Some Truths About Water Housings

Unlike a camera housing made for diving, a Water Housing needs to be as light weight as possible as the photographer will be holding it. Some will be swimming with it, and need to lift it up to take a picture. On occasion it may be mounted on the boom of a yacht or a Windsurfer, an airplane wing or a kite. Even on the helmet of a sky diver. I have made Radio controlled housings that are  mounted on surf boards even wake boards and a water ski. And yes even people. In almost 50 years, I have done it all! What about a radio or microwave link to shore so the producer can see what’s going on. And with two way radio to the photographer to suggest the shots he wants while the action is going on.

So you can see that weight is quite a consideration. Yet, these housings are constantly getting wet and sometimes get quite a dunking  and they will easily go to 15 feet down. And most have positive buoyancy! To achieve this goal, the housing must be made as small and compact as possible. This can only be achieved by a custom housing.

Think, if you have a non standard lens, such as the 4 inch diameter .55X Century wide angle now  very popular on the Pro camcorders. Can they be accommodated in the production housing? What about a 200-400 and even longer telephoto? No problem.  I have made housings for cameras that have to be left unattended before a shuttle launch, and triggered by sound, as well as systems used to trigger the camera left for days in a jungle to snap wary animals, such as the Snow Leopard.

Fill flash makes a great picture especially early morning, at dusk, or against the sun. With a hot shoe flash and or a Pocket Wizard all in the housing these shots are possible. I can also make a separate system for your flash and Pocket Wizard. Fire the extra flash, or multiples from the housing. Fire the camera from the external flash. Get that extra edge in your pictures.

At Sea Research all Water Housings are made one at a time. Yes this is custom work, and that usually means higher cost. But, with my low overhead large inventory and over 45 years experience my prices are very competitive with production housings and most times cost less.  You have to stay ahead of competition, so, Use your imagination, I can help          Jim