G9 vs. DX-1G

Any opinions on a Canon G9 with Ikelite housing vs. Sea&Sea DX-1G? My Sea&Sea 8000 died - question of whether to spend much repairing or upgrade. I do have the YS-27 strobe but I assume this will also need replacing if I go to the Canon since I can have true TTL.

Thanks for your info and opinions in advance.

Don't forget the DX 8000G is a rebranded Ricoh GX8 so you may be able to find a cheap second hand camera or even a new one at a better price than repairing your old camera...

I have a DX 8000G and a pair of YS-25s which my 10 year old son is now using. But I am so glad I ungraded to a G9, Ike and a couple of INON's and did not get the DX-1G...

The DX-1G is good, the G9 is much better.

I have seen some really good pics from the G9. I used to have a 5000g and because Sea&Sea service sucked i moved to another make.

I now own an Ikelite housing and it's a good solid lump of kit. Much better than my S&S housing.

G9 is what I suggest.

Any opinions on a Canon G9 with Ikelite housing vs. Sea&Sea DX-1G? My Sea&Sea 8000 died - question of whether to spend much repairing or upgrade. I do have the YS-27 strobe but I assume this will also need replacing if I go to the Canon since I can have true TTL.

 

Thanks for your info and opinions in advance.

I bought the G9 / Ikelite back in January. Used on a 10-day to St. Martin... I love it. I got some great pics despite crappy conditions (high winds and low vis). I purchased a DS-51 to go with it. If you get one, order an extra flash deflecter with it. I forgot mine on the dive boat the first time out after it fell of on entry. (Didn't seem to matter.)

Off to Bermuda for another round over Memorial Day..... Can't wait.

I'm really curious about this question. My mind has been set on the DX. The first thing that jumps out at me for the G9 is the cost for the cam, Ikelite housing, TTL strobe. It's quite a bit more unless Im missing something. I do like the pics I see from the G9....although...I don't see quite the same dramatic macro shots as with the DX?? Id sure wish this was an easy decision with a side by side comparrison listing the pros and cons of both...LOL.

Im a beggining UW Photographer and diver. So simplistic with the most dramati results is what I lean towards. Also...something I can "Grow up" with till I decide to fork out 7k for a DSLR.

My buddy has a DX-1G with an YS-27. One advantage of that is that it is fairly compact and can be stuck in the BC pocket if you leave the strobe topside. The downside is that the strobe is not TTL and you have to set it for every picture (very quick, though).

The G9 in an Ikelite housing with an DS-51 is a fair bit bulkier even without the strobe. The upside is that the strobe is TTL and if you later decide to go for a dSLR, you can take the strobe along. That'll knock a couple $$s of the upgrade

Optically, both cameras are up to snuff and will produce nice photos topside and diving.

My buddy has a DX-1G with an YS-27. One advantage of that is that it is fairly compact and can be stuck in the BC pocket if you leave the strobe topside. The downside is that the strobe is not TTL and you have to set it for every picture (very quick, though).

 

The G9 in an Ikelite housing with an DS-51 is a fair bit bulkier even without the strobe. The upside is that the strobe is TTL and if you later decide to go for a dSLR, you can take the strobe along. That'll knock a couple $$s of the upgrade

 

Optically, both cameras are up to snuff and will produce nice photos topside and diving.

Im looking at these......the one you suggested and the DS-125 package also. Are these strobes as powerful as the YS-110? Im getting thrown off by the "Sub strobe" terminology.

http://ikelite.com/web_pages/ds50_pkg1.html

So as a rookie my question is, is this a TRUE TTL set up? Unlike the DX-1G/YS-110?? If I'm understanding it correctly ...it is.

As you state, when it comes time to upgrade it will save me some bucks. The other considerations I see, when wieghing the DX vs G9 are Wide angle capabilities and Macro. The way Im understanding it is that the DX has the edge in this with the Macro settings and the WA conversion lens??

Strobe-power: No both the DS-51 and the DS-125 have more power than the YS-110.

TTL: The DX-1G in the Sea&Sea housing only allows for fiber-optic connection of the strobes, while the G9 in an Ikelite housing allows for real TTL connection. The G9 in a Canon housing is back to fiber-optic only.

