Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

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.

We canoe/kayak down various rivers and creeks. I wanted a way to take my $1500 camera on the water without fear of damaging it.

The Sports Pack is completely water proof (up to 7m). I've submersed the case in a test and in a real-life situation and the camera stayed dry.

The case does not cause any noticeable reduction in picture quality. It is relatively simple to operate and assemble. You have only the basic functions of the camera while in the case, so you need to change any setting for the camera before putting it in the case and advanced camera features are not able to be used.

My only concern is the scratch resistance of the plastic over the lens area. So far I haven't had any problems but I've only taken on the river for about 30 hrs.

All told, I'm very pleased and if you plan on filming in or near water I would recommend this case.

You need to add some weight to the casing to keep it from being so buoyant- we put some shot in a large pill bottle and tied it with a shoe string. The controls are easy to use, and it gives a nice, clear picture. A good buy for filming any water-related activites.

I bought this for my Florida trip. It worked perfectly while I was doing snorkeling. Well this is what it for. But also, when I use it on my air boat ride, it worked well too. I wouldn't say I enjoyed to see other's camcorders got wet but I was happy I had my protected.

Pro: Easy of using, does what it says it does.
Con: Needed to have a weight to keep the unit stable under water. It is hard to hold it when too close to the surface while windy.

Absolutely fantastic. Also works with the new generation of Sony camcorders (DVD308, 508, etc.)

This is my 4th underwater housing, and the second Sports Pack I have used. It works great with my HDR-HC3, keeps it clean and dry for boating and outdoor adventure. Not heavy-duty like housings designed for deep water, but fantastic for snorkeling and fishing trips. Cons: Hard to see the display screen unless you are at the exact right angle and the control buttons are somewhat small and hard to use smoothly.

This just worked. No other way to say it. Needed to protect my HDR-HC3 during some planned water shooting while windsurfing at Cape Hatteras. Figured for less than $200, this was worth a shot. Never got to open the box before the trip, but took it with anyway, just in case. Temptation was too strong, and I decided to have a go in the field. Managed to configure the camera and housing in the front seat of my car at the beach, close it up, and shoot some great on the water video of a 20 kt day at the Canadian Hole. Too cool. Only two minor issues, neither worth a star...

1) The instructions for where/how to mount the camera in the housing are a little tough to follow. Only because Sony put one set of directions in like 50 different languages on a very large fold out sheet made of very lightweight paper. Didn't help I was trying to do it in a car with cold hands on a windy day. But still, the directions were not all that ergonomic. Functional? Completely. User Friendly? No...
2) The reflective viewfinder worked well enough, but you had to shield ambient light or you couldn't very well see what you were shooting at. Admittedly, this was an extreme test environment of bright mid-day sun on the surface of the water with lots of reflection due to wind and wave action (including lots'o'whitecaps). Mainly requires an adjustment in your shooting posture, specifically to put your face up against the housing, which is a little awkward at first, but then completely endurable...

Added bonus, which surprised me: Audio take while in the housing was quite good. Conversations with those being filmed and observers nearby were completely intelligible. Didn't expect that, but very pleasantly surprised. Means your color commentary can continue unabated...

Used this on vacation several times while snorkling. The video is really clear and this unit was really easy to use. My only complaint was the size but this was made to accomadate several different camcorders so this was expected. Works flawlessly.