Help a noob brotha out?

[SIUegyptiandiver]

Hey guys, I'm terrible with a video camera and worse with stills.....in any case, planning a shallow diving week at Looe Key next spring and looking for advice on something that might allow me to shoot some basic vid/still shots of my kids on the reef.

There is a housing available for my sony handycam thats good to 17fsw, is it worth the money? Is there another housing available that I could take deeper?

OR, is there a relatively inexpensive vid cam that a total idiot could use for some simple shots?

Thanks a bunch

 

[diversteve]

The Sony Marine Pack is the only housing you'll find for that price ($269?) with camera control functions.

You can find simpler "tube" housings for $250 and up that will work to recreational depths or deeper. But they're limited to starting the camera, sealing it in the housing, and editing the results later.

Nemo 200 is one option: nemohousing.com | Website for Nemo 200, a reliable low cost underwater video camera houusing - $249
Aquatix is another: AquaCam EX Underwater Camcorder Housings / Video Housings for Scuba Diving, Snorkeling and Kayaking - $359 - $459 with a start/stop control.

Another option is one of the newer simple to use video cams in an Ikelite housing.

The housings run $260 list and work with either the Flip Ultra Hd (certain models), the JVC Picsio GC-FM1 or the Kodak Zi8/Zx1/Zx3 models. Ikelite sells a JVC Picsio camera/housing bundle for $400. B&H Photo has it for $379.

Info on all three housings on their website:
Ikelite Video Index

They're all rated to 200' and offer control over most of the cameras features. B&H Photo sells them for less than list - I've seen the Flip housing there for $219. And the cheaper Flip for $139. B&H Photo Video Digital Cameras, Photography, Camcorders

People are getting really decent results with them, they shoot HD, and only seem to suffer in low-light conditions. Read some of the posts here, there are links to videos on Youtube and Vimeo - some in HD. If you want something relatively idiot-proof - this is it.

In case your definition of relatively inexpensive is under $1000, look at the Canon HF M30/300/31 in their proprietary WP-V2 housing. I've seen the housing for $419 and the HFM30 for $479. It's an AVCHD (HD) camcorder in a housing that allows for basic camera control.

My buddy has the previous model, HF200/WPV1 and he gets really good results with it.

You'll need a powerful computer to edit the AVCHD files it creates though - at least a fast dual-core PC or Mac equivalent.

 

[robint]

Hey guys, I'm terrible with a video camera and worse with stills.....in any case, planning a shallow diving week at Looe Key next spring and looking for advice on something that might allow me to shoot some basic vid/still shots of my kids on the reef.

There is a housing available for my sony handycam thats good to 17fsw, is it worth the money? Is there another housing available that I could take deeper?

OR, is there a relatively inexpensive vid cam that a total idiot could use for some simple shots?

Thanks a bunch

#1....which "handycam" do you have? if we know which one we can better assess whether it is worth gettting a housing for it.

#2...if you are just wantting to shoot some basic video
My first thought for you is to get one of the new mini-cams:

Ikelite JVC Picsio GC FM1 Housing and Camera Package

kodak zi8

these take decent underwater video, especially shallow, if that is what you want. They do not take good still photos though.

#3...if you are looking for more, both video and stills from same unit, then you are going to need to spend a bit more money.

So if you could give us more info, we can steer you in the right direction.

robin

 

[SIUegyptiandiver]

Steve and Robin, ty both for the info and links, I will check them all out. My "handycam" is the Sony DCR-SR42 HDD.

I'm obviously no camera guy, so by video and stills, Im mostly refering to my camera's capability of shooting a quick snap shot while filming. I have no interest in diving with a large housing, multiple lenses, filters, strobes, etc. Just looking for a way to catch a bit of my kids snorkeling and diving on this mostly shallow reef (Looe Key). Strictly "family home video" type of shooting. I wouldnt know the first thing about editing and it'll probably take me 6 months to figure out how to add music to the background .

I appreciate all your input, tyvm.

Dave

 

[diversteve]

The Ikelite housing/JVC Picsio/Flip etc. packages are pretty small. The cameras are about the size of a cellphone so the housing doesn't need to be much bigger.

The Sony Marine Pack is probably your best option if the 17' depth limit works for you. Small size and it has a photo mode. But since your camcorder only has a 1MP sensor they frankly aren't going to be very good - for comparison current $100 digital still cameras use a 10-12MP sensor. As does the current top of the prosumer Sony line - the CX550 - it shoots 12MP stills.

The "Shorty" Nemo is pretty close to the Sony in size but since it has handles and ballast it will be slightly larger in the water - the handles come off for transport.

Any sub-$100 editing packages have little to no learning curve to create a basic movie. Most have some sort of auto/follow the prompts mode.

All of the cameras we're discussing here come with some sort of rudimentary video editing/production software. Most aren't very good though. My buddy called Canon when he was having problems using their supplied s/w - their support person suggested he buy Pinnacle Studio instead.

Under $100 editing programs are Pinnacle Studio, Sony Vegas Movie Studio or Adobe Premiere Elements.

All of them have a trial download so do that as the interfaces are different. The easiest to use is probably Adobe Elements, it allows you to create a movie with titles/transitions/sound simply by connecting your camera and following the menus. The one with the steepest learning curve is probably Sony Vegas MS but IMO it also has the most useful features.

 

[SIUegyptiandiver]

thanks, steve, I checked out the links you gave me and see lots of good options. really appreciate your time on this.

Dave

 

[BeckyTV]

I too am a beginner to underwater videography and have found the Sony Marine housing to be great for snorkeling. (17 feet or less) I was able to find the housing I needed (Sony D style plug for a HD) online for about $159.99. I also bought an older housing as a back up for a second HD camera but that housing had the LANC cable but I was able to buy an adapter to convert it the the D style plug and everything works as far as camera controls. Both housings allow me to turn on, stop, start, zoom, and on the newer one take stills.

I have made some modifications to the housings, such as adding a dive weight to the bottom since it is very buoyant along with some handles on each side.

Hope this helps

 

[robint]

Ikelite has some nice videos on the small camcorders that can give you an idea of what to expect, under certain conditions (clear water, sunshine)
Underwater Housing for JVC Camcorder
Underwater Housing for Flip video cameras

 

[SIUegyptiandiver]

Woot, you guys rock, tyvm!

 

[SIUegyptiandiver]

Thanks Becky!