This is a short-term review for the Tteoobl Waterproof Diving Case Bag for DSLR as it pertains to photography for iNaturalist/wildlife documentation, mainly to clarify some aspects of usage, since much of the product information is somewhat dubiously translated from Chinese. Hopefully this post provides some helpful information to iNat users who may be wary of entrusting their camera equipment to a relatively inexpensive and "flimsy" case as opposed to a traditional housing or Outex rubber case. I will most likely write another journal post on this product after I have gained more experience in a range of shooting circumstances (fresh vs salt water, snorkeling, deeper water, running creeks, different lenses, dirt/weather protection, etc). I have not used other waterproof DSLR housings/cases, I have only used Fujifilm XP waterproof point-and-shoot models and waterproof iPhone bags for underwater photography prior to the Tteoobl case.
So far, the Tteoobl Waterproof Diving Case Bag seems to function quite well with my Canon rebel DSLR. The product is listed as "universal for DSLR", which, as far as I can tell, is accurate, as the body section of the case is spacious and flexible, and should easily fit any standard DSLR (or mirrorless) body, including larger cameras such as the Canon EOS-1D. Compatibility should not be an issue unless one plans to use a long telephoto lens, which will not fit in the lens portion of the case. This is not much of an issue for underwater shooting, however it does pose a problem for users who may be looking to protect their camera while shooting birds or other distant wildlife in wet or dirty conditions. This is probably not the product for that type of waterproofing. The "window" through which photos are taken is made from a hard plastic material similar to snorkeling goggles. I did not notice any impact on image clarity, sharpness or color with this plastic layer, even at a working distance of only a few inches underwater. The optical aspect of this product functions well. I did not experience any leaks while using the case, it is fully waterproof as advertised. However, I would recommend thoroughly testing any waterproofing product prior to use in case of a faulty unit. I tested mine by stuffing the case with a towel and submerging it in water, then checking the towel for any wet spots indicating a leak.
Using the case is generally straightforward and intuitive, so I won't include step by step instructions. One aspect of use that is not fully explained in the manual (which is mostly in Chinese) is the function of an included rubber gasket designed to be placed around the rim of a lens's front element. After using the case without the gasket, I realized that the metal rim of a lens or lens filter can scuff the "window" element, which the gasket prevents by acting as a bumper. Luckily, I was mostly using a large Ø77mm lens, and only the edges of the "window" came into contact with the metal, however the gasket should definitely be used on lenses with a smaller filter thread size to prevent scuffing the plastic and negatively impacting clarity. This is important because while using shorter lenses, or lenses with a wide field of view, it is necessary to press the "window" as close as possible to the lens's front element to prevent the rim of the window from obscuring part of your image. In order to access camera controls, three slots are included in the case's design, one for the shutter button and two to turn manual focus and aperture rings on the lens, however, buttons can be simply pressed through the plastic material as well. When shooting, both the LCD and viewfinder can be used as normal. Flash photography may be challenging, as large on-camera flashes won't fit in the case. I found that the built-in flash on my camera worked through the case, however other built-in flashes may be obscured or simply not fit depending on camera model. Accessing the focus and aperture rings while shooting can be slightly challenging since the "window" must be held to the lens's front element, so it can be helpful to move forward and backward as one might while shooting closeup/macro. I spent about 45 minutes getting familiar with the adapted workflow before shooting any animal subjects.
For my first day of using the case, I took a trip to Leo Carrillo State Park at a low tide of -1.1ft, spending the majority of my time on Sequit Point by the sea cave. I found that the most interesting shots could be achieved with my Laowa 15mm wide angle macro lens, which is fully manual (focusing and aperture). Because I was lucky enough to have some interesting lighting conditions while the tide was still out, I focused on "split" above/below water shots, something not possible with a point-and-shoot camera due to the small lens and lack of manual focus. I generally used auto ISO, as lighting conditions are in constant flux in the tide pools, built-in flash, and faster shutter speeds to keep motion blur from ruining my shots.
for anyone interested, the case can be purchased here.
