The forum is moving slow, so I was hoping you all could provide me with your opinions.



Last year I bought a Sony F828 and I do almost exclusively herp photography. Resultantly, I am almost always around water. An obvious concern of mine is dunking an $800 camera in the water and it becoming useless! Despite not having a lot of money, I consider it a worthwhile investment to look into protective casings. I currently cannot decide between getting a "rain cape" or going with underwater housing.



First of all, if any of you have any experiences with these products, let me know what you think.



The underwater housing positively has its advantages. Total peace of mind if you drop your camera in the water, with the added bonus of being able to actually go underwater with your camera (30 m). I don't particularly have a need to go underwater, but I could see the advantages of being able to catch some salamanders breeding underwater, or even snagging a few turtles swimming by. The only problem is that the product made for my camera would cost $240 (does not have space for a hot shoe flash).



On the other hand, rain capes provide the basic function I would require, protection from the rain and from a quick dunking. The rain cape only comes with a zipper to seal it up and is certainly not waterproof, but I would fully expect to be able to drop my camera in the water and get it out within five seconds and not have enough water in the bag to ruin the camera. The big advantage is that this would cost only $150 (does have space for a hot shoe flash).



So the question is, should I go with the product that serves my basic functions, or spend another hundred dollars and get one did I know will positively protect my camera? The positive thing about to getting the rain cape, is that I would apply the money I would be saving towards an external flash that I desperately need!



Underwater housing

http://www.ewa-marine.com/english/cameras/e-da.htm



http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=271443&is=REG&addedTroughType





Rain cape

http://www.ewa-marine.com/english/raincapes/e-cafx.htm



http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=186339&is=REG&addedTroughType







Sony F828

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf828/
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Virginia Herping

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VaHS

Virginia Herpetological Society

http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS



If there is a just God, how humanity would writhe in its attempt to justify its treatment of animals. - Isaac Asimov

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