cheap waterproof housing for XH-A1?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
How cheap can I waterproof the XH-A1? I found a EWA plastic bag type unit for the XH-A1, about $500. I wish I could find something cheaper. I do not even plan to use the camera underwater. I want to do some film footage standing in a stream (narrow stream, just a foot or two deep), I just need the camera waterproofed in the event I dropped it or slipped and it went into the stream shortly.
 
I bought the EWA Marine bag for my XH A1 and when I received it my first thought was I piad $500 for this? A plastic bag with a couple metal handles and a lens ring. I understand, as everyone else does, that video gear is expensive but this was ridiculous. The answer the company had when I questioned their price... It is custom made by hand. But it just seemed way too much. I have not found anything else but have shot around water with great care and have been fine. They do make rain slickers if you wanted to shoot in the rain.
Does not exactly answer your question but it's information nevertheless.
 
That is the waterproof housing I am leaning towards buying. I had the same thoughts as you, $500 for a plastic bag? And can I really TRUST my camera in it not to get wet? I won't shoot underwater with it until I trust it. My first use is just to shooting over water, and I need to know if I drop my camcorder that there is hope it will be protected. So I guess I will buy it. Still, seems way over priced, Even if made by hand, I mean come on how much "by hand" time goes into a few bucks worth of plastic?

Green Tree Digital said:
I bought the EWA Marine bag for my XH A1 and when I received it my first thought was I piad $500 for this? A plastic bag with a couple metal handles and a lens ring. I understand, as everyone else does, that video gear is expensive but this was ridiculous. The answer the company had when I questioned their price... It is custom made by hand. But it just seemed way too much. I have not found anything else but have shot around water with great care and have been fine. They do make rain slickers if you wanted to shoot in the rain.
Does not exactly answer your question but it's information nevertheless.
Click to expand...
 
I think the problem in not the time or the cost of the materials, but the economies of scale. This is pretty much a niche market within a niche market. You also have to remember that EWA is a German company and the bags are made there and imported here, which always adds to cost.

Randall for your needs the EWA marine bags should work. I used one for an HVX200 in the past and it worked well. I don't think there is a cheaper non DYI solution in the market for waterproofing a camera. They rate the bags as deep as 10m, though I think if I were to go that deep I'd get something like a Gates housing. Then again if I have to shoot a film that needs underwater camera work I'd hire an underwater camera op with his own gear.

There is also this:
http://www.epiccam.com/component/pa...d,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,77/vmcchk,1/

I havent seen much about it, but it is about $100 cheaper than the EWA bag.

With anything undewater I'd test either item for waterproofness first before ever putting a camera insde.
 
I guess it is expensive for a plastic bag, but it's also relative. I DO dive, but only with my Canon HV30, for which I have an IKELITE 6071 polycarbonate Housing which cost me $1,200, (around £750.00 at the time). I'd LOVE to take my XH-A1 diving, but other than this plastic bag, which means very shallow diving anyway, I will have to buy a Gates aluminium housing for around $6,000US!!! $6,000 for a metal tube!!
 
Check out epiccam.com, i just order the Elite for $300, but that is for a smaller video camera, Once I test it, i will probably order one for my XHA1. The housings are tested at 40' with an adjustable record button.
 
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