Canon 20D going under

Hi Everyone,

New to wet pixel forums, but have been a keen viewer of the site for a while now. I was hoping that someone could help/give some advice. I have been using a C5050/ikelite housing for a while (2yrs) and have grown out of it. I am keen to get my Canon 20D into a housing. I have been doing my research and have a pretty good idea of what I want to get. That is, ikelite 20D housing, 2 x Ds-125, and the 8inch dome for a 10-22mm lens. I most shoot seascape shots, and macro (but equipment (i.e. ports) will have to wait for extra funding). I was hoping to hear from folks who use similar systems/gear to get their opinions.

Look forward to hearing from you, and thanks in advance

Cheers Dave

West Oz

Australia

Hi Dave,

I have now done about 55 dives with my 20D with the Ikelite housing and dual DS125s, I am running with the 6" port for the 10-22mm and also the 100mm macro. My reason for running the 6" dome is that I can pack it into my carry camera bag and I can also rest the camera the right way up with support from the strobes/arms as the port does not extend down as far as the tray (I am not sure how far the 8" extends down) so this also made if feel better when in smaller boats and also when getting the camera gear either passed down to me or handed back in to the boat. So with that in mind I can live with a small amount of edge softness for the peace of mind. One thing I would do different is get the macro part with the manual focussing option as the canon 100mm macro's autofocus can be over ridden if required as times the lens would hunt or focus on something else (I have gotten use to it but next time).

regards

Matti

PS: example photos can be seen at http://matti.proimageguide.com

I changed from a point-and-shoot (Canon G2) to a Canon 20D/Ikelite combo earlier this year. Improvement in results was dramatic. The greatest improvements due to the camera are in composition (no more shutterlag so the fish is where you want it to be) and focus speed/quality. The use of a flash, however, probably had an even greater effect on picture impact than the camera. I used a DS50 which won't do you much good for your wide angle shots as the DS50 produces an intense but somewhat narrow beam (good for 35mm and up in my hands, and a bit lower with diffuser).

My 100mm Macro lens focused very well if you aim for something with contrast. I used center focus so I know which part of the image needs to be contrasty. It would sometimes hunt in low light conditions. I've just picked up a DS125 from eBay as my second strobe. It's build-in focus light should help focusing and its wider and warmer beam will complement the DS50. I also really like the 1 second or less recycle time. The DS50 has however performed very well and for fish photography with 35-100mm lenses I think they are great. Small size and low weight also help packing.

Bart

I shoot the 20D/Ike with 10-22, 60 macro, and 100 macro with 1 DS-125. The 60 stays on the camera far more than any other lens. It allows me to shoot macro and fish portraits on the same dive. The 100 feels a little too long for many fish portraits. I don't use the 10-22 enough to really justify it. I have it in the 6" dome.

I put my 20D in a housing a year ago. I now have about 50 dives with it. Up until now I was using the EFS 60mm with flat port and EFS 17-85mm with 6" dome and a single DS-125 strobe. But, I just bought the 10-22mm lens and 8" dome (along with a second DS-125 strobe).

Going form a P&S camera to the 20D is...well, there is no comparison. That camera and strobe are sooo fast. Just amazing. The results can be stunning and are so much better than a P&S.

So far I have had great luck with Ike's products. You won't be disapointed. The recycle time on the DS-125 is amazing. Go for it! You will NOT regret it.

thanks everyone for your replies. Great to hear from users of the gear.

Cheers Dave

West Oz

Australia

Hi Dave,

You will enjoy your rig, I know I enjoyed mine (I now use a 1DsII in a Subal housing with twin DS125's). Since you are interested in CFWA work, you may wish to consider the 15 FE. It's an awesome lens in the 20d. It will force you to work close. There is a bit of edge softness using the 6" dome port, but not bothersome and you can crop it out if you chose. I don't have any experience with the 8" dome port as it was still a "rumor" when I had the 20d.

Cheers,

imasleeper

I have the Ike 20d housing with 2-ds-125 and the 8" port with a 2nd body extension. I also have the flat port w/focus. My lens are the Sigma 15mm, 10-22mm and the 100mm macro. This allows me to use only 2 ports and to change the body extensions wihen going from the 10-22 to the 15 sigma lens. Very convient. Just a thought for you. I will be in Sipadan in 6 weeks shooting this rig and will post results when I get back. Good luck choosing your gear.

I'd go with the bigger dome. It is more flexible as you will be able to shoot a 180 degree and the 10-22 (I think that's Canons lens). You won't be able to shoot a fisheye in the 6 inch dome.

I'd go with the bigger dome. It is more flexible as you will be able to shoot a 180 degree and the 10-22 (I think that's Canons lens). You won't be able to shoot a fisheye in the 6 inch dome.

I shoot the 20D in an Ike housing with the Sigma 15mm FE and 6" dome (with the 1.6 crop on a 20D, you don't get the full 180 deg from the fisheye) - but it definately works, don't need the 8" dome for this lens (per Ike's site). You have to be careful with the shade alignment on the dome or you will vignette in the corners.

Not to stir the pot, but why buy a 180 lens if you can't use it like it is intended?

Not to stir the pot, but why buy a 180 lens if you can't use it like it is intended?

The canon 20D is a cropped sensor camera (ie, the camera focal plane is smaller than a 35 mm camera focal plane) - the result is a reduction of angular coverage/FOV (or an apparent longer focal length by 1.6 x). So a cropped sensor camera like the 20D will provide higher resolution with a given lens - for example, the 100mm macro lens has the same field of view as a 160 mm lens on a full frame camera like the 5D; so they are great for macro.

The flip side is, you lose angular coverage with wide angle lens, so the 10-22 zoom on a 20D has the equivalent angular coverage as a 16 - 35 mm lens on a full frame camera. Angular coverage is harder to calculate for a fisheye lens (not just a divide by 1.6 like with a rectalinear lens) - but the bottom line is the Sigma 15mm FE doesn't have anywhere near a 180 degree angular coverage with a 20D. It acts more like a 20mm on a full frame - which is why the 6" dome works fine with the lens.

So its not a matter of using the lens as intended, you will get a smaller angular coverage with any wide angle lens. The Sigma 15 FE is a very good value that provides affordable wide angle coverage - just not a full 180 degrees.

bversteegh -

Wow...I understood that.