Canon S120, and G16, and Sony RX100 and RX100 II all get underwater housings
posted Monday, December 16, 2013 at 12:03 PM EST
If you're a fan of high-end point-and-shoots, but also want to go swimming in the deep, dark, depths, then you'll be happy to hear that four of the most well respected premium compacts have all just had underwater housings announced for them, from a trio of different manufacturers. The Canon S120 and G16, as well as the Sony RX100 and RX100 II will all be able to go diving thanks to housings from Fantasea, Sea&Sea, and Nauticam.
The Canon S120 gains its housing from the Nauticam NA-S120, which is rated down to 100m, and will set you back $900. The NA-S120 has clearly printed labels for each button, full access to manual controls, and what Nauticam is billing as a "super sensitive shutter release provides the best “feel” in the business, allowing precise control over half press for pre focusing the camera before a shot." Something that's very useful while trying to shoot with gloves on. However, as you might expect, the touchscreen won't be able to be used through the case.
Fantasea, maker of the FG15 housing for the Canon G15, has announced the FG16, unsurprisingly for the Canon G16. As with the FG15, it's been tested to 80m, and is dive approved down to 60m depth. There's a whole suite of accessories that go with both houses, including lights, flash diffusers, and lens modifiers. The FG16 will be available from $499.95, according to a press release from Fantasea.
Finally, the Sony RX100 and RX100 II also have underwater housings now, courtesy of Sea&Sea. The MDX-RX100/II is rated down to 100m, and features a threaded mount for lens accessories, two fiber-optic ports for strobes, as well as access to full manual controls. The MDX-RX100/II also has a number of safety features to help prevent your camera from getting damaged:
- Optional Leak Sensor can be built into the housing. Its LED lamp is located in the LCD monitor window and alerts you to any water ingress.
- Equipped with two sacrificial zinc diodes (one of the front case and the second on the rear) to avoid electrolysis damage.
However, Sea&Sea hasn't stated what the MDX-RX100/II will set you back, but it'll doubtless be comparable to other such devices.
So for high-end compact shooters, these trio of bodies open up a whole world of underwater photography — assuming you're okay spending more on the housing than you were on the camera!