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This case was a birthday gift and I must admit to some trepidation when submerging a Canon 5D body and 24-105 lens for the first time. Of course, the instructions advise testing the case first, which I did in the bathtub. It was bone dry inside, so I took the plunge with my camera inside. Here are my first underwater shots taken while snorkeling in the Crystal River of Florida:
I set the camera up for "dummy mode" so that I wouldn't have to fiddle with controls. The shutter release was easy to operate. I could not get the zoom ring to turn, but it didn't really matter because wide angle was best for underwater shots anyway. A zoom lens left at wide angle, or a wide angle prime lens would be best.
The case seals at two points. A UV coated polycarbonate lens screws on to the case over the camera lens. At the top, you seal the case like a zip-lock baggie, then fold a flap over several times like a dry bag. This seals with velcro. Finally, a large velcro flap folds over the smaller flap. I would say that the case is more likely to leak from a puncture than from the seals.
It was difficult to see through the viewfinder with a dive mask on, so I mainly just pointed the camera at my subjects. Another reason why wide angle is the way to go.
I had no issues with the lens fogging, but some small packs of silica gel in the case to absorb humidity might be worth a try.
I think this case works about as well as one could hope at this low price point. I will test it before every use. Long term durability remains to be seen, but it seems as well made as any dry bag.
A separate flash would be nice, but that would require a big bucks case. In clear water, plenty of light transmits to the 10 feet depth I was shooting in.
In addition to underwater shooting, I will use this case to protect my camera while shooting from my kayak in rough water conditions. Of course, you could also use it in the rain. The downside is very limited ability to set your camera controls.
Overall, I can recommend this case for the person who only wants to shoot under water occasionally and who can't justify the expense of a dedicated hard case. I have no experience with waterproof point and shoot cameras, so that might also be a way to go.
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