|
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Send us an email if your
question is not here or the answer does not exactly apply to your situation.
General
Info
Camerashield
Underwater Systems
Seahorse
Laptop Case (SE & SX 710CC & 720CC)
Seahorse
Cases - General Info
Armor
PDA cases
Boxit
Cell Phone & GPS Cases
Firearms
Cases
Other Faqs
Answers
If I find a product on your
website cheaper elsewhere, will you meet/beat that price?
We work very hard at offering the most competitive
price and uncommonly good service in the industry.
If you find a cheaper price elsewhere, please
send us an e-mail
or give us a call and we will do everything
in our power to beat any of our competitor's
prices.
Do your cases float?
Everything we sell will float, within reason. All the cell phone
cases will float with the intended equipment, so will the PDA cases.
If you are trying to hide your gold at the bottom of a lake, I'm sure
that you can make a Seahorse case sink for example, if it still doesn't
sink, you can add a cinder block to the handle. The larger cases
will float so well that they could actually make a great life preserver,
I'm sure that there is some law that prevents me from selling cases for
this purpose, but if it's the only thing floating, grab it! We took
two UWK1427 cases full of gear (tents, food, etc) on a canoeing/camping
trip through the Wisconsin Chain o' Lakes one summer, dragging them behind
us in the water, floating on their own. No sense putting all that
weight in the canoe. Try to avoid white water with this set up.
Will
my camera work with the Camerashield
Housing?
Contact us with the physical dimensions of your camera and we can help
you determine if it will work. You can compare the Camerashield
housing specs to your camera. If it fits inside the housing it will work.
The shutter actuator arm is fully adjustable to align with any shutter
button found on the top right half of a camera. Do consider any
zoom lens that extends when the camera is turned on. You will need to
check your camera size while turned on. We recommend that you also purchase
the conversion kit to set up your own camera.
Will my zoom lens work
in the Camerashield?
I recommend you disable your zoom lens and if possible set your camera
to wide angle as these take the best UW pictures unless you plan on only
going after small critters and then set at macro for that dive. Ideally
you want your camera lens up against the Camerashield glass to prevent
your flash from reflecting within the housing causing what we call light
scatter. Zoom is not very practical underwater since what you see
is not the same as the camera sees. Fishes have a tendency of not posing
for very long and you have to get what you can when you can. The
camera will ultimately take pictures of water itself and depending on
clarity, debris and organisms floating around. No such thing as
panoramic underwater pictures as a rule and 4 to 10 feet gets the best
results. Lighting is really your main concern and always use your
flash and take advantage of natural lighting as much as possible by shooting
upwards. Here you can take pictures of other divers of fishes profiles.
Below 6 feet the red color disappears first and has to be reintroduced
with the flash.
The housing has a lip at its perimeter to prevent scratches when you
set it down on something. For the most part, small scratches will
practically disappear underwater as the density is similar. If you
were to accidentally manage to gouge it somehow, like on a reef you still
have an opportunity if it does not coincide with the exact location of
your camera lens. Depending on you camera size you may also be able
to set it up differently to re-align it away from a major scratch.
Even then, not all is lost. The Camerashield is designed in such
a way that you can flip the cover over and use the other side of the housing
the same way, as both sides are the identical. To protect your Camerashield
when transporting it or in storage, we offer our protective Neoprene sleeves
that can be attached to to the Camerashield with a ring and becomes a
lanyard and wrist strap while diving.
Can I use my digital
camera?
I'm assuming that you have already confirmed that dimensionally it will
fit inside the housing and that being the case, it will work. There
are however, some things to consider when using a digital camera with
our Camerashield Housing.
Most digital cameras have an auto shut-off after (3-5 minutes) feature
to save battery life and you need to be aware, especially when going diving
that you will not be able to access the power button in the event that
your camera turns itself off.
I have found that most, if not all digital cameras available today can
have this feature turned off or the time lengthened before it automatically
turns itself off. You will be able to confirm this from reading
your camera owners manual to learn how to change this setting. Even with
earlier model digitals (like mine) that cannot have the shut down setting
changed) this can still be overcome by intentionally sacrificing a few
pictures during a dive to keep the camera turned on. Most digital cameras
can store in excess of 100 pictures so even if you ultimately have to
sacrifice (and later delete) 15 pictures you have bought yourself 30 to
45 minutes of 'ON' time. (More than most dive times that last 45 to 60
minutes.)
