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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Underwater housings - alternative solutions?
David M. Russell, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 9:00 PM on 06.03.09 |
->> So I've got a few ideas that involve shooting in the "splash zone", which requires a housing for the camera. (I'm sure the Ewa Marine bags are okay for some things, but I just can't imagine getting great image quality out of that situation.)
But the housings are crazy money, and to rent one is $190/day, which is kind of prohibitive considering I'd need it for a few days and it's a personal project.
These are kind of specialty items, so I can't really borrow one.
Thinking about playing with an aquarium/laptop/Nikon Camera Control Pro2 for some of the more static concepts.
Any other thoughts? |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 9:24 PM on 06.03.09 |
->> David I'm not sure what the "splash zone" is. I did use an Ewa bag back in the film days snorkeling. That was back in 1983 with slide film in Nikon FG. The bag did a great job, I probably stayed within 5 feet for most of the shots but for some I know that I was down 10 feet or so.
I'm not sure what it is that you think will degrade the image quality. I had my reservations back then too, that was the reason I opted to go with a 'cheap'-er body just in case. I was pleasantly surprised. |
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Harrison Shull, Photographer
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Fayetteville, WV | Asheville, NC | | Posted: 9:44 PM on 06.03.09 |
->> I use a EWA bag for all kinds of "splashy" situations - whitewater, fly fishing, surf, rain, etc... I have gotten great results when you consider the investment.
Two issues though... anything wider than maybe 20mm and you get vignetting from the EWA housing. And with the EWA housing you get little to no access to controls.
YMMV |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 9:50 PM on 06.03.09 |
| ->> Call me stupid. What is the "splash zone"? |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 10:32 PM on 06.03.09 |
->> EWA bags give great image quality as its just a single piece of optical glass into front of your lens element so the degradation is minimal at best. They are also one of the only solutions that allow you to also have a speedlight on the camera.
Where it becomes an issue is trying to access the camera controls through the bag, its quite tough.
I've luckily been able to set the camera to manual and the flash to ETTL mode and had pretty good success, at least for shooting in a fairly controlled enviroment. I'd hate to try to actually dive with one though because the controls just cant really be adjusted on the fly. You can press the shutter and thats about the extent through the thick vinyl.
For the price though they do get the job done.
Compare what it would cost for a housing for a pro size body like a 1D mkIII or D3, roughly $3000 or so, and then the cost for additional housing for a speedlight. |
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David M. Russell, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 10:33 PM on 06.03.09 |
->> Splash Zone.
Well, it's terminology I read on some website or another - probably one of the manufacturers of housings, etc. - and I think it describes the area at the surface and just above it where water is sloshing and splashing about. |
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David M. Russell, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 10:39 PM on 06.03.09 |
| ->> I guess my concern with the EWA bag is the vignetting I've read about if you're using really wide glass, and as awkward as hard housings are, I'm imagining having a bunch of issues with camera handling. I could put a pocket wizard on though. |
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Thomas Campbell, Photographer
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Houston/San Antonio | TX | USA | Posted: 11:15 PM on 06.03.09 |
| ->> As any kid who grew up close to SeaWorld can tell you, the Splash Zone is the first 6 rows around Shamu's tank. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 11:50 PM on 06.03.09 |
->> David, the vingetting isn't an issue at all really, I used to use a full frame 5D with a 17-40 and that was fine except for about 17mm and thats on full frame
Its really no worse than just putting a thicker filter on, or at least that was the case with the size bag I had, which could take up an 82mm thread size lens, and had a little adapter you would then screw onto the front thread of your 77mm lens to keep it centered.
I think the cheaper ones are 72 and maybe a 77 mm. Perhaps with those vinettting is more of an issue but with the largest bag, and on a 1.3x body it wasn't at any focal length. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 12:33 AM on 06.04.09 |
| ->> david, there have been several threads about pocket wizards not working underwater. and I have to say jeff is correct...shooting with my ewa bag has never been a problem with the optics it's always a matter of accessing the controls...and the colder the water the worse it is (the plastic is harder in colder water). it would help to know exactly what you are trying to shoot |
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Bob Ford, Photographer
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Lehighton | Pa | USA | Posted: 10:01 AM on 06.04.09 |
| ->> I'm going to agree with many of the posters here that the Ewa Marine bag does not change the quality of the photos. I've used it with an 18-55 on a D2X and fixed 20mm on a D3. Both worked fine, although I preferred the images from the 20mm. I've used it in a pool, and on a whitewater rafting trip. |
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