Canon WP-DC18 Underwater housing for Canon A650IS Digital Cameras

by Canon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 3.5 x 2.7 inches ; 10.9 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000V74S4Q
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 2315B001
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Underwater Case for Canon A650IS Digital Cameras

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full function under water, June 29, 2008

By 

Mark (Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Canon WP-DC18 Underwater housing for Canon A650IS Digital Cameras (Electronics)

I purchased this case along with the camera prior to a Caribbean trip where we made 8 dives up to 80 feet. Had no problems with the housing (or camera - separate review of A650IS). The housing gives you access to all functions of the camera, including power on/off so you can load the camera in the comfort and dry air of your room.

Instructions say to not leave the case sealed when not in use so the gasket doesn't lose its seal. As it may be months between uses, I am keeping the gasket ring in a small zip-lock bag, inside the housing which I lock shut. I plan to clean and re-apply the silicon grease before each dive trip.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Will suit an enthusiastic amateur. Does the job!, November 28, 2008

By 

Santhan Naidoo (Amanzimtoti) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon WP-DC18 Underwater housing for Canon A650IS Digital Cameras (Electronics)

I searched for many hours on the internet, reading forums and investigating dive sites where people were kind enough to share information about their camera setups. I eventually settled on this casing because it was the only one available for the canon A650 IS at the time of purchase.

The case works well and the flash diffuser serves it's purpose. I took the case to 27M depth. The first time I tested the case without the camera to ensure that there were no manufacturer defects and I advise everyone else to do the same. You can put a piece of tissue inside the case to test for leaks. One of the advanced divers on my first dive with the case shared a horror story about his first case (different model/make) and how a manufacturer's defect resulted in a loss of his brand new camera. Remember to take special care of the o-ring and always grease it with silicone before a dive. Make sure no dust gets on it.

One o the things to note is that this housing does not have functionality to attach a macro lens or an external flash that connects directly to the camera. I have seen a lady on a dive with a strobe that has it's own sensor. Perhaps this casing would not suit one interested in professional underwater photography.

Here are some pics I took with this camera on my first underwater photo shoot! Taken on the South Coast of KZN, the Aliwal Shoal.

http://www.godwriting.org/godwriting/guest-entry-under-the-sea.htm

Santhan Naidoo
Khanyi Media

www.khanyi.com

4.0 out of 5 stars this thing is really cool, September 22, 2010

By 

Chris Ray - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Canon WP-DC18 Underwater housing for Canon A650IS Digital Cameras (Electronics)

This thing is really cool. Well, it should be for the almost $200 I paid for it, I guess. The only thing I can say bad about this product goes almost without saying, but I have to mention it: When this thing is encasing the camera, the only audio it is going to pick up is from people and objects very close to the housing. I have taken this camera and housing underwater diving in Mexico (and in the pool in Mexico, lol), in the rain, in storms, snowboarding and snowskiing, and it performed almost flawlessly. To get overly critical, it does have a glitch sometimes (and I really think it's the camera) with the focus setting when recording in HD video with the camera. What I mean is sometimes I will hit record, and it's kind of fuzzy, and then when I try to sharpen the image, it won't cooperate. I'm thinking it's the camera, but it could be a small conflict between the housing lens and the camera lens. Make sure you use the light diffuser (it's an odd-shaped clip on/press on cloudy piece of plastic on a small, thin black cord) when you take pictures, or else you'll get a dark spot in your photos in one corner. Overall, this was money well spent.