Review of a Canon R underwater with Aquatech housing
Firstly this ISN’T AN AD. I just bought an Aquatech case for my Canon R and just wanted to share my experience.
I’ve used an Ikelite case before and LOVED it but I changed my camera and had to change my case accordingly.
Why I went with Aquatech:
Cheaper (not guna lie here)
The trigger handle
Good marketing and reviews
The last one might surprise you but I’m a sucker for good marketing. If they are shouting about their products, they aren’t going to make a really shit product, especially when it comes to putting a camera underwater, also they had good reviews that they shouted about through their marketing. I was constantly seeing a wide variety of photographers using their equipment across the world. It counts.
Yes, it was cheaper too, that appealed to me because underwater cases are SO expensive. Also, the other brands were mainly for diving, I don’t dive. I take photographs of models in luxury heated pools and occasionally in the ocean but only surface images. I’m not diving too deep depths to take photographs. Aquatech cases are not for diving hence the cheaper price.
The trigger handle is what completely pushed me to buy it. So I loved my Ikelite case but I’ll admit, my hands used to ache after because the case was bulky and I have smaller hands. I dreamt about having a handle like that especially with a trigger in the handle! Made my experience SO much easier.
On reflection, I wish I had bought a case for my R5 instead but that’s to do with Canon, not Aquatech so I digress!
If you are in the UK - import Tax is an absolute bitch and be prepared to pay about £500 to get your item. It killed me and wished I had worked it out previously. Luckily I had a credit card with 0% on it so I put it on that and have slowly paid it off but man, I hated that bill when it came through.
I’m not sure why but I paid extra for expedited delivery and was expecting my case within a week, it took 3 weeks to get to me, so don’t bother paying extra for the delivery, there’s no point. (If you’re in the UK anyway probably different if you’re in the States or Australia).
Using the case was simple. Easy to set up, the cables were a bit longer than expected so I had to have a fiddle but it was still so easy. The plate to put on your camera is good, but I had to buy a decent flathead screwdriver to keep in my underwater bag, something I should have bought even with my Ikelite case. Made getting the plate off way easier.
It was far easier to use, it was lighter too and floated! Something I didn’t expect if I’m honest! I have pros and cons.
Pros: If I have to suddenly assist a model, I can let my camera go and it just bobs about until I need it, which is AWESOME.
Cons: It does take a little more effort to hold it down.
Overall I prefer the pro and can ignore the con. This will prove handy in the sea next year when I finally get to try it in the sea!
So, worth it? 100%. Easy to use? Definitely. Would I buy another housing from Aquatech? Yes, but I’d weigh up the actual final costs against another I can get in the UK because of import tax.
Bloody good case though.
