to about 60' - ewa-marine: U-A underwater camera housing for dSLR

 

[Larry C]

Here's a used one with a spare camera for half of new price of the housing only. You'll need a port, but Aquatica ports are common and you might find that used as well.
Aquatica D2x housing (no port) with D2xs camera body- near mint with extras | eBay
Aquatica Macro Port | eBay
6" Dome Port (Aquatica) | eBay

 

[supergaijin]

Unfortunately you won't find anything cheap for the camera that is reliable. Housings- especially for DSLR but even for some compacts (like my Canon S95) cost more than the camera.

Consider for every 10 000 units of the camera sold, how many users would buy housings? Single digits methinks, which makes the potential earnings for housing manufacturers low unless the selling price is high.

 

[herman]

Unfortunatley housings are expensive. The plastic bag ones are great ways to hold a flooded, distroyed camera but that's about it.

 

[PAFirefighter]

Thanks for the info everyone!

Here's a used one with a spare camera for half of new price of the housing only. You'll need a port, but Aquatica ports are common and you might find that used as well.
Aquatica D2x housing (no port) with D2xs camera body- near mint with extras | eBay
Aquatica Macro Port | eBay
6" Dome Port (Aquatica) | eBay

If I wasn't saving money for Bonaire, and a down payment on a house, that looks perfect. Would love another D2x body as well (xs even more!). How come all the fun hobbies in life are usually so expensive? lol..

 

[herman]

A less fun alternative but a way to get good photos is to find someone in your party that has a camera and ask for copies of their photos.....or someone else who happens to be there with a camera at the same time...not that I know of anyone.

 

[PAFirefighter]

A less fun alternative but a way to get good photos is to find someone in your party that has a camera and ask for copies of their photos.....or someone else who happens to be there with a camera at the same time...not that I know of anyone.

I have a Sea Life DC600 with dual strobe kit:


As well as a GoPro Hero2 HD that I am making a mounting setup and video lights for, or purchasing the mount from Mako:

I just wanted to get my D2x functions under water

Edit: I just realized this was you (I don't normally read user names on posts lol). I now understand your post in full haha.

 

[grandizer52]

Unfortunatley housings are expensive. The plastic bag ones are great ways to hold a flooded, distroyed camera but that's about it.

I totally agree with this, I started diving by putting a Kodak instanamatic in a ziplock back in the day...and got the above, every camera housing that is reputable is going to out price the unit. a great option if you have access to some tools is get a condemed scuba bottle, 2 pieces of thick glass and fab your own.

 

[antattack]

A plastic bag might protect your fancy camera from a rainy day