Basic video setup...

MarkEm · August 31st, 2006, 07:29 PM

Hi,

I am in the market for a video camera for filming my kids etc. but also for shallow UK underwater use (skills sessions etc.) I have been looking at the Sony HDR-HC1E HDV camera which looks very nice but seems to have poor low light performance so may not be great for underwater use without lights. I would quite like an old Sony TRV-900 but I don't know if housings are still available. Do the Halcyon housings ever come up for sale or are they still available new? Any suggestions most welcome.

Best regards,

Mark.

Andy Kerslake · August 31st, 2006, 08:10 PM

[quote=MarkEm]Hi,

I am in the market for a video camera for filming my kids etc. but also for shallow UK underwater use (skills sessions etc.) I have been looking at the Sony HDR-HC1E HDV camera which looks very nice but seems to have poor low light performance so may not be great for underwater use without lights. I would quite like an old Sony TRV-900 but I don't know if housings are still available. Do the Halcyon housings ever come up for sale or are they still available new? Any suggestions most welcome.

Mark

I don't think that Halcyon currently make any video housings due to the constant changes in the size etc of the cameras. You can still get housings for the TRV900, as many of the manufacturers use an adaptable plate to allow different cameras to fit the housings.

The TRV900 would be an excellent choice - the best place still to buy one would be ebay - but as usual caveat emptor applies. As for the housings cost will depend on what features you want and the depth rating.

Andy

*Richard Lundgren* · August 31st, 2006, 10:29 PM

I agree with Andy. A TRV 900 with a Amphibico housing should be fairly easy to find on the market.

Take care
Richard Lundgren

Teppo · August 31st, 2006, 10:54 PM

Il second to TRV900 to, but Gates diego housing works well for me

Teppo

MarkEm · September 1st, 2006, 12:36 PM

Andy, Richard & Teppo,

thanks for your assistance. How much should I expect to pay for a good condition TRV900?

Best regards,

Mark.

voodooconstant · September 1st, 2006, 08:29 PM

I often peruse www.wetpixel.com's forums. If you need more specific information of have questions, they seem pretty helpful.

I wonder how long "for the kids and just on skill dives" will last.

jerry.mobbs · September 2nd, 2006, 09:08 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by MarkEm)

Hi,

I am in the market for a video camera for filming my kids etc. but also for shallow UK underwater use (skills sessions etc.) I have been looking at the Sony HDR-HC1E HDV camera which looks very nice but seems to have poor low light performance so may not be great for underwater use without lights. I would quite like an old Sony TRV-900 but I don't know if housings are still available. Do the Halcyon housings ever come up for sale or are they still available new? Any suggestions most welcome.

Best regards,

Mark.

mark

if you want the best quality video in a compact unit you can travel with....

buy a sony hc3 hd and a gates housing for it

it will set you back $2600 for the housing and a wide angle lens, and $1200 for the camera

once you've seen hd, you will NEVER want to go back

HD will pick up things your eye does not see

also, if its to video your kids, get the footage in hd format now

you can edit it to your hearts content later

sony hc3 also does 4megapixel stills

so its a very good video and a decent still cam to boot

BUT

if you are 100% sure you only want to do skill sessions, but looking at your photo i see you have all the toys already so i doubt it ;-)

buy one of the cheap sony point and shoot digital cameras, they have a reasonable video mode and with a 2gb memory stick, you will get a decent amount of video footage (30 mins at least), olly does this and it works well

that will be good enough quality if you ONLY want to video skills, but not good enough quality to watch your kids on the 50 inch plasma!

the camera and housing will fit into a pocket as well

you will regret not having your kids in at least dv format

depth rating is 40m only, but i've had mine down to 57...

