Just received the Ikelite 8" dome. I'm sure it's not as fragile or "scratchable" as it appears.
When I have the dome installed, I have to roll the housing forward to tilt the back of the camera up so I can see and adjust the bloody thing. I always do it with the cover on but wonder about undue stress on the dome.
OR...it's only a matter of time before I do it without the cover and risk scratching the dome.
I had the smaller 6.5 inch dome and it was never a problem but this behemoth is really something.
Thanks to all! Dive cheerfully!
Ron
Guess you're talking about looking through it while sitting on a countertop?....I would just rest it on something to keep from putting undue pressure on the locking clips....
It's no problem underwater.....go ahead and buy a polishing kit....no matter how careful you handle it, it will end up with minor scratches....they don't affect image quality because the water fills them up, but if they get deep, you can easily work them out
Karl
Ron,
Hit the gym if you spend too much time practicing focusing and testing your flashes out of the water while holding it up
Seriously, as Karl states rest it on something to do your test shots. Just don't pound it downward. The "lip" of the port resting in a thicker area of the housing front is taking the stress anyway. The locks just hold it in place.
Have fun shooting!
dhaas
Try an Aquatica dome shade.
With this on, I plop my (Aquatica) housing face-down on top of the camera table all the time.
The Ike 8" isn't that much different from the Aquatica, so it might fit as is. Or, a little bit of Dremmel work.
All the best, James
Try an Aquatica dome shade.
With this on, I plop my (Aquatica) housing face-down on top of the camera table all the time.
The Ike 8" isn't that much different from the Aquatica, so it might fit as is. Or, a little bit of Dremmel work.
However, I just learned that it gets in the photo when used with the 15mm FE on the 5D. It's probably the same for the 10.5mm on a Nikon.
I'll have to adjust to doing without it.
Hi Herb,
No problems here. I have an 8" Aquatica dome and Fisheye shade and got good results using this combo in the Bahamas.
Cheers
James
Herb -
You might have the wrong shade - there is a fisheye shade and a "wideangle" shade. You need the fisheye shade to use with the 15mm on the 5D.
I didn't know about the fisheye shade. Thanks. I'll put in an order for one now.
The wideangle shade that I have been using allow me to rest the setup dome side down on a flat surface. Can that be done with the fisheye shade? It doesn't seem possible.
It can be done temporarily (while you're putting the back on your housing, for example), but I wouldn't leave it sitting like that. The flat portion on the front of the fisheye shade is pretty small.
The fisheye shade is large enough to deflect tigershark teeth off of your domeport for the most part though!
I second that. :-)
Cheers
James
Brian is well qualified to say which Aquatica port shade has the best deflection value.
Here he is putting the standard shade through its paces.
P
and again.
Leaving no doubt as to what a lens shade can take if it has too..
Wow, if it works that well with tigers it ought to work equally well with Titan Triggerfish too...I'll have to remember that the next time one comes after me
Just received the Ikelite 8" dome. I'm sure it's not as fragile or "scratchable" as it appears. 
