Frequently Asked Questions

Generally, it is not necessary for you to send your camera body and/or lens(es) to us prior to building your water-housing. We have access to many of the most popular Canon, Nikon and Sony camera bodies.

The time required varies depending on a number of different factors that can influence build time including how full our production schedule is, third party vendors, etc. Generally we need 10 to 15 working days to complete a build. During peak periods orders can take longer to complete. Rush orders are possible and involve extra fees to cover overtime costs. Please note that the times above do not include shipping transit time, which is generally 4 to 8 working days.

We use EMS (express mail services) most of the time. EMS is a fast, efficient, user-friendly, international mail service, servicing over 120 countries worldwide. Depending on the country of destination EMS has agreements with third parties such as DHL. In the over 9 years that we have used their services they have never lost a parcel. Shipping generally takes 3 to 5 business days depending on your location.

A tracking number will be provided by email at the time of the shipping. If you do not receive a tracking number when your parcel is shipped, please do not hesitate to email us to ask for it.

We require a 50% deposit prior to begin your water housing and the final 50% upon completion and before shipping. Deposit is not transferable and non-refundable. Payment must be done by international money transfer.

We only accept Euro, AUD and USD.

Sure! We can invoice in any currency you like. However your payment must be made in either Euro, AUD or USD, which depends on your shipping location.

Our general policy is that we do not accept returns, because all Liquid Eye water housings are custom made and all sales are final.

In the unlikely event that we do accept a return you will be charged a return fee that will be equal to at least 50% of your total invoiced amount.

Thank you for your understanding.

Depending on our models we use different materials.

Our C6XXX series, C2050 and C2100 housings are constructed from high-strength, extremely durable polyurethane.

Our C1794XII and C1893, are made from layered epoxy resin, fiberglass and a very light core material using a state of the art “sandwiching technique” to maximize strength and minimize weight. This same type of technology is used in the aeronautical industry and for fabricating Formula One racing car bodies.

The front port is made out of high-strength, extremely durable polyurethane resin. The front lens-element is in acrylic as it is 20 times more impact resistant than glass and also more transparent. Acrylic lens-elements are lighter weight and less expensive than glass yet still provide excellent optical quality.

The back plate is fabricated from 10mm or 12mm (depending on the model) acrylic sheet stock that allows you to easily see the camera’s back LCD screen as well as a clear view into the housing.

The controls on the Liquid Eye water-housing are fabricated from marine grade stainless steel (A4/316L) and a special composite resin for strength and longevity.

If your lens is not listed on our lens port reference chart you may need a custom port. Please contact Liquid Eye directly to see if your lens will work with an existing port or if a custom port is required for your lens. In most cases we can manufacture a custom port to fit your specific needs within a few weeks.

Liquid Eye has 3 varieties of ports. We have the S, M and L series.

S stands for Sony or small and only goes on C6XXX models such as the C6000, C6300 and C6500. The inner diameter of the S series is 69mm.

M stands for medium and goes on the C2050 and the C1795 and C1892 models. The inner diameter of the M series is 94mm.

L stands for large and fits the C2100 and C1794XII and the C1893. The inner diameter of the L series is 100mm.

All current Liquid Eye ports are interchangeable between current model Liquid Eye Housings in the same series. This means that if you are shooting with two housings, say a C1794XII your Canon 1DX Mark II and a C2100 for your Canon 5DMk4, you will only need one set of ports.

Of course, you cannot use a L port on a S or M series water housing and vice versa.

On Liquid Eye water housings the zoom control is installed on the housing not the lens port. This means you will not have to pay an extra fee for each additional port you buy. Zoom allows you to reframe your subject on the fly, constrained only by the focal length range of your zoom lens.

Shooting with a zoom lens dramatically expands your creative possibilities by enabling different perspectives at any given shoot location.

Not all the zoom lenses are eligible in the zoom system port. If you do not see your zoom lens on the lens chart, it does not necessary mean your zoom lens is not supported, please contact Liquid Eye to check if your zoom lens is compatible with our ports.

Standard domes may vary depending on the port series, please refer to the port’s web page to check the specs of each port. Sizes run from 10cm (4 inches) for the S series to 22cm (8 inches) on the L series.

Larger domes are usually used for above/below water split images.

Although the 12cm/4inch and 22cm/8inch ports are both dome ports they serve two very different functions. Our 12cm/4inch dome port is designed for surface level use in turbulent water such as in sailing, surfing, or whitewater rafting. This port allows you use super wide-angle fisheye lenses to get in the middle of the action.

Our 22cm/8inch dome port is designed for over/under photography in calm water. When used with wide angle lenses this port creates incredibly sharp images underwater.

The 22cm/8inch port also allows for over/under photography with the underwater and topside environments in the same frame.

The 16cm/6inch can be used on the S series the same way as the 22cm on the L or M series. Or it can be used on the M or L series as a middle range dome port that is easier to swim with, enabling some nice split images without the difficultly of swimming with a 22cm/8inch dome.

There are many different methods to eliminating water droplets on the lens port elements. Although some methods work better than others there is no foolproof method that works 100% of the time in all conditions.

