Would you check my setup??

After doing tons of research I came up with this for a set up.

What do you think? What am I missing? Do I have everything right? And what would you recomend for lighting?

-Ikelite #6871.40 eTTL2 Underwater Housing for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (400D) - Rated up to 200'

-Port Body for 8" Dome Port for Canon 16-35mm and Nikon 18-55 Lenses

-8" Dome Kit with 5510.10 Port Body for Super Wide Angle Lenses

-Dome Port for Canon 17-85mm EF lens

-Fisheye EF 15mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens

-Canon Zoom Super Wide Angle EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Autofocus Lens

-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (a.k.a. 400D) 10.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Body

Thanks

Andrea

You'll probably need a diopter to use in combination with your 17-85mm and possibly 18-55mm lenses in a dome port. There is an explanation in a current thread here:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16449&hl=

To answer the rest of your question, you might want to get a macro lens (say Canon 100mm), unless you want to shoot exclusively wide angle shots.

Also, you'll probably want to get 1 (or 2) strobe(s), unless you intend to shoot exclusively natural light, or with filters...

Why are you geting the long extension for the 8" dome? You do not list a lens that would fit in it. Do you have another lens that you did not list?

As Matt said, You'll want a macro lens. Either the 60mm or 100mm. You'll then also want a macro/flat port to go with what ever macro lens you pick out?

For strobes, it only makes sence to get ikelite strobes for an ikelite housing. I'd recomend starting off with an Ikelite DS-125 and get a second if you have enough cash left in your budget.

Also you'll need compact flash memory cards....

Andrea,

Matt (and William!) are correct you will need a diopter (+4) to use the Canon 17-85mm IS lens behind the dome port underwater. ABOVE water this will make your 17-85mm lens only focus very, very close while doing your "test shot" before submerging. Underwater you will the have full zoom range a the "normal" distances the lens focuses....

All the other lenses you mention will NOT require a diopter, even the inexpensive 18-55mm Canon "kit" lens. This one focuses to 10" so it will be fine.....

As Matt mentions, if you want to shoot true macro the Canon 100mm or possibly better to get started the Canon 60mm EF-S lens will give you choices to make images of many creatures. A more compact flat port appropriate for the lens you select is easier to use for macro shooting as William suggests. Details can be found at www.ikelite.com .

As far as strobes I'd suggest going straight away for the DS125, a warm temperature wide beam strobe. This will also work seamlessly with your eTTL2 circuitry in your Ikelite housing. You can start with one, or duals if you want to light a wide area such as the 15mm Fisheye lens can see.

Hope this helps!

dhaas

Ok so I have added the macro lens with the port. Where can I find the diopter that will suit my needs?? Could you list a Part #

Thanks

Andrea

I don't think you need the Dome Port for Canon 17-85mm EF lens. I don't think you will want to shoot this lens underwater. Also its better if you can stay with one dome (8") and extensions. Do you have the lens for the Port Body for 8" Dome Port for Canon 16-35mm? You don't need it for the lenses you have listed. You definately want a good midrange zoom for topside use.

Some people like midrange zooms for sharks etc. but for me the basic 4 underwater lenses are 2 macro and 2-3 WA:

WA:

Something in the 12-24mm range. Canon's 10-22mm is stellar.

Sigma 15mm

Nikon 10.5mm If you shoot Canon there is no equivelent but you may want to look into the Tokina 10-17mm FE Zoom.

I'd stick with the Sigma 15mm and 10-22mm for now and see if Canon or others come out with a true FE. If you use the above lenses you won't need a diopter. This is good because diopters may introduce problens and prevent good over/under shots. Get the 8" dome port and extensions for these lenses.

Macro:

Canon 100mm USM macro is fantastic from all reports.

Canon or Sigma 50/60mm (get this lens first its the most useful and add the 100mm later)

Get the appropriate ports for these.

Lighting:

If you have the Ikelite housing you want to take advantage of TTL. So get the Ikelite DS 50, DS125 or DS200 1 or 2 strobes depending on your budget and travel preferences.

Ideally 2x DS200 would cover everything. But these are expensive and bulky.

2x DS125s are popular medium size. I have these and I like them. Everything I have fits in 1 approved carryon.

