GF1 Housing Options?

Dear forum members,

Help! I want to upgrade my current P&S set-up (Canon G9 plus 2 Inon Z-240 strobes) soon. I really want to get the Panasonic GF1 but I want to see what housing options are currently available before diving in.

The GF1's small size and great image quality would make a nice set-up for dive travel (given the exorbitant fees airlines charge for baggage nowadays!). Although wide angle options are still limited, I'm sure a lot of divers are looking into this set-up as well. Buying a housing for my D80 would be too expensive and the weight/bulk would be too much to travel with.

Does anyone have info on who will have the GF1 housing and when it will be available? What features will the housing have? What lens/port combination will be supported? What is the SRP?

I saw some pictures from DEMA posted by Eric Cheng on the 10BAR housing but no additional info was posted. 10BAR has nothing on the GF1 housing on their website and they have yet to reply to my email. (Dear Eric, can you post more info on the housing?)

Seatool is also supposed to come out with a GF1 housing soon but no info is available as well. They have a small "teaser" on their website but I can't read Japanese.

If there are manufacturers on this forum, I hope you can post the info soon. While I'm at it, I hope you can consider my wish list as well:

-- Please make it "affordable" and don't charge anything more than US$ 1,000 for a housing/port combo (pretty please?). A US$500 price point would be wonderful!

-- Please include access to all camera functions from the housing.

-- Please include filter threads on the port so I can mount 67mm wet lenses (both macro and the new "air dome" lenses) or a red filter (for taking video).

-- Please have both electric and optical options for strobe synch.

-- Please have controls for both zoom and focus on the lens port.

I hope I'm not asking for too much. I'm sure housing manufacturers will have a winner on their hands since the m4/3 platform seems ideally suited for divers.

Thank you for all your help.

Best regards,

Mike

Does anyone have info on who will have the GF1 housing and when it will be available? What features will the housing have? What lens/port combination will be supported? What is the SRP?

 

Seatool is also supposed to come out with a GF1 housing soon but no info is available as well. They have a small "teaser" on their website but I can't read Japanese.

 

If there are manufacturers on this forum, I hope you can post the info soon. While I'm at it, I hope you can consider my wish list as well:

 

-- Please make it "affordable" and don't charge anything more than US$ 1,000 for a housing/port combo (pretty please?). A US$500 price point would be wonderful!

-- Please include access to all camera functions from the housing.

-- Please include filter threads on the port so I can mount 67mm wet lenses (both macro and the new "air dome" lenses) or a red filter (for taking video).

-- Please have both electric and optical options for strobe synch.

-- Please have controls for both zoom and focus on the lens port.

Mike,

I suggest that you think in terms of an SRL rig instead of P&S. For wide angle options, Panasonic makes a M4/3 7-14 mm f/4 (135: 14 to 28 mm) and the Olympus 8 mm FE 4/3 mount with adapter could work. As I recall there was a blurb in the Seatool infomation, that there may be a problem in releasing a GF1 housing in the US. $1,000 USD fro a quality housing AND w/a port is not realistic. Quality glass w/a ports go for almost the one grand.

Bob

I am becoming a 10Bar dealer and considering stocking this housing in the US. PM sent on prices. Contact me asap if you're interested in any 10Bar products, as I am placing an order and shipping is expensive.

I think all your requests are answered!:

300ft rating, metal housing with glass back

Full functions

Optical or Bulkhead sync (I'll probably get them with nikonos bulkheads, but others are available)

170x172x117mm size

11.5kg weight

Pretty sure it takes 67mm wet lenses and filters (all of his housings pretty much do) - I'm not sure if there are any other port options, but I will check.

2 year warranty, but service is in HK

Thanks,

Jack

Dare we ask how much? $

12kg?!

List price is $750, there may be a shipping surcharge.

Yeah I agree, 12kg seems way off, that's what it says on the flyer.

Also double orings, key hole locking, is very easy.

Although tested to 300' recommended working pressure is 200'.

Jack

11.5kg weight

Whoa Mr. Jack,

"11.5 Kg" Are you getting ready to slip decimal places for the next tax season?

Bob

I've been waiting for slrs without mirrors for a while to get quality and compactness all in one...

The thing is I'm a freediver.

I'm good at stalking fish but can you imagine me doing that while hauling that thing up and down all day (4 to 8 hours per dive)?

I cannot imagine how I could compensate this much weight.

Try adding strobes to this thing... ewww.

1.25 kg... it would have to be some light metal or not include the port. I would like that very much.

I'll ask about the weight. I picked it up and it wasn't any 25 pounds.

Also need to confirm port options.

