Dive Gear Guide 2015: Best Dive Cameras, Housings and Accessories
Scuba diving is one experience. But having the right equipment can be a whole new adventure! Check out 2015's dive gear guide for cameras, housings and accessories.
Bill DosterIKELITE HOUSING FOR CANON SL1 WITH DS51 STROBE
+ Compact, TTL housing comes standard with dome port and zoom ring.+ Perfect travel package for the world’s smallest, lightest DSLR.
Ikelite’s streamlined housing maintains the trim lines of the EOS 100D Rebel while providing fingertip access to the camera’s controls. Through- the-lens metering means precise flash control and no wasted battery life. Includes housing, tray with grip and dome port.
CONTACT: ikelite.com
MSRP: $1,200; strobe $450
Bill Doster+ Quickly swap between lens ports — zoom, macro or wide-angle.
+ Housing allows edge-to-edge viewing of the camera’s LCD screen.
This housing makes swapping ports simple. Package includes housing and ergonomic aluminum tray. Shown here with ball-arm Mark II, MIL dome port 5516.11 and Vega lights.
CONTACT: ikelite.com
MSRP: $700; Vega lights $550 each; arm $280; port $300
Bill Doster+ Housing port designed to accept color filters and wide-angle or macro lenses.
Provides easy access to all the Cybershot’s capabilities. Shown here with Ikelite’s 67mm lens holder, DS51 strobe, sync cord and ball-arm Mark II kit, and 4403 optical slave converter.
CONTACT: ikelite.com
MSRP: $550 housing; 67mm lens holder (not available); $730 strobe kit; $125 converter
Bill Doster+ Through-the-lens flash metering for the most precise exposure control.
Built to get the most out of Canon’s EOS 7D Mark II, with through-the-lens metering for precise control of flash duration and exposure directly through the rear of the housing.
CONTACT: ikelite.com
MSRP: $1,800
Bill Doster+ Housing has ergonomic controls and allows quick, secure change of lens ports.
New TTL housing for the Nikon D750 offers an oversize zoom knob and four locking latches that allow for quick lens-port swaps. Includes housing, tray with double grips and quick- release buttons, port cover and waterproof bulkhead cap.
CONTACT: ikelite.com
MSRP: $1,800
Bill Doster+ Includes balanced aluminum tray and ergonomic grip with quick-release for easy attachment and removal of lights and strobe.
This housing has through-the-lens flash metering with proprietary circuitry that alerts the camera to the presence of an external flash. Shown with MIL Flat Macro Port.
CONTACT: ikelite.com
MSRP: $950
Bill Doster+ Only underwater housing for the GX7 with through-the-lens capability. + TTL feature allows the camera to communicate directly with a strobe.
Ikelite’s new housing for Panasonic’s compact mirrorless camera brings through-the-lens electronics to the durable polycarbonate housing, allowing the camera to link directly to Ikelite’s DS-series strobes. The TTL feature allows you to focus on image composition rather than exposure adjustments.
CONTACT: ikelite.com MSRP: $950
Bill Doster+ Compact camera in housing waterproof to 200 feet.
+ Diver-friendly design features large “piano key” controls.
Designed with divers in mind, the DC1400 has six underwater modes accessed via five oversized, ergonomic buttons. Features include optical image stabilization, built-in color-correction filters and 5x optical plus 5x digital zoom. It’s also compatible with SeaLife’s wide range of accessories.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $499.95
Bill Doster+ First completely sealed underwater camera, it’s waterproof to 200 feet with no ports or openings to leak.
+ Shoots 13-megapixel stills, 1080p high- definition video with a built-in 140-degree fisheye lens and 16 GB onboard memory.
Flooded housings — ever the nemesis of underwater photogs — are a thing of the past with SeaLife’s new ultracompact Micro HD. The permanently sealed still/video cam has a large color LCD screen, “piano key” controls for easy operation even with gloves, rechargeable battery with three hours of operation, instant focus from 12 inches to infinity, and a simple setup mode. Available in HD+ with Wi-Fi and 32 GB internal memory.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com
MSRP: $399.95
Bill Doster+ Everything needed for bright, clear underwater still or video images. + Includes camera, 2,000-lumen photo/ video/dive light, grip and tray.
You need good light for good underwater images, and this set delivers by teaming up SeaLife’s new Micro HD+ still/video camera with its Sea Dragon 2000 LED light. Meanwhile the flex-connect grip and micro tray (which also work with other compact cams) provide a stable platform for capturing all the action.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $899.95
Bill Doster+ Includes DC1400 camera and Sea Dragon flash for bright, sharp underwater stills.
