First few dives with D70 and Ikelite

I just returned from my first few dives with my new Ikelite D70 housing, and thought I would report on the results.

Firstly, I found the requirements a bit obscure on what to order and didn't have a dealer to help me. Here is what I ordered - it turned out to be the right stuff to make a complete unit:

1) D70 Housing

2) 5503.55 Port (for the Nikon 18-70mm DX kit lens)

3) 4100.6 manual controller.

I already had the DS50 strobe, and arm (Strobe arm II - #9575.1 mounting block for 3/4" diameter tube arms) which fits into the D70 Tray "quick connect" system.

The note on the Ike site on the port said "(1) Requires #5509.28 special zoom and clamp set (included with #6807 D-70 housing)" It in fact came with two clamps (one for the focus ring?).

Pluses

a) It is a bloody solid housing

B) Everything fits together and works as advertised

c) Buoyancy is about right with the camera

d) Really like the transparent housing.

Minuses

e) Didn't come with any spare orings, or spare grease. (not a problem if you live near your dealer, but is an issue when you are in Perth)

f) The sync cord connector is not a smooth fit on the camera threaded socket (external); whereas the cap seems to thread on nicely.

g) The bottom (external) tray was loose when I received the housing. This could have caused a flood the first time out if I hadn't noticed it!

h) The strobe arm mounting block seems to have a bit of a wobble in it - even when it is very tight.

i) I wish the view-finder was a bit bigger - maybe I'll get used to this though.

j) I thought the zoom clamp set was a bit fiddly. With metal springs that stretch over the lens, it is sure to scratch my lens in the long run. Perhaps a velcro strap would be better suited. It came with a bunch of sticky padding, but there is not room in the zoom sleeve to be able to use this.

Questions:

How do you store the housing when not in use? Unclipped? Port on, off?

Would you use standard grease for the oring, or is it important to use the sticky Ike variety?

How do you stop the wobble noted in h) above?

My photos turned out ok - nothing wrong with the camera or housing, but the visibility was not great. I was diving off Rottnest island (Perth Western Australia, which is a great spot, but not noted for calm conditions. Lots of bigger fish though, so I might have to concentrate on them in the future.

I was impressed with the auto-focus system. There was not much available light, but the camera did a pretty good job of focusing quickly. I have had the camera on land for six months now and have taken 3,500 shots or so. I have done a bit of UW work previously with a Ricoh point and shoot in a Sea and Sea housing with the DS50 strobe. I was very impressed with these results for a cheap camera. From this perspective the D70 and housing is far more complicated than a P&S setup (but of course everyone in this group knows that already :-).

I originally thought that TTL would be the only way to go, but looking at the results it is not that hard to get good shots - especially with the latitude of shooting raw. The single flash also worked ok. No huge shadows.

Great Feedback,

as for your questions,

Storage: Put it loose together (or apart) but take the O-Rings out, even though Silicone Rings do not get square that easy anymore, it is always better to have them out.

Grease: It does not have to be the manufacturers Grease, but make sure you use Silicone grease for you Silicone Rings!

Wobble: Sorry I dunno have any idea abou Ikes housings. Somebody else?

Hope I helped you

and btw. welcome to the club :wink:

cheers

thomhard :idea:

Hello -

I have a d70 in Ike housing.. As far as grease...some of the o-rings DO NOT NEED GREASE. If you go to www.ikelite.com and email ike or tom they will respond..

Wobble will probably not get corrected...every ike handle with strobe arm that i have had has a little wobble...does not affect picture taking!

I store the housing and ports with o-rings off.

Did I miss the whale shark and great white photos?!?! ))

M.

Yes, You should use Ikelite grease on the Ikelite o-rings. They are not silicon, I think they are a BUNA compound.

Cheers

James

Hi Don,

Re "The bottom (external) tray was loose when I received the housing. This could have caused a flood the first time out if I hadn't noticed it! "

If your rig is like mine, the two tray screws that hold the tray in place screw into sealed studs in the housing that are separately tightened. Thus, if these tray screws are loose they will not effect the integrity of the housing seal. This doesn't mean that it's ok for them to be loose but rather not to worry about flooding if they are loose.

Also, you seem to have a very good understanding of your rig. But if you are looking for ideas, you might find the following two pages helpful.

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/photo_gall...ettings_d70.htm

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/photo_gall...s_d70_notes.htm

"Yes, You should use Ikelite grease on the Ikelite o-rings. They are not silicon, I think they are a BUNA compound. "

Well, if that is a fact, you definitely sould use the original grease, didn't know of that one!

And you obiously would not take the buttons or shafts apart to store it! :wink:

cheers

thomhard :idea:

Thanks all for the quick feedback

Hello -

 

I have a d70 in Ike housing.. As far as grease...some of the o-rings DO NOT NEED GREASE.

.

They were pretty clear in the manual which to grease (not the main one). It is also reassuring somehow to be able to see the oring.

Did I miss the whale shark and great white photos?!?! ))

M.

I missed a shot of a seal that was playing with my buddies at 5m at the front of the boat. I am sure the white pointer was not far behind. ;-)

Here are a few shots. As I said the vis wasn't great. Comments welcome.

Don

That is a cool trigger in picture 2.. What is it?

M.

It's a leatherjacket, don't know what type though.

Nice shots