Fantasea's FG15 in the Lab & the Water

Housing Review for Canon's G15: Ergonomics, Ease of Use & Excellent Photos!

By Brent Durand

Canon’s G15 has been a top choice for compact shooters since its release, offering more manual functionality than other cameras in its class. As a Canon shooter, I can switch between the G15 and my DSLRs with minimal adaptation. The Canon G series has a reputation for excellent underwater macro images and isn’t too shabby for wide-angle either.

Fantasea FG15 Housing Overview

Fantasea’s FG15 housing sits between Canon’s G15 housing and housings twice the price. In other words, for a budget slightly above the Canon housing, G15 shooters can have access to full camera functionality and excellent housing ergonomics that the more expensive options provide.

The FG15 is a polycarbonate housing depth rated to 60m/200 feet. It has an elegant and functional design that provides access to full camera functionality with clearly labeled (individual) buttons and makes it simple to add and remove the camera from the housing. The housing also accommodates the most popular macro wet lenses as well as the Fantasea BigEye wide-angle wet lens.

SPECS

• Depth rated to 60m/200 feet
• Ergonomic design
• Made from durable injection molded Polycarbonate
• Full access to all camera controls & functions with clearly marked controls
• Shock resistant
• Double O-ring seal
• Special mount for lighting accessories
• Removable double fiber optic cable connection
• Removable flash diffuser
• Easy and secure installation of camera
• Removable anti-glare hood for the LCD screen
• BONUS - Moisture Detector comes installed in every FG15 housing at no additional cost!
• Dedicated video control button for easy video filming in any shooting mode
• Compatible with a wide range of underwater photo accessories
• Weight (with camera on land): 1.1 kg
• Weight (with camera in 3.6% salt water): -0.3 kg
• Dimensions (without accessories): 17 x 13 x 13.5 cm \ 6.7 x 5.11 x 5.4 inch (W x D x H)
• Manufacturer's warranty included

Comparison to Other Housings

The FG15’s polycarbonate body means that it is lighter than metal housing options. One of the big benefits to a compact camera rig is the small size, and the lightweight housing makes traveling a breeze. On the negative side, the FG15 is more buoyant in the water if used without a tray/arms and strobe.

The FG15 uses the same macro wet lenses as its competitors (through an adapter made by Fantasea) and has a great wide-angle solution with the BigEye lens. The BigEye isn’t as wide as some others underwater but delivers excellent value for the price.

Lastly, the FG15 has clearly labeled buttons that make it easy to change settings underwater. This is a great feature for those who don’t have every button memorized.

In the Lab

My first impressions holding the FG15 were great. After playing with the camera for a few minutes it was easy to put in the housing and close it up. The clear polycarbonate makes it easy to check for possible contaminants (hair, sand, etc) on the o-ring prior to closing the housing back. The button placement on the housing was the same as on the camera, taking full advantage of the G15’s ergonomics and quick setting changes in manual mode. This includes the front command dial, which can be programmed for many functions, including manual white balance.

The latch is simple to use and very secure. The FG15 can be set up for the beginner with a flash diffuser that pops into place. For more advanced shooters, simply pop in the fiber optic cable adapter to use one or two strobes: no need to mess with strobe mask kits!

In the Water

I decided to test the FG15 on a beach dive in Malibu, CA. The vis was great and I was back and forth between shooting macro and wide-angle, a luxury DSLR shooters don’t have. The constant changing of settings was easy in the housing and I could even switch between the pop-up flash diffuser and the single strobe setup I paired with the housing (although one wouldn’t do this in “real life”). Focusing was quick for both styles of shooting.

PROS

• Great value for the price
• Excellent ergonomics and clearly labeled buttons
• Can be set up for both beginner and expert compact shooters
• Leak detector brings peace of mind

CONS

• Doesn’t work with UWL-04 wide-angle wet lens (a popular option for compacts)

Conclusion

The FG15 is a great housing, delivering nice value for the cost. It’s a great option for beginners shooting with the G15’s pop-up flash or for advanced shooters using one or two strobes.

If you'd like to learn more about the FG15, please call our partner store, Bluewater Photo. They dive the gear they sell.

About the Author

Brent Durand is an avid California beach diver, photographer and writer with a rapidly growing portfolio of unique underwater, ocean lifestyle and adventure images. Brent is editor-in-chief of the Underwater Photography Guide. Make sure to follow UWPG on Facebook and Twitter for updates on everything underwater-photography.

Further Reading

• Recsea Canon G15 Housing Review

• Clamping Power! Beneath the Surface Arms/Clamps Review

• I-Torch Pro6 Light Review

Where to Buy

Please support the Underwater Photography Guide by purchasing your underwater photography gear through our sister site, Bluewater Photo & Video. Click, or call them at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!