Sony SPK-HCB Sports Pack for DVR-DVD105, 203, 205, 305, 403, 405, 505, 92, DCR-HC21, 26, 32, 36, 42, 46, 90, 96 & HDR-HC3 Camcorders

by Sony

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000EC7BRO
• Item model number: SPK-HCB
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 22, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Capture stunning video underwater with the new SPK-HCB Sports Pack from Sony. Designed to protect your compatible Handycam camcorder, the SPK-HCB lets you record amazing digital video and still images at a depth of up to 17 feet. Perfect for keeping your Handycam safe from rain, sleet or snow during difficult weather conditions, the SPK-HCB Sports Pack lets you record extraordinary video while keeping your Sony Handycam camcorder safe from the elements.

What's in the Box
Sports pack, shoulder strap, camera mounting shoe, reflex prevention rings, grease, spacer, and anti-fogging solution.

Product Description

Sports pack for Sony Camcorders

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond expectations, May 21, 2006

By 

Jonathan Manrique - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony SPK-HCB Sports Pack for DVR-DVD105, 203, 205, 305, 403, 405, 505, 92, DCR-HC21, 26, 32, 36, 42, 46, 90, 96 & HDR-HC3 Camcorders (Electronics)

It is rated for 5 meters but I took it to 9 and there were no sings of moisture or a single drop. The antifogging solution provided works for more than an hour. The microphone records sound well. I have a High Def cam and the S.Pack did not decrease image quality inside or outside the water. In the specs it is stated that its buoyancy is positive, and by experience I recomend to buy a weight for it to avoid the camera going up in the water while you push and push down - even more snorkeling. There are special weights that are mounted to the enclosure using the trypod whole. I would say a 14-18 onz it fine.
It is a great item.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars sony underwater housing, July 22, 2006

By 

William Walsh (kauai) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony SPK-HCB Sports Pack for DVR-DVD105, 203, 205, 305, 403, 405, 505, 92, DCR-HC21, 26, 32, 36, 42, 46, 90, 96 & HDR-HC3 Camcorders (Electronics)

I give it a three because the image on screen in the mirror viewfinder is very poor. I tried to use the setup with my dvr-dvd305 on the first day and couldn't use the viewfinder at all. It was sunny and i wasn't very deep so all of the ambient light makes for a unusable viewfinder. For day 2 i made a hood for the fold out camera screen out of cardboard and that helped somewhat but i still ended up "pointing and shooting". I think with some opaque tape inside the housing and a better hood that this would be a very good system for the money.
My other complaint is that the description doesn't say how much weight will need to be added to sink the housing. Sony doesn't sell or recommend where to get weights either. I started with 16 oz. as recommended by another buyer but ended up needing 48 oz otherwise it's very hard to frame a steady shot while holding the camera down. I purchased dive belt weights and zip-tied them to the base.
overall it's a good design

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great pictures - Great value, December 1, 2006

By 

Sarah B. Hall (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony SPK-HCB Sports Pack for DVR-DVD105, 203, 205, 305, 403, 405, 505, 92, DCR-HC21, 26, 32, 36, 42, 46, 90, 96 & HDR-HC3 Camcorders (Electronics)

This underwater casing is wonderful! I took it to record video on my Sony DVD-405 camcorder while snorkeling along the Mayan Riviera coast in Mexico. Other casings for this camcorder cost much more ($800), but they are rated for much greater depth for scuba diving.

It was very easy to use: first, attach the bottom plate (provided by the kit) to the camcorder, second, hook-up the camcorder with the cable provided (don't forget to turn the viewfinder around), third, slide the camcorder into the casing, fourth, grease the O-ring, put in a desiccation pad, and apply the non-fog liguid.

Then, just close the case, press the outside power button and start recording. I was amazed by the quality and how easy it was to use. We had good light, clear water and lots of fish to video. The best video was filmed in mid-afternoon with the sunlight coming in at an angle. We took the casing down to a depth of 12 feet but we filmed fish and stingreays who were in water as deep as 30 feet and still got good pictures.

The casing floats on the surface without any weight attached to it. I had no problem recording and moving the camera around under the water. The viewfinder works differently than recording without the casing and takes a few minutes to get used to it.

For snorkeling pictures, just a few feet below the surface, using this casing produces great quality with great value.