Introducing Outex - A (Somewhat) Affordable Underwater Housing Kit

by Zach Sutton March 2, 2013 18 Comments

I've always been fascinated with underwater photography. As you may recall, I even featured some of it from Nick Pugay last month. Not only is underwater photography incredibly complicated in terms of lighting, but its incredibly expensive too. Outex is looking to change that with their new underwater kit, but they need your help with their latest Kickstarter project.

Projects such has Blue by Chase Jarvis, and the recently featured Underwater Realm by Ben Von Wong have opened the general public to the idea of underwater photography. However, very little research will show how completely expensive underwater kits can end up costing. Your very basic kits cost $1,000 and the price quickly jumps to well over $2000 if you're looking for something with a little more functionality. Outex is looking to cut that cost with their new Kickstarter project, and cutting that cost to as low as $375 for an underwater housing kit.

Unlike most underwater kits available for DSLRs, Outex is made of a rubberized material, allowing you to manage all the functions of your camera, unlike many of the stiff plastic competitors. But perhaps the most interesting part of the Outex system is how its modular. You're able to add a flash to your housing kit, tripod kits and more. Not only that, but because of its design, its able to be used with many different cameras. So if you're shooting with a Canon 1D X, or a simple point and shoot, the Outex should work for you. The installation looks pretty simple and painless as well.

Outex with Flash Install by Green Pixel from OUTEXphoto on Vimeo.

Outex is still in its Kickstarter phase, so if you'd like to see this product in production, click here and donate!

[via slrlounge]

Topics:

Product Photography

Gear

Underwater

18 Comments

About Zach Sutton

zsuttonphoto.com

Zach Sutton is an award-winning and internationally published commercial and headshot photographer based out of Los Angeles, CA. His work highlights environmental portraiture, blending landscapes and scenes with portrait photography. Zach writes for various publications on the topic of photography and retouching.

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18 Comments

jeff gammons March 2, 2013

Ummm.... No thanks....

www.jeffgammonsphoto.com

Syman St March 2, 2013

With all due respect, Chase Jarvis and Ben Von Wong should not be credited with your statement, "have opened the general public to the idea of underwater photography". Most of the "general public" doesn't even know who they are. I would argue that David Doubilet has the distinction of introducing the general public to amazing underwater photography, while Chase and Ben were still wearing diapers.

apollo March 2, 2013 Syman St

Agreed. Although, I'm a huge Chase Jarvis fan and I love his work and pictures but I don't think he's a important guy in underwater photographer by his work "Blue".

Claude Lee Sadik March 2, 2013

"The installation looks pretty simple and painless". I'm not convinced. In fact, it doesn't look practical at all :S

Bryce Powrie March 2, 2013

Wouldn't trust it with diving, but certainly for water sports as a splash guard.

Jonathan Balch March 2, 2013

The kickstarter is simply for "the big O" LCD window. Everything else is already for sale via their main site.

Zach Sutton March 2, 2013 Jonathan Balch

The kickstarter is for the entire project. http://i.imgur.com/W9QlqbT.png

Wouter van der Linde March 2, 2013

Basically this is what Ewa-Marine is doing for years now..

Nate Dorsey March 2, 2013

Doesn't seem too practical, it looked like it took 30 mins to get that camera put in there...

Jon-Mark Wiltshire March 3, 2013

I bought this one for $40 and has worked flawlessly in my uses...

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/251119024495?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid...

What does this do that justifies a 10X cost increase?

Mgdingo March 3, 2013

Looks like someone's trying to
re-market using a kickstarter campaign.
I’d be skeptical how much overall control you have with the focus rings and control dials.
twisting drysuit material is never as easy as it sounds. I'd also worry about the lens plate and viewfinder glass not being one piece of the puzzle. Potentially with all this twisting of rings, turning or dials, pushing of buttons, you might make room for water to push through. No thanks.

steve bryson March 3, 2013

Not even loosely comparable with a proper housing. Completely different league.

Chris Hunter March 3, 2013

If you're going to go with a simple bag housing, I'd go for one like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00169HXW2/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&... It's not very practical, hard to adjust the camera when its inside, but it will allow you to capture some good underwater photos and video for under $100.

Oscar Pallares March 3, 2013

the ebayone posted looks good for the price.

EnticingHavoc March 3, 2013

Crap of the week.
I can almost assure you that this "housing" is in no way water proof if you use it a couple of times. It looks so fragile and all those sealing bushes, gaskets and o-rings will eventually become leaky. If you don't pay the utmost care when attaching this "condom" your camera is doomed.

Roger Harman March 3, 2013

No way José... There's a reason why purpose built housings cost so much...

Nigelino Dcg March 3, 2013

Great instalation... Now put in water and show me some pictures

Austin Burke March 6, 2013

Saw this on ebay and tempts me to buy a NEX 5 but even then this is the one type of product I would be scared of using a china knock off.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Meike-40M-Waterproof-Underwater-Camera-Case-for-...

The bigger cases are expensive but at least I know it wont let my camera get in contact with water...thus saving me money that I might have to spend if a cheap off brand case breaks.