Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid Product-Underwater YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!, June 26, 2004
I am an experienced scuba diver with some experience in underwater photography. I bought this housing on a lark, because I had the camera and wanted something small to take along when I wasn't diving for photography but wanted to take some snaps.*WITH THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS AND CHECKS* I found this case worked and was easy to use. I definitely recommend it. The warning is:
* TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS
* MAKE THE PROPER PRE-DIVE CHECKS
* YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN
* GET FLOODING INSURANCE OR DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES I was advised from the beginning to take a course on underwater camera maintenance and use, and to get flooding insurance. I still accept that despite my best efforts, I'll get flooding. The insurance will protect me. You *cannot* assume that a manufacturer will warranty an underwater housing against leakage. It's not possible. Even a tiny bit of sand on an O-ring can cause a leak, and at 60 feet the leak will let in water at twice atmospheric pressure. Fancy underwater housings for $1000+ cameras are *not* warranted against flooding. Don't expect that a $170 housing will be. Don't blame manufacturers for your complete lack of knowledge and experience in a very specialized photographic discipline that most divers take years to learn. Get flooding insurance. Learn how to protect your camera. Test the housing. Ask other divers. The only possible limitation is that the rated depth is only 100 feet. But considering this housing is only $170, and an Ikelite pro-level housing is $500+, this little gem is a great deal.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works Great - Just don't use too much silicone!, May 28, 2004
I purchased this housing to go with my S400 for a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. This was the first time I had used an underwater housing. My background: I have been diving for 12 years. Typically in diving - and especially when assembling equipment, you apply a liberal amount of silicone grease. Not too much, but plenty. With this housing, this method will cause leaks. However, if you use just a touch and evenly coat the O-ring with it until the O-ring is shiny - and make sure that there are no areas where you can actually see the silicon, only the shiny coating you shouldn't have a problem with leaks. Two other suggestions: One, you want to be sure that there are no small objects on the o-ring, even hair or fluff or that fine fabric stuff that kind of floats in the air. Two, you will want to assemble the camera and the housing in an airconditioned space before the dive to minimize the potential for fogging. Once assembled, leave it assembled until the battery runs out or you have another reason for removing the camera, as each time you seal the casing you risk a flood. Overall an excellent product that needs to be used with care, but that performs excellently (and is positively buoyant so it will float if you drop it over the side of the boat!).
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love it!, July 3, 2004
I was a little scared to try this out after reading some of the horror stories posted around the 'net about it leaking. . . .
Well, just to be on the safe side, we got some insurance for our new S500, then stuck it in this housing and took it on multiple dives over a week.
I'm happy to report that it worked flawlessly!!!
Now I just need to save up for an underwater strobe. . . . .
UPDATE -- the above was posted in July 2004. It's now Jan 2006, and we just got back from our third or fourth dive trip using this thing. There's never been any problem with it at all, it's worked flawlessly. I RELIGEOUSLY follow the directions regarding cleaning & lubing the o-ring, and I've replaced the o-ring once just to be on the safe side. Never a drop of water inside! PS -- also got the strobe I wanted, I highly recommend a strobe for any underwater photography, we've taken some great pictures with this so far!
Last but not least -- the S500 is perhaps not the #1 choice of camera for underwater photography -- it's a bit TOO automatic, there are really no manual settings on it, even when in "manual" mode you cannot manually adjust shutter speed, film speed, focus, etc. If you have an S500, then I highly recommend this housing. If you have not yet bought the camera, there are other models better-suited to underwater photography available from Canon and others (I think Canon even has a new S500A or some such that is very similar to the S500 but gives you the manual controls -- note that the S500A uses a DIFFERENT housing from this one!).
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