14 replies to this topic

[jamesslogan]

Hello everyone,

I'm about to buy a sony pc-350. I could any information or experiences with the following housings: Light & Motion Mako; amphibico prowler; gates housing for pc 350.
Any info would be great-especially about the differences between them.
cheers,
Jamie

[jamesslogan]

After much research and many phone calls-amphibico won hands down.

[jcclink]

It may in part depend on how much you trust electronics. The Gates is purely mechanical - nothing electronic to fail. They're pretty much bullet proof. L&M electronics is not real famous for its reliablilty. Not sure about Amphibico. If you decide on electronic controls buy spares just in case - especially if you're planning a long/expensive trip.

[kjnmermaid]

oops. I was just about to tell you how much I love my Light and Motion Mako, but I see you've already selected a housing. I've owned my Mako for about a year and a half, and have nothing but praise for Light and Motion. I haven't had any problems with the housing. Good luck with your amphibico.

[jamesslogan]

hello again,

upon seeing the replies i realized i never explained my decision process. I've had a L&M tetra housing for a couple of years and a few hundred dives. That is my baby. Nothing but great things to say about L&M housings. This came down to the fact that after speaking with both companies, amphibico essentially offered me a deal i could not refuse. Sometimes it pays to speak with the company directly.
cheers,
Jamie

[GerryH]

I was thinking of buying the Sony PC-350 And the Mako Housing From Light & motion. Any thoughts??????

[ikelite]

Ikelite housing leaves almost nothing to be desired for safety and capability:

http://www.ikelite.c...sony_pc350.html

[Drew]

My biggest critique about anything from L&M is that their circuit boards are exposed. Exposed circuitry breaks down faster. Having sealed electronics makes for a longer lasting housing and longer time between "maintenance check ups". That said, the Mako with the monitor back is a nice unit. Most functions are at your thumb's reach. Only thing that is questionable is reliability. Obviously as there are many people who say the control grips fail, there are as many who say theirs work fine. In my experience, the more you use them the more they break down due to exposure. Which is why they recommend the annual $200 check up.
As for the ikelite housings, they are the cheaper housings due to generic casing where they put mechanical controls to suit each PC model. It uses the LCD from the camera. My experience with ikelite has been for a bigger camera and I was not too happy with the optics and the overall weight and balance of the housing. It is however significantly cheaper than aluminum housings.

[GerryH]

Know I am looking at the Optura Xi and the Equninox Pro pak 6. Any thoughts???

[Nick Hope]

I would strongly urge you not to buy L&M. I have a Stingray 2 and I've had nothing but hell with it. So many problems right from the start. And a guy on our boat recently had nothing but hell with his Mako. Inexplicable problems with the electronics and then his blue water filter and battery pack fell to bits.

Ikelite is OK but a friend of mine's got a crack in his recently, radiating from one of the controls. It doesn't leak yet but housings that crack for no apparent reason are not good, and obviously he's knackered if he wants to sell it.

Amphibico is good but with electronics you're always running a slight risk of trouble. I used an Amphibico VX2K for a while. It leaked a bit once for no apparent reason and also the pause/record button was faulty.

My pick is Gates. Very strong and very reliable. I use their VX2K housing. I don't know the layout of their PC350 housing but I did notice that the controls of their TRV950 housing were poorly laid out and would have to be custom-extended if they were in my hands. The PC350 housing is probably fine but I haven't had my hands on it.

Nick

[redflagwhitestripe]

Well I'm looking for an entry level camera with a housing and have to say you guys are really good with the information and lingo! I think the DCR-PC350 is going to be my camera of choice. Since this is all new for me I want to go small (compact) but have a good return once back on the surface shooting pic of top life too. Will I be disapointed in the results above and below the surface? OR should I go for the SONY DCR-HC90? I think the Sea & Sea Housing VX-G1 look and feels good. (tried it at Seaspace in Houston last weekend)

I'm thinking that having the electronics inside is the best way for me. Is 5 lux too high or does this unit do a good job in low light? Are the 3mb stills decent? At what depth does one need to have light(s) etc.?

I would appriciate any feedback on the camera and housing. Are the feelings still the same as the last post for this camera. Nobody mentions the Sea & Sea Housings... Any thoughts, I'm all ears!

[psyentific]

On the L&M Mako, they completely redesigned the "smart-grip" circuit boards about two years ago, and that cured the Mako unreliability problems I had with mine. Mako housing for the 350 should be fine.

Cam

[seclo]

I have a Gates housing for the PC350 and I am very happy with it. (Replying late here but do so in order to be able to post a question on regarding this housing)

[Steve Douglas]

I have owned a great many housings over my lifetime, many Gates housings, a few Light and Motion Housings and my first, back in the mid 80's was a Aqua Video housing for an 8mm (not even hi-8) minolta camcorder. I have used on rare borrowing occasions an Ikelite and Amphibico. Rick Allen, a very well known and experienced shooter, also known for documenting the discovery of the Queen Annes Revenge, is a huge Amphibico advocate and claims that service from them was exceptional. The problem with housings like Ikelite is that users are frequently complaining about fogging up due to the acrylic housing. I used to be sponsored by Gates before I left them for another company. They are, without any question in my mind, the most durable and reliable of all housings. The mechanical nature can, initially be a pain, but once you get to know your own housing, all adjustments come as second nature. In hind site, one of my biggest errors was in leaving Gates.
Steve

[SimonSpear]

(Replying late here but do so in order to be able to post a question on regarding this housing)

Wow yes the last post before yours was June 2005, so nearly 7 years late!!!

Out of interest I once also owned a PC350. Great little camera

Cheers, Simon