Ewa-Marine U-AX Underwater Housing

Comments about Ewa-Marine U-AX Underwater Housing:

I bought two of these bags to use in my High School Photography classes. We do an underwater project, and the kids have been really scared to put their DSLR cameras in the bags and use them. But they are really great bags. So far we have only used them in a swimming pool, and nothing is getting wet.

The only thing that is difficult is the finger hole, but I think that would be hard with anything under the water.

Comments about Ewa-Marine U-AX Underwater Housing:

I just received my U-AX in the mail today and so far am loving it, fits my Nikon D90 with 18-105 VR lens perfectly with the included AF adapter. I'll be ordering an SB-900 this week to add to the rig. [...]

Comments about Ewa-Marine U-AX Underwater Housing:

PROS: The case completely protected my camera from water (splashing and moisture). Once the interior rig in the case was constructed it felt very sturdy and I had no problems operating the camera using the built in finger port/sleeve. Pictures came out perfectly too!

CONS: Have to use auto focus. It is extremely difficult (nearly impossible) to change any settings on the camera once you seal it in the case. Also, I tried to attach a 75MM - 300MM lens and the case just barely allowed it to fit. I could not connect the camera to the interior rig with that size lens so I kind of had to hold the camera in place. The instructions appeared to be poorly translated from German to English so constructing the interior rig to hold the camera in place took some figuring out. The case is made for all sizes of SLR cameras so my little Rebel XSi meant that there was quite a bit of excess case to work around....this did not affect overall happiness with the product though!

TIPS: You really have to force the ring on the end of the interior rig into the inside of the lens area to make this product work. The instructions say to "push until it snaps into place" - this is the truth, you will hear and feel it snap into place once it is inserted correctly, but you have to use a lot of force. Once it snaps, it really holds the camera solidly in place. (I read a review on this product where the person said they had to hold the camera in place in order to keep the lens above the black ring on the case's lens - I suspect they did not push the interior ring in until is snapped!)

MY EXPERIENCE: I used the product to shoot photos of wakeboarding using an 18MM-55MM lens. I did a brief float test to make sure that the camera would float if I dropped it in the water. Luckily the test was a success! I took the majority of shots being pulled behind a boat in a tube while another person rode a wakeboard about 10 feet behind me. The case protected my camera very well against splashing (which there was plenty of). Again, I held the camera pretty tightly so did not accidentally do an underwater test, although the seal on the case seemed good enough that I would trust the camera being completely submerged if I were actually being submerged with it. I was only worried about dropping it in the water and losing it and my camera to the depths of the lake I was on!

Comments about Ewa-Marine U-AX Underwater Housing:

Works pretty good with my 5D and 430Ex. Only problem is if I use the 16-35mm f/2.8L the lens won't fit within the glass, so if I put it in there, there's a huge ring around the photo. So make sure all your lenses fit this particular model.

It is hard to change settings once in the case, though. And it does seem a little sketchy as it's only a bag with a clamp. But works good, and it's cheaper than the others.

Comments about Ewa-Marine U-AX Underwater Housing:

I use this product to shoot wakeboard photography from a tube. It is exactly as it appears. A plastic bag. It is useful as a splash guard, to keep your camera dry. It is slightly difficult to change shutter speed and aperture through the bag once your fingers and the bag gets wet. Overall it is good for the price of it, as other waterproof cases range well over $1000 - $3000. I did not quiet figure out how to attach the lens to the bag so it moves around. As-well you cannot use a fisheye lens with this, as the port is flat. I was unaware of this when when I purchased it, so I would not recommend this if you are primary buying for wide angle photography.