Ikelite 6" or 8" dome?

Im finally ready to order my DSLR housing (Ikelite for 450D) and just deciding on dome port choice.

Lens primarily will be a Canon 10-22mm in Ikelite housing. Apparently this will work in a 6" or 8" dome.

Other than the obvious cost difference am i likely to get vignetting on the 6" on the lens and is the 8" worth the difference in price? Im not adverse to paying for an 8" dome if there are real world benefits but on the flip side dont want to pay for one if there's no advantage to the 6".

Also, is it worth getting a stalk for the 18-55 IS kit lens as well or am i unlikely to use that lens much underwater? (currently only use compacts underwater and rarely if ever on anything except full wide).

Advice welcome before i spend a lot of money in the next 2 days!

Can't help you with the choice between 6" and 8" domes, since I only have the 6", and I am happy with it. As for getting the stalk for the 18-55, no need, since that lens will fit in the standard 6" dome with full zoom capabilities. I have not used it u/w yet, only the 10-22, so I can't tell you how useful the lens is down there, but I would imagine it to be quite useful for fish portraits and the like.

You will probably also want a flat port for macro work.

gc

definitely 8". no question, with domes, it is the bigger the better.

as far as your kit lens, some people use them UW. personally i find kit lenses weaker than mid-pro level lenses, and any weaknesses are magnified UW behind a dome. mid range zooms in general are not used as often as super wides and macro lenses, but they can be useful for things like big fish (groupers, sharks etc). Cheers,

Chris

The 18-55 IS is a very nice lens and a significant increase over the previous Canon kit lens. Its very sharp for its price, and Photozone rated it very well too - rating it 'nothing short of amazing' in its resolution capabilities.

I prefer it to my Sigma 17-70mm, which admittedly might be a dud copy as a general look around lens. I use it in conjunction with the Canon 500d Diopter.

Otara

Ive got the 18-55 IS and although its an "ok" lens (my tamron 17-50 f/2.8 is far far sharper) my main query is will i actually need or want a lens of that range underwater so is it worth actually buying a stalk for it.

Ive got the 18-55 IS and although its an "ok" lens (my tamron 17-50 f/2.8 is far far sharper) my main query is will i actually need or want a lens of that range underwater so is it worth actually buying a stalk for it.

It would not be my first choice in the water (or even second). At one point I housed the equivalent Nikon lens and ended up selling the port as I never used it.

While I am sure it has it's uses it is not wide enough at one end and does not do macro at the other.

'Save' the money and get the 8" dome.

Paul C

It really depends on your kind of photography. Some people swear by these kinds of lenses, other people hardly touch them and prefer lenses more dedicated to either macro or wide angle.

I tend to go more specialised, mostly using my 60mm macro in Melbourne. If you consider your Tamron to be better, you might as well use that if you're going to use one at all.

Otara

I used a 6" with my Tokina 10-17 and had SERIOUS vignetting. I have since switched to an 8" dome. It is a PITA to carry, though. The 6" is fine with the kit lens.

Cheers for the replies, weighing up the options i went for the 8" in the end rather than get the 6 and risk being disappointed.

Once im over the shock of how much money ive just spent in a short space of time i'll be fine!