If you’re a photographer and enjoy the water, then capturing your favorite moments can become a bit of a problem. Most cameras are not well suited to the water since their bodies are not lined with rubber; thus, they are unable to keep water out of their system. It is also because most cameras work with an open mirror system, which allows the internal sensors to be open to the elements, therefore capturing better and brighter images.
All this said, your adventure to capture incredible shots in the water will not go unfulfilled. There are multiple ways that you can make your camera waterproof. How challenging waterproofing is depends on what kind of camera you have and how expensive it is (because you wouldn’t want to lose a really expensive camera if things go south). For this reason, the best, and one of the more low cost, cameras is the Canon m50. This camera has everything you’ll need: a sleek, lightweight body, a 24MP CMOS APS-C sensor, and dual-pixel autofocus.
The best part is, it is super easy to handle, and it can take great shots of the water. If you’re thinking about going kayaking, surfboarding, or deep-sea diving, this camera should definitely be your first consideration. However, in order to do that, let’s first find out what this camera offers and whether it can sustain the water.
Canon M50: What Can It Do? and, Is It Waterproof?
The Canon m50 is an incredible camera for beginners and professionals alike. It has a very powerful imaging sensor with a DIGIC 8 processor and can shoot at 7.4 frames per second in burst mode. This camera also has a 4k/24p UHD video capture with a 1.7x crop factor. This makes it super efficient for underwater shooting. If you’re interested in capturing the vibrant colors of the fish or the corals, you can do so with the m50 through its 2.36M-dot OLED EVF. It has a mirrorless magnesium alloy body that is fit for everything you want to do.
The camera is not a digital SLR, but a digital camera which comes midway between a professional DSLR and a smartphone camera. However, it has the capability to add and remove lenses based on what kind of photography you want to do. This aspect also makes it super lightweight at merely 387 grams. Perhaps the best part about this camera is that it has built-in wifi and Bluetooth for connectivity. So, if you’re underwater or above water (but perhaps lost), you can always find your way back home using these connectivity tools.
This camera also has a 3 inch, fully articulated touch screen LCD, which allows you to understand and operate the camera very easily. It makes perfect sense for beginners to be fond of this camera. This will make for the ideal guide for getting into professional photography and videography. However, unfortunately, this camera is not waterproof, so you can not take it for a deep-sea diving excursion on its own. But the fun part is, there are many ways to make it waterproof. Let’s go ahead and look at some of them.
How To Make The Canon M50 Waterproof?
In order to understand how to make your camera waterproof, you must first understand what’s required when waterproofing your camera. Each camera is made up of a combination of metals and alloys, attached by screws and bolts. Hence, you can’t expect water to not seep through the tiny hole or slits that exist within the body. Waterproofing happens when you enclose the camera within a tightly packed vacuum space where no moisture enters the body of the camera.
This can happen either by remodeling the camera by getting multiple rubber linings added directly onto the camera or getting an external enclosure/case that you can mount the camera into. While the former sounds like a convenient option without the added weight of a casing, it is also a much more complex and expensive process. Thus, we will focus on the options that do not require complicated customizations and can be available to anyone who wants to purchase them
There are several ways that you can make your Canon M50 waterproof. The two most popular options that are used by almost everyone are soft case housing and hard case housing. Each one of them comes at a different cost but are equally efficient.
Let’s look at exactly how to mount the camera into the two cases and what kinds of functionalities they offer.
1. Soft Case Housing
A soft case is provided by a company called Outex, which specializes in silicon-based waterproof camera cases. Their cases follow a “one size fits all” model, which is great because you can use it with other cameras. You also won’t have to worry about mounting different lenses onto your Canon M50. A soft case housing is basically a shell that is stretchable and can hold different sizes within it. It has a glass lens that gets attached to the camera’s front lens, and a sock-like cover is then stretched onto the rest of the camera body.
Outex has many different versions of this waterproof case, which ensure that the lid (which is the glass lens) is tightly sealed, and the camera enters a vacuum space. It is also very easy to operate the camera because the silicone material allows for a rubbery, translucent appearance and a good grip. So, you can easily see the camera’s body through the slightly milky cover of the casing. You can also press the buttons without any problem and zoom or focus the camera lens the same way you would without the case.
This casing comes in an array of different pricing levels, ranging from $200 to $500. Some variations include a round lens front or a back glass lens for an easy visual on the screen. Thanks to this casing, you can do all kinds of photography with your M50 without worrying about any water damage.
2. Hard Case Housing
Hard case housings are plastic or fiberglass-based casings. These casings can also be metal-based with rubber linings that keep a vacuum inside, allowing the camera to stay dry. Ikelite is a company that specializes in hard shell waterproof cases for all kinds of cameras. They have a specialized casing for the Canon M50 as well. These cases are not customizable as they come in a standard shape and size for a particular model and lens type. The Ikelite cases also have externally protruding buttons and levers that internally control the shutter buttons and zoom lenses.
These cases seem a lot more limiting and can be very expensive. Their prices start from $1000 and go upwards. However, these cases are also some of the world’s best protective measures for any camera. The standard case for the Canon M50 is called “200DLM/A Underwater TTL Housing” and guarantees better protection than a soft case.
These cases are more frequently purchased by professionals who wish to enhance their image quality and stabilization when underwater. Since this piece of equipment comes with a built-in stabilizer and smudge remover, it can also help you record beautiful movies of deep-sea marine life.
Since it is a professional grade waterproof casing, a hard case housing also comes with a fully operational super eye viewfinder. This is an external viewfinder that allows you to treat the camera just as you would outside of water. You can use it to zoom in and get images just as clearly and as easily as you would on the ground. This particular model has an ABS-PC blend material that gives you a corrosion-free durable performance. It also comes with two accessory mounting options that will let you mount grips or holders onto the camera’s sides. You can also mount an external flash for nighttime marine photography.
Conclusion
As you can see, underwater photography or videography is not an easy feat to achieve. You will have to go the extra mile to get a good camera and a suitable casing for it. It can mean double the expense, but it will simultaneously give you the most gratifying shots that you can never take on the ground.
In any case, waterproofing is necessary for the camera’s safety, and you must always remember that. Don’t leave the safety of your camera up to chance. It’s always better to expect the unexpected and prepare for the worst. Hence, consider getting a waterproof case for your M50.
Overall, the two casing options are the only waterproofing options for the Canon M50 that you can avail at this moment. The soft case is appropriate for beginners and those who want a cheaper waterproofing option. On the other hand, the hard case housing is for professionals who wish to make documentaries or take professional pictures of underwater life. You can inquire further by going on their websites and looking at what other options they are willing to provide or try emailing them for further updates.
