Gear Check Cameras
Welcome to the Gear Locker. After you peruse earlier reviews click the highlighted text to:
See Bob's Photos Contact Bob Sterner Editorial Home Back to Gear Check
See Bob's Photos Contact Bob Sterner Editorial Home Back to Gear Check
Drysuit for Panasonic GS 500 October 2006
Videographers who like their Panasonic NV-GS 500 digital camcorders can take them diving with Sealux’s new DS500 housing. The
anodized aluminum case protects Panasonic’s ultra-compact 4-megapixel camcorder to 295 feet. Controls functions are ergonomically
mounted on both sides of the housing allowing fingertip activation of all of the camera’s functions while the user grips the handles. White
balance can be adjusted underwater. Swivels in front allow easy positioning of filters or an optional close-up lens for macro shots. The
monitor window is tilted at a 15-degree angle for easy viewing while swimming, and is protected from topside glare by a sunshield. The GS
500’s auto-focusing can be switched off, allowing for manually focusing the camera’s sharp Leica lens. The 7.25-pound housing’s weight
drops to 1.5 pounds when diving in seawater. The housing comes with a flat port, but a wide-angle zoom-able converter is available. To
bring out underwater colors or shoot in deep dark sites, add an optional Sealux lighting system. Learn more at www.reefphotovideo.com.
Videographers who like their Panasonic NV-GS 500 digital camcorders can take them diving with Sealux’s new DS500 housing. The
anodized aluminum case protects Panasonic’s ultra-compact 4-megapixel camcorder to 295 feet. Controls functions are ergonomically
mounted on both sides of the housing allowing fingertip activation of all of the camera’s functions while the user grips the handles. White
balance can be adjusted underwater. Swivels in front allow easy positioning of filters or an optional close-up lens for macro shots. The
monitor window is tilted at a 15-degree angle for easy viewing while swimming, and is protected from topside glare by a sunshield. The GS
500’s auto-focusing can be switched off, allowing for manually focusing the camera’s sharp Leica lens. The 7.25-pound housing’s weight
drops to 1.5 pounds when diving in seawater. The housing comes with a flat port, but a wide-angle zoom-able converter is available. To
bring out underwater colors or shoot in deep dark sites, add an optional Sealux lighting system. Learn more at www.reefphotovideo.com.
Click To Enlarge
Control shots with Sea&Sea June 2006
Underwater photographers usually have to choose between getting an easy-to-use, low-priced point-and-shoot camera and the pricy
housing for a single-lens-reflex model that has the exposure control needed for serious photography. Sea&Sea’s DX-8000G bridges the
gap. Set on automatic, it’s as simplistic as any point-and-shoot, but its 8-megapixel images allow for semi-pro quality enlargements. Where
it shines is in manual control. A finger-activated knob in front of the shutter release quickly adjusts the f-stop, the critical setting for light
and color balance. Just spin the knob until the water color you want appears on the LCD screen, frame your subject and shoot. Other
manual adjustments include zoom lens from 28- to 85-millimeters, “film speed” from 64 to 1,600 asa, white balance, shutter speed from
time exposure to 1/2000 of a second and resolution quality. Up to 61 uncompressed JPG images can be stored on a 1 gigabyte SD chip,
along with WAV sound files and AVI videos. Readily available AA batteries power the camera, and all controls are accessible through its
compact composite housing. Couple it with Sea&Sea’s optional YS-25 digital external flash and wide-angle converter lens, and you’ll bring
home pictures that rival those taken with top-of-the-line pro gear. Learn more at www.seaandsea.com.