Jack

TTL?

1.25 kg... it would have to be some light metal or not include the port. I would like that very much.

Small Al body with Lexan back, no port, and no handle - 1.15 Kilos sounds about right. My D80 Nexus housing w/o port but with handles is slightly over 2 K. With optical connections, TTL likely with Inon & other strobes that support sTTL.

Bob

Dear Jack,

Thank you for your quick reply. I'm definitely interested in the housing.

It looks like a great product! Small size, double o-rings, keyhole locks, electric & optical strobe synch, etc..... The 11.5 kilo weight might be a misprint. A weight of 1.15 kilo is more likely.

Just a few more questions though: (actually, quite a lot of questions)

On the housing:

-- You mentioned full access to all camera controls. Can you confirm if it can control both the click and the turn of the rear dial? Looking at the picture, I'm not sure if it can. This control is quite critical for the camera.

-- Looking at the back of the housing, it seems that there are not enough buttons/levers to match those in the camera. Do some buttons control dual functions? Can the 4-way controller be easily accessed? What about the display and DOF preview buttons? Can all buttons be easily controlled?

-- Is there an option to put a hot shoe mount on top of the housing? It looks quite tight but I need a place to attach a focus light.

-- Have you been able to test the housing with a camera inside? Can you give feedback on the responsiveness of the controls? Can you feel the "half-click" with their shutter lever? Is the ergonomics of the housing acceptable?

-- Is there circuitry on the strobe bulkhead for TTL support? What strobes are supported?

-- Is the camera mounted on a tray to install it in the housing? Or, is it just a "drop-in" affair?

-- Is there adequate space between the camera and housing to put in some dessicant packs?

-- Is there a tripod socket on the bottom so I can attach a tray and arms? Will the ULCS tray fit on the housing?

On the port:

-- Is this permanently attached or can this be removed and replaced with another port (e.g. dome ports)

-- What m4/3 lenses can fit in this port? Looking at the picture, I assume this fits the 14-45 kit lens. Is this correct?

-- There are 2 control knobs on the port, is this for zoom and focus? Are the zoom gears included in the kit?

-- What other port options will be available? Can I use existing ports from other manufacturers?

-- Does the port have a locking mechanism or is it just screwed in? Does the port have double o-rings as well?

-- Can you confirm support for 67mm threads?

Other questions:

-- Is US$ 750 the final price?

-- Will it be cheaper if I order it with just the optical synch (no bulkhead ports). How much will this save?

-- When will it be available and what's the lead time for orders?

-- Do you have an idea of the +/- buoyancy of the complete set-up?

-- Is there a flood sensor inside the housing?

-- For US$750, what's included on the standard housing kit? (spare o-rings?, tools?, zoom gears, etc.)

-- Based on your own experience, how would you rate 10BAR products? If you had a GF1, would you buy a 10BAR housing?

-- What has been the feedback from your customers regarding 10BAR?

Please accept my sincere apologies for all these questions. This is a very big investment for me so I want to be sure I'm making the right decision. I hope that you understand that US$750 is a big step up from a US$150 plastic G9 housing. At the same time, I want to make sure this will be the right tool for me to improve my u/w photography and that it will be flexible enough to "grow" with me.

Thank you very much for all your help. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

Best fishes,

Mike

Dear Bob,

Thanks for your advise. I've actually been "thinking" DSLR for some time now. Unfortunately, my wallet won't allow me to house my D80.

U/W photography is just a hobby so i don't think I'll get $$$ anytime soon for my pics. US$1,000 is the most I can spare for now.

Have you had any experience with 10BAR products? Any suggestions would really be helpful.

Thanks so much for your help.

Best fishes,

Mike

Mike;

I'm going to have to email LC and get some answers to some of your questions.

I've only seen the housing at DEMA, I have no hands on experience. Maybe Eric can chime in here, as he owns the camera and was more interested. I had customers for the LX3 and only just saw this.

Some answers here, then I emailed them for more info.

On the housing:

-- Is there an option to put a hot shoe mount on top of the housing? It looks quite tight but I need a place to attach a focus light.

Didn't see one, his other housings do, this was a prototype

-- Is there circuitry on the strobe bulkhead for TTL support? What strobes are supported?

not to my knowledge. I think you can get a choice of bulkheads, my preference would be nikonos. TTL only with optical D or S-TTL strobes.

-- Is there adequate space between the camera and housing to put in some dessicant packs?

Yes, but with a metal housing you won't have near the problems

-- Is there a tripod socket on the bottom so I can attach a tray and arms? Will the ULCS tray fit on the housing?

