First time buying a housing!

I have also placed a post in the dSLR housing section asking for the same advice but it might be better here

I am hoping to buy my first housing this easter. I have a Canon 1dMkIIN and would like to buy a housing BUT was wondering if it would be cheaper to buy an ikelite housing for another camera such as the 40d or 400d (and buy the camera aswell!). Are ikelite housings good? why are they cheaper?

Im never planning on going to go more than 20/30m with the housing probably. currently i have no wide angle lenses and would need to either get one for the 1D or the 40/400D.

would be really grateful for some advice

alex

Hi Alex, did you get answers in the SLR section? i can't find the post..

Well... about the two camera system, how much money do you have?! haha

There are certainly benefits to it, that way you always have a land camera and don't have to dig it out of the housing when taking land shots. Also, the 40/400 is easier on the wallet if you do ever have the dreaded f word

Ikelite housings have certainly passed the test of time, no problems. Many many folks use them for sure. Why are they cheaper? my guess is the acrylic design over aluminum(ium) but not sure... i wouldn't worry about it though, they are a good product.

I have also placed a post in the dSLR housing section asking for the same advice but it might be better here

 

I am hoping to buy my first housing this easter. I have a Canon 1dMkIIN and would like to buy a housing BUT was wondering if it would be cheaper to buy an ikelite housing for another camera such as the 40d or 400d (and buy the camera aswell!). Are ikelite housings good? why are they cheaper?

 

Im never planning on going to go more than 20/30m with the housing probably. currently i have no wide angle lenses and would need to either get one for the 1D or the 40/400D.

 

would be really grateful for some advice

alex

Ikelite is plastic vs aluminum block which probably cost more to make. Plastic can break and crack more likely then metal. All the ports are also plastic instead of glass. I shoot with Ikelite because I am poor but if I have a chance to start again, I will go with metal and glass if I ever have the money which I don't. So I think I will stuck with Ikelite again even if I start again.... If you like ittl, then Ikelite solution is hard to beat because Iketlite is more affordable and come with ittl vs all those other housings you have to buy ittl convertor which cost a lot too !

if this is an experimental ownership you might be better off getting a used housing with a camera that has recently been made "yesterdays news" by the introduction of a newer and better model. do some web searches of the housing manufacturers and you ought to be able to come up with a great preowned system that likely has fewer than 20 dives on it. Every time Nikon or Canon puts out a new camera body, the used market place sees the prior version being desperately sold by people that have to have the latest and greatest. Good luck

Yeah, I agree with Eric. As one of the Desperate Ones I was selling my D200 Subal housing a short while ago (yes, I was crazy); and they do indeed drop dramatically in value when the new model comes along.

So if you fancy a "metal" housing its worth a look on eg the Subal flea market website at the sort of prices that last year's model sells for. (www.subal.com)

Yeah, I agree with Eric. As one of the Desperate Ones I was selling my D200 Subal housing a short while ago (yes, I was crazy); and they do indeed drop dramatically in value when the new model comes along.

 

So if you fancy a "metal" housing its worth a look on eg the Subal flea market website at the sort of prices that last year's model sells for. (www.subal.com)

Hi!

Looking for a used system as well, I am wondering how many percent of the new price is appropriate for a used system which is 1 year old, how much for a 2 year old, etc. Sure, it depends on the condition, but used is used so no warranty any more. From own experiences I find it hard to sell used diving stuff for more that 50-60% of the new price once used for a year. How is it with the uw-camera stuff?

I would appreciate some tips of members who recently bought or sold used equipment.

Cheers, Wolfgang

Hard to say really, Wolfgang. I've bought and sold 3 Subal housings over the years - and after 2 years usually get around 50%-60% of the purchase price. But I have often sold them in combination with cameras so the package has been pretty good. And my stuff is always in excellent condition when I sell it.

I don't think you would find much difference in price between a system that is 1 or 2 years old. To a degree it depends whether the camera for the housing is still in production. If the camera is no longer being sold the price on the housing probably drops more quickly than one where you can still buy the camera new.

I suggested earlier that you have a look on the Subal website. You will see a range of second hand housings for sale there which will give you a guide to what people are buying and selling them for. I would think other housing manufacturers second hand prices are broadly similar in terms of depreciation - although it is possible (but I don't honestly know) that the polycarbonate housings (eg Ikelite) might depreciate slightly more quickly than the "metal" ones. But I'm sure other Wetpixelers who use Ikelite housings can comment on that.

But you should be able to get a pretty good deal on a 2-year old housing - especially if you go for a D200 one. Cameras are still in production too. I can even sell you one.........

I'm not sure that housings have warranties that are meaningful: the underwater environment is too unforgiving!

Cameras are now so good that a novice is limited by technique, not camera: even an old D-SLR will make great images, and I still use images taken with a Nikon D70.

I suggest starting in the second-hand market, but choosing a housing that you like: your upgrade camera will probably go into the same brand of housing once you invest in more than one port!

Tim

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