Underwater photographers usually have to choose between getting an easy-to-use, low-priced point-and-shoot camera and the pricy
housing for a single-lens-reflex model that has the exposure control needed for serious photography. Sea&Sea’s DX-8000G bridges the
gap. Set on automatic, it’s as simplistic as any point-and-shoot, but its 8-megapixel images allow for semi-pro quality enlargements. Where
it shines is in manual control. A finger-activated knob in front of the shutter release quickly adjusts the f-stop, the critical setting for light
and color balance. Just spin the knob until the water color you want appears on the LCD screen, frame your subject and shoot. Other
manual adjustments include zoom lens from 28- to 85-millimeters, “film speed” from 64 to 1,600 asa, white balance, shutter speed from
time exposure to 1/2000 of a second and resolution quality. Up to 61 uncompressed JPG images can be stored on a 1 gigabyte SD chip,
along with WAV sound files and AVI videos. Readily available AA batteries power the camera, and all controls are accessible through its
compact composite housing. Couple it with Sea&Sea’s optional YS-25 digital external flash and wide-angle converter lens, and you’ll bring
home pictures that rival those taken with top-of-the-line pro gear. Learn more at www.seaandsea.com.
Accessorize your image April 2006
Fantasea has developed complete lines of modular components that allow underwater photographers to tailor housing systems to meet their
specific gearing needs, whether they’re using digital point-and-shoot or single-lens-reflex-style cameras. The modules include housings for
cameras and flashes as well as an underwater flash. These can be mounted on a tray with one or two flexible arms to hold flashes. A lens
caddy can be attached to the tray or a strobe arm to hold auxiliary close-up and wide-angle lenses for point-and-shoot cameras. The
housing for digital SLR cameras can accept flat ports for macro lenses or a dome port for extreme wide-angle lenses. Red filters are
available to compensate for the blueness of underwater scenes. Making the systems available in interconnecting modules means
photographers need only acquire the units they need, and can add other units as their photo kit grows over time.
Learn more at www.fantasea.com.
Fantasea has developed complete lines of modular components that allow underwater photographers to tailor housing systems to meet their
specific gearing needs, whether they’re using digital point-and-shoot or single-lens-reflex-style cameras. The modules include housings for
cameras and flashes as well as an underwater flash. These can be mounted on a tray with one or two flexible arms to hold flashes. A lens
caddy can be attached to the tray or a strobe arm to hold auxiliary close-up and wide-angle lenses for point-and-shoot cameras. The
housing for digital SLR cameras can accept flat ports for macro lenses or a dome port for extreme wide-angle lenses. Red filters are
available to compensate for the blueness of underwater scenes. Making the systems available in interconnecting modules means
photographers need only acquire the units they need, and can add other units as their photo kit grows over time.
Learn more at www.fantasea.com.
A case for Rebels February 2006
Owners of Canon’s popular Rebel XT 350D can take their digital camera to 200 feet with Fantasea’s new F350D housing. Just slide the
camera into the molded polycarbonate housing, buckle the stainless steel latches closed on the back door and the camera is ready to go
diving, with all functions accessible at the touch of buttons outside the case. Double o-rings on each shaft keep the camera dry.
Ergonomically designed handles ease holding and shooting underwater even when wearing gloves. It comes with a flat port that allows use
of an 18- to 55-millimeter zoom lens, with domes and other ports available as accessories for use with ultra-wide angle, macro and close-
up lenses. The case has a six-pin through-the-lens flash connector, which, when coupled with Canon’s 580 EX flash, provides automatic
exposure control. The housing comes with one full year of DEPP flood insurance. Learn more at www.fantasea.com.
Owners of Canon’s popular Rebel XT 350D can take their digital camera to 200 feet with Fantasea’s new F350D housing. Just slide the
camera into the molded polycarbonate housing, buckle the stainless steel latches closed on the back door and the camera is ready to go
diving, with all functions accessible at the touch of buttons outside the case. Double o-rings on each shaft keep the camera dry.
Ergonomically designed handles ease holding and shooting underwater even when wearing gloves. It comes with a flat port that allows use
of an 18- to 55-millimeter zoom lens, with domes and other ports available as accessories for use with ultra-wide angle, macro and close-
up lenses. The case has a six-pin through-the-lens flash connector, which, when coupled with Canon’s 580 EX flash, provides automatic
exposure control. The housing comes with one full year of DEPP flood insurance. Learn more at www.fantasea.com.
