Ikelite video housings.

Hi. Wondering about the Ikelite housings. Starting off and after something a little cheaper for a year or two.

Looked at another brand and their dealers seemed a bit slack, so not a good sign.

Came across an Ikelite for $2400AU for my Sony HC9.

Looks good and plenty of controls.

But I dont know about their reputation.

Is it an OK investment for a year or two?

And should I get the wide angle port or standard?

Going to South Africa in April so want something for then.

Cheers.

Ikelite is a solid brand and well priced.

They can be a little fiddly to use but with practise they get easier. Due to it being perspex (more prone to fogging) close the housing in cool dry place (aircon is good) and keep it out of the sun... It;s bet to leave it in a dunk tank of water to keep it cool.

I used an Ike housing for a couple of years and liked it... just a little limited on the WA front, I found there service department excellent too.

Ikelite are very widely used and pretty good value and the customer service has a very good reputation. Being able to see inside the housing through the walls can be an advantage too. And of course there are no electronics to go wrong.

However I have seen a couple of housings that cracked next to a control rod so be gentle with it, especially during transit. One guy I know continued to dive with the crack for a long time. I've also heard of a housing going "crazed" on the outside, perhaps due to exposure to sunlight (or maybe exposure to sunlight while having swimming pool chlorine on it ?) so wash it well and keep it out of the sun!

I think they're a pretty good bet if your budget doesn't stretch to Gates/L&M/Amphibico etc. yet.

However I have seen a couple of housings that cracked next to a control rod so be gentle with it, especially during transit.

Funny you say that Nick,

Actually mine cracked on the flight back from Costa Rica... well chipped. Ikelite changed the body FOC and it took around 3 weeks from Australia which I thought was pretty good.

Jonny and Nick

Cheers

Sounds like the go for a year or so then.

Always wondered why you (Nick) used to submerse it between dives on the liveaboard.

Makes sense now.

Hopefully the $ will go up in Oz and make it even cheaper.

thanks again.

Yes they work well but are not as robust as an aluminum so one has to handle with care and and you cannot leave them in the sun.

Always wondered why you (Nick) used to submerse it between dives on the liveaboard.

Actually on MV Discovery I just shower it because of all the horrible mask crud in the rinse bucket. But if there's a dedicated camera rinse bucket it's better if you submerge it and work the controls while it's submerged to get all the salt out. Don't leave a housing in the bucket. That's the best way of getting your port chipped by other people and their gear. Also slow leaks can show themselves in the bucket, because there's no pressure on the o-rings. Housings seal better when they're at a bit of depth. But you might want to leave it in the bucket for a while before a dive to pre-cool it to prevent fogging.

Had never considered the housing leaking with no pressure but sealing at depth.

So good to know. Thanks Nick.

Yeah, everything tightens down. It still should seal under no pressure but leaving a housing in a rinse tank overnight for example might be asking for trouble if something's not seated quite right. Obviously with greater depth the leak risk gets higher again due to shear pressure, and the controls of a mechanical housing start to get stiff as the O-rings on the control shafts get wedged in really tight. I used my first (mechanical) housing at over 100m on the Britannic and cor blimey those controls were stiff to use.

I used my first (mechanical) housing at over 100m on the Britannic and cor blimey those controls were stiff to use.

You braggin!!! ... Very jealous... I would love to dive the Britannic, were you on open or closed circuit?

"cor blimey".

Jon, Nick is not only braggin he is using cockney as well.

Nick, Jon is braggin cos he is an Aussie now.

Just spoke to you (Jon) on phone and all sorted.

Emailed the guy in Texas and should here back soon.

Is that a little brag about 100m Nick?

So what did you use, CCR?

Cheers to both. Hope the heat is not affecting you both too much.

Thanks.

I freedove it

I freedove it

Can I see the footage on that?

This was '98 and we were all on open circuit except John Chatterton and his Heath Robinson box of tricks. I still remember him taking a hacksaw to its control box mid-expedition.

If you're interested there's an article here (you'll want to increase your font size!) and a wee video here. My housing was mounted on an Aquazepp.

Can't believe it's more than 10 years ago already

Anyway, back to the Ikelite...

[Anyway, back to the Ikelite...]

Think I have heard enough. Just a matter of where to buy.

Yep time flies when you are having fun.

Just hope the sardines run, the great whites dont smash my cage, and the tigers/bulls dont take the housing.

Jealous much?