Ikelite Floods - Upgrade - Sideways or give it up?

I have had a Ikelite housing for my Fuji S2 Pro for a few years. On a recent trip it flooded via the o ring in the port. I now see on Ikelite's website they are offering to add 2 more cam locks to better secure the ports..... Last time I got to Puerto Rico the Sync cord failed (brand new) and Ikelite UPS's a new one down there...

Here are my options...

I have (2) S2's, 4 Ikelite Ports and Sync Cords and 2 SB-105's.... (for true ttl)

I met a lady that has a Subal housing for the S2 for sale and go with that (would have to buy ports and cords)

Let Ikelite fix it again (which I will have to do if I sell it)

Sell the entire thing and spend big $$ on a new Nikon DSLR and Digital Strobes..... (I prefer not to do)

I do 2-3 dive trips a year...

Thoughts, comments and laughter???

IMHO. Send the housing into Ikelite and have it upgraded and serviced for $200.- I just did so myself for my D10 housing.(I know, many would ask "why?"...LOL. long story).

Unless you like to spend much more for only 2-3 dive trips per year and still have flooding risks with other systems. None are fool proof, and you switch your headaches for other housing issues.

My many decades of great experience with Ikelite's repair service keeps me a loyal customer, then again I never had a flooding in their housing either.

I'm sure others here have differing opinions and other manufacturers would love to have you switch to their system.

Bo

I have had a Ikelite housing for my Fuji S2 Pro for a few years. On a recent trip it flooded via the o ring in the port. I now see on Ikelite's website they are offering to add 2 more cam locks to better secure the ports..... Last time I got to Puerto Rico the Sync cord failed (brand new) and Ikelite UPS's a new one down there...

 

Here are my options...

 

I have (2) S2's, 4 Ikelite Ports and Sync Cords and 2 SB-105's.... (for true ttl)

 

I met a lady that has a Subal housing for the S2 for sale and go with that (would have to buy ports and cords)

 

Let Ikelite fix it again (which I will have to do if I sell it)

 

Sell the entire thing and spend big $$ on a new Nikon DSLR and Digital Strobes..... (I prefer not to do)

 

I do 2-3 dive trips a year...

 

Thoughts, comments and laughter???

Decisions... decisions, I think the key question is "What do you want to do with your photography? Passionate about making the best images you can? Planning on winning some world class competitions? Enjoy bringing a few nice images back from your vacation to show your friends? There are a host of reasons we all do this crazy art form. Your thoughts on this would make it easier for folks here to offer some guidance.

Sorry for your flood, that's an awful feeling.

Steve

Decisions... decisions, I think the key question is "What do you want to do with your photography? Passionate about making the best images you can? Planning on winning some world class competitions? Enjoy bringing a few nice images back from your vacation to show your friends? There are a host of reasons we all do this crazy art form. Your thoughts on this would make it easier for folks here to offer some guidance.

 

Sorry for your flood, that's an awful feeling.

Steve

Steve,

I shoot for fun and to show freinds and family. I formally had a N90 in a Aquatica housing and I loved it..... I guess alot of it has to do with the fact I can pick up the Subal WITH a S2 for $600, and hopefully sell my Ikelite (hopefully) I roasted a S2 and a 20mm lens on this trip and was not happy... I hate to pass the deal on the Subal up, but I dont know what I am getting myself into on that... BackScatter has some used ports, but I have no idea on the cost of the sync cord for the Subal. I would need a port for a 10.5, 20mm and 60mm Macro.... I have all those now..

I did hate the fact there was no way to put a spotlite on the ikelite housing, now they have that option....

So spend $600 and get a Subal (I figure $200 of that is the S2 itself, so the housing is $400) or spend $250+ to get the Ikelite fixed and upgraded.... Met alot of people on the trip that were not too keen on Ikelite....

I do love my SB-105's tho....

Here is a review from 2003 on the Subal you're considering http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/subal-fs2-h...or-fuji-s2-pro/

If you can snag a killer deal on a great piece of equipment... why not. Really no comparison between the Subal and Ike for ergonomics. Two different beasts

Then again, some believe that a flood is just Neptune's way of telling you it's time to upgrade. Six megapixels is plenty to shoot some prints for your wall. The lack of a histogram would bother me though. 2002 to 2009 is a long time in digital camera years. If I was in your shoes I'd also think about a 40D class camera or Nikon equivalent. A bunch of those hitting the used market now.