Point and shoot like a pro August 2007
Sea&Sea is further blurring the differences between single-lens-reflex and point-and-shoot digital underwater cameras with its new 10-
megapixel DX-1G model. The camera’s 1- by 1.75-inch sensor is outfitted with vibration correction to enhance image quality. Macro shots
can be taken to within 1 inch of a subject, but it’s always ready for the big picture with its 24- to 75-millimeter zoom lens. The shutter lag
is a mere 0.1 second, and it recycles for the next shot in 1 second. Images are seen on a 2.5-inch liquid crystal monitor, and stored on an
SDHC memory card of up to 4 gigabytes. Auto-focus and auto exposure can be over-ridden manually allowing photographers to get the
shots they want instead of what the camera wants. It comes with a DB-60 lithium-ion battery and charger capable of powering up to 350
shots, and can run on AAA cells, which deliver 50 pictures. Optional auxiliary strobe and arm packages and wide-angle lens can help in
bringing home shots that look as nice as the destination where you went diving. www.seaandsea.com.
Sea&Sea is further blurring the differences between single-lens-reflex and point-and-shoot digital underwater cameras with its new 10-
megapixel DX-1G model. The camera’s 1- by 1.75-inch sensor is outfitted with vibration correction to enhance image quality. Macro shots
can be taken to within 1 inch of a subject, but it’s always ready for the big picture with its 24- to 75-millimeter zoom lens. The shutter lag
is a mere 0.1 second, and it recycles for the next shot in 1 second. Images are seen on a 2.5-inch liquid crystal monitor, and stored on an
SDHC memory card of up to 4 gigabytes. Auto-focus and auto exposure can be over-ridden manually allowing photographers to get the
shots they want instead of what the camera wants. It comes with a DB-60 lithium-ion battery and charger capable of powering up to 350
shots, and can run on AAA cells, which deliver 50 pictures. Optional auxiliary strobe and arm packages and wide-angle lens can help in
bringing home shots that look as nice as the destination where you went diving. www.seaandsea.com.
Get a professional image October 2007
Serious underwater videographers will soon have access to the tools of a top-flight pro at their disposal when Gates releases its Deep Red
housing. The housing for the Red One camera is under development and is expected to be released next year. Red One is the
super-high-definition video camera that digitally records images with four times the resolution of high-density resolution and 24 times more
resolution than standard density. Gates turned to award-winning underwater cinematographer Howard Hall for help in designing Deep Red,
so the buttons and other fingertip controls are placed around the ergonomic grips at just where a photographer would reach for them.
Mechanical controls are not susceptible to shorting out as electronic ones do sometimes because of condensation inside of housings. Like
other Gates housings, Deep Red will be machined in bulletproof aluminum that is rated to withstand pressures to 300 feet. The housing will
have a two-year renewable warranty. www.gateshousings.com
Serious underwater videographers will soon have access to the tools of a top-flight pro at their disposal when Gates releases its Deep Red
housing. The housing for the Red One camera is under development and is expected to be released next year. Red One is the
super-high-definition video camera that digitally records images with four times the resolution of high-density resolution and 24 times more
resolution than standard density. Gates turned to award-winning underwater cinematographer Howard Hall for help in designing Deep Red,
so the buttons and other fingertip controls are placed around the ergonomic grips at just where a photographer would reach for them.
Mechanical controls are not susceptible to shorting out as electronic ones do sometimes because of condensation inside of housings. Like
other Gates housings, Deep Red will be machined in bulletproof aluminum that is rated to withstand pressures to 300 feet. The housing will
have a two-year renewable warranty. www.gateshousings.com
Sony HD video cam can dive March 2008
Videographers can take their Sony HDR-HC9 high-definition video camcorders underwater with Light and Motion's Stingray HD and
Bluefin HC7 housings. Non-penetrating push-button controls for camera electronics ensure avoid potential leaks that can spring around
mechanical ones. Controls are ergonomically positioned to be right at videographers' fingertips. The touch pads allow full access to all
camcorder functions while underwater. The camera's 3.5-inch color monitor can be clearly seen through a window in the back panel. The
camcorder mounts on a tray in the housing that adapts nearly the entire line of Sony HD video cameras. This allows the Bluefin housing to
be used with a large number of current camcorders as well as ones still in the planning stages, according to Light and Motion. The
company claims a warranty service rate of less than 2 percent, making the housings among the most reliable available.
www.lightandmotion.com.
