Top Dawg housing - Opinions?

[Dirty-Dog]

The more I dive, the more I think still images just don't do a good job of capturing what I see. So obviously that makes me think I need to toss out my cheap little Intova and get a video camera.

I've gotten quite a bit of video from Alvaro at AlwaysDiving.com when we've dove with him, and they look fabulous. He uses an older model Sony (doesn't really matter which one, since I'd be buying a new one) and a Top Dawg video housing. He's a big fan, and after looking at his, and at their web site, I'm leaning that way.

But before a decision is made, it's always good to seek multiple opinions. So... does anybody have any first hand experience with the Top Dawg housing, good or bad, that they'd like to share?

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Wow. 124 reads and not one reply? Not a single person here has any first hand experience with the Top Dawg housing?

 

[beautybelow]

I don't have any personal experience with Top Dawg housings but do know that it's not the housing that makes the video...for the most part....especially in that range of housing. When I look at someone else's work I never really consider what type of housing they are using to get the camera into the water. Sometimes dome ports play a huge roll however, especially in video, so that may be something to consider. Someone will come back with Top Dawg info I am sure, but don't worry too much about the housing until you pick a camera, in my opinion.

 

[BDSC]

Howdy DD!

I had a Top Dawg housing for my first couple of years doing video. I never had a problem with it and it was built solid. Mine had the monitor on the back. I have no complaints with it's performance as far as being able to do what it was designed to do.

Mine was an older model and it did have some limitations. First it didn't have the flip down color correction filter. Second, it didn't allow you to do MWB with the camcorder. I had to screw a cc filter onto the camcorder before I put it in the housing and then set it to auto white balance. But even with these two limitations I was pleased with the results. I though it was an excellent first video set-up.

I don't know what they offer on their housing now but if I were going to buy something to start out with I would buy this from Light & Motion.

Light & Motion (uwimaging.com) - Stingray HD

It is their older Stingray housing but it's still new! It really has a lot of great features. I think the only feature it doesn't have is MWB but I don't think you'd get that on a Top Dawg anyway. It does have the flip filter and you can use a variety of camcorders in it so you'd be able to pick up something pretty cheap I'd bet. This housing originally sold for like $2400 or so. Maybe even a little more. The last time I checked with them they had a couple left in stock. I'd be very surprised if you couldn't get them to knock off a couple of hundred from the $1200 price or at least throw in a travel case. Be worth a call to them to see.

Hope this helps and watch out! UW video can be addictive and upgrading will be in your future.

Hope this helps a little.

BDSC

 

[gracet]

Ive used one for 12 years, 3rd camera in it. Cant compare to any other system. But seems solid, complete user access to all o-rings, circuit boards. It is a generic housing so its a little large for traveling. Xrays in the carryon real good as it a metal housing. When i gear it up with lights, its 18lb out of the water, so handing it up and down at the boat is chore but neutral it in the water. But then the weight then can help steady the shot. I strap a bucket to front to act like protection hood so im not worried about the front banging into at boat or in the boat. Just took it to the blue hole 147 feet. As choice in 1998 its seemed the best for a long life for allowing camera upgrades, minimum service needs. The flat port accepts any camera, wide angle lens are placed inside the housing. The camera tray method is strait forward. Buttons provide needed control. I hold it with right hand and reach the power switch and record switch with one finger quickly when prey is sited. Sometimes i have to toggle to fixed focus during the low contrast scenes as he camera gets a hunting for autofocus. I always wonder what else is available as there are always newer cameras in smaller formats, i dont know about quality but traveling would be easer. no plans to change at this time. given sonys direction ill have to switch 10pin cable for the next camera.

 

[drbill]

BDSC and gracet raise good points.

The TopDawg has been my only housing for nearly 10 years. I own two of them. Floods are rare to non-existent due to the double o-ring design. Even when mine leaked, it was just a teaspoon or so and the camcorder was unaffected- only the PCBs were damaged (replacement cost $100).

I've used 7 different Sony models in the housing without a single modification. However the old Sony LANC connector which allowed this is being phased out. There is a cable converter that can modify the old 3.5mm LANC pin to the new Sony AV connector so newer models may be OK in the housings.

I should add that the Top Dawg is no longer being manufactured by L&M for Backscatter as far as I know.

 

[robint]

I don't have a Top Dog, but I did look at them 5-6 yrs ago before I bought my first system. My big concern with them was because they are a "universal" type housing, many different models of camcorders fit, they have to be made larger with generic type controls... this means that the airspace inside is larger, thus more bouyant, thus it must weigh move in order to be neutral/slightly negative on a dive. Also, because of the configuration, it is best to buy the monitor back in order to view while filming. I decided not to get one.

I went with an Ikelite that was specific to a camcorder (actually it fit 4-5 different models that had the same body, all by Sony). I purchased the mirror to stick on outside to view the screen, plus I had Ikelite add the lanc plug-in to a reverse circuitry. Total cost was around $1000 for it, then another $700 for my camcorder. This was 5 yrs ago, and it was SD system. I was very happy with it up until I had a flood... I was going to upgrade to HD very soon anyhow, this just moved me towards it faster.

After 6 months of research on camcorders, I purchased the Canon HG-21 last year and the Ikelite housing to go with it. It is set up so that you view the the LCD inside through the back, no need for any hookups or mirrors. I love it, glad I purchased it. The camcorder ran around $1100 and the housing was about $900. I also had to buy a new computer, quad-core processor in order to edit videos as HD creates monster files and my old computer (only 3 yrs old) could not handle the video files (kept hesitating, skipping, etc... not good for editing)

That all said... If I were buying a new system TODAY, I would get another Canon but maybe one that uses flash drive cards. They are slightly smaller than the one I bought. Also, I am downloading video each night so my initial need (I thought) to have a hard drive camcorder for a week long trip of diving wasn't that important. They have also come down in price. I would still get an Ikelite housing. I am very happy with those.
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/videoone.html

Ikelite is now making little mini systems which I would call "beginner" video rigs. They take okay video, but aren't going to give anyone the quality you get with a camcorder with better features. You can get one of those setups for less than $1000.

Just my experiences....

robin

 

[kmarti25]

DD, did you ever purchase a Top Dawg?

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Not yet. I am still weighing options. Buying the whole system is a significant investment, so I'm not rushing. We won't be in the water again till November, so there's still time.

I do want to thank everybody who replied. The more input I can get, the better.

 

[gracet]

If it is not manufactured , then i would ask what is the inventory of parts. A part is needed when something breaks. Not really anything to break, except the electroncs and outside buttons can leak rust when water gets to the magnets (9 years). The only consumable is the o-rings, which need to be replaced at some interval, due to wear OR age. At least once couple of years, and its 2 for the front and two for rear.