Top dawg housing system and camera

[barracuda]

am looking to get a Top Dawg video housing package and would like to know any opinions for or against from all of you who are / have used it before.

if you do recommend the same, which mid range camera would you recommend for same ? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

venkat
barracuda diving india

 

[marshallkarp]

I interviewed Jim Decker, Sales Manager for backscatter.com on the Underwater Videographer Podcast in September. He talks about the Top Dawg Housing and here is the link:

Underwater Videographer

This is precisely why I am doing this housing series to help people make educated buying decisions.

The next podcast on housings will be Ikelite and that will probably be up in a week or two. and, I just finished interviewing TJ Mansfield from Equinox Housings yesterday, so that will probably be up in a couple of weeks. I will be working on someone to give us information on the SeaTool.

Underwater Videographer

 

[drbill]

I've used two of them for a number of years now (8) and really admire the flexibility this housing gives. I've had six different camcorders in mine. The only drawbacks are the flat acrylic port and inability to access MWB. It would be great to have the flexibility of multiple ports, the clarity of glass and the ability to WB manually. However, it is hard to beat.

 

[barracuda]

Thanks guys. doc bill forgive my ignorance but what is MWAB ?!!

venkat

 

[timle]

Manual White Balance

 

[diversteve]

A good explanation of MWB and the process: Underwater Camera Articles: Underwater Video: Manual White Balance and Manual Exposure

Coincidentally they're the TopDawg distributors.

 

[OceanObsessed]

I like this housng too. I used the housing for a short period before upgrading to a Seatool housing because of its small size. The Top Dawg is a fine housing but it's bulk is alot to carry while freediving but it is a piece of cake on scuba.

I used an HC3 with my Top Dawg because it had a good low light performance review. I was speaking with someone at Backscatter.com and they recommended the HC3 or HC5 with the housing (but it is compatible with ALOT of cameras). I believe this conversation was before the HC7 came out. I think you will want to eventually purchase the Monitorback so that you can easily see what you are filming. Although it is do-able, I found it very difficult to look into the rear viewport to see the cameras viewfinder. This thread may be of use to you regarding the Monitorback and other options besides looking through the viewport.

 

[drbill]

Agree with OceanObsessed on the difficulty of viewing through the viewfinder on the TopDawg when the new, smaller HC series camcorders are used. For less than $100 I rigged a small LCD in the housing which doesn't allow me to check the fine focus (too low res) but does allow me to frame my shots.