Review of Stingray + Housing/Sony CX520

[BDSC 1]

I thought I'd take a few minutes and give my take on my recently upgraded Stingray + Housing used with the Sony CX520 camcorder while in Bonaire last week.

 

When L&M began to offer upgraded handles for the Stingray + housing that would allow "one touch" MWB with the Sony CX500/520 model camcorder, I sent in my handles and ordered the cam. The one thing that was missing with the Stingray + line of housings was the ability to do MWB. Well that's not the case any longer.

 

Last week the housing and camcorder performed flawlessly. I did have one slight problem turning the camera on in the housing a few times but that was user error on my part and Amy at Light & Motion told me what to do to correct it. I needed to flip the LCD screen out and then lay it back against the camera. Once I did that the problem was solved.

 

With the new handles, you have total access to all the menus in the camcorder. Not that you really need to use many of them on a dive but they are there if you need/want them. The left handle control was easy to use to gain access to the menus. It never once skipped a command. The left handle also controls the lights and I have the Sunray 1000 LED's and it was no problem to turn the lights on, dim them through the three light levels, and turn them off.

 

The right handle is where you find the MWB button and it really is a quick press and in just a few seconds, it's done! With the Sony CX520 camcorder inside, it was able to WB at 70 ft. with no problem. I never really tried it much deeper than that but will in May when I go to Little Cayman. But it never failed to achieve a MWB whenever I pressed that little button. I had a while slate clipped on and just did a WB off of that. I have read where folks that shoot with the HC7/9's can't get a WB much below 30 to 40 ft. maybe. The CX series is far superior. I would guess it's the improved low light capability that allows a WB to much greater depths.

 

It will be awhile before I can post any video because I head out of town tomorrow for a few weeks but what a difference WB makes! I've seen all these folks talking about it here and how you really need it and I was always saying, "It's not that big of a difference" but I was wrong. It's night and day folks but I'm probably preaching to the choir to most of you.

 

The unit with the battery pods and lights is certainly negative in the water but for me, it was fine. I could see how some people might want a flotation device to help offset that and they do make one for the Stingray housing. It would be interesting to see how much of a difference handling the unit would be uw with the added flotation but like I said, I think it's fine without it.

 

The screen is great on the back and I had no problem viewing what I was filming at any angle. (Assuming you can see the screen of course.) You can adjust the color and brightness of the screen but I've not messed with that much. I think I left it like it came. Looks good to me.

 

All in all I couldn't be more pleased with my combo. I think this system will serve me for many years to come and really has all the essential features a person could ask for. I know we all have our opinions and I haven't looked at all the other systems on the market (but I did some before I bought) but I can't imagine a better system for the money than the Stingray + housing. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to step up to uw video.

 

One more thing I will mention is the camcorder and how you record. I was a little reluctant in switching from the tape bases system to a hard drive/flash media system. But now I think it's great. On my three hour flight from Bonaire to Miami I pulled out the camcorder, reviewed my clips, and when I saw one I didn't like, DELETE! I know this will save me time when I start the editing process to have already deleted the obvious clips that don't belong.

 

Anyway, for what it's worth, that's my review.

[BC-SeaDragon 0]

I thought I'd take a few minutes and give my take on my recently upgraded Stingray + Housing used with the Sony CX520 camcorder while in Bonaire last week.

 

When L&M began to offer upgraded handles for the Stingray + housing that would allow "one touch" MWB with the Sony CX500/520 model camcorder, I sent in my handles and ordered the cam. The one thing that was missing with the Stingray + line of housings was the ability to do MWB. Well that's not the case any longer.

 

Last week the housing and camcorder performed flawlessly. I did have one slight problem turning the camera on in the housing a few times but that was user error on my part and Amy at Light & Motion told me what to do to correct it. I needed to flip the LCD screen out and then lay it back against the camera. Once I did that the problem was solved.

 

With the new handles, you have total access to all the menus in the camcorder. Not that you really need to use many of them on a dive but they are there if you need/want them. The left handle control was easy to use to gain access to the menus. It never once skipped a command. The left handle also controls the lights and I have the Sunray 1000 LED's and it was no problem to turn the lights on, dim them through the three light levels, and turn them off.

 

The right handle is where you find the MWB button and it really is a quick press and in just a few seconds, it's done! With the Sony CX520 camcorder inside, it was able to WB at 70 ft. with no problem. I never really tried it much deeper than that but will in May when I go to Little Cayman. But it never failed to achieve a MWB whenever I pressed that little button. I had a while slate clipped on and just did a WB off of that. I have read where folks that shoot with the HC7/9's can't get a WB much below 30 to 40 ft. maybe. The CX series is far superior. I would guess it's the improved low light capability that allows a WB to much greater depths.

 

It will be awhile before I can post any video because I head out of town tomorrow for a few weeks but what a difference WB makes! I've seen all these folks talking about it here and how you really need it and I was always saying, "It's not that big of a difference" but I was wrong. It's night and day folks but I'm probably preaching to the choir to most of you.

 

The unit with the battery pods and lights is certainly negative in the water but for me, it was fine. I could see how some people might want a flotation device to help offset that and they do make one for the Stingray housing. It would be interesting to see how much of a difference handling the unit would be uw with the added flotation but like I said, I think it's fine without it.

