Finally got my Subal D2X housing, but....

Finally had the housing in my hand yesterday. Big and heavy was my first impression. It was a good thing I am used to Sea and Sea D70 housing so the size is not too bad.Second impression, I hope all the buttons work..

I guess it was no surprise considering all the buttons D2X has, especially those strange shape knobs and dials for metering/focus options that the first go, I could not get all the buttons to work.

So far, I can get the camera to fit in the housing ok and major buttons like shutter, the 2 command dials etc to work but not sure how to setup all the other buttons such as focus/meter/S-C-M selection buttons to work. The manual was not much help. Also the 4 navigation buttons for menu/focus point, only 3 buttons seem to work and I could not engage the top button.

My Subal dealer guy is now out of town so there wont be a quick fix but tonight I will try to play some more with the housing and hopefully I will get some more things to work. (life was so much simpler with the D70, I am afraid).

Nevermind, finally figure out the problem. The battery for the moisture sensor was in the way a little bit so when I relocated it a bit, everything is in place now. All the buttons work.

However, one more observation. The lever for S/C/M is some glue and gunk on it. Not sure if it supposed to be there but it make me a bit nervous about trying the housing in water. See the picture: any comment? should I worry?

Sorry to hear of your problems. I am surprised that everything doesn't line up. My D2X slotted straight into my housing - and I know from Subal that nobody (even them) had tried one until that point. Have you taken off the LCD protector? That might stop the buttons lining up. Also make sure you have the camera mounted properly on the tray - if this is not right then everything will be out.

Hope it works out soon.

Alex

Mine slotted straight in as well - your battery must have moved in transit.

Checked my housing for the "gunk" there is a very small amount around the knob (never noticed it before your post) give the housing a good work out in the pool before mounting the camera, just to be on the safe side.

Have done 50 plus dives and no sign of any problems.

ron

I haven't checked for gunk in my housing. But as with any new housing you should always test dive it empty before putting the camera in. Especially when the camera costs $5000!

In the latest issue of UWP magazine there is even a picture of me test diving my housing (without strobes or camera) in the Red Sea! Page 24.

Alex

Thanks, I will definitely try it out in the pool without and with the camera a few times before trying it out in the open sea in a couple of weeks.

My housing took the detour to Hong Kong (supposedly UPS's fault) before finding its way back to Bangkok then I lent it to the dealer to put on display during Thailand Dive Expo over the past weekend so it had a bit of traveling before I finally get to play with it.

The picture you have posted looks to be silicone sealent.

It’s being used as a seal and as long as it’s dry you should not have a problem.

Again, always pressure test a new housing before use with out a camera mounted inside.

Marc

In the latest issue of UWP magazine there is even a picture of me test diving my housing (without strobes or camera) in the Red Sea! Page 24.

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Or even Page 25? Is that you with the fluoro red tank Alex?

Thanks everyone, I feel a bit better now. I will definitely test the housing in a swimming pool one of these days when I get home at a decent hour then test it out on a quick local divetrip in 10 days then Lembeh Strait in July. I have a few divetrips plan for the second half of the year that should be fun with the D2X

Hmmm, well I thought all the buttons work but may be I speak too soon!

The lens release button in the front does not seem to even be in the right position. The lever attached to the button just came straight back but it is too far to the side and too low so I am not sure if I am missing another part to the lever or if the button was just placed in an incorrect place?

Also my zoom gear for 12-24mm is too small. It fits the lens ok but the teeth on the gear is not long enough to make contact with the housing's gear. My 70-180 zoom gear works fine with the housing. The zoom gear's diameter for the 70-180 is a little bit bigger than the 12-24mm. If I put some tape on the internal surface of the 70-180mm zoom gear, it does fit the 12-24mm and it works with the housing. I am not sure why Subal sent me 2 70-180 zoom gear so for now, I can get both 12-24mm and 70-180mm to work with 2 70-180mm zoom gear and have one 12-24mm zoon gear that does not seem to do anything. I guess I need to talk to my Subal dealer once he gets back in town again

Took my housing back to Subal dealer today, finally figure out what I did wrong with the zoom gear etc. My apology to Subal

Anyhow, that 12-24mm zoom gear is a tight fit and look like it will be easier to just leave it on the lens all the time rather than taking it on and off for divetrip.

One observation, the zoom gear for Subal/Nexus cost around about the same as Sea and Sea however Sea and Sea zoom gear is metal while the other are plastic. While they all work, S/S just feel a bit nicer. I just wish they can get their act together for housing a bit more. My S/S D70 housign is even bigger than the Subal D2X (height/width). But I have to say that I still like the S/S shutter lever the best!