Thinking about buying a new camera...

[jason8612]

Well, my sony T1 camera died after many years of use and I need a replacement. I haven't owned a video camera in a long time, and I figured it's about time.
I'm looking for something HD but yet the camera and the housing would run under a grand. I got a Canon Rebel XTi but the housing and accessories would set me back a car or 2.
Anything good out there? Anything that I should look out for? I would assume a white balance option is important, including to get the full color.
Any recommendations?


Thanks

 

[diversteve]

Under a grand your best option is probably the Canon HF-200/WP-V1 housing discusssed in detail here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-videography/274087-canon-wp-v1-housing.html

Prices on the housing seem to flunctuate weekly but right now it's $379/$499 for the camera. Both thru B&H Photo/Video. No MWB but it has an u/w mode or you can add a red filter. My buddy just bought one, it's a pretty decent package for the money. Some limitations on the controls accessible while in the housing and a 130' depth rating.

Other options would be the Flip Mino HD or JVC Picsio in the Ikelite housing but both cameras have limitations. Fixed focus is the one I don't think I could live with. Both also have limited controls. Either package is under $500 if you can live with the limitations.

The next nearest housing I can think of is just under $800. One of the Ikelite's. Reef Photo/Video has some of them for around $760 depending on camera chosen. So maybe you could get a package for $13-1400.

Both B&H and Reef ship internationally (at least I know B&H does).

 

[MSPDiver]

I just got the Canon HF200 and the Canon housing. Camera is nice and so is the housing. Warning if you are going to get an HD camera make sure your cpu is up to the task. That is the problem I am having right now.

 

[ronscuba]

I just got the Canon HF200 and the Canon housing. Camera is nice and so is the housing. Warning if you are going to get an HD camera make sure your cpu is up to the task. That is the problem I am having right now.

Give the free trial version of Cinemform Neoscene a try. It's software that converts the AVCHD files to uncompressed AVI files which are easier to edit.

Here is the link.

Cineform Neoscene

I downloaded the trial version, converted a few files and found the new files so much easier and faster to edit. Costs about $120.

 

[robint]

I am a Canon HD owner right now and really like what I see. The camcorder color is spot on for me, using the red filter. I have an Ikelite housing. You can get a Canon HD camcorder and Ikelite housing for less than $2k, but as mentioned - you must have a new, fast computer! I had to go out and buy a quad-core with mega memory in order to do the editing.

Switching from still to video was HUGE for me. I wasn't enjoying my dives as much as I should have as I spent too much time trying to setup still shots. I kept getting back on the boat and hearing things like "did you see those eagle rays?" or "wow, that turtle was massive!" and I never saw them. I found that now, shooting video, I see everything much better and I enjoy the dives more. BUT video also means more time at home in front of computer editing! I love it, but you need to understand that part of it!

robin

 

[jason8612]

Interesting. The Canon HF20/200 (I think the only difference is the built in HDD) with the canon housing seems to be good.
What about removing the blueness? Red filter? any manual settings/options for it?

 

[diversteve]

What about removing the blueness? Red filter?

It has an optional underwater mode or you can also get red filter for it - or the housing as it has a threaded front port.

 

[jason8612]

Interesting.
Looks like I gotta do more research into it.

 

[diversteve]

There's some discussion about it starting around post #140 in this thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-videography/274087-canon-wp-v1-housing-3.html

 

[jason8612]

hmm looks like tigerdirect has the hf20 refurb for 500USD
Wonder if I should go with a refurb HF20 for 500$ or a new HF200 for 500$