+ Flash has both auto- and variable-power settings for precise control.
This set combines all the basics you’ll need to bring out the most vibrant and sharpest underwater still shots. It includes camera, flash, flex-connect grip and standard tray, optical cable and universal flash link adapter, diffuser, and a compact carrying case to keep things together.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com
MSRP: $829.95
Bill Doster+ Comprehensive, expandable underwater still and video photography and lighting package.
The Maxx Duo set includes a long list of goodies for SeaLife’s included DC1400 still and video camera. Among them: Sea Dragon flash, Sea Dragon 2000 video/camera/dive light, fisheye wide-angle lens, 16 GB memory card, flex- connect dual tray, flex-connect grips, flex arms and battery charger. Even better, the set comes in a hard case to protect and organize the whole works.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $1,829.95
Bill Doster+ Sea Dragon 2,000-lumen LED light has three power settings with a full one-hour burn time at max power.
The DC1400 Pro Duo has everything you need to capture still or video action. The Sea Dragon flash has a range of 8 feet; the Sea Dragon 2000 has a 100-degree beam, and serves as video, camera or dive light. The flex-connect grips and tray allow quick changes of lights, arm extensions and any other accessories.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com
MSRP: $1,129.95
Bill Doster+ Quick, press-on filter for easy color correction underwater.
This simple color-correction filter system is compatible with color filters and macro accessories from Backscatter’s FLIP 3.1 system, and comes with a filter for either blue water or green water. Fits GoPro Hero3+ and Hero 4 standard housings.
CONTACT: backscatter.com MSRP: $29
Bill Doster+ Features aluminum frame and precision optical glass lens.
Backscatter’s swinging lens/ filter combo lets you swap between them in just moments. The Macromate Mini threads into Backscatter’s 55mm FLIP 3.1 adapter, and is compatible with the GoPro Hero3, Hero3+ and Hero 4.
CONTACT: backscatter.com MSRP: $89
Bill Doster+ Enlarges LCD camera-screen image for easier viewing.
The AOI screen magnifier easily mounts to the shoe of your camera housing and enlarges the image; the adjustable flex arm lets you find the best viewing spot.
CONTACT: backscatter.com MSRP: $98 screen magnifier; $158 micro flex arm for camera shoe
Bill Doster+ Only underwater strobe to include a built-in 500-lumen video light.
The DS161 has a Li-ion battery that produces 450 full-power flashes with just a 1.4-second recycle time.
CONTACT: ikelite.com MSRP: $1,100 strobe; $125 optical slave converter
Bill Doster+ 2,200-lumen output for video, focusing, macro or dive-light use.
With three power levels, a rear rotary switch with an LED indicator, and a 65-degree beam, the Vega serves any photo, video and dive- light need. It has a locking switch to prevent accidental turn-ons during travel, an ergonomic oval shape for an easy grip, and it runs three hours on a charge.
CONTACT: ikelite.com MSRP: $550
Bill Doster+ Excitation and barrier filters available for a variety of lights, lenses and masks.
See and capture underwater fluorescence with Ikelite’s dichroic and excitation filters.
CONTACT: ikelite.com MSRP: Filter M46 for Vega $125; filter for DS161, DS160, DS125 strobes $175; 3.0-inch barrier filter $55; 3.9-inch barrier filter $65; dive-mask filter $50
Bill Doster+ Dual-flash heads bring out the most vibrant colors.
These dual Sea Dragon flashes let you capture the brightest color images while eliminating harsh shadows and reducing backscatter. The flash set also operates from 8 to 100 percent power with both auto and manual brightness controls.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $699.95
Bill Doster+ Twin Vega lights provide combined 4,400 lumens of light.
Ikelite has combined a lightweight aluminum steady tray with a pair of Vega lights, flexible arms, and configurable grips for stability and lighting control. The kit includes an optional pistol grip that can be mounted just below the GoPro.
CONTACT: ikelite.com MSRP: $1,300
Bill Doster+ Powerful 10x magnification macro lens and red filter work together or independently.
The Switchblade 2.0 is covered with a rubber coating for improved grip, and a zinc rivet on the filter pivot offers enhanced durability.
CONTACT: polarprofilters.com
MSRP: $69.99
Bill Doster+ Viewfinder swivels to allow best alignment for any shooting position.
The 45-degree magnified viewfinder positions the camera at an angle so the photographer can remain at a natural horizontal position while shooting.
CONTACT: ikelite.com MSRP: Not available
Bill Doster+ Color-correction and polarizer filters for shooting underwater and above.
