Overview Hi everyone! I own a Sony A7CII and have been looking for an underwater housing for it. I recently noticed that AOI released a housing for this camera maybe it’s too new, I couldn’t find a single in-depth review online—so here’s mine. This is an honest, independent review. I’m not sponsored by AOI or any dive shop, and I paid full price for the housing. About Me I’m a seasonal diver and underwater photography hobbyist—usually just one dive trip a year. I’m not a professional underwater photographer, but over the years I’ve tried various camera setups and housings to find what works best for me. Here’s what I’ve owned and used: Olympus housing for TG-4 Seafrogs housing for TG-6 (technically my wife’s) Ikelite housings for Nikon D300 & Sony RX100VA Nauticam housings for Sony RX100VA, Canon 5D MkIII, and Nikon D800 With that experience, I hope this review will help anyone considering the AOI UH-A7CII. Why I Upgraded to the Sony A7CII My Nikon D800 with a 17–35mm lens in a Nauticam housing and Zen 230mm glass dome port was a joy to shoot with. Despite being heavy, I had it perfectly neutrally buoyant, and I can always get good still pictures. Everything changed during a recent trip to the Central Atolls of the Maldives with Mrs this January. Despite expectations of calm conditions, we encountered strong currents right from the descent. The current pushed us far from our group, and trying to swim back. However, holding a large camera that created heavy drag in one hand and a tired, slightly panicked Mrs in the other became impossible. At that moment, I knew it was time to downsize. I needed something lighter and more manageable without sacrificing too much on image and video quality. Why Not Other Brands? I looked at all the main players for A7CII housings: Nauticam – Great build and ergonomics, but heavy and extremely expensive. Marelux – Similar pros and cons to Nauticam, so also ruled out. Ikelite – I’ve owned two; both had issues and felt overpriced. Seafrogs – Tempting, but their native vacuum valve can only be used on land. You must break the seal to dive again, increasing the risk of oring issues. Also, no third-party vacuum valves I could find would work underwater with their housings. Why I Chose the AOI UH-A7CII AOI revealed this housing at DRT Taiwan in April, and it instantly caught my attention. It comes with vacuum and wet detection system, flash trigger, standard flat port and zoom gear for 28-60mm lens. Considering the size, weight, and price—it’s an incredible value. Even better, my existing wide-angle and macro wet lenses are compatible with the standard port. I’d already had hands-on time with AOI gear back in 2019 (Olympus EPL9/10 housing) and was impressed by the build quality, especially for the price. Knowing AOI is the OEM for Olympus housings gave me even more confidence. The housing only started shipping in late July/early August, and mine arrived two days ago. I ordered locally, and unboxing it was exciting. Unboxing Highlights Overview of all included items Housing opening – Hinge type and fail-safe latch Double orings design Fail safe port lock design – Port rotates to dedicated position then lock port release lever Water detection sensor Vacuum valve Housing base plate – unadvertised in any description and specification Removable cold shoe attachment – ¼” UNC Unified Coarse Thread Zoom gear & wireless flash trigger Camera base plate for lens release Camera fully setup Camera in housing My Impressions What I Like Compact, ergonomic design – Buttons have varied heights for easier use, and the OK button is positioned sensibly. Double orings – On both housing and port for added security. Triple fail-safe port release – Virtually eliminates accidental port detachment. One-piece rubber zoom gear – Easy to fit, grips well, and won’t scratch or break like metal/plastic versions. Wireless flash trigger – Easier camera installation, supports TTL (AOI/Backscatter flashes) and HSS. What I Dislike Not full camera control – The control wheel isn’t operable underwater (mine is set to white balance on land). Flash trigger limitations – Only supports AOI/Backscatter TTL protocol; my Retra Pro X with optical TTL won’t get triggered. Neutral Points Camera held by snug fit – Uses rubber feet instead of a locking base plate. It works for the small A7CII, but I’d still prefer a locking plate for security. No accessory bulkhead – Not an issue for me as a hobbyist, but could limit pro setups. Conclusion If you’re looking for a compact, feature rich housing for the Sony A7CII at a reasonable price, the AOI UH-A7CII is worth serious consideration. Unfortunately, my next dive trip isn’t until January 2026, and I don’t dive locally in the UK (too cold for my liking), so real underwater testing will have to wait. In the meantime, I can do some dry sim and am happy to answer any questions.
It’s a shame that it only supports their own strobes. I know it’s marketing strategy and I can’t really blame them. I do appreciate the wireless design of the flash trigger, it makes housing assembly much easier. However, I’m not a fan of the rechargeable battery used for both vacuum detection and flash triggering, as it only lasts about 10 hours (based on their listed specifications). While recharging the housing at the end of the day isn’t difficult, if the battery goes flat, you lose both vacuum detection AND flash triggering. Personally, I’d prefer a cell battery for the in-housing system so I could simply carry a spare and avoid the hassle of recharging.
