31 replies to this topic

[MikeVeitch]

Long a stalwart in the Still Photo housing market, Canadian based Aquatica has recently announced the introduction of a new line of aluminum housings for the Sony HDR-SR11/12 and the NEW Sony HDR-XR500V/520V HD camcorders.

Here are the specs for the housings, looks pretty exciting for users of these cameras, I especially like the access to manual white balance control.

Construction:
- Marine grade solid aluminum
- Fully anodized with a hard coat of polyurethane paint
- All hardware is marine grade aluminum & stainless steel
Controls:
- On/Off
- Record/ Standby
- Photo
- Zoom Telephoto / Zoom Wide
- Home Button (touch screen access)
- Option Button (touch screen access)
- Tele Macro (touch screen access)
- White Balance One Push (touch screen access)
- Manual Control Knobs to access Focus, Exposure, AE Shift & WB Shift
- Smooth Slow-Motion Functionality (touch screen)

Features:
- Flip filter Arm with UR Pro blue water color correction filter
- Sensitive Hydrophone to capture clear underwater sound
- Water sensor alarm with blinking LED
- Bayonet Mounted Lens System
- 2 Auxiliary ports

Ports:
- Standard dome port: Optically corrected to give 1:1 angle of view underwater
- Flat port: Best choice for macro work, allows full zoom through with diopters.
- Wide angle port: A good all around performance lens giving 70°FOV with full zoom through, & 90° FOV with macro adapter off the port, giving partial zooming.

Dimensions:
- 7" D x 4.8" H x 9.5" W (14.5"with handles)
- 17.7cm D x 12.2cm H x 24cm W (37cm with handles)

Weight:
- On land 7.5lbs (Kg) fully loaded w/camera battery and lens.
- In seawater slightly negative buoyancy

Operating Depth:
- 300 feet / 90 meters

[pmooney]

Here are some photo's of the new units

[MikeVeitch]

Thanks Peter.. my connection slow at the moment

[loftus]

Price anyone?

[pmooney]

$2495 USD is the number the comes to mind.

Edited by pmooney, 04 April 2009 - 04:29 AM.

[dbeitz]

I'm wondering if my Sony HC9 will fit in it. I just went to Aquatica's website, but I can't find any mention of them there. Anyone know where I can more info online?

[pmooney]

I would think it very unlikely that the HC9 would be compatible with the Aquatica Wave - the thing with mechanical housings is that all those buttons need to line up.

As I understand it the prototype was developed around the SR12 and the shipping version will be for the XR500 /520 series of hard drive cameras.

[Video-Joe]

$2495 USD is the number the comes to mind.

We are still fumbling some numbers around, we want to be aggressive yet not compromise standard options and accessories. We will have a firm price in a few weeks. It will be a bang for your buck!

[Drew]

Joe, welcome to WP and congrats on the new gig at Aquatica. Please make it bang in canuck bucks. The US buck is getting higher these days.
Also, if you guys can setup resolution and distortion chart tests for your WA ports, you'd be the first manufacturer to do so publicly. So much of that information is dependent on reviews and testing.

[ccad]

Wow,, arent you the guy that was at amphibico before and preaching the virtues of electronics housings over mechanical,,,,and now, selling such mechanical unit??

[Video-Joe]

Wow,, arent you the guy that was at amphibico before and preaching the virtues of electronics housings over mechanical,,,,and now, selling such mechanical unit??

yes, indeed nearly a 10 year venture with Amphibico and enjoyed working with great colleagues. Now I have moved on to different challenges yet similar endeavours in this fun and crazy industry of underwater imaging. I have nothing bad to say in regards to electronic based housings, but the bottom line is that you cannot access all key important features through the remote , thus limiting the use of many important functions electronically. Today many of the camcorder manufactures are limiting the availability to basic functions remotely, thus not allowing the user more flexibility to access the manual options on the camcorder. Low behold the mechanical based housing, now access to almost all key controls are achieved allowing for the best possible control of the camcorder underwater...

[Rogersea]

. Today many of the camcorder manufactures are limiting the availability to basic functions remotely, thus not allowing the user more flexibility to access the manual options on the camcorder. Low behold the mechanical based housing, now access to almost all key controls are achieved allowing for the best possible control of the camcorder underwater...

So did you guys come up with a price?
Cheers

[Video-Joe]

So did you guys come up with a price?
Cheers

Yes, after weeks of nunber crunching, we have decided to lauch the "HD WAVE" FULLY loaded, including Wide angle lens, hydrophone, wet alarm, UR PRO color correction filter etc, at the LOW price of $2395USD. Release date is on target for mid June.

Regards

[wagsy]

O ...Hello Joe, just put two and two together.
A change is a good as a holiday, all the best in your new path.

That would be a nice little unit for messing around in the surf with.

[Video-Joe]

O ...Hello Joe, just put two and two together.
A change is a good as a holiday, all the best in your new path.

That would be a nice little unit for messing around in the surf with.

Yep, it's me again, just couldn't stay away from such a fun, challenging and demanding industry. The one thing I love about this trade given its niche market is all the great people you meet from all over the world. It's like one big "happy" family.....

It's great to hear from all those I have met over the nearly 10 years I have been in the underwater imaging industry business.

[Video-Joe]

That would be a nice little unit for messing around in the surf with.
[/quote]

I had the prototype in the water a few weeks back and the size, balance and handling makes it WAVE of fun to shoot with....

[Andy F.]

That would be a nice little unit for messing around in the surf with.


I had the prototype in the water a few weeks back and the size, balance and handling makes it WAVE of fun to shoot with....

Hi there Joe,

I am looking for a small housing, but need to take it much deeper than 90 M. What is the limiting parts of your housing?
Lens? Could the poly carbonate screen in front of the LCD be made thicker? If the buttons, could heavier springs be used?
150 m would be ok, but would prefer 200 m.

Cheers,

Andy

[Steve Douglas]

I hope I'm wrong, but those buttons look like the type that may be pressure sensitive and have problems working at depth.
Steve

[Drew]

Steve, is that speculation on your part or do you know the strength of the springs on the buttons? It's strange that you'd make a comment like that, especially if there isn't any basis for it.

[Steve Douglas]

Not strange, I made no criticism, I just said they appeared just like the buttons from SeaTool that I have heard several concerns about regarding working properly under pressure. That's an observation, not a judgement.
Steve