DicaPac WP510 185x118mm Large Alfa Waterproof Digital Camera Case with Optical Lens (Clear)

by DiCAPac

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 4.5 x 2.2 inches ; 2.9 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001C0QUW4
• Item model number: WP510
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 1, 2008

Product Description

The DicaPac WP510 Waterproof case for digital cameras are made of non-toxic materials (RoHS) and are tested and are of waterproof grade JIS IPX8 (Japaness Industrial Standard's highest waterproof grade). Underwater lab tested to 16ft . Patented roll and velcro zipper system which allows full funtionality of camera controls. It also has a removable optical lens with diffused reflection prevention. The big addition is a polycarbonate quality lens (clear and hard to break) opening that lets you take pictures with zoom control even when the camera is in the pouch. The lens has a 3-layer coating both inside and outside. (UV coating, Water repellent coating, Scratch resistance coating for quality pictures.) It also floats when you drop it into water.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Waterproof Case, August 15, 2010

By 

White Lotus (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DicaPac WP510 185x118mm Large Alfa Waterproof Digital Camera Case with Optical Lens (Clear) (Electronics)

I like this case because it doesn't cost a lot and it allows you to use your own digital camera. I used it few days ago and it worked well. It takes some getting used to because it is sometimes difficult to push the buttons through the hard plastic cover.

I took the Dicapac out with me on a surfing trip to Green Lake and I lost it once when I fell off my surfboard. Luckily it floated on the surface so I could retrieve it. The unit did a good job keeping water out.

Different cameras have different lenses. For me I use Panasonic ZR1 and the lens is kind of small. When I turn the camera on I have to make sure I don't get the black round corners in the picture. To avoid this I can either zoom in with the lens which makes it protrude more and move it closer to the edge of the ring, or I can simply manipulate the black ring so that it isn't so close to the edge. Sorry, I don't have any "guaranteed" work arounds for this, you just have to work with it.

Sound comes out well even though it's encased in the plastic.

When I first put the camera inside I didn't realize the lens cover came off the Dicapac as well (you twist it). Not sure what this does, but it may help you to put the camera in if it's a tight fit. There wasn't an instruction manual.

I've used disposable waterproof cameras by Fuji and Kodak and I would much rather go with a digital camera. This way the pictures come out better, assuming you have enough light, and you can also shoot video.

Shooting underwater is tough. If you've ever done it before you know how challenging it can be, especially in moving water. The hardest part is having enough light. I would not go more than 3 or 4 feet under because you lose light in a hurry after that. If you are 6 feet or deeper then don't be surprised if the picture doesn't turn out.

If you are shooting in a place with lots of moisture like under a waterfall or at a beach where there's lots of sand, you can use this case to protect the lens and camera.

Tips
- Tie a string or something to the Dicapac and attach it to your arm or wrist. The worst thing you can do is lose it in the water and watch your expensive digital camera and/or waterproof pouch sink.
- If you shoot video and you get the black ring showing in the picture you can use video editor like Sony Vegas to zoom in on the picture and crop out the black part. For pictures you can use Photoshop.
- When you put your camera in, make sure there's some air inside. This way if you ever lose the camera, it will float.
- If you are really paranoid about water getting inside you can put alka seltzer tablet in with it. This way if water gets inside it will start fizzling and you'll know it's leaking.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect fit if you own a Canon Powershot A590, April 24, 2010

By 

Ho "Value Conscience" (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DicaPac WP510 185x118mm Large Alfa Waterproof Digital Camera Case with Optical Lens (Clear) (Electronics)

DicaPac listed the WP510 as being the appropriate size bag for the Powershot A590 but I was a little hesitant to take their word for it because other reviewers were saying this bag is really big and you will need to pad the bag to keep the camera from moving around. I took a risk and bought the WP510 because I needed it for a water park party my daughters were invited to in about a week (either I spend for a bag or a new camera.)

When it arrived I was sure the bag was too big for my camera (why didn't I listen the reviewers!)

The bag tested well when I ran the preliminary underwater test in my bathroom sink; no water seeped into the bag despite numerous dunks under water.

I then put my A590 into the WP510. It takes a little finesse to carefully and gingerly slide the camera into the bag despite the bag being pretty big. The camera fit PERFECTLY into the WP510 once positioned properly. The lens casing did not intrude into any of my pictures and framing my pictures through the LCD screen was easily done (if you have a camera with a viewfinder - very hard to find these days - the lens casing of the WP 510 does obstruct your view but isn't seen in the actual picture itself.) The WP510 although appears large is really not large at all because after you finish folding and sealing your camera in it, much of the sense of "bigness" is gone.

I did not have to pad my camera in the bag to keep it from moving around because the bag actually sticks to the camera preventing it from moving around. During the water park party I had the camera hung around my neck and was chasing my two daughters around and was getting hit by water cannons and water falls and the camera never moved from its initial position and water never entered the bag despite over three hours of water time.

Be sure to put a silica packet into the bag with your camera to prevent condensation from forming inside of the camera bag.

This product is sturdy and very well made and much cheaper than spending $300 for an underwater camera.

My only dissatisfaction with this product is if you own a camera with wheel controls if is very difficult to spin the wheel to the appropriate setting ie. from camera mode to movie mode. This is due to the stickiness and density of the WP 510. Pick a setting on the camera and stick with it. Pushing the camera buttons is easy to do.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Product!, July 20, 2008

By 

Lauralyn B. Cannistra - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I took this on a sea kayaking/camping trip in Maine this summer and I have to say that I was truly impressed with the case! Through salt spray and a couple of drops in the water (doesn't float too well, be careful!) the case worked very well! I have a Canon Powershot A75 which fit perfectly into the case with no problems, and not a drop of water came in! Very good purchase.