New Canon Powershot SD500

[tangfish]

I just bought a new Canon Powershot SD500, compact 7 megapixel camera, and corresponding WPDC70 housing. I haven't used it yet (going to Costa Rica this week), but I noticed that the manual said its positively bouyant with the camera inside, is it just me or is this just a dumb way to get you to buy a weight accessory for the housing? Worse yet, you can't just buy the appropriate weight for this housing, you have to buy a 'weight kit' that includes the weight for this camera/housing plus THREE others (that will just collect dust).

Well, has anyone used any of the powershot cameras and housings? What were your impressions and opinions?

 

[alcina]

My A series housings are positively buoyant. I don't mess with any weights. They aren't so buoyant that carrying one messes up my own buoyancy. When not in use I usually slide my camera all the way up my arm and it happily floats along above and behind me.

It's easy to flip into my hand, I know it isn't lost (read I haven't dropped it or it hasn't floated off my wrist) and it's out of the way when I peek under ledges etc.

Not sure about your system, but I would recommend that you jump in the pool with it to test that, and the functions in housing, before you head out on holidays.

have fun!

 

[Tamas]

Yes they are quite bouyant (but only the camera, it will not affect bouyancy otherwise). Which could be good if you drop in the water accidently, or bad if you let it go by mistake, or if you are like me and have it clipped to your chest d-ring and it constatly hits you in the face.

But you can easyl make a weight for it. Just get a pice of metal (you will have to get the one that best suits your need and will last underwater) and a bolt....then just thread it in the accessory hole on the bottom of the case. Voila! home made case weight.

 

[crestgel]

I just bought a new Canon Powershot SD500, compact 7 megapixel camera, and corresponding WPDC70 housing. I haven't used it yet (going to Costa Rica this week), but I noticed that the manual said its positively bouyant with the camera inside, is it just me or is this just a dumb way to get you to buy a weight accessory for the housing? Worse yet, you can't just buy the appropriate weight for this housing, you have to buy a 'weight kit' that includes the weight for this camera/housing plus THREE others (that will just collect dust).

Well, has anyone used any of the powershot cameras and housings? What were your impressions and opinions?

How deep can the housing go?

 

[Tamas]

They are rated to 130ft, but I had mine down to 175ft - and it's still ticking.

 

[tangfish]

I like your avatar crestgel. The housing can go to 130ft/40M. Though I had a similar housing and took it to 170 feet once. I'll look into making a homemade one, since I do have it on a retractor attached to my chest D-ring, and it would be annoying as hell to have it bobbing around all the time. Any idea how much weight I should add? even in the ballpark would probably help.

 

[KrisB]

I have an A80, and the Canon site suggests a single plate on it. Given that they're steel plates, I don't think that would affect it much.

To make the camera neutral, I need to add 2.5 oz of lead to it -- easiest way I've found: "soft" weights for automobile tire balancing -- they have the weight printed on them and they're thin enough to fit in the housing with the camera, and not restrict the functionality.

HTH,

 

[OE2X]

How does this camera work in low light situations for focusing?

 

[tangfish]

well its like any point and shoot, it helps to have a small backup light for focusing if its really that dark.