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Underwater
Video Hints

 

 

USVH Video Housings

If you already have a SONY camera look for it in the chart below to determine
which one of our housings is right for you. If you don't have a camera yet
look
here for some advice on choosing a camera.

MiniDV Housing

T9 Housing

PC Housing

HD Cameras: SONY HC1 and A1U, HC3, HC7, SR1. Standard Digital Cameras: SR100, SR80, TRV-950, HC85, HC80, HC65, TRV80, TRV70, TRV38, 50, 30, 27, 26, 25, 20, 18, 17, 11, 10, 8. Also: DVD-301, 201, 101.

And same models in "E" (PAL format).

SONY HC1000, TRV-900, 460, 360, 350, 250, 840, 740, 540, 340, 240, 730, 530, 330, 230,120, 320, 520, 720, 110, 310, 510, 105.

And same models in "E" (PAL format).

SONY PC1000, HC-96, HC-90, PC-350, 330, 120, 115,110, 109, 105, 101, 100, PC-9, PC-7, PC-5, PC-1. Also, TRV-33, 22, 19, HC-21, 32, 42, 20, 30, 40.

And same models in "E" (PAL format).

If you don't see your camera listed above look here.

 

We make three different housing shells. MiniDV, PC, T9
The controls, most features, and pricing are the same for all three housings.

 


Push-button, electronic controls. On each hand grip there are 6 buttons, in two rows arranged in an arc to match thumb movement. Green and red LED's on each button panel indicate camera status.


Both o-ring seals (backplate & lens port) can be verified visually.

 

  • Hi-quality, .5x wide angle video lens included allows excellent macro and zoom. User can fill the frame with an Eagle Ray 80 feet away or focus on a bristleworm crawling on the port. Tiffen diopters +2 to +7 can be used for additional magnification of macro subjects.
  • Hi-resolution (480 x234 pixels) 2.5" TFT LCD monitor mounted inside housing behind camera allows arms-length viewing for accurate framing and focusing. Powered by FM50 camera battery.
  • UR-Pro Color-correction filters available in two shades (CY for blue water, GR for green water, underwater removable.
  • Handle is removable for storage or travel.

 

Standard Controls On the right grip-shown above

  • Power on/off
  • Record start/stop
  • Switch between "camera" mode (video) and "memory" mode (memory stick)
  • Take photos saved to memory stick at highest resolution. Sample photos
  • 2-speed Zoom for wide and telephoto (normal speed, and faster speed)
  • Switch from auto focus to manual focus (locks focus)
  • Momentary autofocus (press button for auto focus, release button to lock focus)
  • Full manual focusing
  • Data display on LCD screen on/off

 

Extended Controls On the left grip- shown above

  • Record start/stop (allows recording with either hand)
  • VCR functions: play, stop, fast forward, reverse review your video without having to open the housing in wet or crowded conditions
  • Manual Exposure adjustment on cameras that offer this adjustment
  • Manual White Balance adjustment on cameras that offer this adjustment
  • Full access to Menus (not available on PC330 or TRV70/80)

 

All of our housing controls are electronic. Advantages of our electronic controls compared to other brands of electronic controls and mechanical controls...

The companies who make housings with manual controls have been doing so for at least 10 years and will tell you their rods and levers placed all over the housing shell are time-tested and more reliable than electronic controls but they don't tell you two important facts.

The first important fact is that electronic controls are much easier to use.

M Users of a mechanically-controlled housing will often have to release their grip on a handle in order to reach one of the control levers or knobs. This results in a noticeable jarring of the video image. Another handicap is the need to use both hands while filming because mechanical control levers and knobs must be placed on both sides of the housing.

USVH Our housing controls are all push-buttons located under your thumb and you will never need to release your grip on a handle in order to activate a camera control. Sometimes you may want to let go of the left handle grip to steady yourself or reach into a tight spot with your extended right arm. With our controls you only need one finger to access all of the important camera functions.

M On a housing with mechanical controls each of the levers and knobs has its own o-ring and hardware that must be serviced properly and checked to reduce the chance of a leak that will ruin the camera.

