Underwater/Weatherproof Housing

Rleap348 · Feb 12, 2013

Tried searching but couldn't find anything so here go's nothing.

I just started my interest in photography about 3 months ago and bought a Nikon D5100.(just wanted to throw that out there so you all know I'm new and Know VERY little about cameras).

So, after purchasing my camera I started looking at underwater/weatherproof Housings/bags and didn't see a whole lot of options (at least affordable ones).
I figured since I work for a company that makes underwater products and myself having experience in mechanical engineering/machining, I would just design/make one myself.
I've already started my Rough design and figured out most of the dimensions (see pictures below), but had a few questions.

-What is the preferable lens for underwater shooting? (mainly snorkling and recreational stuff) and should zoom be integrated or would fixed be fine.

-Should the port be Rounded or flat? and am I going to run into any glare issues?

-What flash should be used? If any? The only flash I've used is on my camera. which could be integrated if its good enough.

These are the issues I'm stuck on right now, I'm sure there will be more to come.

Any help would be appreciated and suggestions/ideas to make it better are always welcome.

Ryan

xAGENTxMULDERx · Feb 13, 2013

off the top of my head id go with fixed lens, the more moving parts the more trouble youre probably going to have.

Ilovemycam · Feb 13, 2013

Every digital UW cam I had leaked in a very short time. Ikelite housing leaked after a few uses. Only thing that held up was Nikonos.

Mully · Feb 13, 2013

Find a used Nikonos ... they work fine no problems, granted it is a film camera but how much underwater shooting are you going to do?

Canuk · Feb 13, 2013

Ilovemycam said:
Every digital UW cam I had leaked in a very short time. Ikelite housing leaked after a few uses. Only thing that held up was Nikonos.

I will have to disagree w/ the Ikelite housings leaking after a few uses. I have one that I have used for the past 2.5years and has been on countless dives down to 150+ feet, never one drop of water inside.
Most of the problems that occur w/ leaking seals has to do w/ poor maintenance and not properly cleaning the seals. One grain of sand, or one hair on an o-ring can and will cause a leak.
The nice thing about an Ikelite housing is that it is completely clear. If you check for leaks at surface they are very easy to see and fix before the camera gets flooded.

-Should the port be Rounded or flat? and am I going to run into any glare issues?

-What flash should be used? If any? The only flash I've used is on my camera. which could be integrated if its good enough.

Most of the ports I have seen are rounded in the front for wide angle use and to help w/ refraction.
Strobes are needed as you desend as the refraction of the water causes colors to be lost, reds being the first to go.

For snorkelling, I would probably recommend getting one of the many tough cameras that are available. The rated depth of them is ussually 30'.
Canon makes its own housing for the G11-G12. The housing is around $200 and the G12 has dropped in price since the release of the G15. The G12 also has a shortcut button that can be set for custom white balance, which will help eliminate the color loss.

ph0enix · Feb 13, 2013

I fail to understand how designing and building a prototype underwater housing is going to be cheaper (or better, for that matter) than what's available on the market.

Big Mike · Feb 13, 2013

I fail to understand how designing and building a prototype underwater housing is going to be cheaper (or better, for that matter) than what's available on the market.

I agree. Start with a cost analysis.

There are companies that have been making these housings for many, many years. Take a close looks that those, as it will probably answer most of your questions. If you can then design something less expensive (but still equally as effective), you'll have something.

ChaseH · Feb 13, 2013

I'm surprised to hear someone down on Ikelite, they're pretty much the gold standard. I'm sure there have been the odd problems though. You're paying a lot, but what you need to be focusing on is buoyancy and the effects of pressure. If you're really just using in a pool or light snorkling, the pressure won't be as much of an issue and you probably wouldn't need the multithousand dollar housings. If you freedive beyond 25ft or SCUBA, you'll need serious closures that withstand the mounting pressure.

With your own design, you'll likely need to leave a space for weights, which could be externally attached, but you don't want that to float and the camera body may not sink in the housing the way you anticipate.

Internal flashes will be mostly useless. You'll want to block or prevent them, while allowing for an external strobe attachement. Ikelite does make a rather inexpensive slave strobe. The internal strobe is blocked by a think defuser, but it does get enough light sideways to the slave to trigger for the shot.

Rleap348 · Feb 13, 2013

ph0enix said:
I fail to understand how designing and building a prototype underwater housing is going to be cheaper (or better, for that matter) than what's available on the market.

I guess I forgot to mention I have a full CNC machine shop at my disposal, As well as most materials I will need so the cost will definitely be under $200 if not less. Also working in the underwater robotics field for the past 8 years leaking isn't really something I'm worried about.(I hate to sound cocky).

Thanks for all the advice.

I think I'll do an external flash later on since I won't be doing any diving too deep anytime soon. And I'll probably be going with a fixed lens to start with since it will be less difficult to make.

This will serve as a weatherproof housing as well for shooting desert racing since it tends to get a little dusty. So if all else fails I guess it serve some purpose in the end.

I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.

Ryan

ph0enix · Feb 14, 2013

Rleap348 said:
ph0enix said:

I fail to understand how designing and building a prototype underwater housing is going to be cheaper (or better, for that matter) than what's available on the market.

Click to expand...

I guess I forgot to mention I have a full CNC machine shop at my disposal, As well as most materials I will need so the cost will definitely be under $200 if not less. Also working in the underwater robotics field for the past 8 years leaking isn't really something I'm worried about.(I hate to sound cocky).

Thanks for all the advice.

I think I'll do an external flash later on since I won't be doing any diving too deep anytime soon. And I'll probably be going with a fixed lens to start with since it will be less difficult to make.

This will serve as a weatherproof housing as well for shooting desert racing since it tends to get a little dusty. So if all else fails I guess it serve some purpose in the end.

I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.

Ryan