Advice on upgrade from Canon Rebel/Ikelite

Latest update is that the production Nauticam housing for T2i/ 550D should be available in mid May.

Latest update is that the production Nauticam housing for T2i/ 550D should be available in mid May.

Excellent! I've also now got a Tokina 10-17mm FE on its way to me so the upgrades are beginning. Maybe if I spread the purchases out a bit it won't seem like quite so much money!

Its all about the presentation, spread it out a bit and it doesnt hurt as much...but that first dive with the new rig, you forget all about it! haha (til the CC bill lands)

Just a quick update: So, I've been hard at work pacing my upgrades and selling off some gear. I have the T2i and the Tok 10-17 in hand and am waiting on more info on Aquatica and Nauticam options for housings. I've also been reading up on mini-domes and the more I read, the more I think that's the route I want to go for the wide angle side of things. I'm also thinking I'll stick with the Ike strobes for now and maybe move to a lighter weight option like the Inons down the road a bit when my bank account recovers. I don't shoot macro all that much, although I do like my Canon 100mm for close-ups (fish faces, etc.) so I may just focus on WA for now and deal with the macro later. Then again, PNG trip is coming up ...

Thanks again for the help in wading through all of this!

Hi again. I'd like your thoughts on a couple of things. At this point I've sold my old gear with the exception of my Ike strobes. I was planning on using them with the Nauticam housing. However, I've started wondering if that's really the best way to go given that I'd really like to end up with a significantly lighter/smaller setup. I was thinking that long term I'd switch to Inons but now am wondering if I should just bite the bullet and make the move now rather than getting the Ike bulkhead on the housing. I'm kind of feeling like I may be being penny wise and pound foolish so to speak, if that's the way I'm going to go in the long run.

I'm also going with the Zen mini-dome for WA with the Tokina FE and was planning on the Nauticam Macro Port 87 for my Canon 100mm. Another recent thread about putting a macro lens behind a dome port got me wondering whether that's an option for me (again, with the idea that I'd like things slimmed down for travel as much as possible). Realize this could be a ridiculous question, but I'm still learning.

Thanks for all the help.

Hi again. I'd like your thoughts on a couple of things. At this point I've sold my old gear with the exception of my Ike strobes. I was planning on using them with the Nauticam housing. However, I've started wondering if that's really the best way to go given that I'd really like to end up with a significantly lighter/smaller setup. I was thinking that long term I'd switch to Inons but now am wondering if I should just bite the bullet and make the move now rather than getting the Ike bulkhead on the housing.

If you are worrying about budget for the short term, can you get one fiber optic connection and one Ike bulkhead on the Nauticam? But if your goal is lighter/smaller and know what you want in terms of strobes, then things like the Inons or YS-110 Alphas may be on your shopping list in the near future and you should go for it. Not sure which Ikes you have. I really like my DS-125s in terms of how they hold, but they are larger/heavier than other options.

If you are worrying about budget for the short term, can you get one fiber optic connection and one Ike bulkhead on the Nauticam? But if your goal is lighter/smaller and know what you want in terms of strobes, then things like the Inons or YS-110 Alphas may be on your shopping list in the near future and you should go for it. Not sure which Ikes you have. I really like my DS-125s in terms of how they hold, but they are larger/heavier than other options.

Hmmm ... hadn't really thought of just replacing one at first. Guess that would be an option. Right now I have one DS-125 and one DS-160. I like everything about them except for the weight and bulk. I had been shooting mostly TTL with the Ike housing but it sounds like it shouldn't be a problem switching to manual with the Nauticam. (Seems like a lot of folks don't use the TTL functionality even when it is available.)

Hmmm ... hadn't really thought of just replacing one at first. Guess that would be an option. Right now I have one DS-125 and one DS-160. I like everything about them except for the weight and bulk. I had been shooting mostly TTL with the Ike housing but it sounds like it shouldn't be a problem switching to manual with the Nauticam. (Seems like a lot of folks don't use the TTL functionality even when it is available.)