Yes, probably, although it is a rather wide housing. My S-Tray would fit better I think, as it is adjustable.

On the port:

-- Is this permanently attached or can this be removed and replaced with another port (e.g. dome ports)

Screw thread to my knowledge

-- What m4/3 lenses can fit in this port? Looking at the picture, I assume this fits the 14-45 kit lens. Is this correct?

will check, but I assume so.

-- There are 2 control knobs on the port, is this for zoom and focus? Are the zoom gears included in the kit?

Yes and usually

-- What other port options will be available? Can I use existing ports from other manufacturers?

Not sure, his standard is a 105mm screw thread. I think you'll need to use his ports as zoom controls are integrated.

-- Does the port have a locking mechanism or is it just screwed in? Does the port have double o-rings as well?

just screwed in, very tight on other housings, yes double orings.

-- Can you confirm support for 67mm threads?

double checking, but yes according to specs

Other questions:

-- Is US$ 750 the final price?

I may have to charge for the shipping from HK as it's pricey, but maybe $25 or so.

-- Do you have an idea of the +/- buoyancy of the complete set-up?

should be about neutral

-- Is there a flood sensor inside the housing?

no

-- For US$750, what's included on the standard housing kit? (spare o-rings?, tools?, zoom gears, etc.)

orings, universal tool, silicone grease, carrying bag.

-- Based on your own experience, how would you rate 10BAR products? If you had a GF1, would you buy a 10BAR housing?

Only option AFASIK, Looked nice, decent build quality.

-- What has been the feedback from your customers regarding 10BAR?

Just opening with them. Other dealers here on WP report good results. My experience with the company has been third-hand as they were a supplier to Fantasea Line. Mixed reviews there, but it was a complicated relationship. LC is a bit more of an engineer than customer service type of person, IMHO.

I'll try to post more info when I hear it. If available I'll order one of these in.

Jack

PS best to email me as regards to pricing, etc. It a violation of TOS here to discuss it very far. If I've stepped over the bounds, please forgive me mods, there were direct questions.

Dear Jack,

Thank you very much for your patience in answering my endless questions. So far, everything looks pretty good. The housing will be a sure winner if everything comes out as promised.

I'll wait for your feedback from LC so as to get a better idea on the housing. I hope Eric has time to chime in as well. I'm just a little surprised that there aren't that much inquiries from other forum members.

I'll make sure to just email you on any pricing discussions Don't want us to get into trouble with the mods!

Take care and hope to hear from you soon.

Best fishes,

Mike

I am very interested in this housing & camera combo.

I'd love a report from Eric, if he owns the camera, does it really focus as fast and reliably, as an entry level dslr, say the d5000 or d90? In dimish conditions? Low contrast?

Any other lag issues, like when the flash is turned on?

Does it allow the LCD screen to be bright enough to use for composing, when in manual mode, and underexposing ambient , and flash is on?

Or does it lamely try to show "this photo might be too dark", by diming the lcd proportional to the ambient exposure alone, ignoring the flash being turned on!?!?

This looks a great killer "P&S" digicam.

One more question about the housing - does it allow the built in flash to pop up, for use as optical trigger? Say with the heinrich's optical slave???

I would want it with ikelite bulkheads I guess.

This camera finally has me excited about affordable performance, in a low size, low weight package! Hope housings show up from Ikelite too!

Best regards,

Don

Too bad the kit zoom isn't better at close focus.

And no zoom is! Only dedicated macro lenses.

Too bad the kit zoom isn't better at close focus.

 

And no zoom is! Only dedicated macro lenses.

The close focus is on the 7-14 .25 m. the same as the Olympus 7-14. May be an Oly shooter can enlighten us on the wide port set up. Unless the dome is huge, I think it may require a +4 diopter. Even my old shakey hands don't need IS for a 7-14 (135: 14-28) The Leica macro might be really sweet?

Bob

The close focus is on the 7-14 .25 m. the same as the Olympus 7-14. May be an Oly shooter can enlighten us on the wide port set up. Unless the dome is huge, I think it may require a +4 diopter. Even my old shakey hands don't need IS for a 7-14 (135: 14-28) The Leica macro might be really sweet?

Bob

I doubt it it a dome at all. Probably flat port.

The problem with the oly lenses on the gf1, is that they double, or worse, the focus lag time, from .2 to .4 seconds.

Guess an entry level slr is still the way to go.

Until another lens is out in the 1 year old micro four thirds market...

Too bad the kit zoom isn't better at close focus.

 

And no zoom is! Only dedicated macro lenses.

I believe the Tokina 10-17 can focus at about 6 inches from the sensor plane.