Ikelite 8" or the compact dome

Hi all, I'm about to commit to buying an Ike housing for my 350D with sigma 10-20mm. I plan to do a lot of available light stuff and add strobe and macro later down the line.

I've read a few posts about the 8" dome that Ikelite are offering, it sounds good but it also seems cumbersome and fragile? The compact dome looks like it will handle nicely but has the problem of being a squeeze for my lens.

Optically it seems there is little in it with my camera/lens, is this correct?

Can anyone help me out from his or her experience?

Sorry I know there are loads of these "I can't decide, please help me" posts, but I promise it'll be my last one...............for a bit anyway!

CHEERS

Bob

Edited this as I refered to the compact dome as 6"........duffer!

Good question....get the 8" dome

Karl

I spent all week shore diving with the 8 inch.

My first impression was that it was delicate. not the case, just my paranoia.

I forgot to dive with the 6 all week....

Go with the 8 inch.

I supose one bonus of the compact port is that you can still use the zoom function of the lens, does anyone miss this with the 8" ?

Thanks again

The zoom still works with the 8" dome, at least it does with the Nikkor 12-24 or 18-70....I would assume the same for the Canon or Sigma lenses

Karl

If anything I'd say that the 8" port is more durable than the plastic 6" ports. On the 8" port the extension is aluminum. The only thing the port needs is some sort of dome shade to help protect it. Even without it I'd go for the 8".

I found a large tupperware container at Target that fits this nicely. Excellent for travelling. And the 8" dome, housing and 2 strobes assembled still fits in the 12-pack sized soft cooler I also bought at Target to carry with me on the boat so its not too bulky.

I expect that the 8" will prove to be a benefit on the 5D. I had mixed results with the 6" w/the 16-35 and no diopter... the problems ocurred outside the 1.5 crop area so I doubt there would be any problem with the 350D behind the 6". I plan on testing the following combinations with the 16-35/5D:

6"

6" with a +2 diopter

6" with a +4 diopter

8"

8" with a +2 diopter

If anyone has any requests or suggestions for what I should test, let me know.

How about testing different extension "stalk" lengths? This will make a big difference depending - one length may be good at 16mm and one may be good at 35mm.

Cheers

James

I have the #5510.16 and the #5510.10 stalks... if the 16-35 fits in both I'll expand the test to include it.

I've got a 350D and am currently using the kit lens 18-55EF-S in the 6 inch port but I've just bought the Sigma 10-20 and it DOES NOT FIT in the 6 inch port.

(The 8 inch dome is now top of the shopping list, do Ike make a 8" shade yet ?)