Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not just for underwater photography, May 8, 2007
Canon is synonymous with action photography. Canon DSLR hangs on just about every photographer's neck at major sporting events. Canon carries that tradition to consumer market, with customized waterproof kit for just about every digital point & shoot digital cameras it sells.
Canon WP-DC9 WaterProof Case is designed to work exclusively with Canon PowerShot SD800 IS ultra compact. WP-DC9 duplicates every single buttons and knobs on the SD800. Made using very high quality materials, strict build tolerance, and 130 feet depth rating, this is not a toy. In addition, the lens area is water resistant.
Canon recommends testing the kit periodically so I sunk mine to the bottom of the bathtub (without the camera but with a heavy object holding it down). About half an hour later, I took it out, noticed everything was nice an dry inside, and went for swimming. When closing the case with SD800 inside, be sure to double check the seams. Even the smallest grain of sand can introduce leak.
With wide angle lens, image stabilizer, and underwater scene mode, SD800 is an ideal underwater ultra compact (high ISO could be better though). WP-DC9 comes with a flash diffusion plate attachment, which when attached, diffuses SD800's flash to even underwater lighting. Setting SD800 to macro mode, you can get stunning results while snorkeling and scuba diving. In addition, you need to take out the yellow O ring and clean the kit periodically (especially after being in salty water), re-applying included putty.
Underwater photography may take about an hour to fully master, but with neck strap and/or wrist strap securely attached, you will have fun in no time. Yes, you can shoot a clown fish Finding Nemo-style.
Thinking you won't use WP-DC9 often enough? WP-DC9 is also ideal for land photography -- whether you are into skiing/snowboarding (snow proof), hiking/biking (dust and humidity proof), or sailing/kayaking/rafting (water proof), WP-DC9 will weather proof your camera.
Pros:
- Extremely well made.
- Every single controls are duplicated.
- 130 feet depth.
- Flash diffusion plate.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- Controls are difficult to read underwater.
- Not as super duper sturdy as high-end (and very expensive) underwater kits.
- Works only with SD800.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW!!!, August 21, 2007
What a deal! I have been diving for decades. I have been a certified rescue diver, and divemaster since the late 1980's. I have used all kinds of film gear underwater, and several pro underwater cases. That's the background....
I have noticed that Canon offers UW cases for it's P&S cameras for years, and pretty much ignored them. Early this year, I upgraded my digital P&S camera to an SD800 IS, and have been very pleased with it's performance. I revisited the Canon UW cases on Amazon a short time ago, and decided to buy one, as they are DIRT CHEAP for what they claim to offer.
Holy cow! It's a fantastic case. It is rated to any depth that I care to visit on a casual dive (130 ft), yet it is small enough to be used as a protective shell at the beach, or in the rain.
It supports in camera flash underwater, and will also trigger any pro level underwater flash. The camera itself (like many of it's brethren) offers an UW mode that corrects color balance for non flash scenes at depths up to 40 feet or so.
This thing is a dream come true. Every single control on the camera is available for use with this case at any depth. You are not limited in any way. It's awesome...
Looking back to the 1970's to the late 1980's, there was nothing like it, even at the multi thousand Dollar pro level.
P&S cameras have become sophisticated enough lately that they are keepers for at least several years before you feel the need to buy new. Even if you never wish to dive in your life, buy this UW case, and never worry about rain, boats, or getting down into the surf to image your kids ever again. It even floats with a camera inside. How nice is that?
I'm beside myself with the quality of this UW case. It costs a small fortune to suit up my pro DSLR gear for UW work (I rent that stuff), yet Canon offers pro level cases for it's P&S cameras for under a hundred and fifty bucks?
If you like your digicam enough to keep it for awhile, buy the UW case. It opens up a whole new world, and seems to be the best kept secret in consumer photography.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Works as specified, July 12, 2007
This product works very well. My only minor issue with it, and perhaps this is true for all water proof cases, is that the seal is rather difficult to remove from the groove it sits in as it stretches out quite snugly. You're not supposed to use any sharp objects to pry it out of the groove to prevent risk of nicking or otherwise damaging the seal so it takes a little bit of coaxing to get it out when trying to remove it for lubrication. The camera is positively buoyant once installed in the case so be sure to have it secured properly or it will float away! :) As with all water proof cases, this product is quite pricey considering it sells for over half the price of the camera itself and is completely useless by itself. Yet, this model is much cheaper than the Ikelite case with is even more expensive yet.
I've had considerably more experience with this housing now and wish to pass on a general tip for dealing with seals: Simply use the edge of a credit card (which is both rounded and made of soft plastic) to pry the seal out of it's groove and you wont every risk nicking it!
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