I've talked to a few people that have much experiance. Here is what I think:
People seem to have pretty strong preferences. A little bit of corrosion can mess up an electric conrol and cause it to be unreliable while you can see a mechanical control. The mechanical control is prety much fail proof untill it leaks and even then feild repair might be possible.
It seems peole who have had leaks in mechanical controls hate mechanical controls and those who've have LANC plugs not work hate those.
One strong argument for electronic housing for consummer level video cameras is that that latest batch of consummer camers has so many the fucntions only available via the LCD touch screen. There is simply no way to make a mechanical white ballalnce control because the physical button is missing from the camera.
A lot of professionals like mechanical controls. So us amatuers might think these guys must know what they are talking about but then, look at the professional cameras, they have things like _real_ focus and _real_ zoom contols. No one would willingly give up a ring for a pair of buttons. But if your camera lacks the rings what do you give up?
I don't thnk the argument will end. But I do think if a lot depends on how you use the system. Say if you do it for a living, or you just spent $5,000 to go some place to get a shoot I'd sure as heck have at least two cameras and a kit of spare parts for the housing. With enough backups either type of system is reliable and field repairable. But if the system is used only on local dives, fix it when you get home.
My prefference in a housing is one that can house a few different cameras. I know I'll be upgrading cameras and don't want to have to buy multiple housings. So I'm thinking "electronic".
It all seem moot now. It's aining so much here that I have not been able to get in the water except for once in the last two weeks and even then it was 2 to 5 foot vis.
zaf88:
Im getting the sony pc350 and I dont know which housing to get. Ive had ikelites before but really dotn want to do mechanical anymore, but when I went to the store to see the electronic housings the rep STRONGLY recommended I didnt get one. Have people had problems with the electrical housings? I am looking at the amphibico housing with the external LCD, Is this a good unit?