Underwater News

Taking pictures underwater with an advanced compact camera has become fun and interesting, as well as comfortable. Nevertheless, if the housing that accommodates the camera is adjusted to the camera's convenience, bringing outside all controls and ensuring a significant efficiency underwater, the deal is done!
We tried to talk with Domy Tripodi, underwater photographer from the Messina Strait, who after using for several years a Canon G12 with an Isotta housing has recently changed to the new Canon G7x always inside its dedicated Isotta housing. It is a kind of housing that by now guarantees some operational certainties, a great strength (important under intense usage) and reliability when, underwater, we need certain performances, especially for who photographs in all conditions and in tough environments, such as cold water and great depths. Domy makes the most of the potential offered by a housing made so well, designed to become one with the camera, as if it were an amphibious camera in a single block (who remembers the glorious Nikonos?). When equipped with a supporting bracket and two lateral flash, mounted in the classical way using double arms of adequate length, you can move easily and shoot comfortably thanks to the very minimal amount of space required by the system. The body, made with Antcorodal aluminum and brilliantly painted in a beautiful red, typical of the firm, is well made and very well finished in all details.
The porthole is interchangeable, so that you can mount other portholes and / or add various accessories, especially when using a wide angle. The front pitch of the porthole is a classic M67, to allow mounting every additional and macro lens. All controls, meticulously brought outside, bear the same symbols as of the camera carefully silkscreened, and the buttons are designed for usage with gloves. Each command has a double O-ring to ensure a virtually perfect sealing. The closure is the conventional Isotecnic rotating knob, quick and safe. After placing the camera inside the front part of the shell, operation requiring very few moments, the assembly is simple and involves inserting the rear part on the front one, with a little effort to match the locking pin inside the housing's rotating knob. Above on the housing there is an accessory shoe where to place, usually, a pointing spotlight. The base of the housing has two M6 holes to fix everything precisely and securely on a bracket. The housing is operational up to one hundred meters deep. We tried to operate the commands up to about 70 meters deep without any operational problem. Therefore, we are positive that the system is well thought out and does not change its performances at great depths. Domy takes the maximum advantage out of this housing, making it working hard, and he has no problem declaring himself satisfied beyond measure, both from the operational and from the practical point of view. Not to mention the results that, knowing the equipment thoroughly, may be obtained photographically speaking. Results comparable to those obtained using an SLR camera, watching Domy's pictures. The secret of an underwater photographer is basically to know how to make the best use out of the available equipment. To do so, in addition to good photographers, we should be good divers. This is the sole and only way that makes us really get to take advantage of all the operational possibilities of this equipment so much compact but, at the same time, I would say almost professional, given the quality of the results that we could achieve by working seriously.

Isotta works to grow along, trying to understand what the real needs of underwater photographers are and changing possible housings' peculiarities that, in any case, are now sewn on to the cameras, almost like a rigid wetsuit. Understanding how to change or to better position a command, how to place the lever of the shutter button or the focus and diaphragms rings, according to the rapidity of use in extreme conditions, such as those that often an underwater photographer encounters while shooting, is not always easy and immediate. The practical experience and the closeness of the Isotta team to underwater photographers guarantees to obtain high-level results. Thanks to the efforts of this Italian company, the compact cameras' industry has benefited for sure, leading to a continued growth in the use of this kind of cameras. Domy's experience is an example for those who want to approach the underwater photography without necessarily weighting down by using an SLR housing and at the same time not giving up high-level results.

WORDS and PICTURES by Domy Tripodi