Videographers can take their Sony HDR-HC9 high-definition video camcorders underwater with Light and Motion's Stingray HD and
Bluefin HC7 housings. Non-penetrating push-button controls for camera electronics ensure avoid potential leaks that can spring around
mechanical ones. Controls are ergonomically positioned to be right at videographers' fingertips. The touch pads allow full access to all
camcorder functions while underwater. The camera's 3.5-inch color monitor can be clearly seen through a window in the back panel. The
camcorder mounts on a tray in the housing that adapts nearly the entire line of Sony HD video cameras. This allows the Bluefin housing to
be used with a large number of current camcorders as well as ones still in the planning stages, according to Light and Motion. The
company claims a warranty service rate of less than 2 percent, making the housings among the most reliable available.
www.lightandmotion.com.
Old housing for new cameras May 2008
Divers who are eyeing Nikon's new Coolpix S52 and S52e cameras but don't want to spring for a new housing will get a break if their old
Cookpix camera fit into a Fantasea FS51 housing. The housing fits the new models as well as Coolpix S50, S50c and S51c cameras. The
FS51 housing allows access to all camera functions and is rated to withstand depths to 200 feet. Double o-rings seal out moisture on all
controls. It has an anti-glare hood to shade the liquid crystal screen, a built-in flash diffuser and a 41 millimeter lens port. Optional
accessories are available to customize the photo setups for single or multiple flashes, and to carry auxiliary lenses. The clear polymer case
allows a complete view of the camera, easing visual checks for fogging or leakage. All Fantasea cases include one year of flood insurance.
www.fantasea.com.
Divers who are eyeing Nikon's new Coolpix S52 and S52e cameras but don't want to spring for a new housing will get a break if their old
Cookpix camera fit into a Fantasea FS51 housing. The housing fits the new models as well as Coolpix S50, S50c and S51c cameras. The
FS51 housing allows access to all camera functions and is rated to withstand depths to 200 feet. Double o-rings seal out moisture on all
controls. It has an anti-glare hood to shade the liquid crystal screen, a built-in flash diffuser and a 41 millimeter lens port. Optional
accessories are available to customize the photo setups for single or multiple flashes, and to carry auxiliary lenses. The clear polymer case
allows a complete view of the camera, easing visual checks for fogging or leakage. All Fantasea cases include one year of flood insurance.
www.fantasea.com.
Add flash to your photos June 2008
With our little digi-cameras we're all getting almost professional-looking underwater images. What's lacking is that extra punch of light
beyond what can be delivered by the itsy-bitsy camera-mounted strobe, which mostly just illuminates the backscatter. SEA&SEA can
change that with its new YS-17 digital strobe and accessories kit. The YS-17 is a TTL slave strobe that can be mounted on an arm and
triggered by the camera-mounted strobe. By masking off the camera unit and mounting a fiber-optic line in front of it, the YS-17 can be
triggered at the appropriate micro-second, yet the camera- mounted flash is blocked from creating backscatter. The strobe has a 70- by
53-degree beam angle. To cover a wider angle or to fill in shadows, multiple YS-17s can be fired from the one hot-wired to the camera,
with their "through the lens" metering system controlling the overall flash output. Two AA batteries deliver a guide number of 14 at full
power and recycle in three seconds. A two-step control can be used to lower the output manually. Accessory packages are available for
many popular brands of housed digi-cameras. www.seaandsea.com.
With our little digi-cameras we're all getting almost professional-looking underwater images. What's lacking is that extra punch of light
beyond what can be delivered by the itsy-bitsy camera-mounted strobe, which mostly just illuminates the backscatter. SEA&SEA can
change that with its new YS-17 digital strobe and accessories kit. The YS-17 is a TTL slave strobe that can be mounted on an arm and
triggered by the camera-mounted strobe. By masking off the camera unit and mounting a fiber-optic line in front of it, the YS-17 can be
triggered at the appropriate micro-second, yet the camera- mounted flash is blocked from creating backscatter. The strobe has a 70- by
53-degree beam angle. To cover a wider angle or to fill in shadows, multiple YS-17s can be fired from the one hot-wired to the camera,
with their "through the lens" metering system controlling the overall flash output. Two AA batteries deliver a guide number of 14 at full
power and recycle in three seconds. A two-step control can be used to lower the output manually. Accessory packages are available for
many popular brands of housed digi-cameras. www.seaandsea.com.