DS50s are good. But if you are getting 2 for cost, I'd recommend getting 1 DS125 instead and upgrading to 2.

Then you need either a single or dual sync cord and arms.

I would get ULCS arms 2x 8" bouyancy segments 3 clamps 1 IKT connector to connect to the handle and 1 Ikelite strobe ball connector for the strobe end (per side double this for 2 strobes) .

Get a good carron bag to carry it all in like a Lowepro roller bag or AW Trekker. Also get a large 12 pack size soft cooler to carry the whole setup on the boat.

So from the top....

-Ikelite 3944.75 SubStrobe DS-125 Digital Package with TTL Sync Cord and Deluxe Ball Socket Strobe Arm

-Ikelite #6871.40 eTTL2 Underwater Housing for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

-Ikelite Flat Port for SLR Housing for 4.1 to 5.125" (10.4 to 13cm) Lens

-8" Dome Kit with 5510.10 Port Body for Super Wide Angle Lenses

-Canon Fisheye EF 15mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens

-Canon Zoom Super Wide Angle EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Autofocus Lens (for out of water use)

-Canon Telephoto EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Autofocus Lens

-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (a.k.a. 400D) 10.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Body

Apart from accesories will this cover everything? Am I missing something? Do I have something extra?

Thanks

Andrea

Looks good to me.

I would substitute the ~60mm macro lens for the 100mm as a first purchase. You will probably end up with both but for most normal size creatures (lobsters, angel fish, butterfy fish, etc) the 60mm is ideal. The 100mm is really for very small subjects like gobys and nudibranchs or very shy subjects where you are willing to sacrifice some sharpness (due to water) to get a cose-up shot. For larger 4-12" fish you are getting just the eyes/face or you are shooting too far away. Both are good but they are different tools and the 60mm is easier to master.

I would also go with the Ultralight Control System arm components over the Ikelite ones. The Ike ones are good and will work fine but I think the ULCS ones are a bit higher quality. The Bouyancy arms help (a little) with in water weight.

Make sure you get the smart charger for the DS125. I don't think it comes standard but maybe in the package?

Don't forget a memory card and a bag to carry it in. A "magic filter" would be a nice touch for the 15mm FE. Good Luck!

Andrea,

A second Rebel XTi (400D) body! At the price, (falling a bit lately, too) it is nice to have one for land and / or back up...I see silver ones even about $30.00 cheaper.

dhaas

-Canon Fisheye EF 15mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens

 

-Canon Telephoto EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Autofocus Lens

 

Andrea

I would not recommend the canon 15mm fisheye on a cropsensor camera like the 400d!

Instead I would recommend the Canon 10-22 (It is infact wider than the FE on the 400D)

If you really want a fisheye, the Tokina FE 10-17 is a better alternative!

The EF 100/2.0 is NOT a good underwater lens, it is not a macro lens and it is only useful for fishes etc.

If you really want a 100mm lens , go with the EF 100/2,8 macro.

But i too suggests the EF-S 60mm macro as your first macro lens, this lens is really versatile and unseful both topside and underwater!

Last; do you really need the 17-85? I have both the 10-22 and the 60mm macro and I do not feel that I need a zoom that coveres the space inbetween these two lenses...

Good point. I'm not so familur with the Canon gear so this one slipped past me.

You definately want the Macro lens not this telephoto lens. You want the:

EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

The Canon Telephoto EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Autofocus Lens will only focus to 3'. This is for taking portraits topside. You want a macro lens to take fine detail shots of small critters or closeups of features of larger critters. You want to reduce the water colum between you and the subject for sharpness and better light. So you want to get close. 3' is no good. The telephoto lens is for maintaining your distance from mostly people and getting shallow DOF with the f/2.0.

With the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM you will be using very small apertures F11-F22 and the F2.8 is just nice to have for faster focusing.

I still think you should get the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM instead. This will make a great portrait lens topside as well.

I can't advise you on a good midrange zoom for Canon but you really do need something in the 18-70mm range to stay on your camera topside for general people/event/vacation photos that most of us take oodles of. I have had the Nikon 18-70mm and the 18-200mm and I use them the most topside despite never having wanted to use either UW.