Does the thought of taking your very expensive digital camera 200 feet underwater send shivers down your spine? I know it does for me. Although, having seen some truly incredible underwater shots, it's hard not to wonder if it's worth the risk. After looking around a bit, I've found some underwater camera cases that are truly magnificent feats of engineering and design. That's not to say they all are. Some, I wouldn't trust in my kids wading pool. But the really good ones are quite remarkable.
It's kind of hard to believe, but there are third party companies, that manufacture underwater cases that allow for complete camera functionality up to 200 feet below the water surface. The engineering of the cases almost rivals that of the the camera itself. Imagine being able to operate all of the those tiny camera controls in a dive suit with your camera totally enclosed in a very durable but see through polycarbonate casing. External controls protrude through the casing, and make physical contact with the camera controls inside the casing. While the other end of those same controls provide user buttons and dials that can be operated in a totally immersible marine environment. They're not cheap mind you, quality products never are.
At first handling, the camera case seems heavy and unwieldy out of the water. Once they have a camera inside, and are submersed, they become quite neutrally buoyant. Which is of course what every diver knows is essential for a good dive. The less effort spend controlling your equipment, the more air you'll have for a longer dive. The camera controls via the cases extension controls are very accessible, and for the most part work effortlessly. The one exception, being the zoom control on some models. It's a little tricky to get used to, but considering the way Canon implements their zoom feature, it's probably the best one could hope for.
If there is to be a weak point with any camera housing (underwater or otherwise), it will be with the seals and gaskets. These casings use a rather effective but simple O-ring design. It's both easy to use, and easy to check. Since the case is a clear polycarbonate any leakage is very easy to detect. What your going to do about a leak at 150 feet under the water surface, I don't know. You certainly wouldn't want to ascend any faster than safety permits for the sake of a camera. Even a very expensive one. Just hope the leak is slow.
Ikelite & Canon underwater camera housings have a reputation for being the best at what they do. The Ikelite do tend to be a bit more expensive than comparable underwater housings made by Canon. In this case, you really do get what you pay for. It's a fair deal, as my peace of mind and camera collection is worth an extra hundred bucks or so.
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