Shoot your Canon underwater July 2008
Owners of Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS or IXUS80 IS cameras can take their digi-cams diving with FantaSea's new FSD-1100 housing.
The molded housing is depth rated to 200 feet and has double O-ring seals on push-button controls that allow underwater photographers
full access to all of the camera's features. An anti-glare hood can be mounted over the rear screen to ease viewing in bright waters. A
built-in flash diffuser spreads the light of the camera's flash. The housing also features a 46-millimeter threaded lens port to add optional
auxiliary wide-angle lenses. Besides divers, outdoor sports enthusiasts may find the housing useful to protect their cameras while sailing,
surfing, fishing or backpacking in extreme elements. As with all FantaSea housings, the FSD-1100 comes with one free year of flood
insurance that can replace the camera should the housing flood during normal usage. www.FantaSea.com.
Owners of Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS or IXUS80 IS cameras can take their digi-cams diving with FantaSea's new FSD-1100 housing.
The molded housing is depth rated to 200 feet and has double O-ring seals on push-button controls that allow underwater photographers
full access to all of the camera's features. An anti-glare hood can be mounted over the rear screen to ease viewing in bright waters. A
built-in flash diffuser spreads the light of the camera's flash. The housing also features a 46-millimeter threaded lens port to add optional
auxiliary wide-angle lenses. Besides divers, outdoor sports enthusiasts may find the housing useful to protect their cameras while sailing,
surfing, fishing or backpacking in extreme elements. As with all FantaSea housings, the FSD-1100 comes with one free year of flood
insurance that can replace the camera should the housing flood during normal usage. www.FantaSea.com.
Change image on the fly September 2008
Once upon a time, changing lenses underwater caused cameras to flood. Fast forward to today and you can pack handy conversion lenses
from Epoque USA that allow you to switch from macro to wide-angle shots on the fly. The DLC-20 wide-angle conversion lens is added to
the front of a housing to convert a 35-millimeter-equivalent lens to a 20-mm lens, a handy size for shooting reef panoramas or taking
advantage of the surprise appearance of a big critter. The DML-2 macro converter is a 2X magnifying lens, which is great to slap on a
housing after discovering at depth that visibility limits photos to close shots of very small subjects. Although designed for Epoque housings,
the converters are available in standard mounts that can be attached to various makers' housings either directly or with optional converter
rings. What's more, the rings are changeable so the conversion lenses can be switched from housing to housing. So with luck, you might
be able to adapt your lenses to the next housing after your current camera floods. For housings without conventional accessory-lens
mounts, Epoque has an adapter that screws into a standard tripod socket to hold a conversion lens in front of the housing.
www.epoqueusa.com.
Once upon a time, changing lenses underwater caused cameras to flood. Fast forward to today and you can pack handy conversion lenses
from Epoque USA that allow you to switch from macro to wide-angle shots on the fly. The DLC-20 wide-angle conversion lens is added to
the front of a housing to convert a 35-millimeter-equivalent lens to a 20-mm lens, a handy size for shooting reef panoramas or taking
advantage of the surprise appearance of a big critter. The DML-2 macro converter is a 2X magnifying lens, which is great to slap on a
housing after discovering at depth that visibility limits photos to close shots of very small subjects. Although designed for Epoque housings,
the converters are available in standard mounts that can be attached to various makers' housings either directly or with optional converter
rings. What's more, the rings are changeable so the conversion lenses can be switched from housing to housing. So with luck, you might
be able to adapt your lenses to the next housing after your current camera floods. For housings without conventional accessory-lens
mounts, Epoque has an adapter that screws into a standard tripod socket to hold a conversion lens in front of the housing.
www.epoqueusa.com.
Flash on your creativity October 2008
Sea&Sea has added features to its new YS-100a that are designed to help underwater photographers get the most out of their cameras.
