PV-GS400 Enclosures

[r00t0fallevil]

Hi everyone:

Just got me a new PV-GS400 and itching to dive with her. Thus far I have only been able to find 2 enclosures that fit, Equinox and Ocean Images.

http://www.oceanimagesinc.com
http://www.dive-equinox.com

Are there any people who have tried other enclosures or may express their opinion on Equinox and Ocean Images.

Thanks!
-r00t

 

[shadowr69]

I've got an OI housing and have used it on 4 dive days so far. I've got the full package, ie the manual and electronic controls. So far I've enjoyed it, but I've run into a couple things that I'm not sure how inherent they may be in the whole u/w camera world, but they occur with this camera. I haven't raised this up to the OI guys, I wanted to see if I could get around it.
1st. mounting of the camera in the housing is tricky at first, it fits, but the bump stop may need to be adjusted. you'll notice this when you try to swing the internal filter over the lens. it feels like a scraping rub...a bit disconcerting, but I've not noticed any scratches onthe filter. I also manually wb the the camera(if you plan on using the filter alone, you really don't have to worry about this). Thats where the other problem occurs. 2nd U/W, the camera can be difficult to WB on your own. I'm working on fabing a swinging arm that will hold a white slate in from of the lens to do the wb. That way I don't have to hold it and can hold the cam while using the wb control.

I've got some vid from HI that I shot last week(green sea turtles "freakin SWEET!"). I'll see about posting some of it here if I can so you can see what you can get.

Lemmi know if you have any other questions

-Mark

 

[r00t0fallevil]

I've got an OI housing and have used it on 4 dive days so far. I've got the full package, ie the manual and electronic controls. So far I've enjoyed it, but I've run into a couple things that I'm not sure how inherent they may be in the whole u/w camera world, but they occur with this camera. I haven't raised this up to the OI guys, I wanted to see if I could get around it.
1st. mounting of the camera in the housing is tricky at first, it fits, but the bump stop may need to be adjusted. you'll notice this when you try to swing the internal filter over the lens. it feels like a scraping rub...a bit disconcerting, but I've not noticed any scratches onthe filter. I also manually wb the the camera(if you plan on using the filter alone, you really don't have to worry about this). Thats where the other problem occurs. 2nd U/W, the camera can be difficult to WB on your own. I'm working on fabing a swinging arm that will hold a white slate in from of the lens to do the wb. That way I don't have to hold it and can hold the cam while using the wb control.

I've got some vid from HI that I shot last week(green sea turtles "freakin SWEET!"). I'll see about posting some of it here if I can so you can see what you can get.

Lemmi know if you have any other questions

-Mark

Hey Mark!

Thanks for replying.

The OI housing is expensive relative to Equinox. I agree with you about the scrapping rubbing. I'd be upset too if I paid 1500 and the tolerances didn't fit. Besides the fit any concerns regarding the reliability of the housing? Are you concerned about leaks? I would have to ruin my PV-GS400.
:06:

May I ask why you didn't go with Equinox?

-tom

 

[Divesherpa]

I have a GS 250 with an Equinox housing. I'm pleased with the housing. It's easy to use, easy to install the camera, and easy to control. It also comes with a WA lens and dome port for wide angle right out of the box.

 

[ronrosa]

Thats where the other problem occurs. 2nd U/W, the camera can be difficult to WB on your own. I'm working on fabing a swinging arm that will hold a white slate in from of the lens to do the wb. That way I don't have to hold it and can hold the cam while using the wb control.

-Mark

Try using the sand. Yeah, the sand may not be perfectly white, but it's free, easy to use and my colors look great. Give it a try. Can't hurt.

 

[chinadan]

Can't comment on this particular camera/housing combo since I am using the Equinox ProPak8/DVX100. My Equinox housing has a "Home Depot" touch to it but it works OK.

One thing you need to be aware of is mechanical vignetting (aka black corners) that you will only see in your video editor, playback on a computer or on a broadcast monitor (since it hopefully is outside of the safe zones). Customer service so far has been horrible, I have tried to get a solution for my problem for 2 month now. Check them out at the BBB website...

You get what you pay for, but what makes this housing great is that you can easily modify it yourself...like installing a big LCD in the back plate as a viewfinder.

Try www.sealux.de, might be expensive though.

 

[Shasta_man]

<<GS250-Equinox>>

But can you adjust WB?

 

[Shasta_man]

I've got an OI housing and have used it on 4 dive days so far. I've got the full package, ie the manual and electronic controls. So far I've enjoyed it, but I've run into a couple things that I'm not sure how inherent they may be in the whole u/w camera world, but they occur with this camera. I haven't raised this up to the OI guys, I wanted to see if I could get around it.
1st. mounting of the camera in the housing is tricky at first, it fits, but the bump stop may need to be adjusted. you'll notice this when you try to swing the internal filter over the lens. it feels like a scraping rub...a bit disconcerting, but I've not noticed any scratches onthe filter. I also manually wb the the camera(if you plan on using the filter alone, you really don't have to worry about this). Thats where the other problem occurs. 2nd U/W, the camera can be difficult to WB on your own. I'm working on fabing a swinging arm that will hold a white slate in from of the lens to do the wb. That way I don't have to hold it and can hold the cam while using the wb control.

I've got some vid from HI that I shot last week(green sea turtles "freakin SWEET!"). I'll see about posting some of it here if I can so you can see what you can get.

Lemmi know if you have any other questions

-Mark

<<GS400/OI housing>>

I was wondering about this as well. How do you hold down the WB button while holding the white slate in front at the right angle? This would seem to be the problem for everyone that WBs with any housing though. I was wondering whether you could cradle the housing in your left arm while holding the button down, while holding the slate out front with your right?

It seems this "slate on an arm" thing could be worth it.

 

[shadowr69]

heya runrosa

Yeah, tried the sand trick, doesn't always work as expecet when the sand is more of a brownish color or extremely rocky....

but yeah, that has worked on the occasions that I've had no other choice..

-Mark

 

[shadowr69]

<<GS400/OI housing>>

I was wondering about this as well. How do you hold down the WB button while holding the white slate in front at the right angle? This would seem to be the problem for everyone that WBs with any housing though. I was wondering whether you could cradle the housing in your left arm while holding the button down, while holding the slate out front with your right?

It seems this "slate on an arm" thing could be worth it.

One way to do it is, with your bouyancy set perfectly, holding the camera between your legs in what looks almost like a squating position(I'm sure it looks funny). This can be difficult if there is surge or well..it just can be.

anyway, this way you have the camera in a semi stable position...hold the white card in front of the lens (6 inches or so) and hit the knob. You should be good to go. Sounds easy...but try it....