PD-150 or XL-1s?

[Chris1260]

Greetings All!

I'm a longtime Hi-8 U/W videographer readying myself for the jump to digital. My query then, to the multitudes of digital shooters out there, is; have any of you shot with both the XL-1 and PD-150 cameras, and if so, what motivated your ultimate choice of camera to own?

OK, that was two queries... and I'll throw out another - any words of experience or wisdom regarding the Gates or Amphibico housings?

Many thanks!

Chris ~

 

[blacknet]

Hello,

Welcome aboard!

I have no experience with video but I do have with housings. A few considerations to look at: cost, access to features, profile, shape/weight/bouyancy and maintance.

Cost: Is it worth putting a $1,000 unit in a $5,000 housing? I come from the school that states housings should match the cost of the unit your housing.

Access to features: A housing that does not allow you access to your favorite features is not a friendly housing. While you may not need ALL the features you do need most. Some housings have better feature control than others.

Profile shape/weight/bouyancy: If your are toting a big block thru the water vs a wedge which would give you better mobility? The wedge would. I would thing the goal is to have a light weight, streamlined housing that you can adjust the bouyancy as needed (some has integrated weights for this)

Maintance is often overlooked by many photographers. The more knobs/buttons/levers you add the more areas it can leak. Over time it will leak as the seals are compromised. Housing manufactures recomend you send them the housing every so often (i.e. ikelite states every 3 years) for an overhaul of the seals

Both gates and amphibco makes good housings. A few more to consider is ikelite, lights and motion and aquatica.

Ed