Underwater Video

Size and fit: Smaller housings that fit the shape of the camcorder more precisely have less airspace in them so require less balance to get neutral buoyancy. Larger housings are easier to keep steady, though the addition of fins can stabilise a smaller housing.
Weight: When you travel by air then excess baggage fees can be a pain for heavier outfits – though the weight is more likely to come from the batteries in your lights.
Buoyancy: A good housing, with the camera installed should be approximately neutral underwater. In reality, once you put your lights on the buoyancy is affected and needs compensation. Taping polystyrene blocks is the most effective way of doing this.
Balance: The ideal housing should just float in place when you let go of it. It should not have a tendency to tilt or barrel roll. Again, once lights are on it the balance changes - so you need to be strategic where you tape on polystyrene foam for trim.
Ergonomics: How easily the controls fall to hand. The camcorder may have ergonomic controls but, to get a mechanical rod through the housing and mate up inside may mean that the controls on the outside are in some awkward places.
Control Type: are either mechanical or electronic. Electronic controls can be placed in some very convenient places but do not survive floods. If a mechanical housing floods, fix the cause, throw away the old camera and use your backup! That might sound excessive but, if you’ve just spent a couple of $1000 dollars on a trip, this might mean the difference between going home with results – or none!
Viewfinders: are either Magnifiers or Monitor. Remember, it may look OK in the store but, inside a housing, underwater, with your mask on it’s not so easy to see! If you can afford a monitor get one, it makes seeing the subject a dream – well if the ambient light isn’t too strong anyway!
Essential Controls – on/off, record/stop, manual white-balance
Ports and Lenses: Camcorder lenses are designed for use on land, where subjects are relatively distant so you will need ports and/or conversion lenses for underwater subjects. More on that later.
Microphones: external mikes are not essential. You’ll learn more about your own skip breathing than ever when you playback! Or, you can overdub a bubble loop.
Accessories: especially for mounting lights

Next >> Underwater Lenses

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