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View Full Version : Underwater Case :: DiCAPac WP-S5



Tommo224
09-01-2012, 9:22am
Thought I'd write a short something about it :)


I bought a DiCAPac WP-S5 just before Christmas so I could take my DSLR to the beach, pools, etc that I was planning on hitting up!

I fell sick just after Christmas so spent most of my break out of the water, but I did take it in to the pool with me a couple of times to give it a whirl!


Just want to say that it worked quite well, and I was very happy with the results :)


Some notes on it:
- It has a clip seal at the top (like a glorified super advanced-hardcore-badass "Glad Sandwich Bag" type clip seal), which then gets folded multiple times under the plastic, then gets "velcro'd" over twice.
- The glass ring at the end of the case unscrews, and that's how you attach the lens (camera gets placed inside without a lens attached).
- There is a finger pocket on the right side so you can get access to the shutter button and scroll wheel, the whole thing is soft rubbery plastic so you can press the buttons on the back of the camera.
- The whole pack dries off really easily with a towel.
- Because of it containing air inside the bag too, for me, it has a tendency to float. Which can both, a) make it tough to hold underwater with ones self, and b) add a safety measure if you lose grip as it'll reach the surface.
- It comes with a double clip strap which you can wrap around your arm/wrist or neck.
- Camera can be placed with a battery pack at the bottom, the case has 3 foam pads at the bottom which can be added or removed depending on the camera size/battery pack.
- Give the bag a good squeeze when you've sealed it up, depending on how much air you let out of it before sealing will depend if you can use it as a pillow or not. Test to see if it deflates before submerging!
- A problem is that you can't adjust the zoom on your lens while it is in the case, and even if you could, depending on the lens you wouldn't be able to adjust it much.
- Control can be a bit tricky using the finger hole, but it is okay to get used to. You just have to hope the finger hole doesn't wear thin on the scroll wheel (on my Canon for instance)
- I was very paranoid when using this at first, I tested it underwater multiple times without a camera first, I suggest you do the same to build your confidence with it!
- Using the screen as a view finder will make it easier to use when spending time actually underwater.
- When first submerging, there will be bubbles trapped and releasing from the folded rubbery plastic area, give the bag a bit of a squeeze if you're concerned, you'll be able to tell right away if there is a small leak. The bag will puff up good and strong if sealed properly.

Pretty good for $100 (from a store in Bondi Junction)!


There is a bigger model for those with bigger cameras, I used this case with my Canon 550D and Sigma 30mm, as well as my Tamron 17-55mm (zoomed to a max of about 17-25mm)


Please ignore the horrible quality on these photos, they're saved from Facebook off my phone as I don't have access to my proper copies on my laptop here at work!
My proper photos are actually very sharp and very clear, the colours aren't ruined through the case :)

http://www.omgtom.net/pics/under-1.jpg
http://www.omgtom.net/pics/under-2.jpg
http://www.omgtom.net/pics/under-3.jpg
http://www.omgtom.net/pics/under-4.jpg

If I'm not allowed to post the link or the detailed picture I grabbed from the dicapac website, just let me know or mods go ahead and remove it!

http://www.dicapacusa.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=WPS5
http://www.dicapacusa.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/s5spack-en.jpg

Tommo224
10-01-2012, 10:56am
Some reviews suggest vignette, but I didn't get any vignette on the original photos. Any vignette you may see are because I added it myself :)

I guess that'd come down to the physical size of the camera and lens, and how much space between the cap and the lens itself as well (plus how snug or loose the camera is inside the case).


http://www.omgtom.net/pics/underwater/

Sharper images now that they're on my server:
http://www.omgtom.net/pics/underwater/IMG_0687.jpg
http://www.omgtom.net/pics/underwater/IMG_0831-2.jpg
http://www.omgtom.net/pics/underwater/IMG_0793.jpg
http://www.omgtom.net/pics/underwater/IMG_0833.jpg
http://www.omgtom.net/pics/underwater/IMG_0752.jpg
http://www.omgtom.net/pics/underwater/IMG_0680.jpg

JM Tran
10-01-2012, 11:02am
I have one too, only used it a few times before putting it in a drawer and havent touched it since. It is very very hard to use lol, things such as changing settings and zooms are very tricky. Another thing is its positive buoyancy meaning you have to try and drag it down underwater to take a shot - its really only good for on the surface.

Tommo224
10-01-2012, 1:18pm
I am yet to try it at the beach or snorkeling or whatever! :)

I don't have much trouble using it, and zoom hasn't been a problem yet, although I can foresee an issue with zoom later with the whole snorkeling thing!


But having said all that, for the professional fitted cases for a 550D, they seem to start at $1200!

rellik666
10-01-2012, 2:48pm
I have one of these for my compact camera and there is no way I would use one on my DSLR for anything other than surface shots.

There is a reason why pro cases are hard plastic. I used mine for snorkelling so down to maybe 3m and scubadiving down to about 10m on the GBR. Even just snorkelling the pressure from the water made it impossible to push any button as they were all pressed in. It would have been impossible to change any settings/zoom/ even turn the camera off. I was impressed at the water resistance of the pack but nothing else.