how to take a camcorder under water?

Hi,

I haven't started scuba diving yet, but have been doing some
snorkling. I have a Sony camcorder that I'd like to take down
a few feet to record the fish. Can anyone suggest a good way
of doing it?

Thanks!
David

dh@.

<dh@.> wrote in message news:...
> Hi,
>
> I haven't started scuba diving yet, but have been doing some
> snorkling. I have a Sony camcorder that I'd like to take down
> a few feet to record the fish. Can anyone suggest a good way
> of doing it?
>
> Thanks!
> David

For just a few feet, Ewa-Marine makes water-proof pouches for most
camcorders. However, if you're scuba diving, and intend to go to any depth,
you should get a full underwater housing. Ewa-Marine makes those as well.

If you look around the internet, you can find plans for building your own
housing. I made one that I used with my old Hi8 camcorder. It was made of
commonly-available plumbing supplies -- I use PVC pipe, an end cap and a
flange for the body, and got a piece of polycarbonate for the front port. I
took the rig down at least 30 feet.

PTRAVEL

<dh@.> wrote in message news:...
> Hi,
>
> I haven't started scuba diving yet, but have been doing some
> snorkling. I have a Sony camcorder that I'd like to take down
> a few feet to record the fish. Can anyone suggest a good way
> of doing it?
>
> Thanks!
> David

Depends on whether you want it to work or not.... Just kidding.

Many of the camcorders on the market can be outfitted with underwater
housings. Check the camera vendor or Ikelite.

David Gintz

David Gintz wrote:
> <dh@.> wrote in message news:...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I haven't started scuba diving yet, but have been doing some
> > snorkling. I have a Sony camcorder that I'd like to take down
> > a few feet to record the fish. Can anyone suggest a good way
> > of doing it?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > David
>
> Depends on whether you want it to work or not.... Just kidding.
>
> Many of the camcorders on the market can be outfitted with underwater
> housings. Check the camera vendor or Ikelite.

For very shallow depths there are camera pouches that are waterproof if
properly sealed. (think big zip lock bag with a lens fitting.)

For deeper waters, or to keep your camera really safe , you need a
proper camera housing. Any good dive shop should be able to point you
at a suitable housing. The more controls you can access generally the
more expensive and the greater chance of leaks. The best housings I
have seen have a hose to attach to your tank and pressurize the housing.

marks542004@yahoo.com

Thus spake dh@. :

>Hi,
>
>I haven't started scuba diving yet, but have been doing some
>snorkling. I have a Sony camcorder that I'd like to take down
>a few feet to record the fish. Can anyone suggest a good way
>of doing it?
>
>Thanks!
>David

How old is the camera? Sony makes housings for most of their cameras.
Probably about the same price as something from, say, Ikelite. But if
it's an older camera, eBay is your friend.

Hauling a video camera is a pretty tough thing for snorkeling. It's
either too bouyant or too negative. And, unless you're a super free
diver, you won't have more than a few seconds to use it.

--
dillon
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.

Dillon Pyron

On Sun, 29 May 2005 22:40:14 GMT, Dillon Pyron <> wrote:

>Thus spake dh@. :
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I haven't started scuba diving yet, but have been doing some
>>snorkling. I have a Sony camcorder that I'd like to take down
>>a few feet to record the fish. Can anyone suggest a good way
>>of doing it?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>David
>
>How old is the camera? Sony makes housings for most of their cameras.
>Probably about the same price as something from, say, Ikelite. But if
>it's an older camera, eBay is your friend.
>
>Hauling a video camera is a pretty tough thing for snorkeling. It's
>either too bouyant or too negative. And, unless you're a super free
>diver, you won't have more than a few seconds to use it.

It's a fairly new camera...about 3 years old. I just want to use it
near the surface, to get shots of the little fish who hang around
when I'm in the water. I don't use my arms most of the time anyway,
so I should be able to bob along using my feet and holding the
camera, I believe.
At the moment I'm trying to work something out using a ziplock
freezer bag, and glueing it shut. I tried PVC cement so far, but it
takes a real long time to dry. Maybe hot glue would work?

dh@.

