Wetpixel Live: Choosing a Camera Housing

One of the most discussed subjects on the Wetpixel forums is that of housing choices. @Alex_Mustard and @adamhanlon chat through some ideas about choosing a housing and the process that prospective purchasers should undertake before selecting the one that is right for them.  Given that most ports and accessories are typically manufacturer-specific, decisions made early on have ramifications when upgrading too. 

There is another obligation when choosing Housing and Camera.

The tech of the housing in not dramatically changes while the tech of cameras changes from one generation to another. 

for instance: If I have he Z72 - Do I want to commit to this camera for the next 5-8 years ? Or should I go with the good old  D850 or maybe wait for the coming big leap forward of the Z9..?  

The same goes with Sony and Canon. Definitely there is always "next generation" but still.. It is long term relatanship... 

52 minutes ago, ido said:

Definitely there is always "next generation" but still.. It is long term relatanship... 

 

It is indeed. And not just in the maker of the camera - but in the make of the housing too. Once you have invested in a housing, there are the ports, the EXRs etc to go with it. Changing system with those parts alone is a very expensive business. So choose your camera system and choose your housing wisely!

Nice video, lots of good info provided.  After answering lots of questions from people on equipment on the forums it's clear to me as mentioned at the end it's important to look at the the choice from a total system viewpoint, many people have posted here asking if they can use a certain wet lens  or if a suitable port is available for a lens they are interested in only to be disappointed that it can't be done.  For each housing/camera system you might be interested in find the port charts and look through them to see what lenses are supported and check the fine print for any limitations.

Equally lots of people are keen to house a camera they love to use on land - often this is not their best choice once you look at the limitations that camera might impose or the cost to house it - or it's a camera with very limited support in housings.

Lastly cheap housings are often cheap for a reason and often don't have the wide support of lenses, don't do the work to optimise port placement or offer one size fits all solutions.  This is not necessarily the wrong choice,  but do your homework so that you understand the limitations that system imposes.