(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best underwater camera housing

So looking up the Canon D20 it looks like it is just a base waterproof point-n-shoot in the $200-300 range. If you want better video and want to stay in the same price range then a GoPro 7 would be an option. You do have various other waterproof still point and shoots that you can get waterproof housings to extend their depth ranges that would bring you up to the $500-800 range. Personal I have a Sony RX100v that just the camera alone is $900 though I'm now getting into have some play when it comes to manual settings and can shoot in RAW. You will see a big improvement in quality though to maximize it you need to start bringing your own light whether in strobes for stills and video light for, well, video. Also you will need to look at wet lens for these prosumer level. Just the camera in housing alone won't get you those great whole wreck/reef shots. I'll break down how much my current setup costs with the RX100v, this will be a guide for you since you can always get different products or used to get some of your cost down...or up.

• RX100v $898
  
• Sony MPK-URX100A Underwater Housing $295
  
• Sola Video Pro 3800 $699
  
• Sea & Sea YS-03 Strobe Head $299 x2
  
• Kraken KRL-01 67mm Wide Wet Lens $765
  
• INON UCL-165M67 Close-up Lens $197
  
• Arms, ball clamps, fiber optic cables to trigger your strobes, tray, silica packs, extra batteries, etc
  
  So with this you're in the $3500-4000 range and this isn't even to the DSLR/Mirrorless levels. I don't want to discourage you at all, I love my setup and for the most part it packs small though it is pretty bulky underwater and creates drag though I love the shots that I can get and the video is pretty good too.

MONSOON PROTECTION QUESTION


I've got a Fuji X100T, and I'm looking at an upcoming trip that looks like days and days of solid, heavy rain. This is good, because it makes for more dramatic and interesting shots, particularly at night. This is bad because I don't want to brick my poor camera.

I'm looking at two different options, and wanted to get some input:

• The CamDive Underwater Housing - It's intended for the S but apparently fits the T perfectly fine. Some of the buttons aren't accessible, but in the spirit of full disclosure, I usually shoot in Auto mode as it is. Might be overkill.
  
  
• The DiCAPac High End Mirrorless Underwater Case - Ratings aren't that high, may have quality control issues.
  
  
• Use an umbrella...
  
  Any other product suggestions you may have are also greatly appreciated.

I have a GoPro Hero 4 silver and one of the arms on the housing broke so i need a replacement. This model is no longer supported by GoPro so I'm looking at third party options. Are any of the three linked below recommended? Others I didn't link?

https://www.amazon.com/Deyard-Waterproof-Housing-Thumbscrew-Camcorder/dp/B01584OQXE/ref=sxin_2_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-Z29wcm8gaGVybyA0IGhvdXNpbmc%3D-ac_d_rm&crid=3JTRL78R29ALV&keywords=gopro+hero+4+housing&pd_rd_i=B01584OQXE&pd_rd_r=cb87c238-b130-45ee-a0e1-4ebfd83707df&pd_rd_w=IyY8I&pd_rd_wg=Bu8qY&pf_rd_p=2938a786-9bec-4d37-8c06-456e3edce5d1&pf_rd_r=G4WFSR27T5BQAACDCY4C&psc=1&qid=1570482545&sprefix=gopro+hero+4+housing%2Caps%2C192

• Looks like the Deyard is the best option
  
  https://www.amazon.com/SOONSUN-Underwater-Waterproof-Housing-Filters/dp/B07N4P1KG5/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3JTRL78R29ALV&keywords=gopro+hero+4+housing&qid=1570482545&sprefix=gopro+hero+4+housing%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-8
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Suptig-Replacement-Waterproof-Protective-Underwater/dp/B01G77CQDS/ref=sr_1_14?crid=3JTRL78R29ALV&keywords=gopro+hero+4+housing&qid=1570482545&sprefix=gopro+hero+4+housing%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-14

Thanks.

Used this much cheaper waterhousing, made out of plastic, but it does have two O rings and metal clamps to seal. Its worked great the 4-5 years ive had it. Taken it into some pretty big surf, and heavy moving waters with no issues.

Lets see if this link works...

CamDive 40m/130ft Underwater Waterproof Camera Housing Case for Fujifilm X-T1 Can Be used with 18-55mm Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UCVT1H0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_N9WPDbR1G3VM1


That and some small swim fins made for surf photography. Vital

Do you want something robust and expensive that can handle rough surf and watersports, or are you looking for something a bit more basic?

I've have friends who have had a lot of uccess using stuff like this DiCAPac underwater camera bag

Until I hit the big time, I don't think I'll be buying any more hard plastic housings, this style looks like it'll do good enough for me for quite some time.

I have 2 different ideas. If you want to do something charitable, there is the Backpack Buddies program. Its meant to give kids in low income families, healthy food to eat when they are not at school. My grandma was the president of the Longview, WA branch up until she passed earlier this year. Its a great program.

Or my 2nd idea is more personal for me. I am doing more and more photography, but a lot of things I want to photograph, I can't cause of water or other harmful elements to my camera.
http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Nikon-D3000-Underwater-Hous/dp/B003L75CUC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=13E7CSEZ2MOUS&coliid=I36QF7E2PSGWLZ
This is what I am wanting! I've previously posted pics here on Reddit. Help me expand what I can do :D
~Erica

Sadly, there really isn't an affordable way to waterproof a 4K mirrorless outside of the Sony A6300/A6500.

The next best 4K option is probably the [$888 (on sale) Sony RX100 Mark V] (https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-Digital-Camera/dp/B01MCRBY4X//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20) with a [$218 CamDive 40m/130' housing] (https://www.amazon.com/Camdive-Waterproof-Underwater-Camera-Housing/dp/B013LIF6HO//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20).

