Oly Counterweight?

[tiburon72157]

Where can these infamous counterweights for relative neutral buoyancy be purchased?

Or is it as simple as getting a correct sized bolt for the tripod threads and putting a few washers on it?

I have a new Oly Stylus 500 and Oly housing...

 

[Diversion]

Correct size bolt.... some weight... The trick is making sure it does not rust - especially in salt water.

 

[Dee]

My PT-15 housing came with one.

 

[ONESPEED]

Where can these infamous counterweights for relative neutral buoyancy be purchased?

Or is it as simple as getting a correct sized bolt for the tripod threads and putting a few washers on it?

I have a new Oly Stylus 500 and Oly housing...

I have the same set up, it's negative without a strobe. I'm fighting w/ a Sea & Sea strobe and the camera to get the balance right. Any tips?

 

[herman]

I would of thought it should have come with one if you need some weight without a strobe. In any case the screw is a standard 1/4-20 you can get most anywhere. I prefer stainless but brass will work. A chunk of SS or brass barstock would be the best substitute for the weight. 1/4x 1 or 1 1/2 wide stock cut in lengths a little less than that of the housing with a hole in them to put the screw through should do fine. I would also put at least one more screw through the barstock if you need more than 1 to keep them from sliding around. A better way to add weight is to make/buy an arm and base for the housing. You can add weight and give yourself something to hang on to at the same time.

 

[tiburon72157]

herman, excellent info thanks. i was actually thinking that an arm would help stabilize the shot as well. thoughts on where to get an arm for a decent price?

 

[herman]

Here is one I made a while back. Instead of the aluminum rod I used for the handle you could use 3/4 in PCV pipe. Put a cap on both ends and run a SS bolt through one end and into the base. Fill the handle with lead shot,sand or cement until you have enough weight. I used lexan for the base (I had some on hand) but you could use aluminum or stainless steel bar stock in it's place. If you can find something for the base cheap, you can buy the rest for a few dollars. Even if you have to buy the stock, 4 ft of aluminun stock is only $4-6 and you would have plenty remaining for other projects.....or send it to me if you don't want it. I packrat stuff like that every chance I get
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=51263&highlight=lexan

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My PT-15 housing came with one.

So did my PT-030 ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[tiburon72157]

i made my own base today out of pvc components. it has two handles (arms), removable caps on the top of each arm, in case you need to add ballast (water), and a removable plug that the camera mounts (threads) onto. hardware components are made out of brass to prevent rust. it came out awesome!

 

[tiburon72157]

onespeed...i'm sure there is a way to fabricate some sort of pvc component and attach it. with the hollow pvc you can add water, sand, whatever to create ballast to offset the weight of the strobe. fire up your ingenuity and see what you come up with...