Mangrove vs Light and motion housings

[Kukkonen]

Hello Everyone!

I am having a difficult time on deciding what kind of housing and camera to buy for underwater usage. Right now I have decided on Canon VIXIA HF G10. If anyone has advice on a better purchase (same pricing, $1300) the info would be greatly appreciated.

Also I currently I have $3-4000 to spend on a housing (with lighting if possible) that has access to white balance. I have been doing a lot of research between Mangrove and Light and motion housings but cannot pick between the two. With the Light and motion i can afford, but then for the lighting it becomes an issue (I can always wait and buy the lights later). I have not ever known anyone with Mangrove housing so don't know much about them. If anyone has owned or knows any information about them it would be greatly appreciated . or if you know of a different company that I may have overlooked!

Light and Motion
LIGHT & MOTION || Bluefin Housing

Mangrove
Shop - Mangrove MVUC-XL (CANON) - Aditech | Underwater video and photo online store

Thank you very much!

Alex

 

[ronscuba]

In your research for housings be careful about access to manual white balance. Many cameras use the touch screen or the multi-function joystick for MWB which makes it difficult to access and use through a housing. I would try to find a person who has the housing you are considering and discuss with them how well and easy MWB works.

 

[BDSC]

I have a L&M housing for my sony camcorder and the housiong has a true "one touch" white balance button. I can tell you it works like a charm. Very easy to use. So far I have had no problems with my L&M housing. I can also use the handles to access all the menus of the camera even though I hardly ever need to.

I suspect the L&M housings for the Canon camcorder will work much the same way.

 

[diversteve]

Another option might be the Sony CX580V at $800. Sony Handycam Video Camera | Full HD 32GB Flash Memory Camcorder | HDR-CX580V/B | Sony USA - seems comparable at a quick glance.

Mangrove houses it, L&M never will. Due to Sony's recent electronics changes L&M only makes Canon housings now. But if you decide on the Mangrove, it might be an option. Shop - Mangrove MVHS-L (SONY) - Aditech | Underwater video and photo online store

IIRC someone over on wetpixel is shooting a Mangrove so you might ask over there. Wetpixel :: Underwater Photography Forums -> Video Gear and Technique

The one thing IDK if I'd like about the Mangrove is the pop-on red filter. L&M's flip down seems a lot nicer. My first housing had a pop-on red filter my Amphibico has the flip. I like it a lot better. Although with lights that may not be such an issue.

 

[drbill]

Sony has certainly dealt us U/W videographers a low blow with the changes in the electronic controls. I've used about a dozen different Sony camcorders (currently the CX550V in a L&M Stingray G2) but it looks like I'll be buying Canon camcorders in the future. I love my G2/CX550V combo.

 

[matdiver]

I haven't used Mangrove (yet), but I really like the design. I've been using an old USVH housing for about 6 years now which has the same kind of controls as Mangrove, and it also has a filter that you have to put on the front of the housing, rather than one you can just conveniently flip up with a lever. This means that you do have to swish out the bubbles from the front of the filter just after you jump in.... BUT the HUGE advantage is that there are no penetrating controls. Just 2 fat o-rings front and back, so it seemed to me like there would be less chance of having a flood. Been lucky so far!
Personally I think I'd go for the Mangrove/Canon for that reason alone, if they can assure you about the electronic access to MWB.
Matthew

 

[baitballer]

Have you looked at the Gates housing? Having owned two of them and various others I would not buy anything other than Gates now.

 

[Kukkonen]

---------- Post added ----------

I have a L&M housing for my sony camcorder and the housiong has a true "one touch" white balance button. I can tell you it works like a charm. Very easy to use. So far I have had no problems with my L&M housing. I can also use the handles to access all the menus of the camera even though I hardly ever need to.

I suspect the L&M housings for the Canon camcorder will work much the same way.

Thank you for the post,, that was what I was looking for I think I will be going with L&M.. It just seems a lot more expensive than the other housing dealers. Even the 90 deg Fathom lense costs more than the camera So crazy!

---------- Post added ----------

Have you looked at the Gates housing? Having owned two of them and various others I would not buy anything other than Gates now.

I have actually, but I noticed the WB was available VIA touch screen for the XA10 housing.. Is the one that you are using touchscreen as well? If so how well does it work for you underwater?? Thank you for the feedback!!

 

[BDSC]

Thank you for the post,, that was what I was looking for I think I will be going with L&M.. It just seems a lot more expensive than the other housing dealers. Even the 90 deg Fathom lense costs more than the camera So crazy!

Something else you need to do is look through the classifieds on here as well as wetpixel.com. Sometimes you can pick up systems that are a year or two old with everything like lights, a travel case, housing, extra lens, the camcorder, etc. for much less than a new one and they work fine.