Sea & Sea MX-5
Released around 2000, the Sea & Sea MX-5 is a cheap point and shoot wrapped in a decent dive housing.
There is not a lot to know about this little camera. It is a full time flash, fixed focus, point and shoot plastic camera. Basically a cheap camera in a water case. Operation is simple. Open the back. Load two AA batteries. Load film (recommended 100 or 400 ASA). Check the blue O-ring for dirt (grease if you have it and plan to dive). Push the front lever down to free the external finder and turn on the camera. Point it at some thing more than 3 feet (1m) away and push the shutter button on the top. Flash will fire and film will advance. Counter will tell you the shot taken. Flash is automatic and always on.
My Take:
The MX-5 is simple but not the best quality. Mine had trouble advancing the film so I had some multiple exposures. Also, the rewind did not work properly so it had to go into a dark bag for a manual unload.
I love a good adventure water camera. If the MX-5 were working fully it would be a good leave in the bottom of the kayak, kind of camera. AA batteries are easy to find and the case seems like it would take a beating. It claims it can dive to 120ft (36m). I would not trust it to that depth without greasing the O-ring.
The weak point is clearly the junk camera they put in a reasonable housing. If you have one that works, enjoy it with friends in the pool or at the beach but don’t search one out. I think a better alternative would be the Canon A1 or WP-1.
Lens: Sea&Sea 28mm
Film: Kodak Pro 100
