SPK-HCF
3.3
5
3
3
Good but needs some features
I've used it several times in Hawaii without fogging issues or the high temperatures in the housing. However, what has driven me crazy is the view screen issues and the inability to easily read whether the camera is in record or not. I have missed several shots thinking it was in record. When the viewscreen is flipped backward and the camera reverses the lettering, it would be a BIG help if the REC or STBY letters became much larger so you could see it easily. Better yet would have been having the mode light on the camer's rear change from green to red. Failing that, having the power light on top of the case, near the button change from green to red would have helped. I mounted a 3X flat magnifier inside the housing to enlarge the viewer, but it is still too hard to read. Aside from this annoying failing, the system works great and takes fantastic video. (BTW - The instructions are too confusing. I suggest throwing them away.)
October 5, 2010
Garbage
First of all, this thing nearly destroyed my camcorder. Bought it to go snorkeling down south. If you are going anywhere sunny, it's like putting your camcorder into a green house. Heats up like crazy!!!! Luckily my camcorder has heat protection.
Super bulky. Makes having a slim and sleek camcorder pointless.
Viewing screen is essentially a mirror. If there is any sun, or if you are under water, you won't see a thing.
Even though they have fog detergent and a moisture pad, it will still fog up.
The microphone will cause constant humming if you're under water.
Entire body, including front lens scratches very easily.
Returned it the day after I got home from vacation.
July 25, 2010
Awesome.
This case is really nice, and very user friendly. It's mostly clear, which is nice because you can see that your camera isn't getting wet, I was a bit paranoid when I had just gotten it, and being able to see that the camera was dry was reassuring. It is a very reliable and sturdy, waterproof case.
Fogging will occur if you don't use the included cloth and anti-fog solution, especially if you are using the camera above and below the water. One thing about this case that surprised me was after I opened it for the first time after using it, I stuck my hand in to pull the camera out, and it had to have been at least 100 or more degrees Fahrenheit inside, which is another reason that you need to use some form of anti-fog solution.
The viewfinder is a mirror, and before I bought it, I was puzzled as to whether everything would be backwards when looking through it, or if the camera was programmed to reverse the screen image when the case was plugged into it. It turns out that the camera is programmed to reverse the image on the screen, so that when you look through the viewfinder mirror on the side of the case, everything looks normal.
If you want to use your cameras other functions, like slow motion recording or changing a setting without taking the camera out of the case, you can, but you need the remote that came with the camera. If you point the remote at the camera while it is inside of the case, you can adjust settings and scroll through the menu with it.
The microphone on the outside of the case doesn't record sound as nicely as the Handycam cameras themselves, but it does a pretty good job, and it is a stereo microphone.
One thing I noticed when I opened the case was that the buttons are pretty hard to press, I didn't like this at first, but after a few minutes I realized that it has to be this way, or else when you take the camera deep under water, the buttons will start pushing in from the pressure of the water, and that's a bigger problem.
The case comes with several different platforms that your camera will mount to, it has a platform for each Handycam camera. It also has spacers that attach to the camera like a filter, and protect the front of the camera and press against the glass when the camera is in the case for stabilization. Once you mount the camera to the platform, which is as simple as screwing a screw into the bottom of the camera with a nickel, you just slide the camera and the platform into the case, plug the case's wire into the A/V R port on your camera, close the case and your ready to start recording, but don't forget to open the screen, turn it upside down, and close it again, so that the screen is now facing to the outside of the camera, and to the outside of the waterproof case so that you can see it through the mirror viewfinder.
This is a great, and fun solution to videotaping under water. I've had alot of fun with it, and I think you will too.
June 18, 2010