WA/Macro: Straight out of the box, the DX is wider (24mm vs. 35mm film equiv.) and the G9 has a longer tele (210mm vs. 72mm). However, you can add a close-up lens to the S&S housing and a WA lens to the Ikelite housing. I am not sure how much that modifies the focal ranges though. Never done it myself, so somebody else would have to pitch in here.

I think the main question will become how much money you would like to spend on the set-up. G9+Ikelite+DS strobe will set you back more than twice the DX+YS27.

The G9 with fibre optic cables will provide a TTL capability. At least it does so very well indeed with my rig...

The G9 with fiber optic cables will provide a TTL capability. At least it does so very well indeed with my rig...

Really??? I get what Sergio is saying, with the direct connect you get "True" TTL....do you get the same with the FO? I ask of course because of the fact, even admitted by Sea and Sea, that what the DX has is not true TTL with the FO setup.

Another plus like someone mentioned here...maybe Sergio? and also have talked to Chris about it, is the compactness of the DX. If I choose to do a shallower daytime dive.....I can just stick it in my BC. OR...use it for closer shots with a dive light. But that compactness is a nice plus for sure, compared to lugging the Ikelite case on every dive I want to shoot anything.

It's also hard to say at this point...what will entice me more? Reg scenic type shots, or more macro. If it's scenic....then the G9 is 35mm - 22 with addon WA. The DX is 24mm and 16mm w/WA add on, "SEEMS" to offer the better option.

But hey...I'm a noob...so if my train of thought or conclusions are off here...please don't hesitate to point it out!!

Cheers,

Greg

Really??? I get what Sergio is saying, with the direct connect you get "True" TTL....do you get the same with the FO? I ask of course because of the fact, even admitted by Sea and Sea, that what the DX has is not true TTL with the FO setup.

 

Another plus like someone mentioned here...maybe Sergio? and also have talked to Chris about it, is the compactness of the DX. If I choose to do a shallower daytime dive.....I can just stick it in my BC. OR...use it for closer shots with a dive light. But that compactness is a nice plus for sure, compared to lugging the Ikelite case on every dive I want to shoot anything.

 

It's also hard to say at this point...what will entice me more? Reg scenic type shots, or more macro. If it's scenic....then the G9 is 35mm - 22 with addon WA. The DX is 24mm and 16mm w/WA add on, "SEEMS" to offer the better option.

 

But hey...I'm a noob...so if my train of thought or conclusions are off here...please don't hesitate to point it out!!

Cheers,

 

Greg

I know it's a pretty expensive housing, but have you considered the Patima Housing for the G9?

http://reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=p...roducts_id=2873

I just got one and hooked it up to my Z-240's with the optical cables and I'm very satisfied with it. I also picked up the Inon wide angle lens and 2 Inon close-up lenses for it - I'm very satisfied with my decision to spend the money on it.

I took it out for a test run Saturday night on a couple of dives and shot macro. Even though the camera was still new to me, I was very satisfied with the results. Here's an extreme close-up macro shot of some Orange Cup Coral shot with the long port on the housing and both Inon close-up lenses stacked together:

Just thought I'd throw another option on the table for you to consider.

The G9 with fibre optic cables will provide a TTL capability. At least it does so very well indeed with my rig...

[...]a pair of Z-240's

Ok, I keep forgetting about Inon's S-TTL system (http://www.inonamerica.com). Yes, they do provide sort of TTL, but not in the traditional sense. This is proprietary to Inon, though. And they are to only ones that can use fiber optics to give you sort of TTL as far as I know. Sea&Sea strobes will not. I have never used Inon myself, but know many people who are very fond of them and I did consider buying one for my P&S just before I decided to take my 20D down.

Any reason why you wouldn't use an Inon strobe Sergio? I understand why you've got an Ike strobe with your Ike housing, but I would think for those that don't, the smaller, lighter Inon strobes would be a much better choice, whether shooting in manual or TTL?

Ryan.

Very simple, really, I did not find out about them until quite some time after I bought a YS-27 for my P&S. Came time for the next upgrade I considered them, but decided to go the whole 9 yrds and get a housing for my dSLR. At that point going full eTTL with a set of Ike strokes made more sense. If I would buy my first strobe for my P&S again, I would have bought an Inon. This is my story, so please take for what it is worth.

That makes more sense, that's Sergio.

Looking at housing my dSLR now, thinking I'll move away from the Ike housings, so thought I might as well consider some other strobes too (something lighter in the water).

Ryan.