You'll lose the A6500's mic jack - and the sensor is smaller - but this camera can produce 4K underwater video that looks like this:

• [Makadi Bay 2016 - Sony RX100 V 4K by Andrea Tauer] (https://youtu.be/CwGpl4YfUxM) (2160p)
  
  And with a [$499 Zhiyun Crane M gimbal] (https://www.amazon.com/Zhiyun-Crane-M-Brushless-Handheld-Gimbal/dp/B01MAY6NCK//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20), you can get images that look like this:
  
  
• [Sony Rx100 V 4k + Zhiyun Crane + EOSHD Pro Color in Baja, Mexico by Joshua Morin] (https://youtu.be/oNEffuEy27k) (2160p)
  
  
• [Christmas 2016 at Berjaya Hills | Sony RX100 V 4K by Luke Hero] (https://youtu.be/G-EwzzcOuJA) (2160p)
  
  
• [ZHIYUN CRANE-M W/ SONY RX100 V - AUTUMN LEAVES by Raising Shanghai] (https://youtu.be/eQuDXl5sDGc) (1080p)
  
  
• [Sony RX100M5+Zhiyun Crane Test@Yokohama by Koichi Koichi] (https://youtu.be/ZuA94AM76PM) (1080p)
  
  
• [Chiang Mai Temple ( RX100 V , Zhiyun Crane-M ) by JC Rivard] (https://youtu.be/UslXGTJ6NIM) (1080p)
  
  Again, hope this is helpful!
  
  
  

I have a similar case to this that works well.

Once you get the waterproof case, you can use any GoPro or 3rd party GoPro accessory kits. A kit like this gives you a lot of options for a relatively low price (especially if compared to official GoPro accessories.)

To mount a camera to a helmet, you'll nee the 3M foam tape (included in that accessory pack above or separately) and, depending on your helmet, the flat or curved mount. Put the 3M tape on your desired mounting location on the helmet then the mount on top of that - wait the proscribed 24hrs, then you'll be good to go.

I have the Yi along with the official waterproof housing: YI Action Camera Waterproof Case: White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016I5VQJE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eM-dzbPG03YZR. It's probably the best you're going to get out of the bunch you've listed, and the quality rivals some of the more expensive Go Pros. If you get a Yi and a waterproof housing, I would get the official Yi waterproof housing as it does the best at preventing the fog.

I'm unsure of any other popular cameras that are used around here.

Cool video! Ever done spear fishing? I sometimes do it where the rocks are around the corner (south). Seen a few sharks around there which makes for good videos as long as you don't piss them off.

BTW there are red filter lenses for underwater use that basically take the blue/green tinge out of the video and looks really nice. Here's a video that shows the dif. This is just one I've heard of, there are heaps of brands that do it - I can't imagine there's too much difference in quality.

Any recommendations for a skeleton casing that doesn't cover the microphone ports on the hero 5 black? I saw a couple of videos of people making modifications by drilling holes on the GoPro skeleton casing to expose the microphone ports on the hero 5 black.

This is the only skeleton casing I found that exposes the microphone ports without any drilling or modifications. Its SOONSUN Skeleton Housing Case I'm not sure if there are better recommendations out there.

Was that using a waterproof case? All it says is it was a weather sealed camera. I'd think a camera would be pretty safe under something like this.

I would of thought the batteries would be getting better, I have a 5. It looks really good for 1080p. I bought an extended battery that goes inside a case this week, i'm hoping to get about 3 hours out of it.
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B072WNKBG2/ref=pe_2361882_283709292_TE_dp_2
I have not been able to keep my cameras down long enough to film crabs but hopefully with this case I will be able to. We also different types of crabs (blue swimmer, spanner) in Australia and I am filming in the open ocean so that adds to the challenge.

Well then, looks like you have a $200 solution. :)

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-WP-DC34-Underwater-Housing-PowerShot/dp/B002LITT5G

Kupton Housing Case Filter Kit for GoPro Hero 8 Black, Waterproof Case Diving Protective Housing Case + 3 Pack Filter + Anti-Fog Inserts + Bracket Accessories https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X6MCGQD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jriWDb1PNG97Y


Deyard 60M Waterproof Case for GoPro Hero 8 Black Underwater Waterproof Protective Housing Case for GoPro Action Camera with Quick Release Mount and Thumbscrew https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WDJ1TDS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_VqiWDbANSJDV8

Are you looking to photograph other surfers or photograph while surfing? The 7D is a great camera, but if you are just starting out there are some other options out there. There are some really capable high end compact cameras out there that have underwater housings. You may have to compromise on a few things, but I know I personally shoot a lot more with something that is easy to carry around. Those are just one example I came across a while back. There are probably more out there.

I have been looking at the Canon G12. From what I have read it's one of the better point and shoots for underwater. The only caveat is that the Canon underwater case you can buy for it has some bad reviews about leaking. That being said I was looking at picking up the Ikelite case for it, but it costs more than the camera does. All in you would be a little over $1000 US, but you would have a great consumer set up.

30m is a pretty serious depth. No 'water resistant' model will even come close to handling that, those are only meant for splashing around near the surface. Most consumer level point-and-shoot cameras described as 'water proof' can only handle 5-10m. The Canon D30 is the only one I know that comes close at 25m. If you really need it to go to 30m you'll need something with a full external housing like this one. But I have no idea what kind of quality you will get from that brand. Your best bet maybe to get a GoPro with underwater housing.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B072WNKBG2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1