BUT

if funds are tight and you want decent footage of your kids to look back on in the future

go the trv route and buy a new housing for it, i would suggest you also buy a back up trv camera for it on ebay when one comes up

if you flood it, it will probably cost you a fortune to repair, but if you have a back up camera then you can reuse the housing straight away and worry about the camera repair later (or just scrap the camera)

you can get a cheap trv900 on ebay that has 'faults' on it such as scratched casings etc

i'd stay away from amphibico, and the ones i've seen have had lots of niggly problems (personal opinion only, as i see richard and others seem to like them, so they must be working for them)

the gates are indestructable and their customer service is great

cheers jerry

ps don't get carried away with the tech spec of the camera

a decent story depends more on shot angle, lighting, editing, music and a team that knows how to look good underwater

MarkEm · September 3rd, 2006, 12:43 AM

Jerry,

thanks for the advice. I didn't get to read your post until after I had 'won' a TRV900 on Ebay but I'm sure I'll be happy with my new toy.

Best regards,

Mark.

jerry.mobbs · September 3rd, 2006, 05:48 AM

the trv is a very good compromise choice

the 3 chip dv format will give you great underwater footage in a wide range of light conditions

i think sony have stopped making them, so i'd consider a back up trv from ebay

however dont play your trv footage next to hd footage

we used the trv900 for some penetration shots and a sony fx1 hd for external shots

when you put the 2 images together in the film its a bit like going from hid back to halogen, yuck

Q for Richard and Andy.

have you had any issues with gates housings?

cheers

jerry

MarkEm · September 3rd, 2006, 09:35 AM

Hi,

I assumed that a TRV900 would probably be better than a HC3 or HC1 as it has superior low light performance. If price and size were not an issue an FX1 would have been my choice.

My camera comes with a Sony PD100 wide angle lense. Will it be suitable for use in a housing?

Cheers,

Mark.

August 31st, 2006, 07:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
MarkEm(Offline) Site Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 220	Basic video setup... Hi, I am in the market for a video camera for filming my kids etc. but also for shallow UK underwater use (skills sessions etc.) I have been looking at the Sony HDR-HC1E HDV camera which looks very nice but seems to have poor low light performance so may not be great for underwater use without lights. I would quite like an old Sony TRV-900 but I don't know if housings are still available. Do the Halcyon housings ever come up for sale or are they still available new? Any suggestions most welcome. Best regards, Mark. __________________ *WWW.DIVESIGNS.COM* Last edited by MarkEm; August 31st, 2006 at 07:34 PM.

August 31st, 2006, 10:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Teppo(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 116	Il second to TRV900 to, but Gates diego housing works well for me Teppo __________________ Teppo http://koti.welho.com/tlallukk/

September 1st, 2006, 12:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
MarkEm(Offline) Site Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 220	Thanks.. Andy, Richard & Teppo, thanks for your assistance. How much should I expect to pay for a good condition TRV900? Best regards, Mark. __________________ *WWW.DIVESIGNS.COM* Last edited by MarkEm; September 1st, 2006 at 12:39 PM.

September 1st, 2006, 08:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
voodooconstant(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI - USA Posts: 65	I often peruse www.wetpixel.com's forums. If you need more specific information of have questions, they seem pretty helpful. I wonder how long "for the kids and just on skill dives" will last. __________________ ~Matt