 

The screen is great on the back and I had no problem viewing what I was filming at any angle. (Assuming you can see the screen of course.) You can adjust the color and brightness of the screen but I've not messed with that much. I think I left it like it came. Looks good to me.

 

All in all I couldn't be more pleased with my combo. I think this system will serve me for many years to come and really has all the essential features a person could ask for. I know we all have our opinions and I haven't looked at all the other systems on the market (but I did some before I bought) but I can't imagine a better system for the money than the Stingray + housing. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to step up to uw video.

 

One more thing I will mention is the camcorder and how you record. I was a little reluctant in switching from the tape bases system to a hard drive/flash media system. But now I think it's great. On my three hour flight from Bonaire to Miami I pulled out the camcorder, reviewed my clips, and when I saw one I didn't like, DELETE! I know this will save me time when I start the editing process to have already deleted the obvious clips that don't belong.

 

Anyway, for what it's worth, that's my review.

 

Thanks a lot for the info! I am actually looking at making the same purchase for my Sony XR-500, but have heard a few comments that this set up was not so great which crushed my spirits straight away! I dont know if there is a big difference between the CX and XR models with regard to how the Stingray controls work??? I had some feeback from a friend that had a student using the set up with the new L and M but he was not sure what the model of camera was. Mentioned that the MWB had to be pressed many times before it would work and that scrolling through the menu with the left control was kind of dodgy...Any idea if the XR cams preform the same?? How do you like the Sunray 1000's???

 

Cheers

Kelly

[BDSC 1]

Thanks a lot for the info! I am actually looking at making the same purchase for my Sony XR-500, but have heard a few comments that this set up was not so great which crushed my spirits straight away! I dont know if there is a big difference between the CX and XR models with regard to how the Stingray controls work??? I had some feeback from a friend that had a student using the set up with the new L and M but he was not sure what the model of camera was. Mentioned that the MWB had to be pressed many times before it would work and that scrolling through the menu with the left control was kind of dodgy...Any idea if the XR cams preform the same?? How do you like the Sunray 1000's???

 

Cheers

Kelly

 

I am under the impression that the controls work the same and I thought all you had to do was press the WB button once and it would work with the XR models as well. Maybe someone on here can confirm that or not. But my experience is with the CX model camcorders and it works like a champ with the CX520. No problem at all going thru the menus although I didn't spend much time doing that. As long as Sony doesn't go changing around how the electronics are configured in the CX camcorders for awhile, I think the housing will probably work for the next several CX models and maybe beyond.

 

The Sunray 1000's are great. I only use them for close up stuff so I don't have them on all the time during the dive. A battery charge will last me several dives. I've also been experimenting with taking photos with the housing and I use the lights for that but I'm finding that high power is too much for close up photos. It's just too bright. Maybe the low power setting will work better for photos. By the way, no problem at all switching from doing video to photos. Just a press of the mode button is all.

 

I know you probably love your XR-500 but if there were any doubt or negative reviews about using the stingray + for that camcorder, I'd consider selling it and buying a CX model. I know the housing works well with those.

[pmooney 6]

The Stingray & Stingray plus G2 housings come configured for the CX series cameras as standard.

 

To switch over to the XR series cameras it is simply a matter of depressing the tele & wide buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds.

 

Hope this helps.

[Steve Douglas 16]

Hey Ash,

Great little report on your new system. Full of important and interesting information. For your close up work, you will definately want to switch the lights to your 500 or 250 lumens settings which will prevent you from blowing out the picture. 1000 lumens are simply too bright for CU work.

Any way I can carry your bags for you for a trip back to the Caymans? ;-)

Steve

[BDSC 1]

Hey Ash,

Great little report on your new system. Full of important and interesting information. For your close up work, you will definately want to switch the lights to your 500 or 250 lumens settings which will prevent you from blowing out the picture. 1000 lumens are simply too bright for CU work.

Any way I can carry your bags for you for a trip back to the Caymans? ;-)

Steve

 

That's what I'm finding out about the lights. The high power setting is just way to bright for the close up stuff. So I'll just keep going on trips I guess until I get it right. I want to know what I'm doing by July of 2011 you know.

 

I'll try and work on the Cayman thing.

[BC-SeaDragon 0]

That's what I'm finding out about the lights. The high power setting is just way to bright for the close up stuff. So I'll just keep going on trips I guess until I get it right. I want to know what I'm doing by July of 2011 you know.

 

I'll try and work on the Cayman thing.

 

 

Steve,

 

Would you recommend using any kind of defuser for the close up work? Also, any input on how well the flip macro lenses work like on the L and M blufin pro??

 

Cheers

 

Kelly

[Steve Douglas 16]

Hi Kelly,

Some people do use diffusers depending upon the lights they are using. When UK first came out with their Cannon 100's, diffusers were part of the package. They helped to allieviate the hot spot but also brought down the amount of light they had access to. A good video light depends greatly upon the reflector used within. Some companies say their lights are good for video when all they really are are night lights. Then folk get hot spots, poor light diffusion and spread and lose their money. A good video light is just that, a light that is made for video use. Personally, I do not know of anyone who adds diffusers but there are those who will add a colored gel which will affect both their white balance and the overall hue of the footage. I believe Shawn Hendricks as experimented with these.

I have no experience with L & Ms flip macro lens so I am not the person to ask on this.

Steve