PolarPro’s filters snap easily onto the standard underwater GoPro housing for better video and stills above and below the water, to 120 feet. The three-pack includes a red filter, magenta filter and a polarized filter for glare reduction.
CONTACT: polarprofilters.com MSRP: $49.99
Bill DosterIKELITE STRAIGHT MAGNIFIED VIEWFINDER
+ Prevents camera from contacting regulator, and magnifies viewfinder image.This viewfinder installs on Ikelite’s housings to keep your reg from contacting the camera body, and it also magnifies the image. The viewfinder also replaces standard viewfinders on Ikelite housings.
CONTACT: ikelite.com MSRP: Not available
Bill Doster+ Dual light heads provide 4,000 lumens for video, camera and general dive use.
The two Sea Dragon 2000 LED lights with flex- connect grips and a flex-connect dual tray in this package will brighten any photo, video or dive.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $899.95
Bill Doster+ Effective up to 8 feet away underwater, and waterproof to 200 feet.
The Sea Dragon Flash brings out vibrant colors and details in your underwater shots, and works with SeaLife’s DC1400 or any camera with built-in flash.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $399.95
Bill Doster+ Works with any SeaLife, GoPro or other camera with a standard tripod mount.
Built from stainless steel and anodized aluminum, the AquaPod lets you put your camera where you can’t put your hands. Works with GoPro and cameras with a standard tripod mount.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $69.95
Bill Doster+ Compact monopod adjusts from 15.5 to 38 inches with quick-release clamps.
This new little brother to SeaLife’s AquaPod is also constructed of stainless steel and anodized aluminum, and fits any tripod-mount camera, but it’s scaled down to be a bit more compact.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $49.95
Bill Doster+ Comes with flex-connect arm and standard tray that works with SeaLife and other camera brands.
The Sea Dragon 2000 offers 2,000 lumens with a 100-degree beam. Its one-button control toggles through 100, 50 and 25 percent power settings.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $499.95
Bill Doster+ Six-LED-light head waterproof to 200 feet produces 1,200 lumens at full power.
The Sea Dragon 1200 has an auto-flash- detection mode that turns the light off for two seconds when a flash is detected.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $399.95
Bill Doster+ All GoPros attach directly to the mount, which allows the camera to tilt up to 180 degrees.
The comfortable, padded handle on the dive buoy can be filled with air to provide flotation at the surface, or filled with water to create neutral buoyancy for underwater shooting. Includes wrist lanyard and carabiner.
CONTACT: [sp-gadgets.com](http://www.sp-gadgets.com/Ω MSRP: $29.99
Bill Doster+ Expands field of view by 80 percent for large scenes.
This fisheye wide-angle works with video and still images, allowing you to get within the best range of lights or flash. Waterproof to 200 feet, it can be attached or removed underwater, and it comes with a tray-mounted dock to keep it safe when not in use.
CONTACT: sealife-cameras.com MSRP: $299.95
Bill Doster+ Snaps onto GoPro Hero3+ and Hero 4 standard underwater housings.
PolarPro’s red filter brings vivid colors back to your underwater shots by restoring the red light absorbed by water. The filter snaps securely onto the standard GoPro Hero3+ and Hero 4 housings, and is rated to 120 feet.
CONTACT: polarprofilters.com MSRP: $29.99
Bill Doster+ Attaches directly to any camera’s hot or cold shoe for quick strobe or light attachment.
Ultralight Control Systems’ YS adapter lets you attach a light or strobe directly to your camera’s hot or cold shoe, and provides a spot for a focus light on a camera that already has two strobes.
CONTACT: ulcs.com
MSRP: $18.95
Bill Doster+ Allows mounting any series GoPro camera directly to the top frame of a mask.
+ Fits most dual-lens masks from SubGear and Scubapro, as well as other manufacturers.
The way to capture a diver’s-eye view of your best dives is to mount your video cam as close to your view as possible. SubGear’s GoPro mount clips onto the top of the mask frame to let you hang the mini cam as close to eye level as possible.
CONTACT: subgear.com MSRP: $14
Bill Doster+ A 300-lumen, wide-angle LED video light waterproof to 130 feet with an integrated GoPro mounting system.
+ Single-button operation for selection of multiple light settings, including four power levels plus two flashing modes.
The POV light connects to standard GoPro mounts, and lights up the scene for bright, sharp video. Includes two rechargeable batteries for a GoPro Hero3 or Hero3+.
CONTACT: sp-gadgets.com MSRP: $99.99
