Photo & Video
Seatool SVH-HC7 - Topside Review and Pictures
Submitted by : Addict
Date: Jun 20, 2007
I recently purchased a Sony HDR-HC7 to make the upgrade to High Definition video. After looking around, I really liked the Seatool SVH-HC7, at least from what I could see of it on the internet. Considering I don't live on the east or west coast, I bought it based on the small amount of reviews and pictures.
I am writing this to give a quick topside first impression and to provide more pictures then are available on the internet so far.
Some of the main things to note:
- The size is very small compared to other underwater housings. The size is slightly larger then 4 stacked paperback novels. See pictures.
- The camera fit in the housing is quite snug. Very little wiggle room.
- The buttons are close together and small. I am 6'5" tall, so my hands and fingers are slightly larger then an average man. These buttons are not unusable, but would be extremely difficult to manipulate if I were wearing 3 mil gloves.
- The camera WILL FIT the larger NP-FH100 Sony Battery. This was a pleasant surprise because I was told it would not fit by the salesman. This battery shows 354 minutes on a full charge.
This housing is very small, and I can probably fit the housing, tray and light in the same amount of luggage space as my old Ocean Images PC330 housing occupied.
Inside the Seatool box was the housing, a spare o-ring, and o-ring pick, a small tube of silicone, and a 15 page manual.
Since this is a topside review, I don't have anything to say about how it performs underwater. I can say that it has 2 clasps to close a rear-hinged door. The door has 1 o-ring. Compared to other housings I have used and seen I am surprised at how 'easily' the door closes - I feel like it is almost too easy, and this worries me. I really wonder how the seal will work when dealing with the water pressure at depth. The clasps that lock the door shut have a second lock, so accidental opening is highly unlikely.
The handle has a small switch that allows it to be placed in 3 positions. The buttons on the handle are firm and feel solid, however the knob (control dial) on the front left of the camera is made from plastic and feels 'cheap'.
The mirror used for viewing the lcd (through the housing side) is backed by plastic and a plastic ball-joint attaches it to the housing. If the mirror is snagged while open, I'm sure it would snap the mirror right off. The viewing angle produced by the mirror is far from ideal, but you have to give up a few things to have such a small housing.
Inside the Seatool housing there are 2 wires. One is for the underwater microphone and the other is the Sony lanc cord that allows control of the camera from the buttons on the handle. There is also a strip on the bottom that is used for detection of water inside the housing. If it gets wet, the light on the handle is supposed to turn red and blink.
Overall, I'm impressed with the housing, and I'm really anxious to get it underwater - that'll be the real test. If my 'uneasyness' (is that even a word?) about the seal at the back proves to be unfounded - this housing will be perfect for me.
That covers most of my first impressions. Please view some of my pictures below. They were taken to give readers a better idea of size and function. Click to Enlarge.
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Comments
Posts: 1
Junior Member
Hi Addict,
Did you bring yr Seatool housing underwater? Any further comments on it? I am planning to buy one for myself and hope to hear more information from you, thank you.
Posts: 1160
Administrator
I just took it underwater last week for the first time. I plan to get a review up - hopefully soon.
Just some quick notes...
CONS:
1. The mirror used to view the screen is not ideal, but it works. High light situations (near the surface when the sun was out) caused it to be difficult to see. The color and subject framing were also sometimes difficult to decipher.
2. No access to the manual white balance on the camera. I used the filter, and used the WB shift. The WB shift, which is accessible through the housing, didn't do much - so it was nearly useless. A dive instructor on our boat had the same camera and had a rod to push the touch screen, thereby making the WB accessible underwater - I was a bit jealous, but my housing was just slightly over half the size of hers.
3. The camera produced some great video. It does have some auto focus problems underwater, but not many - and no more problems then my standard def Sony PC330 had.
4. The buttons are fine for me to access without gloves, with average sized fingers. Getting to some of the (less-used) buttons required a little extra effort, but nothing extraordinary.
