Underwater Options for 20D--what to trust? "bags"

[Benjammer]

wow, I didnt know you can get stuff like that... thats pretty cool.
The expencive one looks HARDCORE. I have no clue how the other one works though, it sounds pretty awesome from the 'features' section (it has a spot for the flash etc).

I think the cheap one is just like a plastic covering maybe and you press the buttons on the camera (better configure the cam before going under water). While the expencive one might work by somehow controlling the options from big knobs on the outside of the camera protector thing, (which is pretty cool, but #### thats expencive).


Sorry I didnt really help you with your questions though

[Rob Whitehead]

I used to shoot my 10D in a EWA bag.  Only do this if you're really poor.  It's OK for snorkel, don't bother for SCUBA (although I've done it several times!).

I use an Ikelite housing, also available from B&H.  It and the Aquatica are both worthy choices in the range of 'cheap' housings (it's a relative thing.  Trust me, your brain will adjust.  Check out the price on a Seacam housing and you'll see what I mean.)

[Bill Lawrence]

I've never used the Ewa systems, but I've used a couple of different Nikonos systems, a couple of Sea and sea camera systems, and a Canon G2 housed in an Ikelite housing.  I would recommend against the Ewa bag because of the backscatter issue.  You will almost certainly need a strobe to fill in color, and even if you have a 550 or equivalent flash mounted on your camera, it is not going to be sufficiently off axis from the lens to cut the backscatter from the water.  Rather than risk your 20D in a Ewa system, either shell out the bucks for a housing which lets you add an external strobe on a reasonable strobe arm, or look into a different system.  At the very least, see if you can demo someones system before buying it, because I doubt you will like what you get from it.

Cheers!
Bill

[Stealthfixr]

I've recently moved to Hawaii and loving the local water activities.  I also have a Canon 20D that I would love to take with me on snorkeling and scuba trips.  A quick look through B&H shows there are basically two options.  The first is like the expensive Aquatica housings (at over $1200, they are more than the camera body cost), and then the Ewa Marine "bag" housings for a fraction of the cost ($369).  

Aquatica Housing:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh....igation

Ewa Marine:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh....igation

The Ewa Marine are the only options within my budget right now.  Do they work?  How many of you all have tried them?  

If Ewa Marine does not work, I also have a Canon A95 P&S digicam that I could get a Canon housing for only $169.  It's a lot less expensive to lose should the housing leak, too.  Any and all comments much appreciated!

[wolfnowl]

Here are a couple of companies that may be able to help you.  All underwater housings have a 'maximum depth' rating; other considerations are options for flash, ease of controls, etc, etc.  As with everything, more options = more cash.

Mike.

http://www.underwaterphotography.com/
http://www.seaandsea.com/

[jule]

Stealthfixr - I am by no means an expert, but do have a little experience in this area. Firstly give consideration to what lenses you are wishing to use and determine whether they fit into the EWA bag - remembering to take into account any zoom or focussing extensions in the maximum measurements.


As with anything you get what you pay for, but it is a waste of money purchasing something which won't satisfy your needs. Give consideration to how much fine tuning you need to do in the process of your snorkel. If you want to have the ability to access functions - find a rigid housing. If you want to set everything and then just click away - with difficulty pressing the shutter half way through a thick plastic barrier - go the EWA bag.

If you want to dive i'd personally give the EWA bag a miss, but some divers say it's ok. I have been told that there is a greater chance of the bag flooding whilst snorkeling than diving, because there isn't enough pressure to seal the strip where the screwed plates press together. Apparantly a lot of 'accidents' happen when trying out in the pool and that's when a 'proper' housing is decided upon.  

Also when doing your sums, look at the ports which are required for each of the rigid body underwater housings.

With the advancement of Digital SLR's, you may be able to pick up a second hand rigid housing.

Also check into your camera insurance in case of flooding. None for EWA bag. Some companies will cover for rigid housings.

Hope that helps a bit.

A good forum to visit to get heaps of info for underwater photography is ;
http://www.wetpixel.com
http://www.wetpixel.com/forums/

Julie
 

[wolfnowl]

There's an article on underwater photography from Canon here.

Might be of interest...

Mike.