My Sea and Sea DX-D200 Arrived!

First impressions are very favourable indeed. It's a solid and beautifully finished housing. The castings are substantial and inspire confidence.

The housing is noticably smaller than the DX-D70 and has no seperate tray - the handles fix to the side of the housing itself. The result is a much more compact package which will be easier to travel with.

It has a leak sensor, unlike the DX-D70, and very solid and smooth feeling buttons.

I shall get it wet over the next few days (once this ear infection clears up - grrrrrr!) and post a fuller report - I'm going to do a full review in the new underwater photography forum on photo.net and on my own website once I've returned from the Red Sea in early June.

Congrats.

Its looks handsome, much more beautiful then the D50 housing I sow.

Looks fine. Any thoughts regarding the viewfinder, ports, and gear fit and function?

Looks fine.  Any thoughts regarding the viewfinder, ports, and gear fit and function?

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Ditto. Also, are the handles removable for stowage?

TIA.

Michael.

Also, are the handles removable for stowage?

 

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They should be, they are the same handle mouldings used on the film SLR housings. Mine's sitting in Florida right now waiting for a zoom gear...

Yup - the handles come off really easily for easy carriage. Two substantial allen bolts are used, with a split ring washer to keep the tension tight. An allen key is even supplied!

I set it up with a 12-24 zoom today to test out the gear action - it's very smooth and solid feeling.

The camera tray is a little awkward to fit as you have to line up a geared lever that operates the focus mode dial, but once it's on it's solid. Thereafter the camera fits the housing like a glove.

The viewfinder comes as standard with a 0.66 magnifier - I was able to see the whole image area, albeit with a tiny bit of vignetting on the extreme corners of the frame, while wearing a mask, and the viewfinder info is particularly clear.

The LCD window is very good - it's a revelation to have such a wonderful display and menu system available underwater!

I'm looking forward to getting this thing into the water..

I looked at this housing today at Reef Photo and Video and it is really nice. The D-200 is a great camera and the Sea & Sea housing is very compact with removable handles and should pack well when traveling. I highly recommend the Athena glass dome port made for this housing which is also available at Reef Photo.

To give an idea of how compact this housing is, here's a shot of my new rig stowed in a Kinetics 821 (carry-on legal) case.

I can get the housing with camera and geared 12-24 lens mounted, the detached handles, compact dome port and extension ring , two strobes, a flat port, 60 macro and 10.5 FE lenses, sync cord and flexi-arms all in one case.

Pretty sweet setup.....very compact

Karl

Rob,

Thanks for the pictures, I want to get one too, but I need to sell my D70 housing first :-)

I wonder if you have the Sea&Sea Big Dome port? and if you can please post a picture of the D200 housing with the big dome port (Fish Eye)?

I want to see how big the rig is when they set togther?

Thanks

Gadi

Way too much foam in that case...

Mine it loaded with so much equipment, that I think it would be lighter carrying rocks in it.

Interesting they already have the D200 housing out, but stated a few days ago they won't have the 5D housing out until next month or June.