September 2nd, 2006, 09:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
jerry.mobbs(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: asia Posts: 288	Quote: (Originally Posted by MarkEm) Hi, I am in the market for a video camera for filming my kids etc. but also for shallow UK underwater use (skills sessions etc.) I have been looking at the Sony HDR-HC1E HDV camera which looks very nice but seems to have poor low light performance so may not be great for underwater use without lights. I would quite like an old Sony TRV-900 but I don't know if housings are still available. Do the Halcyon housings ever come up for sale or are they still available new? Any suggestions most welcome. Best regards, Mark. mark if you want the best quality video in a compact unit you can travel with.... buy a sony hc3 hd and a gates housing for it it will set you back $2600 for the housing and a wide angle lens, and $1200 for the camera once you've seen hd, you will NEVER want to go back HD will pick up things your eye does not see also, if its to video your kids, get the footage in hd format now you can edit it to your hearts content later sony hc3 also does 4megapixel stills so its a very good video and a decent still cam to boot BUT if you are 100% sure you only want to do skill sessions, but looking at your photo i see you have all the toys already so i doubt it ;-) buy one of the cheap sony point and shoot digital cameras, they have a reasonable video mode and with a 2gb memory stick, you will get a decent amount of video footage (30 mins at least), olly does this and it works well that will be good enough quality if you ONLY want to video skills, but not good enough quality to watch your kids on the 50 inch plasma! the camera and housing will fit into a pocket as well you will regret not having your kids in at least dv format depth rating is 40m only, but i've had mine down to 57... BUT if funds are tight and you want decent footage of your kids to look back on in the future go the trv route and buy a new housing for it, i would suggest you also buy a back up trv camera for it on ebay when one comes up if you flood it, it will probably cost you a fortune to repair, but if you have a back up camera then you can reuse the housing straight away and worry about the camera repair later (or just scrap the camera) you can get a cheap trv900 on ebay that has 'faults' on it such as scratched casings etc i'd stay away from amphibico, and the ones i've seen have had lots of niggly problems (personal opinion only, as i see richard and others seem to like them, so they must be working for them) the gates are indestructable and their customer service is great cheers jerry ps don't get carried away with the tech spec of the camera a decent story depends more on shot angle, lighting, editing, music and a team that knows how to look good underwater __________________ -------------------- www.crossfit.com The DIR of Fitness

August 31st, 2006, 08:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Andy Kerslake(Offline) Wreck and Cave Diver Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: UK Posts: 93	[quote=MarkEm]Hi, I am in the market for a video camera for filming my kids etc. but also for shallow UK underwater use (skills sessions etc.) I have been looking at the Sony HDR-HC1E HDV camera which looks very nice but seems to have poor low light performance so may not be great for underwater use without lights. I would quite like an old Sony TRV-900 but I don't know if housings are still available. Do the Halcyon housings ever come up for sale or are they still available new? Any suggestions most welcome. Mark I don't think that Halcyon currently make any video housings due to the constant changes in the size etc of the cameras. You can still get housings for the TRV900, as many of the manufacturers use an adaptable plate to allow different cameras to fit the housings. The TRV900 would be an excellent choice - the best place still to buy one would be ebay - but as usual caveat emptor applies. As for the housings cost will depend on what features you want and the depth rating. Andy

August 31st, 2006, 10:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
Richard Lundgren(Offline) GUE Instructor Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 111	I agree with Andy. A TRV 900 with a Amphibico housing should be fairly easy to find on the market. Take care Richard Lundgren

September 3rd, 2006, 12:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
MarkEm(Offline) Site Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 220	Jerry, thanks for the advice. I didn't get to read your post until after I had 'won' a TRV900 on Ebay but I'm sure I'll be happy with my new toy. Best regards, Mark. __________________ *WWW.DIVESIGNS.COM*

September 3rd, 2006, 05:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
jerry.mobbs(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: asia Posts: 288	the trv is a very good compromise choice the 3 chip dv format will give you great underwater footage in a wide range of light conditions i think sony have stopped making them, so i'd consider a back up trv from ebay however dont play your trv footage next to hd footage we used the trv900 for some penetration shots and a sony fx1 hd for external shots when you put the 2 images together in the film its a bit like going from hid back to halogen, yuck Q for Richard and Andy. have you had any issues with gates housings? cheers jerry __________________ -------------------- www.crossfit.com The DIR of Fitness

September 3rd, 2006, 09:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
MarkEm(Offline) Site Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 220	Hi, I assumed that a TRV900 would probably be better than a HC3 or HC1 as it has superior low light performance. If price and size were not an issue an FX1 would have been my choice. My camera comes with a Sony PD100 wide angle lense. Will it be suitable for use in a housing? Cheers, Mark. __________________ *WWW.DIVESIGNS.COM*