Canon G11 housing and strobe options?

Hi All,

I just pickd up a canon G11 camera. I have been toiling and researching which housing and strobes to buy. I was hoping people could help me out by listing the systems they chose and the pro's and con's of that system. Or just give advice about ether system.

I am trying to choose between the Fix with Sea & Sea YS-110a strobes or the Ikelite with DS-160 strobes.

I like the small size of the Fix but am worried about the DS-TTL over Ikelites eTTL. Also I am afriad the rechargable AA's for the 110a won't hold up as well as the 160's battery pack.

I also would like to buy some of the wet mount lenses. Both housing seem to have wet mount options for macro and wide angle but I can't figure out which is better.

Cost is a concern but probably not my deciding factor. I think I am more concerned with portablility and versutility since I want to do an around the world backpack trip. I don't want to have to carry a big case for all the gear.

Thanks,

Jeremiah

Jeremiah,

The Fix housing is definitely an awesome piece of machinery. Its compact size, ergonomic buttons, easy to use control wheels, and simple addition of fiber optic cables with its fiber optic ports, along with the optional available optics, make it a heck of point & shoot system! The DS-TTL combined with the G11 and the 110a strobe is very reliable. The power of the 110a and the size, make it the best bang for the buck on the market. For the Fix housing, set up with S&S or Inon strobes is ideal with its fiber optic ports, versus adding the DS-160 which is much larger, and more expensive as well.

As a compact system, the G11 with 110a is rock solid and will produce excellent results. Combine that with the flip macro lens, and the UWL-04 fisheye lens, you have what you need to be creative.

The Ike system is nice, and bit more cost effective, but is definitely larger in size. The flip macro lens is definitely easier than dealing with the threading of the 67mm diopters. the control wheels are also a bit more clunky compared to the Fix housing

Check out this package here on the G11 we have. All of this fits in a fairly small Think Tank photo bag as well. Think Tank Streetwalker hard drive. You even have room for a second strobe in this bag.

10Bar will have a G11 housing out in a couple of weeks, aluminum, 60 meter depth rating, very similar to their present G10 housing. Has either Canon bulkhead (others available) or optical sync. 67mm threaded port, lots of add on wet lens choices. Cost about $630.

Should be a decent mid-range housing. Not as nice as the fix, but way better than the OEM and smaller than the Ike.

Jack

And don't forget the oem housing. Cheap, small, and light.

And you can add a tray and arm, and optical ttl system easily.

Personally, I feel the wired ttl is still better, and 100% reliable, versus the 80-90% of optical ttl... Not talking about exposure accuracy here, just getting a trigger at all...

I love ike's stuff for cost effectiveness and legendary incredible support and service.

Hi I'm new to Wetpixel but have been diving for 30yrs and tried underwater photo and video on and off. I just bought a Canon G11 with the Canon housing and now want to add a wide angle lens and 1 or 2 strobes but don't know what would be the best w/a option( Fisheye,Fantasea,Inon etc.) and what would be the best strobes.I think that the Canon G11 housing will work with any lens or stobes that the G10 housing used so if anyone has experience with the G10 I love to hear from you.

Thanks, Dive dog

As far as I know, the Fantasea Big Eye G10/11 is the only lens that will work with the OEM Canon housing. It's not bad, can be a bit susceptible to flare.

Jack

Never buy anything from Mike at H20 Photo Pros!

He has the worst customer service ever. You have to send tons of emails to get a response from him. When you call the shop, no one ever knows anything about your order. “Mike is handling that” is their response. Mike always has to get back to you and he isn’t timely.

I ordered the Full fix setup from him and I am very disappointed with the purchase process (not the product). I have ordered many items online and it is pretty simple and standard process.

You pick your product. Your card is charged. A receipt is usually sent immediately. A confirmation that your ordered shipped is sent with a tracking number. Your product arrives.

No of these things happened automatically in my case. Even when he first charged my card I had to email him 3 days later to get my receipt. I never received a single status on my order that I didn't have to ask for. No tracking numbers, no status updates, nothing! It took over a month to receive my order. Even then it wasn't complete. 1 month after that I finally got the rest of the order.

The flip macro lens I bought wasn't what was promised. It has terrible vignetting and in my opinion the photos aren't of a usable quality. It took many emails to try and return the lens. Finally after shipping it back I still haven't received the credit from Mike. Almost 2 months have passed since they received the lens and still no credit. I have sent multiple emails to Mike with no response. I am not at the point of disputing the charge on my credit card to get my money back.

If this is the type of experience you expect when spending large amounts of money then I highly recommend these guys. They will deliver like no one else can.

<J>

I was just forwarded this message from another customer. Jeremiah, please check your inbox. I have sent you a couple of messages already to get this taken care of. Here they are again.

Jeremiah

I just received your email and messages from yesterday. Please see the emails below that I have sent to you in regards to the refund. They were sent from our store account, info@h2ophotopros.com. I have not received a response to them so no refund has been issued as I need information from you.

Jeremiah, please understand we do want to take care of you. Our return policy is generally, no returns on any items that have been in the water...which is a standard industry policy. But due to your unhappiness, I was more than willing to just take it back since it had only been used once. When you had called originally regarding your problem with the lens, I had offered to show you how to use the lens as well if you came down to the store, but you did not want to do that, so you just sent it back.

If you get me the necessary information I need to complete the refund, I will be happy to take care of it.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Mike Luzansky <info@h2ophotopros.com>

Date: Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 3:17 AM

Subject: Refund

To: nemesis43@nemesis43.com

Jeremiah,

Id really like to get the refund to you. Please let me know which method you prefer so we can settle this. Please see my email below. Thank you.

Best Regards,

Mike Luzansky

President & CEO

H2O Photo Pros Underwater Photo & Video

The Underwater Imaging Superstore

www.h2ophotopros.com

www.gatesunderwaterhousings.com

www.nauticamunderwaterhousings.com

(949) 752-7077

Join us on one of our 2010 Photo & Video Expeditions to: Isla Mujeres, South Africa, Isla Holbox, Fiji, Philippines, French Polynesia, Argentina, and New Years in Raja Ampat & Fak Fak.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Mike Luzansky <info@h2ophotopros.com>

Date: Tue, Feb 23, 2010 at 11:16 AM

Subject: Macro lens Refund

To: nemesis43@nemesis43.com

Jeremiah,

We have your flip macro lens here. We do not store credit card numbers in our system, and we changed out credit card processing company beginning of January, so I can not just refund a portion of your original transaction. What is your best mailing address so I can send you a check for the refund, or if you have a Paypal account, I can just send it to you that way.

Please let me know so we can take care of this. I am sorry you were not happy with the flip macro lens. I hope you are enjoying the rest of the system.

Best Regards,

Mike Luzansky

President & CEO

H2O Photo Pros Underwater Photo & Video

The Underwater Imaging Superstore

www.h2ophotopros.com

www.gatesunderwaterhousings.com

www.nauticamunderwaterhousings.com

(949) 752-7077

Join us on one of our 2010 Photo & Video Expeditions to: Isla Mujeres, South Africa, Isla Holbox, Fiji, Philippines, French Polynesia, Argentina, and New Years in Raja Ampat & Fak Fak.

The flip macro lens I bought wasn't what was promised. It has terrible vignetting and in my opinion the photos aren't of a usable quality.

Hi Jeremiah,

I just wanted to comment that the flip macro from Fisheye for the G11 is designed to be used with the lens fully zoomed in with the macro setting turned on. In this configuration there is no vignetting and you can get super tight shots.

Best regards,

Jim