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PATIMA #2849
October 23, 2008 - 10:37 AM

Jae Lee was at the Patima booth (along with Reef Photo & Video) showing underwater housings for video and still cameras. I looked at housings for the Canon G9, Sanyo Xacti HD1010 video camera, and Canon 450D (Rebel XSi).

Patima’s underwater housing for the Canon G9 is really impressive. It is as fully-featured as any DSLR housing, but managed to keep a small size and price (retails for $995). I picked up the housing, and it felt great in my right hand—all of the controls were easily accessible. The G9 housing also features both optical and electrical ports, and has interchangeable ports. Two ports are currently available: a standard port, and a wide-angle port. The G9 housing has a 100m depth rating.

The Patima Canon 450D housing retails for $1500 and is a basic housing that supports the Canon EF-S 60mm macro lens and 18-35 lens. There is no zoom/focus knob on the housing itself, but the port features a zoom gear. Two Nik5 bulkheads and two optical fiber bulkheads come standard, but users can also choose a 6-pin Sea & Sea type bulkhead. Ergonomics are weak on the Patima; similar to Ikelite housings and older Aquatica housings, housing knobs are not accessible from shooting position. Still, it is a nicely made housing, and the price is right.

The Sanyo Xacti HD1010 housing is interesting; Patima actually captures the Sanyo’s remote control and uses it to control the camera inside the housing.

Patima’s “Photo Big Bear PL50” light is a diffused, 50-watt LED video light that uses AA batteries.

Patima also plans to release housings for the Nikon D90 and the RED ONE.