How To Select Cheap But Effective Waterproof Camera Housing

Posted by | Posted on 2:36 AM

By Randy Rushmore

Waterproof camera housings are a fantastic piece of photographic equipment that allows you to keep your camera dry in the rain and especially underwater. These housings are available for both entry-level digital cameras and more professional models, and should be a priority when buying camera equipment.

Waterproof camera housings are available for compact cameras, but also for the more advanced SLR models. Some underwater cases are only intended to be used for a single model of camera, others are more generic and can be put to use for whole product ranges.

Compact camera waterproof housings are quite cheap and have the added advantage that in most cases, they are fitted with a special refractor that increases the angle of your lens underwater, allowing you to take wild-angle pictures that would otherwise not be possible with such a camera.

As your compact camera will have a good zoom, this extra lens will allow you to take a wider spectrum of photos, and underwater a wide angle is also important because you can't take photos of faraway objects while submerged. In any case, the extra lens is easily removable.

Most compact camera waterproof housings are made of specially moulded hard plastic. SLR underwater camera housings on the other hand are usually built for greater depths, and the most common material is anodized aluminium, with special sealing.

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.

As for the different camera brands, you will find that it's far easier to buy waterproof camera housing for the major brands, such as Nikon or Canon. Getting this kind of equipment for lesser-known brands is not impossible, but you will have to shop around more and may be more limited in your choice.

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