I finally decided to make the leap from a point and shoot with a single strobe to digital SLR in a full housing. I chose the Canon 5D for my camera with a number of different lenses (100mm, 50mm, 10-17mm & 16-35mm). After doing signifigant research and borrowing a VERY good firends Sea&Sea DX-5D housing with strobes I decided that I wanted the same for my set up. Only problem is I can't find it anywhere..everyone I contact seems to be sold out and Sea&Sea isn't making anymore. I am asking for recommendations for an alternative. I would like to be in the same ballpark for price and would prefer an aluminum housing. Any opinions/past experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Greg
I finally decided to make the leap from a point and shoot with a single strobe to digital SLR in a full housing. I chose the Canon 5D for my camera with a number of different lenses (100mm, 50mm, 10-17mm & 16-35mm). After doing signifigant research and borrowing a VERY good firends Sea&Sea DX-5D housing with strobes I decided that I wanted the same for my set up. Only problem is I can't find it anywhere..everyone I contact seems to be sold out and Sea&Sea isn't making anymore. I am asking for recommendations for an alternative. I would like to be in the same ballpark for price and would prefer an aluminum housing. Any opinions/past experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Greg
For aluminum housings in a similar price range you might try Aquatica and Nexus, or else scour the internet a few more times for the S&S housing . . .
Mike
Hi Greg
I don't have experience with Sea & Sea but I thing if you are using the Canon full frame then sea & sea might have a advantage for wide angle ports. Anyway a 10-17mm mm lens will not work on FF. Aquatica like mike said has also some bigger domes but I did not her a real success sorry of canon FF user with the new 16-35mm USM II. Everybody still claims the soft edges due to the not correct dome configuration. The next thing is that the new 16-35mm USM II has a filter thread of 82mm where you hardly find affordable quality filter / diopters. the best thing would be a 77mm filter thread so you could use the Canon aromatic close uo lens on a 17-40mm or the old 16-35mm USM. The best guess would be a very very big dome like the 9.25 Aquatica.
I have the nexus 5D using the 100mm macro the 15mm fisheye so far. I am happy with this gear. But so fat I did not yet get the 16-35mm USM II in my dome to work. I also must say that Anthis (Nexus) currently does do less, research of suitable canon lens / port combination especial for wide angle on Full Frame. I am sure that there will be some combinations of the current Nexus Port program specified for hundreds of Nikon lenses which could work for Canon lenses as well. I with I could ones have a unlimited access to there ports and extensions and just tier them one by one in the pool. The new big Athena vario dome would be also on my list if I had the money just for giving it a try and putting it back if it does not work......... I hope the future will bring some better specifications.
Matthias
Hello,
It is possible to use the Canon 5D in the Subal 10D housing, using a conversion kit made by Bill Reed (I have one). IF you can pick up a used or even new 10D housing cheaply this may be a good way to go.
I have tried the 5D housings from Seacam, Subal, and Aquatica. If you want to be in the same price ballpark as the Sea and Sea, but go for aluminum then your choices are the converted Subal, or the Aquatica.
I hope the future will bring some better specifications. 