Three xenon flash tubes kick out a balanced 105-degree 5,400-Kelvin square beam with a 22 guide number at 100 ASA. A diffuser
covering the array softens the beam and has holes for the flashes' TTL sensor and an LED target light to aim the beam. The TTL function
can interact with other TTL strobes to automatically deliver proper exposures based on the camera's ASA setting. Yet its output can be
tweaked on the fly with an 11-position dial to fine tune the guide number. Choose between TTL or two manual modes, depending on
whether it's used with a digital camera that generates a pre-flash. A conventional cable connector allows the YS-110a to be wired directly
to a housed SLR digital camera. An optional fiber-optic cable can be used ensure synchronization between the strobe and a compact digital
camera. Four AA cells provide up to 330 flashes with less than a two-second recycle time when powered with nickel metal hydride
batteries. To save power, the unit turns off after 30 minutes of being idle. Also the target light can be set to activate only when needed. The
24.5-ounce unit weighs less than a half ounce underwater and is depth rated to 200 feet. www.seaandsea.com.
Sea&Sea has added features to its new YS-100a that are designed to help underwater photographers get the most out of their cameras.
Three xenon flash tubes kick out a balanced 105-degree 5,400-Kelvin square beam with a 22 guide number at 100 ASA. A diffuser
covering the array softens the beam and has holes for the flashes' TTL sensor and an LED target light to aim the beam. The TTL function
can interact with other TTL strobes to automatically deliver proper exposures based on the camera's ASA setting. Yet its output can be
tweaked on the fly with an 11-position dial to fine tune the guide number. Choose between TTL or two manual modes, depending on
whether it's used with a digital camera that generates a pre-flash. A conventional cable connector allows the YS-110a to be wired directly
to a housed SLR digital camera. An optional fiber-optic cable can be used ensure synchronization between the strobe and a compact digital
camera. Four AA cells provide up to 330 flashes with less than a two-second recycle time when powered with nickel metal hydride
batteries. To save power, the unit turns off after 30 minutes of being idle. Also the target light can be set to activate only when needed. The
24.5-ounce unit weighs less than a half ounce underwater and is depth rated to 200 feet. www.seaandsea.com.
Bright but lightweight strobe October 2008
Photographers looking for a compact, lightweight versatile strobe for conventional or digital cameras might want to consider Epoque's new
ES 150 DSa. The company says it's the smallest, lightest weight unit in its class. Although small, it punches out a beam of up to a 15 guide
number at 100 ASA. A knob allows users to cut back the output to a 3 guide number. This eases adjusting multiple units to balance light
over a wide area or to use one as a main flash and the other as a fill. A built-in socket accepts conventional film camera cables or it can be
triggers as a slave with the built-in sensor. An optional fiber-optic cable can provide a positive link to a digital camera's built-in strobe. Size
and weight are kept to a minimum by its use of only two AA cells for power. Yet it can squeeze up to 250 flashes out of a set of alkaline or
rechargeable batteries. ES 150-DSa could work well as an added strobe for larger camera rigs or an entry-level unit for budding underwater
photographers. It's available separately or as part of starter a set that includes the camera tray, arm and fiber-optic cable.
www.epoqueusa.com
Photographers looking for a compact, lightweight versatile strobe for conventional or digital cameras might want to consider Epoque's new
ES 150 DSa. The company says it's the smallest, lightest weight unit in its class. Although small, it punches out a beam of up to a 15 guide
number at 100 ASA. A knob allows users to cut back the output to a 3 guide number. This eases adjusting multiple units to balance light
over a wide area or to use one as a main flash and the other as a fill. A built-in socket accepts conventional film camera cables or it can be
triggers as a slave with the built-in sensor. An optional fiber-optic cable can provide a positive link to a digital camera's built-in strobe. Size
and weight are kept to a minimum by its use of only two AA cells for power. Yet it can squeeze up to 250 flashes out of a set of alkaline or
rechargeable batteries. ES 150-DSa could work well as an added strobe for larger camera rigs or an entry-level unit for budding underwater
photographers. It's available separately or as part of starter a set that includes the camera tray, arm and fiber-optic cable.
www.epoqueusa.com