Do it right or don't bother. Unless you don't mind trashing your camera
because your rigged method failed and you soak your camera...


<dh@.> wrote in message news:...
> On Sun, 29 May 2005 22:40:14 GMT, Dillon Pyron
<> wrote:
>
> >Thus spake dh@. :
> >
> >>Hi,
> >>
> >>I haven't started scuba diving yet, but have been doing some
> >>snorkling. I have a Sony camcorder that I'd like to take down
> >>a few feet to record the fish. Can anyone suggest a good way
> >>of doing it?
> >>
> >>Thanks!
> >>David
> >
> >How old is the camera? Sony makes housings for most of their cameras.
> >Probably about the same price as something from, say, Ikelite. But if
> >it's an older camera, eBay is your friend.
> >
> >Hauling a video camera is a pretty tough thing for snorkeling. It's
> >either too bouyant or too negative. And, unless you're a super free
> >diver, you won't have more than a few seconds to use it.
>
> It's a fairly new camera...about 3 years old. I just want to use it
> near the surface, to get shots of the little fish who hang around
> when I'm in the water. I don't use my arms most of the time anyway,
> so I should be able to bob along using my feet and holding the
> camera, I believe.
> At the moment I'm trying to work something out using a ziplock
> freezer bag, and glueing it shut. I tried PVC cement so far, but it
> takes a real long time to dry. Maybe hot glue would work?

Biz

<dh@.> wrote in message news:...
> On Sun, 29 May 2005 22:40:14 GMT, Dillon Pyron
> <> wrote:
>
>>Thus spake dh@. :
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I haven't started scuba diving yet, but have been doing some
>>>snorkling. I have a Sony camcorder that I'd like to take down
>>>a few feet to record the fish. Can anyone suggest a good way
>>>of doing it?
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>David
>>
>>How old is the camera? Sony makes housings for most of their cameras.
>>Probably about the same price as something from, say, Ikelite. But if
>>it's an older camera, eBay is your friend.
>>
>>Hauling a video camera is a pretty tough thing for snorkeling. It's
>>either too bouyant or too negative. And, unless you're a super free
>>diver, you won't have more than a few seconds to use it.
>
> It's a fairly new camera...about 3 years old. I just want to use it
> near the surface, to get shots of the little fish who hang around
> when I'm in the water. I don't use my arms most of the time anyway,
> so I should be able to bob along using my feet and holding the
> camera, I believe.
> At the moment I'm trying to work something out using a ziplock
> freezer bag, and glueing it shut. I tried PVC cement so far, but it
> takes a real long time to dry. Maybe hot glue would work?

That's a real bad idea, unless you don't like your camera very much.

For every 33 feet you descend (34 in fresh water), the pressure increases 1
atmosphere. At fifteen feet or so you've added half an atmosphere of
pressure, which is more than enough to find the smallest leak or pin-hole
and force water through it into the bag.

PTRAVEL

"PTRAVEL" wrote ...
> For every 33 feet you descend (34 in fresh water), the
> pressure increases 1 atmosphere. At fifteen feet or so
> you've added half an atmosphere of pressure, which is
> more than enough to find the smallest leak or pin-hole
> and force water through it into the bag.

I wouldn't even walk ankle-deep in the surf with a makeshift
ziplock-bag around any of my camcorders. Especially in salt-
water. Even if you could get a reliable seal, there is still the
lens port to deal with.

Richard Crowley

On Mon, 30 May 2005 13:59:13 -0700, "PTRAVEL"
<ptravel88-> wrote:

>For every 33 feet you descend (34 in fresh water), the pressure increases 1
>atmosphere. At fifteen feet or so you've added half an atmosphere of
>pressure, which is more than enough to find the smallest leak or pin-hole
>and force water through it into the bag.

The OP will probably be smart enough to do a test-run _without_ camera

Silicon paste also comes in handy to close the gaps.

cheers

-martin-

--
"Now I want you to say it thrice daily and don't dress a bun"

Martin Heffels