I also recommend that you always start off with a fresh set of batteries
to avoid a shutdown because your batteries ran out during a dive.
That would also be a bummer.
Here are a couple more tips to help you get the best possible underwater
pictures:
(underwater, most photography rules change, practice makes perfect)
1. Always use your flash, this will dramatically improve picture
quality by introducing the red color that is lost underwater.
2. If possible, fix the focus to fixed or wide angle.
3. Set your camera with the lens all the way up against the glass
to avoid the flash reflecting inside the housing into your picture.
4. Take advantage of natural lighting by taking pictures upwards (towards
surface) rather than downwards, away from light.
5. Get as close as possible to your target. Where you can see through
any water murkiness, the camera cannot and the picture will be of the
water in a nice shade of gray and green.
6. As you dive, the housing will flex slightly inward, and since
you placed the camera forward against the glass (#3 above) it will move
it backwards a bit. Keep this in mind when setting up the shutter
actuator so that the camera movement does not miss the button when you
get to 100'. At this depth we are only talking about 2 mm, but if
you start way off center you do chance missing the button at certain depths.
Do you have a video housing?
Sorry, nothing for a video yet. If you like, I can keep you posted
as we make new product available or have a special sale. This is
usually only a few times a year, so no spam, don't worry.
What's with the the camera
thickness and diving depth?
At 145' we can establish a deflection on the
center of the housing of 2.5 mm. Keep
this in mind when sizing a camera to the Camerashield
housing.
How is the CS-C100 (Combo)
different from the CS-D100 (Digi-Dive)?
The housing is the same. One comes with a free 35 mm camera and the other
with a 3.8 digital camera. If you plan on setting up your own digital
camera, we recommend you purchase the CS-C100 along with the Conversion
kit. Both models allow you to remove the camera for replacement and land
use.
What is the best film
for UW photos with the CSC100?
ISO 200 down to 40 feet, ISO
400 below that.
Will
my Laptop fit in the
Seahorse SE710CC ?
The SE710CC and its “Space Age” Impact Absorbing Material
tray was designed to hold even the largest laptops.
The cavities in the neoprene insert are as follows:
(As you are looking into the case)
Long cavity at left: 2 7/8" L to R X 11 5/8" F to B X 2 3/4" D (for cables
and longer items).
Laptop Tray: 14 1/8" L to R X 11 13/16" F to B X 1 1/4" D (removable
Velcro strap can secure up to 3" thick laptop)
Below laptop a) Lower Left 6 3/8" L to R X 10 7/16" F to B X 1 1/4" D
b) Lower Back Right 6 3/16" L to R X 3 5/8" F to B X 1 1/4" D
c) Lower Front Right 6 3/16" L to R X 6 1/2" F to B X 1 1/4" D
The horizontal
dimensions of the SE-720CC are exactly the
same. Add 2 inches to the depth.
Your laptop computer is bigger than 14 1/8" X 11 13/16"? Not
all is lost. By performing a small modification, you can easily fit a
laptop measuring up to 17 1/4" wide. The thin rib separating the
Laptop Cavity and the Long Cavity at Left can be removed with a sharp
blade. This modification must be performed by you, the end user. Modified
laptop trays may not be returned for full credit.
Why won't the panel
kits fit the SX Series cases?
Email from us to a customer that ordered
an SX case and a panel kit:
I am writing you because you have ordered a SX520 case and a set of panel
kits that I'm assuming you wanted to use together. The panel kits
we keep in stock are only compatible with our SE series cases. Although
the SX cases are molded with the same mold, the shrink rate of the higher
impact resin is slightly different preventing the panel kit screw holes
from aligning correctly. Also keep in mind that the SX series cases
are considerably heavier and for most applications they can be overkill.
If you can share with me how you plan on using the case, I can probably
advise you whether the SE would work for you and we can change your order
accordingly. If ultimately only the SX cases will do, you might
be able to modify the panel kits holes for a proper fit or have the custom
made.
