Equinox Pro-6 Video Housing Experience Request

[sunnyboy]

I'm looking at buying a custom Equinox Pro-6 housing for my videocam. My camera is the JVC MC-500U - a camera designed to go in an underwater housing, if I do say so myself!. Unfortunately, as it is not one of the commonly used cameras, it will require a custom housing. Emails to Equinox have resulted in a quote for a custom housing at a decent price.

I've searched the forum for other's experience with the Equinox housings, and have seen some mixed results, but nothing really detailed.

SO, those of you who have purchased a PRO-6 housing from Equinox, what do you have to say about it? Price/Good/Bad - anything is valued at this point.

Thanks in advance,

-S

 

[marshallkarp]

I bought the Equinox ProPak 6 in November. I bought it from B&H Audio Video and I was very pleased with the price and service. I took it to Grand Cayman Island and made four dives and four one hour videos during Thanksgiving week. For the price, I was satisfied with it.

The on-off and zoom external manual controls do not work, but I just turn the camera on and never had any controls anyway, so no big deal to me. If I wanted to, I could ship it to equinox, but no big deal.

It is solid built, water and pressure tight. I don't think you will find a better housing for the price.

 

[sunnyboy]

When you say the controls do not work - is it because they aren't located correctly for the camera, or because they are somehow "broken"? Just curious.

Thanks for the reply.

Cheers,

-S

 

[marshallkarp]

They are not located correctly for the camera. As I said, no big deal to me as I turn the camera on, secure the housing, and dive.

We have had this debate before, do you leave the camera on the whole time or turn it on when there is something to video. I leave it on as on several occassions, a dolphin or a puffer fish went by so fast that they would have been gone by the time the camera turned on.

Yes, I know I have to sift through long periods of raw footage just to get the few minutes of money shots, but this system works for me.

 

[Empty V]

I never understood then concept of turning your camera off while underwater. If it's to save batteries, buy more batteries. You've already put enough money into your setup what's another few bucks on a battery gonna do? And as far as saving tape, don't be such a cheapskate, miniDV tapes are $3.00!!!

My 1 cent

I'm also saving for an equinox housing for my Panasonic DVX100. I don't use my zoom topside and can't really see an application for it underwater. It's a cheap way out of capturing something. There are very few instances where it's worth having.

Billy the outspoken jerk

 

[sunnyboy]

The JVC 500U is nice for me because there are no moving parts - it comes with a 4Gig microdrive, but accepts CF cards - so I just replace the microdrive with at 4Gig CF card and presto - no moving parts. I was never a fan of tape.

The battery is rated for 60 min, and so is 4Gig of storage, so it's a good match.

-S

 

[ronrosa]

Constantly recording or not is an individual decision. Some of us decide not to constantly record to make editing easier. I don't want to scan through an hour+ of footage for every dive.

My camcorder goes into standby mode after 5 minutes of non-recording. Once in standby, it takes a few seconds to start recording. I haven't missed anything worthwhile yet. Not that it won't happen, but if it's gone in the few seconds how good will that shot have looked anyway ?

If you have any interest in macro video, you will need to zoom and there is all kinds of cool little stuff worth recording.

My humble opinions.

 

[sunnyboy]

By the way, my email inquiry to Equinox was answered by someone from Wet N Rugged Sports. Anyone have any contact with them in the past?

-S

 

[sunnyboy]

I was prepared to build my own housing out of pipe and acrylic, but I'd rather have something with better optical properties "out front". I was also prepared to switch on, install in housing, and then dive - no controls at all.

However, if I'm paying for a pro housing, I'll take the controls - esp. the record start/stop and zoom.

-S

 

[Hodgesj]

I'm planning on buying a video housing for my Sony SR 47 Handy Cam. The price of the Equinox is right but can't see how you view the screen. The Ikelite has a flip out mirror to view the little screen. Has anybody had any hands on with either of these housings?