USVH Our electronic controller has no seals or o-rings to maintain. All we suggest is that you rinse or dunk the housing in freshwater after use.

M If you decide to upgrade your camera it is unlikely that the knobs, levers, and rods customized for the camera you have now will be in the right place for your next camera.

USVH Our controller doesn't care which SONY or CANON camera you use now or in the future because the controller codes we use were developed by SONY and CANON to work with virtually all of their cameras.

The second important fact is that not all electronic controls are the same. Some housing companies' electronic controls are far more reliable and user-friendly than others. For example, Light and Motion has their uncovered electronic boards mounted inside the housing shell with no protection from humidity and corrosion, and this does cause problems. Amphibico uses seals in their handle control that require very careful attention and all too frequent replacement. Quest and Seacam use a single hat button that must be pushed in four directions with your thumb just to activate the camera controls.

Our controls are different and have proven to be very reliable. There are no seals needed around our buttons-they are surrounded by the water. The magnets used to activate our controller's magnetic switches can't corrode like many other brands because they're nickel plated and covered in epoxy. Our housing controller's electronics are encapsulated in a waterproof epoxy unit mounted in the handle that can be removed easily by removing two screws. Coming out of the control module is a cable with an underwater-pluggable connector on the end that mates to an underwater-pluggable connector bonded into the housing shell. The connector design is similar to that used on submarines. You can unplug the connector underwater and it will not leak.

In the very unlikely event that a housing with electronic controls fails you can still put your camera in the housing and use it. If a mechanical control fails you won't have a useable camera.

 

 


MiniDV Housing and TRV950 shown with Hi-Resolution LCD monitor and SONY High-Grade lens

  • Dimensions: Housing shell is 5.2"H x 5.0"W x 8.0"L for HC3 and HC7, 9.5"L (shown) for all others
  • Weight in air: 5 pounds, 2 ounces for housing, backplate, and handle
  • Total weight including TRV950 camera with 6-hour battery, SONY High-Grade lens, LCD monitor, FM50 monitor battery, housing: 9 pounds, 14 ounces. 9 ounces positively buoyant in salt water. (Most lights will make it less buoyant but we also include 9 ounces of removeable ballast weight for neutral buoyancy if desired)


PC Housing shown with Hi-Resolution LCD monitor and Extended Controls

  • Dimensions: Housing shell is 5.7" x 5.5" x 7.5" (H x W x L)
  • Weight in air: 3 pounds, 8 ounces for housing, backplate, and handle
  • Total weight including PC120 camera with 6-hour battery, SONY High-Grade lens, LCD monitor, FM50 monitor battery, housing: 8 pounds, 5 ounces. 13 ounces positively buoyant in salt water. (Most lights will make it less buoyant but we also include 13 ounces of removeable ballast weight for neutral buoyancy if desired)


T9 Housing

  • Dimensions: Housing shell is 6.2" x 5.5" x 9.5" (H x W x L)
  • Weight in air: 5 pounds, 11 ounces for housing, backplate, and handle
  • Total weight including TRV340 camera with 6-hour battery, Standard wide angle lens, LCD monitor, FM50 monitor battery, housing: 8 pounds, 8 ounces. 3.5 pounds positively buoyant in salt water. (Most lights will make it less buoyant but we also include 2.8 pounds of removeable ballast weight and there is room inside shell for more weight to achieve neutral buoyancy if desired)

 

Pricing

MiniDV, PC, or T9 Housing with Standard Controls, includes Hi-Resolution LCD monitor, wide angle lens, and UR-PRO color-correction filters

$2279

MiniDV, PC, or T9 Housing as above with with Extended Controls

$2579

Upgrade to SONY High-Grade wide angle lens Strongly recommended for use with HD cameras

+$100

Ultimate Video Package: Includes housing with Extended Controls, Hi-Resolution LCD monitor, SONY lens upgrade, Manta Ray 2 Lights package with electronic dimming.

$4885

Ultimate Travel Package: Same as Ultimate Video Package and adds Underwater Kinetics Travel Case

$4985

 

 

Page last updated June 1, 2007