Interesting choice, let us know what you decide.

Good luck,

Steve

Humm looks like you're ready to get a D90 in a good aluminum housing.

But the precipice looks tall uh? yeah it does... close your eyes and JUMP.

I don't recall seeing/reading anyone making this jump and regretting it,

if you are thinking about it is because you are at the time to do it,

or this thought will be at the back of your mind for a long time...

"Think you can, or think you can't. Both ways you're right."

One advice that worked for me:

"Get the best your money can get you TODAY (do not expect for camera/housing releases) and start shooting straight away."

Good Luck

Here is a review from 2003 on the Subal you're considering http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/subal-fs2-h...or-fuji-s2-pro/

 

If you can snag a killer deal on a great piece of equipment... why not. Really no comparison between the Subal and Ike for ergonomics. Two different beasts

 

Then again, some believe that a flood is just Neptune's way of telling you it's time to upgrade. Six megapixels is plenty to shoot some prints for your wall. The lack of a histogram would bother me though. 2002 to 2009 is a long time in digital camera years. If I was in your shoes I'd also think about a 40D class camera or Nikon equivalent. A bunch of those hitting the used market now.

 

Interesting choice, let us know what you decide.

 

Good luck,

Steve

Alot will be decided once I talk to BackScatter tommorow and price things..... You are 100% right on the ergo on the Subal! The Ikelite is a beast... I just loved the S2 for the TTL... I do get a histogram tho...

Gotta stay nikon because of the lens's tho....

What are your (and others) opinions of the Ikelite vs Subal in performance and reliability. I know Ikelite's service is great, but that could because that do alot of service

The decision will be made this week as Indonesia is calling in Jan and I need something reliable!

I went over my receipts and found I paid $1400 for my first S2 and that was EBay!!!!! YIKES!!!!!

For now it all comes down to reliability between Ikelite and Subal..... I would snarf a Aquatica in a second if I could find it....

Thanks again!

Hmmmm

Someone here is selling a Sea and Sea housing with all the goodies........ Dont know anything about sea and sea tho....

Actaually I have a D-200/Ikelite with everything except the lenses. It is my backup rig. I would let it go relatively cheap.

However................

I have that rig as a backup BECAUSE I grew tired of the form factor of the Ikelite. I decided on a Seatool and spent $3800 (included magnification eyepiece). I felt it silly to house an old D-200 so I upgraded to a D-300.

So........................

Does my D-300 take better pictures. No! The Ikelite strobes (Ds-125) provide a more pleasing color than the INON Z-240 although putting a focusing light on the Ikelite is too hard and a focus light helps both the D-200/D-300.

My recommendation is to find a D-80/D-200 in a better case than Ikelite if your are sick of the size. If the issue is flodding, however, just get the Ike fixed.

Regards,

TomR1

Hmmmm

 

Someone here is selling a Sea and Sea housing with all the goodies........ Dont know anything about sea and sea tho....

I have been using S&S housings for 10y now, you can ask whatever you like.

The new MDX housings are perfect dream housings...

Good Luck

My recommendation is to find a D-80/D-200 in a better case than Ikelite if your are sick of the size. If the issue is flodding, however, just get the Ike fixed.

Yeah this is really the bottom line.

If the issue is flooding, stick with the ike. Being able to completely see all the o-rings after assembly is a huge weight of the mind, and relief from flood anxiety. Get in the habit of inspecting the port and main body seals all the way around, after assembly.

Imagine assembling a housing where you can't see the o-rings....

For me, like you, doing 2-3 dive weeks per year, pix to show friends and family, it isn't worth paying the price for anything but ike, new. If you can find that great deal used, maybe..

I have been using S&S housings for 10y now, you can ask whatever you like.

The new MDX housings are perfect dream housings...

 

Good Luck

I had heard the older plastic housings were not as good as the new ones... That is my only worry....

See the thread of the gent who is selling it here...

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...rt=#entry230623

Yeah this is really the bottom line.

 

If the issue is flooding, stick with the ike. Being able to completely see all the o-rings after assembly is a huge weight of the mind, and relief from flood anxiety. Get in the habit of inspecting the port and main body seals all the way around, after assembly.