Will my PDA work with
the
PDA Armor?
The key elements are the physical dimension
of your PDA. If they are within the
internal dimensions of the case, it will work.
The PDA Armor 2601 case is the same size as
our Otter Box 2000 model which can also be
used for storing and transporting a PDA.
Both of these can be used with the Belt Clip
Holster that securely clips the case into
place. The orientation of the PDA Armor
is with the screen saver membrane facing inward
to protect it while being carried in the holster.
We now also offer the Armor 1900, 1910 and
3600.
Will my phone work with
the
Dolphin case?
Not if it's a flip phone. Dimensions rule. If in doubt, please
measure your phone and send me the dimensions. i can confirm it
for you. Looks a little tight? Contact me for a customer provided
solution.
Do you carry another
size
rifle case?
We now offer three rifle cases by Pelican.
Do you have lockable
cases for handguns?
The other cases I carry and would highly recommend
are our Seahorse cases. The nice thing
about these is that you can add optional locks
on the latches, in either steel or plastic
(won't rust), you also always add padlocks.
Another case of various larger sizes are our
Underwater Kinetics cases. For single
or dual handgun cases a small Seahorse SE120
fits a 380 Beretta or most 9 mm and for a
full size 1911 the Seahorse SE300. Take
a look at our Fuerte Cases exclusive SE-300
Handgun case that comes with
your choice of locking latches and a customized
foam set to protect 2 full size semi-auto
1911 .45 caliber handguns, 2 magazines and
enough room for a full box of 50 rounds. This
is a great case for storing and transporting
your handguns. Case exceds TSA and airline
firearms transport regulations and can be
mounted to most any surface to deter theft.
Contact us if you need help with any usage
ideas.
Ask us how.
How can our group/organization
get a discount?
Tell me about your group or organization.
We can offer discounts with quantity purchases
of 5 or more products, many of these are already
in our shopping cart. If the purchases
will be over time I can create a special discount
coupon just for your group. Please send
me contact information and a web site if you
have one. If I like what your group
does, I will also be glad to add your web
site to our Hot Links page.
How
do your cases compare to metal cases?
Durability will be greater with a plastic
case because they will not dent or rust.
They can also be cleaned easily and made to
look new with Armor-All or silicone vinyl
cleaner. The plastic case will offer
high impact resistance because of the resin's
innate properties of being flexible and will
absorb impact differently than metal. Metal
can only resist impact through greater mass
and therefore greater weight of the case.
We carry a number of different product lines
and all are designed for the best impact resistance
based on a variety of needs and requirements
since each manufacturer prefers to do it their
own way by choosing a particular resin and
then adding impact enhancing and UV resisting
additives that work best with their design.
We have cases made with fiberglass reinforced
ABS, Calcium Carbonate additive in polypropylene,
Nylon and Polycarbonate, as is used in manufacturing
bullet proof glass. If you tell me how you
plan on using a case I can advise you on your
best options based on size, weight and use.
How much is shipping?
Shipping costs are revealed in our shopping cart and are retrieved directly
from UPS and USPS based on the information you enter. We charge a little
more for USPS shipping because we have to hand deliver these to the post
office several times a week.
Can I ship with my FedEx
account?
Yes. Simply send us an e-mail with your
FedEx account number IMMEDIATELY after placing
your order on our website requesting we send
your order via FedEx. You will have
to select a shipping option during the check-out
process. You can also call us with the number.
How long before you
ship?
We are on the west coast (USA) and we can process and ship orders received
by noon PST. Next day air, Express Mail and 2nd Day Air are treated
with even more urgency and we will make every attempt to also ship these
when received after 12 PM, sometimes as late as 3:30 PM. Our shopping
cart will offer you numerous shipping service levels and reveal the charges
for both UPS and USPS.
Will you ship internationally?
Yes. We offer USPS international shipping
options available during the check-out process.
We can also ship with your acount.
What is your return
policy?
You can always return any purchase from us
for a full refund excluding shipping, so long
as the product is unused and complete. Warranty
is either lifetime or one year depending on
the manufacturer. We will handle all
return and warranty issues.
Please click here for more information.
Great Products and Prices
~ Uncommonly Good Service
|
