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Home: Inactive Forums: Underwater Video:
newbie to building a housing - FX1

wes
Novice

Nov 25, 2004, 1:54 AM

Post #1 of 12 (3104 views)
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newbie to building a housing - FX1	Can't Post

I'm building a housing for the new sony HDR-FX1.

This camera has a fixed microphone which protrudes over the front lense of the camera. When you add a wide lense adapter onto the front lense the front of the wdie angle reaches the same length as the mic.

So, if I build a housing for use with the wdie angle it is easy. The front port of the housing will sit flush with the front of the wide angle lens and the fixed mic on top. No problems.

However, what will happen if I use the camera in the housing without the wide angle lens????

There will be a gap of around 8-10cms from the front of the lens on the camera to the front port. Will this cause any problems??
Will it mean I can only use the housing with the wide angle??

thanks in adavnce for the advice

CamDiver
Novice

Dec 2, 2004, 2:39 AM

Post #2 of 12 (2982 views)
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Re: [wes] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi,
If you are gonna go to the design table for a housing for this baby then I would imagine you should either be well versed in mechanical engineering or have someone on your 'design team' who is. Nice to drop the name of the camera but maybe it's better to leave the work to those with tried and tested means of housing production. After all, you wouldn't want to drown that nice new Sony HDR-FX1 now would you?

Good luck,
Mark.
Palau
Western Pacific
(someone's gotta live here, right?)

wes
Novice

Dec 2, 2004, 6:36 AM

Post #3 of 12 (2976 views)
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Re: [CamDiver] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yeah, nice one Mark.
Thanks for the great post - very informative.
You're a gun.

CamDiver
Novice

Dec 2, 2004, 5:47 PM

Post #4 of 12 (2963 views)
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Re: [wes] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wes,
No malice intended. I sincerely wish you the best. I was, after having built my own lighting system, just trying to make you aware of the pitfalls etc of developing home made equipment. I did use a friends machine shop and drew on his extensive mechanical engineering knowledge and experience to develop my system. If it had been any other way, mixed with my limited knowledge and understanding, of such things I am sure I would have been crying into my viewfinder as a very expensive HMI light head went up in smoke filled bubbles!!

All the best with your plan.

Mark.
Palau
Western Pacific
(someone's gotta live here, right?)

mikeG
Novice

Dec 4, 2004, 9:56 PM

Post #5 of 12 (2888 views)
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Re: [wes] newbie to building a housing - BUILD IT!!! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wes,
While I am a mechanical engineer, it doesn't take a degree or know how in rocket building to building an underwater housing. However it does require access to some decent tools. If you have this ... I say go for it. I built my own housing / lights / battery canister about 4 years ago and you wouldn't believe the compliments I get when I go on liveaboards and other charters. It puts many (& I mean many) purchased housings and light systems to shame. Keep us posted and feel free to ask questions!

MikeG

mikeG
Novice

Dec 4, 2004, 10:02 PM

Post #6 of 12 (2887 views)
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Re: [wes] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Oh yeah, to answer your question, you want to have the front of your camera as close to the front port as possible to prevent light rings and other reflections. In the 4 years and over 130 dives I've used my housing on, I have never used it without the wide angle lens. I confess, this is partially because I designed the housing to use the camera only with the lens on. I could have made it adjustable to accept multiple positions but I like having the wide angle view.

MikeG

wes
Novice

Dec 4, 2004, 11:58 PM

Post #7 of 12 (2878 views)
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Re: [mikeG] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

No worries Cam.

Thanks Mike.

I am getting someone who has experience and has all the tools and material skills to build the housing, but I'm doing the design and directing the build.

With the FX1 it's a lot easier to include the wide lens as standard as the mic protrudes over the toip of the end of the lens anyway making the housing that long - so I'll do as you suggest.
It will be interesting to try it without the wide and see what I get in terms of light rings and other reflections.

cheers, wes

bubblevision
Novice

Dec 30, 2004, 2:13 AM

Post #8 of 12 (2634 views)
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Re: [wes] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wes, Please let us know how you get on. Perhaps even some pics when it's completed. Personally I think I"m going to wait for the Gates, but you never know.
_________________________________________
Bubble Vision underwater video & marine life DVD, Phuket, Thailand
Sony VX2000, Gates housing, L&M Sunray lights
Sony Vegas

wes
Novice

Dec 30, 2004, 5:20 AM

Post #9 of 12 (2631 views)
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Re: [bubblevision] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Certainly will Bubblevision.

The build is going well but of course slower than I planned - it's usually the way.

Will post some pics when it's complete - hopefully mid-Jan.

The FX1 has been an awesome camera on land so I can't wait to get it in the water.

cheers
wes

bubblevision
Novice

Dec 30, 2004, 11:04 AM

Post #10 of 12 (2620 views)
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Re: [wes] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Wes, What's the body made of ? Aluminium? Plastic? Machined out of solid or cast or fabricated? And did you get your controls/seals off the shelf or are you making them? How about the lens? Red filter? I could ask questions all night about this.

Great project. It sounds like you'll be one of the first to get the FX1 underwater. Will you be using it for diving or surfing footage?

Don't forget to give it a couple of test runs at least as deep as you intend to go. Hang around in the shallows a lot too. A lot of leaks occur there where there is less pressure to tighten the seals down. And fidget with all the controls a lot during the test runs to encourage leaks.
_________________________________________
Bubble Vision underwater video & marine life DVD, Phuket, Thailand
Sony VX2000, Gates housing, L&M Sunray lights
Sony Vegas

maxheadspace
Novice

Jan 10, 2005, 3:16 PM

Post #11 of 12 (2518 views)
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Re: [wes] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Greetings Wes!

Not sure if you've seen it, but while I was researching a housing for my own camera, I found that Aquatix sells plans for making your own video housing, $29. It's hidden away in their "accessories" section, at www.aquatix.com/accessories. Are you making your own light system? Although I don't trust myself to making the housing, I can't afford the amazingly high priced lights on the market. I'd be interested in your approach.

Thanks!
Max.

wes
Novice

Jan 10, 2005, 3:29 PM

Post #12 of 12 (2514 views)
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Re: [maxheadspace] newbie to building a housing - FX1 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Great advice Bubblevision. I'll definately give the housing a full work out beofre sliding the camera in.

The housing is being built out of fibreglass - it will super solid as I will mostly be using it to shoot surfing so it needs to stand up to getting smashed on reefs etc.
The housing will be fine to free diving depths as well.

Won't be making my own lighting system Max as I won't be doing any real diving work (yet). Although I'm keen to shoot some action water sports at night so I'd need to find some lights for this.

My fibreglasser is on holidays!!! Will post pics when it's finished.

cheers
wes