Advice for a beginner?

Hello everyone,

 

I'm a newcomer to both diving and underwater videography. I'm looking for a not-so-expensive (less than 1800 USD?) setup that will still give me some nice quality videos. I'm thinking maybe a used Sony HC3 with an Equinox or Ikelite housing? Or would it be better not to spring for the HC3 and get a lower-end miniDV camera and a better housing?

 

Advice or suggestions would be appreciated!

The HC3 is a neat little beginner camera. However it is no longer available and if anything happens to the camera, your housing is obsolete too unless you buy one of those TRV style series houses which can be used for upcoming models with lanc, one of the biggest advantages of using Sony.

DV is a great way to start shooting and still a viable solution for many, especially if you want something to last 1 year or so. I'm sure there are plenty of 3CCD used units in the market.

Hello everyone,

 

I'm a newcomer to both diving and underwater videography. I'm looking for a not-so-expensive (less than 1800 USD?) setup that will still give me some nice quality videos. I'm thinking maybe a used Sony HC3 with an Equinox or Ikelite housing? Or would it be better not to spring for the HC3 and get a lower-end miniDV camera and a better housing?

 

Advice or suggestions would be appreciated!

For +/- $1800 you can actually do a little better.

B&H has a couple of package deals currently:

 

$1459 for the Sony HDR-HC5 in a Equinox Pro6 housing.

$1675 for the Canon HV20 in a Equinox Pro6 housing.

$1930 for the Canon HV20 in an Ikelite housing.

$1999 for the Sony HDR-HC7 in an Equinox Pro6 housing.

 

All of the housings are camera specific though.

 

Another option is to put either Sony in a TopDawg II. Which is a "universal" electronic housing option - works with all Sony cameras with a LANC port.

It sells for $899. B&H sells the Sony HDR-HC5 for $795 currently.

 

Limiting factor is that you won't be able to see the LCD screen in the TopDawg. A poster on another board said that the viewfinder is a little hard to see in the TopDawg also.

 

And the HC7 might have some low-light issues if used without lights. Read the comments at the bottom of the review at camcorderinfo.com for more details.

For +/- $1800 you can actually do a little better.

B&H has a couple of package deals currently:

 

$1459 for the Sony HDR-HC5 in a Equinox Pro6 housing.

$1675 for the Canon HV20 in a Equinox Pro6 housing.

$1930 for the Canon HV20 in an Ikelite housing.

$1999 for the Sony HDR-HC7 in an Equinox Pro6 housing.

 

All of the housings are camera specific though.

 

Another option is to put either Sony in a TopDawg II. Which is a "universal" electronic housing option - works with all Sony cameras with a LANC port.

It sells for $899. B&H sells the Sony HDR-HC5 for $795 currently.

 

Limiting factor is that you won't be able to see the LCD screen in the TopDawg. A poster on another board said that the viewfinder is a little hard to see in the TopDawg also.

 

And the HC7 might have some low-light issues if used without lights. Read the comments at the bottom of the review at camcorderinfo.com for more details.

 

 

 

Thanks for your help guys. the HC5 seems like a good option for me. (I'm a big sony fan)

 

However, I do have a few questions...

 

You said the HC7 has poor low light performance unless used with lights (which I can't afford at the moment), but is the HC5 that much better?, because that's the reason I was planning on going for the discontinued HC3 - I've heard it's low light performance is much better than that of sony's current models.

 

Also, any thoughts or opinions on equinox vs. ikelite housings? The equinoxes seem to be quite a bit cheaper. Are they less reliable? Bigger & bulkier? Harder to use?

 

Oh, and I'm only a high school student, so I'm waiting til after X-mas to buy anything... will those package deals still be available by then?

 

Thanks a bunch!!!!!

 

(and please try to go easy on the technical lingo lol... I'm an experienced photographer (on land) but this is my first forray into the world of videography)

This is an old article I wrote. I would make some changes to it now but it should help you

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/underwater_douglas.html

Steve B)

You said the HC7 has poor low light performance unless used with lights (which I can't afford at the moment), but is the HC5 that much better?, because that's the reason I was planning on going for the discontinued HC3 - I've heard it's low light performance is much better than that of sony's current models.

In the comments section of the camcorder.info review someone posted that the low-light performance for the HC7 was worse than the HC5. Sony increased the concentration of CMOS elements on the chip in the same footprint so by packing them closer together, it creates more crosstalk (noise) which results in poorer low-light performance. The reviewer's summary seemed to agree. I've never seen a comparison between the HC3 and the HC5/7.

Also, any thoughts or opinions on equinox vs. ikelite housings? The equinoxes seem to be quite a bit cheaper. Are they less reliable? Bigger & bulkier? Harder to use?

I've never used either

Oh, and I'm only a high school student, so I'm waiting til after X-mas to buy anything... will those package deals still be available by then?

No idea...but B&H always has some sort of package deals.

You can also try to pick up a used setup. A lot of people upgrade their camera, and find they need a new housing. For example, I have a JVC DV camera and Ikelite housing I'm trying to figure out what to do with now that I shoot HDV. I bet there are a lot of people like me. You might be able to get something really cheap to start off with, and then upgrade as you become more familiar with underwater video. Your first few dives are going to be all learning about how to shoot under water anyway.

 

I would suggest buying a used setup locally (as opposed to over the internet) so that you can make sure it works. Arrange to take it to a dive shop and test it in the pool. If the camera has problems, and it is no longer being made, you might end up with a housing and no camera.

 

--Mark

Second hand is a great option for a cheap started kit. I would recommend checking ebay before you settle on a camera to see how many are being sold. You will probably find that any camera that was popular enough to have had a housing made will be pretty common on ebay. It is reassuring to know you can pick up a spare and if you do find a cheap one, it really helps your resale value when you decide to upgrade to be selling a housing with two cameras. If you do go second hand, make it a Gates, or Ikelite or something like that with no electronic controls - then you can be sure it will last.

 

Welcome to the addictive and expensive world of underwater video. You may never enjoy another dive again without you camera