5. Wide-angle... I really wish I had a wide-angle lens. I think I have read reports that vignetting occurs with the wide angle lens attached - but I can't find that report anywhere. I will definitely buy a wide angle lens if I can find a good review on it.
6. I did buy the handle and tray to make it a dual grip. I liked it. It helped with stabilization underwater - though it is expensive ($160) for what you get.
7. I bought the HG20DX Fix light to go with it, which provided great light at night (really lit up the reef) and it was great for macro and crevices. The light was quirky at the beginning, but righted itself once I started diving (I will have a review of this light coming soon too).
Overall, I am happy with my purchase. I wanted something small, and that is why I got this housing.
If you do order, I highly suggest Reef Photo. They are the sole importer in the US, and they distribute to the other retailer. Among other reasons, I had a couple of issues right before my trip - and Reef Photo expedited shipping (at their cost) to get replacements to me before I left.
If you have specific questions, let me know.
Posts: 1
Junior Member
Thank you so much for the abv detail notes, appreciate you can show me the setup of yr fix light, I mean how you put it on the housing, also, how to attach the wide angle on the housing, do you need to purchase another port or something else ?
Thank you so much for yr recommendation, but I am from HK and I think it is more convenience to buy it from Asia country, BTW, what is the reason you need to replace the housing ? Is there something I need to pay attention when I inspect the new housing ?
Thank you !
Posts: 1
Junior Member
Thank you so much for the abv detail notes, appreciate you can show me the setup of yr fix light, I mean how you put it on the housing, also, how to attach the wide angle on the housing, do you need to purchase another port or something else ?
Thank you so much for yr recommendation, but I am from HK and I think it is more convenience to buy it from Asia country, BTW, what is the reason you need to replace the housing ? Is there something I need to pay attention when I inspect the new housing ?
Thank you !
Posts: 1160
Administrator
dickson,
Yes, if you are not in the US, definitely buy from the distributor closest to you.
The 'replacements' were for part that should've been included in my shipment but weren't. The housing didn't need to be replaced for any reason.
I used the FixLight Shoe: http://reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1994
to attatch the light to the top of the camera. That is all it needed.
Wide angle lens: I think a wet-mount 60mm threaded wide angle lens (made by INON or Epoque) attaches to the outside of the housing. You might ask your distributor what will work.
Hope that helps!
Posts: 0
Junior Member
Hi Addict,
I am also a new user of a Seatool HC7 housing, i have taken the housing on only 4 dives so far and have been impressed with the results. The housing is light, compact and hasn't fogged up in the humid air of the caribbean as old ikelite housings of mine often did, however I have had a problem with the circuit board under the control panel.
I also recommend ReefPhoto - they have been great describing how i can perform on site repairs, however it seems that there is a short on the circuit board and needs replacement so they are sending one to me here in Utila. I just wanted to know if you have heard from any other sers that might be experiencing similar problems?
Posts: 1160
Administrator
adhunt - thanks for your feedback. I haven't had any problems so far...
What kind of problems are you having with the circuit board? Has there always been a problem, or did it develop (like a leak of some kind)?
Posts: 0
Junior Member
Hi Addict,
well, it seems that i was their first customer to experience a problem with a circuit out of the box.... there was a small manufacturing error which led to the circuit fusing. Reef Photo were very helpful and talked me through taking the handle apart and replacing the circuit, which was reasonably straightforward. Unfortunately, since then the handle has leaked and broken the replacement...!!! frustrating of the highest order.... i am currently based in Utila, Honduras and have been trying to set up my own business filing divers for souvenir dvds... Reefphoto have once agina been very helpful, but it seems to me a clssic case of when one thing goes wrong then they will continue to go wrong until for no apparent reason it will all resolve again.
I am loathe to send the housing to then in Ft Lauderdale for full service, simply as I know how long things take to travel to and from tis part of the world....
i am at a loss as to why the handle would have leaked after i replaced the circuit as i was extremely careful to make sure there were no foreign bodies interfering with the oring seal.... any suggestions??
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