Waterproof Protection For Taking Your Camera Underwater
April 8th, 2009 by John Howard, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
Waterproof camera housings are a great piece of kit that allow you to take pictures in safety in very wet environments and event take your camera into a pool or into the sea. Different options are available both for amateur and professional photographers.
You can find waterproof camera housing for most compact cameras, but also for more advanced SLR cameras, that allow you to change lenses. There are underwater housing models made especially for specific cameras, and others that cover a more wide range of types.
If you buy waterproof camera housing for a compact camera it assuredly won’t break your bank, and once you have the housing you will probably find that it has a great extra gadget – an outside-mounted lens that allows you to take wider angle pictures underwater.
Most compact cameras have a nice zoom lens, so this extra wide angle lens on the waterproof camera housing allows you to take a more ample type of pictures. The lens is also removable in a pinch, without having to open the case, so you can do this underwater.
While underwater casings for compact cameras are usually made of heat-shaped hard plastic, waterproof camera housings for SLRs are most commonly made of aluminium as they are intended to endure stronger water pressures. Joints and sealings are usually also extra hardened.
Other important elements of a quality waterproof camera housing for an SLR is that the optics before the lens are of high specification, and that you have full control of the electronics of your camera when it’s inside your housing. Advanced SLR underwater cases also allow you to change lenses underwater.
Regardless of your camera, when you buy waterproof camera housing you should check that the maximum depth that it’s made for is right for the use that you will make of the housing. Some housings are good for only 6 feet, while more advanced ones got to 120 feet and more.
Generally, as an underwater photographer, you need to be sure that your equipment will be able to withstand strong demands, and that nothing will be ruined in the process. You can do this by having the right additional protective accessories, such as waterproof camera housing.
Do also bear in mind that not all camera makes enjoy the same availability of underwater housing. There is a lot of availability for Canon and Nikon models, but for other manufacturers, this is not guaranteed and you’ll have to shop around for the right waterproof camera housing.
