Divers who begin shooting underwater photo and video will soon immerse themselves in the seemingly endless world of add-ons and accessories, building their kit as they gain experience and challenge themselves to learn new techniques. The Photographer’s Toolbox column will explore common types of photo gear products, with advice for beginner and intermediate shooters about how to choose and use them.

One of the most important underwater photo accessories is the tray-and-handle system, which is literally the foundation for building a much larger camera system.

All handle systems serve as mounting points for adding strobes, video lights and other accessories. The top of each handle is compatible with a flex arm or a ball mount for an arm-and-clamp system that allows the light or strobe to be uniquely positioned for each shot. The tray is a narrow bar that mounts to the bottom of your housing. The handles mount to the tray on either side of your housing, providing the ability to hold your camera steady with two hands.

Stability is Essential

This stability makes a world of difference when composing your underwater images, especially for small macro subjects and video.

The tray and handles allow you to hold the system with two hands and two arms, minimizing the wobble and shake inherent when holding using just one hand. This stable platform paired with neutral buoyancy lets you relax and really focus on creating the best image and smoothest footage possible.

Choosing Your Tray and Handle

Interchangeable-lens camera housings are designed and sold with handles, so third-party handle-and-tray systems are only necessary for compact and action cameras.

While a single-handle setup is nice as a basic system, you might want a double-handle system for the best stability and a second mounting point for accessories.

The length of the tray should allow you to mount the housing between the handles while leaving room to operate the camera controls with your right hand. When shopping, consider a setup that will help make the buoyancy of your system neutral or slightly negative for best stability.