Digital Camcorder Conundrums

[Alex_Hurley]

Please give me some slack if this question has been posted 4 billion times, but i was hoping for some help choosing a digital camcoder with the appropriate housing.

So far i have been looking at a Sony TRV 80 which retail on the net for around 1000US. I have seen it listed on a number of housing sites so i am assuming it will do the job nicely. I understand that it isnt the best on the market, but i was hoping it would be at the upper end for recreation. Is there anyone who can recommend me elsewhere. Understand that i am diving mainly between 10-35m so i need a camera that can work with minimal lighting and with a filter rather that a lighting system (the bank balance can only stretch so far My price range is somewhat limited to around 1000US give or take 20%

As far as housing go i get a little confused, ive looked at pretty much all the major suppliers and read what they have to say, but i still am a little hesitant to fork over so much money with out some feedback.

I definately want a electromagnetic controler, rather that mechanical. And a LCD screen attached.
So that rules out a number of the obviously cheaper options. Now for the big question "IS THERE ANYTHING OUT THERE THAT I CAN BUY WITHOUT THAT PAINFUL PRICE TAG?". Most of the really big suppliers are out of my league, they have some really nice stuff, but with serious price tags. So i suppose im asking for a mid-range option for my housing: Is there such a thing?

Back in relation to the digital camcorder - what can people recommend, forget all the bells and whistles like "photo taking", i just want a camera that will perform amazinging underwater and is small. Also i suppose i would like this camera for the best known price to man, so where do you recommend for CHEAP camcorders. Understand that i live in Australia and FEDEx has to be an option.


Well hopefully ive inspired someone to help me, its just that im dealing with so much hard earned cash i want to make sure i make an informed choice.

Cheers from Downunder

 

[Alex_Hurley]

Please help

 

[Dee]

There aren't that many videographers posting here in this forum. I suggest you ask your question over on Digital Diver in their Moving Pixel forum.

 

[kelpdiver]

First, the camcorder. Why a TRV 80 if you’re trying to save money? Yes, you can pay more for a 3 ccd chip pro model (which some would argue is NOT better for uw use), but you can pay a lot less for equivalent quality 1ccd video. Save $100-200 for a TRV 70 which lacks bluetooth (does anyone use that?) and has a 2.5 inch LCD monitor instead of 3.5, neither of which you’ll use underwater. And with either, you’re paying a lot for a 2 mp still camera feature, which I doubt you’ll use with much success underwater w/o lights. Look at the TRV 33 or 38, and save a few hundred more, and I think you get a 1 mp still. Or even the TRV19, which either has no still, or a 600K, I forget.
You can buy a 4 or 5 mp digital still camera with the savings.

Re the housing. Nothing inexpensive out there that I know of, esp with em controls.
Look at Backscatter’s Top Dawg ( www.backscatter.com) which I think is made for them by Light and Motion, but for a lot less than a L&M brand. Also, check out Undersea Video Housing http://www.underseavideo.com/ . For a number of reasons, I preferred the Top Dawg, but now Warren at USVH (it’s a small operation) has a new, smaller housing for the small Sonys which I’d like to see and handle. Both have e-m controls.

If even smaller size is important, see if anyone makes housings you'd like for the Sony PC110/120/101 (which you can probably find used on ebay). I'm not sure what the equivalent current Sony models are--maybe the 105? Sea and Sea made housing for the 110 and 120, but I doubt new ones are still available. AB Sea http://www.absea.net/index.htm claims the smallest housings, and they look pretty cool, but I know nothing about them beyond their website.
Good luck

 

[diverguy]

Don't forget about Ocean Images Inc. housings that are electronic and reasonably priced.

Also, kelpdiver has some good points about the camcorder - a lot of the features on the higher end camcorders won't give you any added value when doing UW video: a basic camcorder is normally enough. The camcorders in the same series usually have the same ccd, lense etc. so the video quality will be the same.

/Mike