Ikelite housing debate....I need help.

Hey guys, I want to ask a favor. I am moderator of the UW forum at Usefilm. Its a small group of mostly film photogs, with little activity actually, but of late I seem to be getting into a running debate with a new "pro" member about housings.....

I dont claim to be an expert on housings, but I believe what I have said in my posts are true.....

.....before I get too deep in this, would you take a look at this thread and let me know if I am off-base, or if I am overreacting because I like Ike so much.

http://www.usefilm.com/forums.php?forum=10&topic=2047

I would appreciate any help/advice. For some reason I get really hacked when someone starts denegrating what has a reputation as a great product, without all the facts.

Looks like you summed it up pretty well Bob. Will be interesting to see where this goes.

Probably nowhere would be my guess. I'm sure Ike's gonna stay out of this one - but you can see what he's had to deal with for years...

Cheers

James

Bob,

Good that you replied pointing out that the Sea&Sea housings for the DSLRs are not metal. That was my first knee-jerk response to her comments. I think you're are spot-on with your analysis. Her comment that "most pros use Sea&Sea" is pretty much bogus. I must also agree that anyone who is seriously considering sticking their EOS3 and 2.8 lens into an Ewa-Marine bag for serious SCUBA is either foolhardy or very wealthy. If this continues, you might refer her to the people here who have successfully sent things back to Ike for service and the folks who've tried to send stuff back to Sea&Sea for service. Incidentally, the metal vs. plastic debate was one of the cornerstones of the Nikon lovers argument against Canon for a while -- "that EOS 3 is no good because it's got a plastic body", for example; doesn't take too much of a knowledge of composites to realize that some of them are pretty darn tough. Some people are very attached to their opinions and trying to impose yours onto them is sometimes like trying to tell a Baptist to kiss the pope's hand. Problem with holy wars is that no one ever wins and a lot of people get their feelings hurt along the way . . .

Mike (proud owner of more than 5 Ikelite housings over the years, none of which ever cracked or were compromised due to anything but my own stupidity and/or carelessness . . .)

She doesn't have a clue!

It is funny since Sea & Sea has adopted Ikelite's philosophy with digital housings, in one "plastic" box that fits lots of cameras, and changing the control layout to match the camera. The dx housings have the same dead space issues that Ikelites have had, and in some cases, more.

Professional what? That is my question.

sure would hate to share a dive boat with her!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob, I think your point was well stated..........can't wait for her next line of logic

The EWA plastic bags are dependant on the amount of air you put into them

prior to the dive...

I must admit I had some reservations about using my Fuji 6900z inside a plastic bag, but I have had no problems what so ever.

I found at 6m I had a lift bag, but at 35m I had a dead weight with the buttons more or less useless... I found that if I put the finger hole over the shutter button I could at least take some shots..

I read somewhere that inserting sponge strips around the camera would lessen the compression trouble but not solve it..

She's a classic example of what Michael Reichman, of the luminous landscape, calls "Net know-nothings and nabobs of negativity". I would not even bother replying to anymore of her replies (if she makes any :freak: ), as she is at best only one step above a troll and you know what happens when you feed them.

James Watt is well published and well known and uses Canons in Ikelite housings...

Thanks for the replys!

It's nice to know I am not way off base, as an Ikelite fan.

I thinkit was that comment about "I am a pro, and being a pro..." that kinda pushed my button, had that look down your nose look sound to it.

ps: I am definately not a pro......but I am a gear head, so look out!

As an avid diver and pro photographer, I would only trust my D100 or F100 to a Sea & Sea housing at this point (and by the way, they are 2 different housings, despite the "100" name - 2 different chassis.) Yes, there are other housing manufacturers out there, but most UW photogs use Sea & Sea.

Credibility just left the building. You will find Pros using many different brands of housings, fairly evenly distributed. Sea & Sea has gained market share over the past few years, but definitely doesn't lead the pack in the pro ranks. There are also lots of endorsement deals out there, too. Ikelite has a much smaller following in the pro ranks, but not because of the inferiority of plastic or reliability issues. She would "only" trust Sea & Sea. Lots of laughs. Personally I would only trust Aquatica, Ikelite, Nexus, Seacam, Sea & Sea or Subal.

Has she looked at her D100 housing? Other than the port system, how different is it from an Ikelite? Give me a break. If she doesn't like plastic, she better start looking for a Sea & Sea alternative.

I choose not to use an Ikelite housing, but not because of reliability issues. It is a viable, lower cost system.