TOP DAWG HOUSING

[newvideo 0]

HI I DIVE ONLY A FEW TIMES PER YEAR AND HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT BUYING A USED TOP DAWG HOUSING FOR A HI8 CAM AND MAY BE LATER UP GRADING TO MINI DV. ANYBODY HEARD OR HAD GOOD OR BAD THINGS ABOUT THIS HOUSING THANKS

[shroy002 0]

I use a top dawg housing--it is very flexible as far as being able to use different cameras with it. I wasn't sure about video and wanted to try a cheap housing and camera before totally committing. So I bought the top dawg and added a Sony TRV 33 mini dv-- I was hooked immediately--and the nice thing is that now I am going to upgrade to a an new HD (Sony HDR HC1)camera and get to use the same housing. Plus I can use my TRV33 as a backup camera.

 

Here are some quicktime streaming videos shot with the top dawg.

 

 

 

Top Dawg video footage

 

Let me know if you have any specific questions--had the top dawg on 70+ dives and have had no problems at all with it.

 

Steve

[newvideo 0]

Hi thanks for the info . how did you find the controls , easy or not ? also how old is your unit thanks

[shroy002 0]

I love the controls, once you get used to them they are very intuitive, and placed so utilizing them causes very little if any movement--which helps keep the camera steady.

 

I have had my unit for about 2 1/2 years.

[Coldwaterdude 0]

My first post,

I just received my Top Dawg housing and am currently testing all the controls and lights. I have never shot video while diving but have been doing digital still for the last couple of years.

There was little directions with the package, I have the monitor back and am not sure why the monitor does not show exactly what is on the camera monitor?

When recording how do you know youre actually recording if the status is not being displayed on the monitor back?

Thanks.

[MikeVeitch 0]

Is the status stuff being displayed on your playback screen on the actual camera?

If you have that turned off on the camera it won't come up on the external monitor either. Believe me i have made that mistake a few times and not noticed till i was underwater....

 

Just hit the Display/Touch Panel button and make sure it comes up on the screen before you attach to housing

[pmooney 6]

The Topdawg housing is without doubt one of the most versatile products in the underwater imaging market today. The ability to use a large number of canmeras in it have made it a popular item since it's introduction.

 

Just make sure that the used housing you are buying is the Topdawg 11 ( power up button on the front of the housing ) - there was a revision in the location of the control board sets, and I am not certain that old style boards are still avavilable !

 

A copy of the instruction manual can be found at www.topdawgvideo.com.au

 

It should be easy to read as it has been " translated into australian " .

 

[Coldwaterdude 0]

Thanks Mike-

I spoke with Backscatter today then down loaded the full instructions from TopDawgVideo. I found the setting you are refering and was able to get it set correctly.

After "dryt testing" the lights and controls the only other challenge was making sure the camera flash is OFF. When taking still shots it would pop up and give me some really bad reflections from inside the housing.

I will be trying it out in Monterey tomorow for the first time, I am really excited.

Then next Friday I'm off to the Bahamas on the Aqua Cat for a week.

Coldwaterdude

[MikeVeitch 0]

Great to hear, have fun in the Warmwater...dude!

[Coldwaterdude 0]

Warmwater,,,yes! I wonder what they would think if I showed up in my drysuit? lol

Was not able to test the camera today, rough sets coming in on shore. Should have taken the boat. Plus my 2nd stage was blowing air like crazy just after being serviced <_< , I tighted it up and ended up cracking the reg body! So now I'm really screwed.

Coldwaterdude