Great Case, but buy insurance anyway!
I just took this case and my new A95 to St. Lucia for snorkling and diving. Took it underwater multiple times to depths of about 25-30 feet with no problems - worked like a champ. My shots were great! If you are just snorkling, you won't need the weights. If you dive, then the weights would have been nice - I did not have them and the camera kept getting tangled in my regulator line. Follow the instructions and use the silicone gel.
The manufacturer does not offer any kind of warranty or guarantee on this item. If you buy one, consider adding it and your camera in a ryder on your home owners policy - that way if it leaks and your camera is destroyed, you are covered. I did this and covered this camera and my D10 with lenses - $2,200 of insurance cost me $35 per year. Peace of mind...
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excellent photos without the bulk
I have been using this case for just under a year now, having purchased it and the A95 from Amazon just before a spring break trip to Grand Cayman. I dove with it there probably 14 of 16 dives to depths to over 100 FSW and it as well as the A95 performed flawlessly. Canon offers weights for it and their web site tells you how many to use with their cases for different cameras - this case takes one.
With one weight it is very slightly negative, which keeps it from floating up around your head and keeps it so you know right where it is, but of course you need to either have it secured around your wrist or on a retractor.
I use an Innovative Scuba Concepts miniretractor with a very easy to attach and release metal clip. The spring is strong enough to hold the camera close yet easily let you use it in the water. However, before entering the water the camera will droop down due to its weight so it is best to let the dive crew hand it to you after you are in the water. I could use a stronger, larger or locking retractor but I find the ease of use makes the one I mentioned hard to beat.
One important tip, while on my current trip to Maui on my third dive I noticed what I at first thought was a small amount of condensation. The water here is a bit cooler than Cayman and I have seen small amounts of condensation before (always load camera into it in a dry air conditioned room). On this dive however I was seeing more and more droplets form inside the case as minutes went by. I showed it to the divemaster and indicated that I was going to abort the dive, but he was nice enough (Ed Robinson Diving) to take it up to the boat and save my camera and dive.
When back in the room I found a surprising amount of dirt and even a hair under the O-ring. I am so meticulous about the camera I didn't think the oring could have gotten dirty. The silicone that is used to make the ring seal is a dirt magnet. Before every series of diving episodes CLEAN AND RELUBRICATE THE ORING. What I would suggest is leaving the camera sealed for your entire trip. This can be done by using a large card - I use Lexar Profession 1GB 40x and Energizer lithium AA batteries. A quick word about these batteries don't use them in a dive light. I had a new set in my Ikelite PCa and the surge from these powerful batteries burned out the bulb in a second. Have used them many times in the A95 with no problem.
Lyle, if you see this you are going to love this case for your A95 and it was great diving with you and David down here.
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This thing is great
I just bought this and took it to Baja. I was able to use it easily and I got some great pictures. The only button on the camera that doesn't have a corresponding button on the case is the print button, but who's going to use that underwater anyways.
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Simple, Effective, Easy
Great product.
I was nervous thinking about bringing my new digital camera diving, but I tried it. And things were great! This case worked fine. I am not sure that there is too much to say. In my mind this is one of those items that either "works" or "doesn't work." I had it down to 70 feet and snapped all sorts of pictures easily. I was able to manipulate all the controls to switch between pictures and movie mode. I didn't use any added weights on the case and was not affected by extra bouyancy.
I should also mention that the order came quickly and as described. I'm happy!
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Does the flash still work?
From the picture, it looks like the case covers the flash. From my experience, if diving under 15 feet, pictures get really dark, really fast. Does this case cover the flash? Can anyone comment or post images from deeper water shots?
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Love it
I have taken over 3,000 photos with this case and I love it. The buttons are very easy to use underwater, the settings are intuitive and the canon A95 gives great results. I like the yellow O-ring which shows up any particles on it much easier than my previous case which had a black o-ring.
In answer to the other reviewers question about the flash, the thing you see covering the flash is a diffuser, designed to make the flash less directed resulting in less backscatter from particles in the water. It works well, especially for macro shots. Distance shots would still benefit from external strobe, especially in water with lots of plankton/silt. The diffuser can be easily removed, if you want to, but I found the lens then cast a shadow in my pictures. I have used it as deep as 38m (125ft) and it worked fine.
I found my case to be nicely neutrally buoyant with a heavy set of batteries in. I have also dived with a lighter set of batteries and it was a bit positive so I stick to the same rechargable batteries now. You can get the weights if you need them.
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Works like a charm
Bought the enclosure to take to the Carribean for snorkeling and was very impressed with it. It's a little tough getting the seal out the first time, but the instructions were dead on and now I can do it without thinking. It was weird putting it in the water the first time with the camera in it, but in a short period of time I was 100% confident in its ability to keep water out.
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Works great!
Just took this little beauty down to the great barrier reef in Australia and it worked like a charm. easy to maintian. Allows utilization of all functions of the camera, except the swivel screen. took excellent pictures when camera is set on Underwater Mode. They were charging $15 a pic on board. I took over 1000 on this trip and underwater video. Well worth the money if you are into scuba or snorkeling.
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Very nice for the price
I use this case every weekend for diving in Maui, Hawaii. Nevery any problems in the year I've been diving in 12-80 feet of water. Make sure you keep it lashed to your gear if Scuba diving, without the weight kit it wants to flat to the surface.
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amazing and affordable
This product was just what I was looking for. An underwater housing that enables you to use all the functions of the camera, underwater. The pictures I got of my family in the pool have been simply amazing. And since the A95 has a video setting, I was able to grab cool videos as well.
out of the box. simply remove the rubber seal, lightly but completely cover the seal with sealant. put it back on. place your camera inside and lock it up. Done.
Note:Test the case before you go sticking it in water with the camera inside. Get a 5 gallon bucket, dunk the empty case, and see if there is any water in th e case. If there is. Repeat the seal process.
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