Underwater Camera System Died on Me

[Kazzer]

I've had my Sony Handycam for 8 + years and have used it for numerous underwater videos I've made for submarines and vacations. But a couple weeks ago, the viewing screen went 'pixel' on me. I sent it off to a Sony repair shop and yesterday, in the mail, came the estimate - $300! The camera cost about the same so I'm really puzzled by their numbers. However ------

I'm going to buy a new one. I have the underwater case for the old Handycam, but I'm thinking things may have improved over the past 8 years, so perhaps I'll start over?

Here's the MkII version of the case. I have the MkI

I've never had any mechanical problems with this, but what I don't like about it is the fold-out viewing area. The actual camera screen is flipped over and folding back into the camera, and is viewed via a mirror in the fold-out viewer. Being blind as a bat, I have trouble viewing, especially in bright sunlight underwater.

I only need something to use in a pool or snorkeling in the Caribbean, and for doing indoor videos of for Youtube and the Caswell webpage.

I'm considering getting the Sanyo Dual Camera Xacti VPC-WH1BL - 720P HD Underwater Camcorder - 30x Optical Zoom



Here's the spec sheet and product info!

Amazon.com sells these for the incredible price of $129.00 with free shipping. At that price, I can't think I could go wrong.

What sayest you all?

[Subculture]

I use a Sanyo Xacti HD2000, and it is a fabulous little camera that shoots full 1080p at upto 60 frames per second and also allows full manual control, and takes very acceptable stills. It has a good lens although it could with a wider field of view IMO. The compact nature of modern lenses means that a lens hood is really essential unless shooting indoors if you want to get the best picture quality.

Sanyo do a 1080P waterproof camera (CA100), and I'd whole-heartedley recommend them. Sanyo are mavericks in the camcorder world- they do things their own way, which you will either love or hate. My HD2000 has the Star Trek phaser style layout. This reminds me of older cine cameras, and I really like it, however some people prefer a more conventional layout like the model you linked to.

On the minus side Sanyos LCD screens aren't quite as good as Sony and Panasonic's latest offerings, and depending on your point of view, you may miss a touch screen.

BTW, Sanyo have been bought out by Panasonic, and have since merged a lot of their technology with their camcoder range; which is excellent but a lot more beans, and AFAIK they don't do a waterproof camcorder that shoots HD

http://thereallymobileproject.com/20...-xacti-ca-100/#

BTW in that article it says you need a class 10 SD card for shooting 1080P HD. Complete bobbins, a class 4 card is quite sufficient. I use a 16GB class 4 card and it shoots perfectly and gives me over 2 hours of footage at highest definition.

Andy

[Albion]

Mike - it will be the motherboard, sound has gone on one of my sony's and they quoted me similar numbers. lukily its my underwater camera and sound doesnt matter. however as its a sign that the cameras was on way out i bought a second one. My diving camera housing costs 2x the camera, so replacing the whole set up is major $$$. the sound went 5 years ago, camera still going strong and its 10 years old. These sony's deliver the goods

[greenman407]

Mike, how do you use your camera? Is it housed in a WTC and mounted on a sub or do you put it in a stationary position and drive your subs at the camera?

[Kazzer]

Mike, how do you use your camera? Is it housed in a WTC and mounted on a sub or do you put it in a stationary position and drive your subs at the camera?

See my Up-periscope system here! I also use the Fischer Scientific camera. with my Sony Handycam (now relegated to the bin) I could snorkel and take video. I also mounted it on a tripod with a weight on it and drove the boat at it, but that was messy.

[oztruck]

Must be the season for cameras to die. mounted my KEY RING CAM to my sub yesterday drove around the pond with about 7 targets to LOOK at got some great shots. After 45 mins of fun came back in and took the camera off the sub and saw 3mm of water sitting in the bottom of its water tight camera case. End of camera and the SD card has a file I cant open, move or delete. The camera is dead, long live the new camera.

[Subculture]

Have you seen the 720P HD keyring cams?

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1362692

[oztruck]

Subculture: your page was where I first found out about the Key ring's. There was a mention about Tic Tack's case to hold the camera.
That is what I was using with varied success. How do you get them water tight or is there a better way. My #3 (the one that got wet) had a good problem, when I got it the lens was on sideways, to put it another way, the camera has to be on its side with the USB port on the bottom to capture video the correct way up. Get it sitting 3/8" higher than standard. They are very good value and a lot of fun is to be had with them.

[Subculture]

I've turned a couple of wooden masters for a teardrop shaped enclosure for the 808's. Just got to mould them. That is the ideal.

A couple of people have made some quick and dirty enclosures using bits of tubing (miniature wtc's). One was shaped a bit like a hockey puck.

There is also the converted pop bottle enclosure featured on the chucklor page, which looks a bit bodgy but is a good enclosure, although more suited to handheld use.

Andy

[oztruck]

I thing I might have found the problem with the Tic-Tac box. Because they are soft I found I could turn the camera on and off inside the box But what it also does is push some of the air out and creates a small vacuum inside the box. Tried the box without applying any pressure on the outside and it now seems water tight after applying some tape around the lid. Time and some deep running will soon tell me if I am correct in what I am thinking.

[Kazzer]

I finally made up my mind to try this camera.



See their web page

At $170.00 it seems too good to pass up. It should be here in a couple of days, so I'll let you know how it goes!

I did see one problem with it, but hopefully it isn't serious and certainly won't effect the operational qualities. Anyone else see it?

[Subculture]

Yes- the 'pecision' (sic) lens. You do realise that it doesn't have an optical zoom, don't you?

The Sanyo was a much better buy IMO, even though it was lower definition (pixels aren't everything).

Andy