Canon WP-DC21 Housing Question

I'm about to purchase the WP-DC21 and Canon G9. From what I can gather, this combination will work with my existing Ikelite DS-125 strobe if I also purchase the Ikelite #9523.01 Tray that will work my Ikelite SA-100 arm system, and with the Canon housing. It appears that the tray uses the tripod mount on the WP-DC21 and other non-Ikelite housings.

One more thing, I will be using an Ikelite EV Manual Controller to slave off the internal flash of the G9.

MY QUESTIONS:

1) Does the Canon diffuser provide enough light directed towards the external flash to cause it to fire reliably? If not, is there another attachment that I need? I've seen some posts regarding a fiber optic cable, but don't know if this applies in my situation. Is light from the internal flash still directed toward the subject (potentially causing back scatter), or can it be blocked?

2) Is there a way to use ttl with the G9 and WP-DC21? If so, is it worth using ttl? My current setup is an Ikelite housing for a Canon G2 (yes that's old; so am I). Currently, I manually set aperature on the G2 and power setting on EV Manual Controller based on depth, lighting, and distance from the subject. This has worked very well for me, and I've gotten some great shots.

3) If I'm using an external strobe, do I need the weight kit for the WP-DC21? If I am snorkeling without the DS-125, do I need the weight kit?

I'm hoping the G9 is the right choice for an upgrade. Any advice or suggestions can be posted here, or sent to me directly. Other than upgrading the camera, another objective was to reduce the overall bulk of the Ikelite housing with a smaller substitute. When not using the external strobe, this would be more convenient for snorkeling and/or when my wife wishes to use it.

I'm hoping to get an answer quickly. I only recently decided to upgrade, and am leaving on April 18th for Utila.

I am a new subscriber to Wetpixel, and this is my 1st post on the web site.

Thanks,

BeachBum

I appologize if I have posted to the wrong forum, I probably should have posted to the Consumer Digicam/Housings forum. I can't believe I've messed up on my first post to this web site.

BeachBun

That's ok... many people post in the wrong subforums.

I think you'd be better served to write Ikelite on this question.

BeachBun

second post, second mess up.. haha sorry, couldn't resist!

i don't really know the answers to any of your questions BUT there are a lot of G9 users here and all are happy with it. It is a great camera from what i have seen. Hopefully one of them will chime in soon.

About the weight thing. The DS125 is slightly negative, not sure about the housing though

I have recently bought and just used underwater for the first time the G9 and the DS125 but I have got ikelites own housing 6147.09. If you can afford the DS125 why not buy the ikelite housing? You will have TTL straight away and also the possibility of a wide angle lens in the future which is important if you want clear pics. The ikelite housing is also servicable, well worth it in the long run.

That's ok... many people post in the wrong subforums.

I think you'd be better served to write Ikelite on this question.

I seem to be making mistakes right and left. Any kidding is about this is completely ok with me. I'm in the middle of the last couple of stressful weeks on my real job before my vacation. I did order a G9 yesterday along with the Canon housing and tray to attach my DS-125. This just about exhausted my photo equipment budget for now; I might consider the Ikelite housing in the future if I'm not happy with the Canon housing. I may decide to forego the weight kit for now unless someone on this forum indicates that it is a necessity.

BeachBuM

I have the G9 and Canon housing. It is just slightly positive without the weight kit (but not enough to really worry about).

The one trick with this combination is that setting the aperature and shutter in Av or Tv mode is not at all obvious when using this housing.. Look for another post on this forum with instructions.

--Mark

I have the G9 and Canon housing. It is just slightly positive without the weight kit (but not enough to really worry about).

 

The one trick with this combination is that setting the aperature and shutter in Av or Tv mode is not at all obvious when using this housing.. Look for another post on this forum with instructions.

 

--Mark

I have the G9 and the Canon housing. When I snorkel with it, I use no weights and it is very +ve.

When I dive with the camera, housing, tray and strobes it is slightly -ve with no weights.

When I dive with the camera and housing alone, I add the three weights and it is pretty close to neutral, and possibly slightly -ve.

When in the OEM case and you need to "spin" the dial, you press and hold the "custom" button on the top left while you press either left or right on the 4-way inside the dial. I was worried that this would be difficult underwater, but in fact it turned out to be very easy.

1) If you use an external strobe, you should block the internal strobe (with tape on the housing or the diffuser) to hold the back-scatter away.

2) I would say manual, but I don't really know enough about external strobes.

3) It may be possible that the tray already give you enough negative bouyancy. Test in the bathtube, if you plan to snorkel without the strobe you should use the weights. If you strap the housing to your wrist it want go away, but if you sumerge some metter it can get odd having to hold the housing (it happend to me with my old A510 and wp-dc10)

G9 is a nice camera but the wp-dc21 isn't the best choice if you want the dial wheel as badly as I do. I find using the buttons for manual focus to slow.

The ikelite is big and heavier. Patima has a housing for the g9, with access to all the buttons, accepts external strobe, it weights only 1,7kg (ikelite 2,4kg; 6 lbrs) and it is smaller but it isn't transparent. It is expensiver too.