Need some help with DIY Video Housing

Hello everybody,

I am a virgin with posting here. Just want to see if I can get any advise with making my own Video Housing.

What I am thinking,

I got a Sony HDR-CX7 camcorder, high-def, memory cards. Very small!! I dont know how it will be under water as i have not read any posts on it.

Need help with advise with materials and other suggestions.

Was thinking about making a simple housing, using a dome port and wide angle lens allready mounted on the camcorder. Just a plain simple round design with wings. Clear 1" acrylic back plate with a 2.5" lcd moniter mounted behind it. Simple controls(on/off, zoom,) and to top it off with HID or Leds for my lighting.

For Sealing:

I have built my own canister light, do you its ok if you the same design for o-ring? a back plate lathed to a t shape so can just fit one o-ring on it and latch it with ss clamps form mcmaster.com. Max depth woulnt go past 40Meters

DomePort:

Is this really neccesary? Heard the good and bads. Mostly want to do wide angle and some macro but not much. For the dome port i was looking at the 4" replacement lens from the Equinox pro 6 housings.

Material:

What type of plastic should i use? how thick should the walls be? Where to buy? What about delrin?

Controls:

where to buy? Should I try and use some kind of Lanc? or maybe even mount the remote inside and just use smaller push buttons? This is where I am gonna need help with as this would be the most important and probably where i would mess up and the housing would leak.

Thanks everybody I really appreciate any advise and will post pics with the progress

Nick

For Sealing:

I have built my own canister light, do you its ok if you the same design for o-ring? a back plate lathed to a t shape so can just fit one o-ring on it and latch it with ss clamps form mcmaster.com.

Controls:

where to buy?

Should I try and use some kind of Lanc?

Your keen dude,

Your better off getting an old one from ebay or something and adapting it. Lots of old tube kinds floating around.

Mine is pretty simple also with an external dome lens and no controls yet (see pic). I got it from ebay for $100. All I did was modify it a little and buy new seals and it is good to 32 meters so far.

my 2c anyway

Hey nick good luck on the new housing. Unfortunately I can't help you on the body construction of it but here is how I customized my back port for a larger LCD http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22244 I like the ikelite controls (had them on my old still setup) but for some reason like the ones I got from equinox a lot better. Not sure on pricing for the Ikelite controls but the equinox ones are kind of expensive, $45/each. Luckily I only needed one. Again good luck!

Billy

Hey nick good luck on the new housing. Unfortunately I can't help you on the body construction of it but here is how I customized my back port for a larger LCD http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22244 I like the ikelite controls (had them on my old still setup) but for some reason like the ones I got from equinox a lot better. Not sure on pricing for the Ikelite controls but the equinox ones are kind of expensive, $45/each. Luckily I only needed one. Again good luck!

 

Billy

Thanks everybody, really appreciate it.

What kind of material for the tube you think would be strong enough?

The camera doesnt have Lanc but I heard there is a way to make it work.

Cheers

Mine's aluminium but sheesh, after seeing what Empty has done, you could go to NASA and ask them

Hello everybody,

 

I am a virgin with posting here. Just want to see if I can get any advise with making my own Video Housing.

 

What I am thinking,

 

I got a Sony HDR-CX7 camcorder, high-def, memory cards. Very small!! I dont know how it will be under water as i have not read any posts on it.

 

Need help with advise with materials and other suggestions.

Was thinking about making a simple housing, using a dome port and wide angle lens allready mounted on the camcorder. Just a plain simple round design with wings. Clear 1" acrylic back plate with a 2.5" lcd moniter mounted behind it. Simple controls(on/off, zoom,) and to top it off with HID or Leds for my lighting.

 

For Sealing:

I have built my own canister light, do you its ok if you the same design for o-ring? a back plate lathed to a t shape so can just fit one o-ring on it and latch it with ss clamps form mcmaster.com. Max depth woulnt go past 40Meters

 

I use a ali tube 1/4 in thick and plexi ports end. 1 oring. Each port is 20mm thick.

The housing have been used to 700ft.

 

 

DomePort:

Is this really neccesary? Heard the good and bads. Mostly want to do wide angle and some macro but not much. For the dome port i was looking at the 4" replacement lens from the Equinox pro 6 housings.

 

Buy a dome , and make a convertor, or cut off an old Ike dome and attach on front. Use special plexi glue.

 

Material:

What type of plastic should i use? how thick should the walls be? Where to buy? What about delrin?

 

Controls:

where to buy? Should I try and use some kind of Lanc? or maybe even mount the remote inside and just use smaller push buttons? This is where I am gonna need help with as this would be the most important and probably where i would mess up and the housing would leak.

Thanks everybody I really appreciate any advise and will post pics with the progress

 

Lan control with buttons, or obtain old control that uses magnetic stitches.