Equinox Housing?? Worth Using??

[ermaclob]

So my a friend of mine just found this where he works.

Seems they lost the backing of the housing and decided to dump it. It still seems functional if i could get a new back. but the question is, is it really worth it? i cant find a actual camera model label for it. All it has is a sticker that reads pp8pd150-021506-1

I think its a Pro Pak 8 and the camera model it uses is a Sony PD150 which i think would make sense. That camera seems old to me though. i looked for some sample video of it one youtube and it i guess it looks ok but it does not do HD. Found this video filmed with it and it seems like its usable. but i frankly dont know. i would like to know from you guys that use stuff like this if its worth spending more $ to get the camera and the back hatch. i currently use a go pro and all tho it gets me some good video i would be nice to have some camera control and be able to do zooms and video small stuff.

so what are your opinions?

[video=youtube;5CPZ1XmopRY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CPZ1XmopRY[/video]

 

[diversteve]

It's DV/DVCam so you're going to see the difference between footage shot on it and on your GoPro. Not as much as other Hi8 etc. models since a PD150 does have better sensors/optics. They're prettty old though, I shot one just before 2000 IIRC and it wasn't new then. If you buy used, inquire about the hours on the heads - I believe it tracks them. They're not going to be great in low light situations without lights. A VX2100 is functionally the same camera without the sound add-ons. Not the VX2000 though, they're worse in low-light.

I would contact Equinox. First to see if they have whatever part you need. And second - ask them about a retro-fit. That's their biggest housing size so a lot of cameras could work. At one time when new video camera models were announced yearly, Equinox had an upgrade program where they would rework, re-install controls as needed. So there might be other HD cameras that would work in that housing also. Years ago it was about $400 for the retro-fit. If it's been sitting for a while, you may want to have it serviced anway - there's o-rings on all the controls as well as the back and the port.

I'd be curious to see what they thought of retro-fitting it for a Sony HDR-FX1 - a discontinued HD model that you can pick up for around $900 or so on eBay. Similar/same form factor. It has a top mounted LCD screen in place of where the microphone/XLR controls are on the PD-150. Which I believe you remove to mount it in the housing anyway - certainly the microphone. So you wouldn't get to use the LCD but I think folded up it would still fit in the Propak 8 - it lays flat on top of the lens in front of the handle. The HVR-Z1U is the "pro" version of the FX1 if you find one of those instead. Equinox sells a back mounted monitor if you want to see exactly what you're shooting.

Just for comparison, my buddy gets some really decent video with one of these: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...s-canon-hf200-hd-video-cam-wp-v1-housing.html The controls are a little limited but you can start/stop/zoom, a couple other basic functions and see the LCD screen. And it's pretty small - I think a Propak 8 is checked luggage.

Notice 2 things about the video - one is the aspect ratio which is why the black bars are there. It will look the same on your HDTV. Also notice that thru most of it he's using a light - granted some of it seemed to be at night but later in the closeup's he is also.

hth,

 

[mjsylver]

We disposed of the housing after finding out it would cost as much as a GoPro Hero4 Black to modify it for one of our current HD cameras. There were no takers for any sales. Good luck with it


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[ermaclob]

We disposed of the housing after finding out it would cost as much as a GoPro Hero4 Black to modify it for one of our current HD cameras. There were no takers for any sales. Good luck with it


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That's pretty cool you bumped into this post. i had assumed there was a good reason for them to have chucked this away when it got to me. $400 for a mod seems marginally ok tho. need to really see what i want to do. did you guys throw the back away? a new rear faceplate is like $99.

hopefully down the line i decide what to do with it, let me see what option the company gives me doing a mod if posible would be good i think. if anything it will make a really really good paper weight or a peace of decorative vintage dive gear for when im 60 or something.

 

[mjsylver]

the possibility of a mod leaking and flooding an expensive camera made the decision really easy. The back plate is long gone.


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