Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon WP-DC21 Underwater housing for Canon G9 Digital Cameras

I loved being able to take my camera snorkeling and diving with me and having all my controls available to me! Three things of note before using this device: 1-get the weights that attach to it (it floats and is difficult to control without them), 2-create some kind of easy-on, easy-off system for the camera's neckstrap as you have to remove it each time you place in the housing, and 3-go online and find out how to white balance your camera for underwater (far better results than just using the default underwater setting).

This is a nice, compact, functional housing that works very well for still photography. I've used mine to 150' without any mechanical or leak problems. However, users should be aware that when using the video capabilities of the G9 camera, there is a fair amount of audio "creaking" resulting from case compression that gets recorded along with the video.

I am an avid Photographer and own a few Canon cameras, so I am very familiar with the quality of most of their products. Still, I was surprised at the superior quality of this housing for the relative low cost. It fits my Canon G9 perfectly and most of the controls can be accessed easily. The flash diffuser works amazingly well. If you shoot a flash photo without it, you'll see a pronounced shadow on the lower right of the photo, caused buy the lens part of the housing being in the way. Add the diffuser and problem solved! Only 2 negatives; there should be a protective rubber lens cover to protect the lens window when carrying or storing. (I would even be willing to buy one if Canon decides to make it) Also you can't control the thumb wheel on the back of the G9 while it's in the housing. This only restricts the use of manual focus and manual exposure compensation while in the housing.
With all that said, I have used the housing while kayaking, tested it for leaks, but have not yet used it underwater. I'll update this review after I do.
The photos I've taken with it are only slighly inferior to those taken without. I am very pleased.

Update: I took some underwater shots in the pool, they look great!

After one thousand underwater photos in Read Sea and Maldives Islands, I am still very happy.
The light of the flash of the camera is very well distributed (even if it works as far as 1.5 meters/4 feet), and no artifacts come to the G9 lens even against sun light.
All the commands of the G9 are usable, even if sometime I had to study the 273 pages of the G9 manual for a "backdoor" solution.
For the best result, apply the old "Nikonos" techniques: manual exposure, 1/60, flash (when subject is less then 4 feet from you) and play with the aperture and ISO.
Most I used 100ASA/f5.6. Try also other combinations (light condition varies from place to place) until you will be satisfied then apply your best guess before to start the diving - underwater there are a lot of think to care, and usually there is no time for changing settings. Use the Underwater filter of the G9 also with the flash.
I am so satisfied that I did not use my Nikonos anymore.

The housing is very effective for the price. Only complain is that macro shots are near impossible with a flash from the size of the tube when using the internal flash even with the diffuser. Need an external flash for macro shots.