With the Ike Bulkhead and a dual cord you can shoot both strobes until you decide to change. I hear you about the weight and bulk. I also carry a video rig, so I carry alot As to TTL and manual, there are alot of threads discussing the pros and cons. (Generally for WA it seems people prefer manual, and TTL is more useful for Macro shots if it is going to be used.) I shoot Canons in a Aquatica which do not have TTL (Ikes/40D/50D) but you get used to it. With instant feedback of digital, post processing for the things that are off on a RAW file and other things, it is not too painful

Something else to keep in mind is how you carry your gear. While it is great to know all the toys are with you when you land, something to consider is what is the minimum you want to carry-on to be able to shoot and be happy. I check my Ikes at this point and carry one of my YS-90DXs, for instance, to have at least one strobe with me and the Macro port. The airline rules keep changing, so not sure how far that will go. I am also considering smaller domes and a FE for much the same reasons. Some of the equipment may get relegated to non-travel use at some point depending on the hassle or I will just get a Canon S90 in a OEM housing and call it a day

Good point about how to carry gear. I've usually tried to take as much as possible as carry-on although that's been a challenge. (It's tough to make that 40# rollaboard look light as a feather as I'm struggling to get it in the overhead bin!) I shot with one strobe for years before buying a second, so I'm sure I could make due with one in a pinch.

Know what you mean about the Canon S90! I get a hefty baggage allowance on Star Alliance flights, but it's always a challenge on other airlines.

I switched to Inons just before I went to Nauticam, and am every glad I did so. Optical is a lot less weight and hassle, and with Canon it means you can do rear curtain flash which isnt possible with electrical sync.

Carryon wise its a big difference.

Otara

I switched to Inons just before I went to Nauticam, and am every glad I did so. Optical is a lot less weight and hassle, and with Canon it means you can do rear curtain flash which isnt possible with electrical sync.

 

Carryon wise its a big difference.

 

Otara

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I'm just having a hard time deciding whether it's worth the cost right now. Then again, if I'm going that route eventually ...

Great thread. I'm jealous btw :-)

I have shot and owned Inons and Ikelite DS125s. I'm a minority on here, but I have never been satisfied with the Inons as a "one size fits all" strobe. I love to use them for macro, but I switch to the Ikes for wideangle because the coverage is better and the strobe color is better too. Not to mention that they can keep up w/ fast action whereas the Inons cannot.

I like the idea of sticking with the flashes you have now and getting the "one of each" bulkheads mentioned above. I would put the strobes side to side, and you'll see that the Ikes aren't THAT much bigger and harder to carry. Just my opinion.

Cheers

James

Thanks for the input, James, and great point about macro vs. wide angle. I tend to shoot much more wide angle than macro and do love the fact that the Ikes are so quick to recharge.

Okay, I'm starting to feel like a kid right before Christmas. My fingers are crossed that I'm going to see my new Nauticam housing this week or early next week! Still not sure I'll know how everything all goes together with new arms and all, but I hope to at least play with it in the pool soon! (I'm sure I'll be back with questions and a report.) I did decide to stick with the Ike strobes for now, but pretty much everything else outside of my macro lens will be new.

Christmas has most definitely arrived. I just got home after being away for a week and a nice big box of goodies was waiting for me. Now to figure out how it all fits together and get it into the pool.

All that is not showing in the pics are the two Ike strobes (well, other than the camera and lenses! ). I can't believe how much lighter and smaller this whole rig is going to be compared to my old setup. I'm curious about how it will feel in the water.

Being housing-less for awhile has given me some time to get familiar with the camera on land. Learned a few new things.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped getting me to this point. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions now that I finally have something to take photos with again!

Christmas in July!! Have loads of fun. Looking forward to hearing about your setup. Nice looking rig.

DiverPam

Christmas in July!! Have loads of fun. Looking forward to hearing about your setup. Nice looking rig.

 

DiverPam

Thanks, Pam. I'll definitely keep you posted on how it all goes. (P.S. Love your photos; Palau is one of my favorite places - love your manta shots.)

This will probably be my last note on this thread since all of my new gear has been delivered and assembled for the most part. I'm sure I still will need to deal with buoyancy issues and getting used to the housing functionality in general, but everything fits together and works as expected on land so far. I do need to wait for a couple of clamps for attaching my strobes to the housing (Nauticam went from 8mm to 10mm between the time of my first quote and my order) but other than that I'm set to go. This rig will definitely be a whole lot lighter than my Ikelite housing and old setup in general. The mini-dome alone will make a huge difference in travel ease! (BTW, the SOLA 600 is much smaller than I expected. It looks large in the photo but easily fits in the palm of my hand. I think this is going to turn out to be a great addition to the rig.)