Underwater housings for the Sony RX100 & RX100 II

I was searching for an underwater housing for the Sony RX-100 II and found quite a few that might be worth sharing on this blog. Why a housing for such a small camera? Well, first of all, I am a casual underwater shooter. I don't do it very much and when I do I don't want to lug around a large housing to fit one of the pro Nikon cameras like the D4 or D800. Plus, I'm not sure I really want to risk taking such expensive equipment under water anyway. The RX-100 II on the other hand is a really small camera with a practical zoom range, is tiny, and won't break the bank if I flood it. On top of that, it takes really good pictures.

Most of the higher end models can use the internal flash of the RX-100 to trigger an external flash via an optical cable. Also they all can accept auxiliary lenses.

At the top of the list are:

Nauticam NA-RX100  and  NA-RX100II: (new model to be released soon)

     - sells for $950
     - can accept 67mm accessory wide angle lenses to allow for either 100 or 145 degree angle of view
     - rated to 100 meters
     - machined alumininum case
     - has flash connectors

Recsea WHS-RX100MkII:

     - sells for $900
     - rated to 100 meters
     - aluminum alloy body
     - fixed lens
     - 67mm thread for conversion lenses
     - can use internal camera flash or take auxiliary flash

Acquapazzo APSO-RX100:

     - sells for $850
     - rated to 75 meters
     - corrosion resistant aluminum
     - port has 67mm thread for accessory lenses
     - comes in 14 colors
     - has an accessory monitor hood with magnification for viewing
     - can use external flash

Patima PDCH-RX-100MK2:

     - sells for $700
     - rated to 120 meters
     - corrosion resistant aluminum body
     - port has 67mm thread for accessory lenses
     - has dual flash connectors


Ikelite 6116 RX100 II:

     - sells for $400
     - rated to 60 meters
     - polycarbonite body
     - port has 67mm thread for accessory lenses
     - allows use of internal camera flash


If you are not planning to go very deep and do not need an external flash, take a look at the less expensive models below.

Generic underwater housing for RX100 RX100II:

     - sells on eBay under various names for $210
     - rated to 40 meters
     - polycarbonite body
     - port has 67mm thread for accessory lenses
     - allows use of internal camera flash

EWA-Marine 3D-L:

     - sells for $165
     - rated to 10 meters
     - double laminate PVC body
     - port has 67mm thread for accessory lenses
     - allows use of internal camera flash

I have not used any of these underwater housings and so cannot recommend any particular one. I am beginning my own search for one and thought it might be interesting to post the contenders I have found so far.

When I first started my search I thought I would find one or two housings. It is interesting to note that the Sony RX-100 may have more underwater housings made for it than any other camera model, which says something about its growing popularity.