I am looking at purchasing a L&M housing from a friend and I know it is a Stingray II. He is not sure what camera it was set up for. I would end up buying a used camera to put into it but I was wondering if I would have to buy one that it is set up for or can you modify the housing to accept a different camera? Is there on Sony camera that this housing would fit that stands out above the others?
Light & Motion Housing compatability
- Thread starter Gamehunter
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Here's the SRII breakdown by model #. The only critical factor is the port alignment. There were (at least) two different ones depending on whether the camera used was 8MM/HI8 or Digital8/MiniDV.
If it has the older port placement, the TR700 is probably the best camera of that time. I bought one on eBay a couple years ago for about $200, new it would've been $1600.
If it's a TRV series, the TRV900/950 would be my choice. They're 3CCD prosumer cameras. Of course that's based on what models will fit in the housing.
Light & Motion - Stingray II compatibility chart
If it has the older port placement, the TR700 is probably the best camera of that time. I bought one on eBay a couple years ago for about $200, new it would've been $1600.
If it's a TRV series, the TRV900/950 would be my choice. They're 3CCD prosumer cameras. Of course that's based on what models will fit in the housing.
Light & Motion - Stingray II compatibility chart
OP
I know it is the newer model but how do I find out what camera fits in it? For the different models did they change the port placement on the front? Are the trays the same or did they change those? Can the housing for one model be modified to fit let say the trv900? I just don't want to be limited to trying to find an older camera and having the housing be obsolete before I even get it.
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Does your friend have the model #? They're listed on the link I posted.
I believe it started on the lower left for the TR series and then moved to the upper left for the TRV series. Although there's probably a 3rd placement for the TRV9XX series since their lens was closer to mid center. But that was only three models so the likelihood of your friend having that housing is pretty remote. And the cameras themselves still sell used on eBay in excess of $1000
Don't know the answer to any of your other questions as I've never had one. But I considered buying one a couple years ago so went through the same gyrations you are.
It pretty well is obsolete already..you'll likely be buying an older TRV single chip camcorder used on eBay to fit. The current HC, DCR(HDD) and HDR(HD) series camcorders from Sony likely won't work in any Stingray II housing as the lens moved again to top center. L&M has been selling the Stingray III Sport for those models for several years, it comes with a flat port that makes it more universal. Just this year they've announced the Stingray HD model specifically for the HDR-HC and HDR-SR series cameras.
I believe the TopDawg II is a Stingray II shell with a flat port. It's made for Backscatter by L&M. drbill here has had everything from 8MM to an HDR-HC7 camera in his. So except for the front port, there is some universality. They're also $899 new.
fwiw, L&M can probably answer your questions better than I can:
Light & Motion - Contact Info