 

Imagine assembling a housing where you can't see the o-rings....

 

For me, like you, doing 2-3 dive weeks per year, pix to show friends and family, it isn't worth paying the price for anything but ike, new. If you can find that great deal used, maybe..

Well I think Ike is now out of the question... I wanted to have the re-build done with the 4 cam-lock's and the extra hot-shoe, but because it is a older housing I am out of luck and they cant do it.... I just dont like the 2 Cam Lock thing. I had it set in there, tested it and the damm o-ring on the port mushed it self out... It was a brand new o-ring...

So It's the subal for 600 w/o Ports (including S2) or the S&S in the above thread......

Would love to go to a newer nikon, but I have 4 SB105's and would be worth nothing..... I love the new Ike Strobes but big $$$$ (well isnt this hobby big $$?) Just blew money on a new Uwatec Gallelo as my 8yr old Uwatec died...... (nice trade in program tho!)

How many different ports and what ports do you use on the ikelite housing?

How many different ports and what ports do you use on the ikelite housing?

I beleive I have 4 ports... My lens's are 10.5 FishEye, 20mm, 60mm and 105mm

I sort of doubt if the 2 vs 4 port locks is going to make a difference in your O-ring situation. The new port locks address the complaint that the ports can be rotated and pop off if mishandled. An improperly installed or pinched o-ring will find a way to leak no matter what. Further, this is true of any brand of housing.

I'd review how the port was installed during your flood. Was the oring lightly lubed? The port o-ring is really the only one that you typically need any lubrication on with an Ike housing. If it was very dry (new) and you had to use much force to install the port it might has rolled or pinched...

The subal housings are very nice, good ergonomics it always called out. They are NOT more leak-proof than any other brand, including Ikelite.

Well I think Ike is now out of the question... I wanted to have the re-build done with the 4 cam-lock's and the extra hot-shoe, but because it is a older housing I am out of luck and they cant do it.... I just dont like the 2 Cam Lock thing. I had it set in there, tested it and the damm o-ring on the port mushed it self out... It was a brand new o-ring...

 

So It's the subal for 600 w/o Ports (including S2) or the S&S in the above thread......

 

Would love to go to a newer nikon, but I have 4 SB105's and would be worth nothing..... I love the new Ike Strobes but big $$$$ (well isnt this hobby big $$?) Just blew money on a new Uwatec Gallelo as my 8yr old Uwatec died...... (nice trade in program tho!)

Dave and I are in agreement here. I have not had any trouble with the 3 clips on the port. What you describe is an incorrectly installed O ring. One needs to check them carefully on an Ike (or the battery enclosure on an INON strobe. Same problem) to make sure that they didn't get pinched during closure.

That being said the Seatool I have just FEELS more secure. Both the port and the back lock securely. It is probably no better but it sure feels better.

Tom

Yeah I used the 2 lock ikelite with an n90s for 10 or more years, with narry a leak.

Why didnt they make a Nikonos RS DSLR???

Well I think Ike is now out of the question... I wanted to have the re-build done with the 4 cam-lock's and the extra hot-shoe, but because it is a older housing I am out of luck and they cant do it.... I just dont like the 2 Cam Lock thing.

Just this afternoon I got my Ikelite housing for my old old Canon D10 camera back for upgrade to the new 4 port lock and focus light 1/4 20 adapter. I had also send in my custom back for complete o-ring overhaul for an additional $50.-, since it had been a few years since last service.

I'm extremely happy with Ikelite service since it looks like they additionally to a new housing body, they even replaced my back housing plate with re-installing my old EO bulkheads. My viewfinder seems new (and larger) too. I don't find the scratches I had and remember on the old housing back and finder. I swear they gave me a brand new housing for $200 upgrade and service, unless they cleaned and buffed the old scratches away when all the controls were out. Either way, the housing looks brand new and tested to current factory standards.

Did you call Ikelite repair service on your housing? I never called, but immediately send mine in when upgrade and service discount was announced here on Wetpixel. I had expected them to call me with "sorry, but this is too old", but instead they surprised me with a new current housing.

I have had very good luck and service from Ikelite since my first (used) SLR housing back in mid 1970's. Ike has always known that value and service are key to customer satisfaction. Obviously, Ikelite stays a winner with me, and no, I get no endorsement fees....LOL.

Bo