The most popular and consistent method for wide angle ports such as the dome ports is to use saliva on the port which will cause the water to sheet off evenly eliminating water droplets.

For telephoto lenses you will actually need to keep the port element completely dry.

Skin oil is one of our favorites because it is always available and it does not dissolve in salt water. Just rub your fingers at the corner of your nose or behind your ears and apply a thin even coat of the oil to the port lens element, gently polish it clear.

Please note that you should NEVER use any products such as Rain-X, Windex or similar products designed for mineral glass. Applying these products to the acrylic lens port element can severely damage acrylic, causing it to crack. It is best to use warm water and a mild dish detergent to clean you ports.

We use a pistol grip with a proprietary trigger system. We have two models of pistol grips: the PG-S and the PG-5. Both have about the same grip shape, but each is designed to fit different water housing models. PG-S is designed for the C6XXX series and the PG-5 for all other models.

Both models pistol grip have a dual stage trigger that mimics perfectly the two stages of the shutter button on your DLSR or mirrorless camera. The initial stage of the trigger stroke activates the AF and the final stage of the trigger stroke activates the shutter.

The initial AF portion of the trigger stroke has been lengthened relative the shutter release portion of the trigger stroke to give you greater AF control while swimming, and to avoid accidental miss-fires.

This question is a little bit complicated to answer.

Our C6XXX series includes most of the controls of the camera at a very affordable price.

Our C2050 and C2100 can be purchased in a Standard version or Advanced version.

The standard version is equipped with lens zoom function and the front AF/Shutter release, a dual stage AF/Shutter pistol grip and has no camera back controls.

The Advanced has all the features the Standard version has, but also includes controls on the back plate. As each model is different, so we recommend checking each model’s product description in our website to see exactly what controls are included.

The water-housings are sealed with an O-ring in a dedicated groove. The rear plate is tightened to the water-housing using captive marine grade stainless hex-nuts.

We do not use dive housing clips, the reason being that the nuts are safer, lighter and more user face friendly.

Our ports are also sealed with an O-ring in a dedicated groove.

O-rings have been used in the pneumatic and hydraulic industries for many decades. The pistons that raise and lower a fork lift are sealed with O-rings and develop pressures of 30,000 pounds per square inch, far more than we see in underwater housings.

The key is proper design, smoothness, and maintenance of the groove or the mating surface. O-rings rarely fail; most leaks in housings are caused by failure of the user to keep the O-rings clean and free of particles that can allow water to seep past the seal.

We have found that double O-rings are not needed to maintain a water-tight housing and just require additional and unnecessary maintenance.

We perform leak testing and function testing on every water housing.

We perform two different types of leak test.

The first test is the vacuum test. We pull a vacuum inside of the housing and then submerge the housing in the water to locate any potential leak.

The second type of leak test involves pressurizing the inside of the water-housing and then submerging it to locate potential leaks. All water-housings are designed to resist outside pressure, rather than inside pressure, so if the water-housing resists inside pressure, you have greater assurance that it will resist outside pressure.

Absolutely not! Our splash water housings are designed for surface use and are rated for 10m/30ft max. We do stand by using our housings in whatever surf you take it into. We have top professional surf photographers using our housings in the largest surf on the planet–problem free! Please check out our Team’s portfolios.

Our standard colors include: marine safety yellow (recommended because it is the easiest to see in the marine environment), orange, red, pink, green, and blue. We can also support custom colors (at an additional charge). Please consult us if you need a custom color.

Because we use only the finest materials, maintenance on our housings is very low.

A thorough rinsing with fresh water is the first step. Then dry the housing with a soft towel before opening it.

Maintenance of the O-ring seals is the most important part of keeping the housing free of leaks.

The O-ring on back plate should be cleaned, inspected before every use and very lightly lubricated if it begins to look dried and hard.

The O-ring around the port should be also inspected and cleaned if necessary before every use.

Our S series and M series ports use a red silicone O-ring, this O-ring should never be greased, doing so will cause it to fail.

The O-rings around control shafts usually do not need to be removed, cleaned or inspected every time, but they need to be lubricated with marine grease periodically depending on how often you use your housing. It is not uncommon for these O-rings to last twenty years, with proper care.

Many of our customers still use their original Liquid Eye housing. The primary reason why our customers purchase a second housing is because of camera upgrades where the camera size changes dramatically and is no longer compatible with the original housing.

Due to many circumstances that are not under our control we can only guarantee that our housings will not leak due to a manufacturer’s error. We fully test all housings before they leave our shop. Housings if cared for in a proper way will last many years.

You are encouraged to purchase flood insurance to cover your equipment.

If there is ever a problem when you receive your new Liquid Eye water housing please contact us as soon as possible. Shipping handling damage can occur.

Check with your insurance agent to see if your homeowners or renters policy already covers this, although it is usually not covered. It may be possible able to add a schedule of your items as an addendum to your existing policy. It may be necessary to take out a separate inland-marine all-risk policy to cover flooding of your equipment.

You may also consider purchasing dive equipment-specific insurance, from such organizations as DEPP or DAN/H2O.

You are also encouraged to purchase coverage on the housing itself, since the exact model of your camera or equipment may not be available for replacement from a future loss, and the housing will not necessarily fit a new model.