Which is the good choice of DSLR w/ housing?

I think that the new Ikelite powder coated handles have fixed the corrosion problem.

Cheers

James

I can't remember who's site it was (helpfully) but someone here has great photo's with the Ike housing and D70. That was enough for me (well, today anyway)

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Well, the following come to my mind...

kdietz

critter

CeeDave

Detonate

Pedda

I'm sure there are heaps more, and I'd be delighted if someone decided to blow their own trumpet and help me out here.

Jame's calculations are appreciated, but I also would state theory is one thing and real world experience another. Anyone here personally flooded an Ikelite through hte port opening due to "wobble", a "hard knock" etc.? Or PERSONALLY know anyone who this happened to?

I DO know several aluminum housing users who knew their camera was toast when the "leak detector" (or as I call them "leak confirmation device") let them know their opaque housing was done being converted to an aquarium! Apology in advance igf this irks anyone as this is never funny to the person it happened to Just trying to make a point on features and benefits.....

Also, Luiz is likely referring to older ikelite housings and I think most of his points (on weight especially) would no longer be valid. Lighter weight and more precise controls on the newest SLR-DC (digital compact) mold has made them in demand all over the world as atremendous value.

On the issue of professional use, I likely don't get to dive as much as Mauricio who I greatly respect for his work, but in hte last 2-3 years I've logged over 500 dives almost all with an Ikelite housing in hand. Minimal maintenance and they keep on pluggin' along....

Finally, as Anthony suggested go to www.ikelite.com and look under "What's New" to see numerous examples of the images Ikelite housings can produce. You may not like my photographic style or subjects but the proof is in the pudding More examples are in 4 "old" galleries at www.pbase.com/dhaas .

David Haas

Haas Photography Inc.

"Biased" Ikelite dealer and user

Hi all, I do agree that Ikelite is the only option if you are short on cash,

I didn't realize I was short on cash .... damn

Trust me...if I thought another housing would make my photography better....I'd have it

Karl

I feel Luiz brings up a valid and extremely important point regarding dependability. Regardless of housing manufacturer, price, and material, a housing needs to function as designed and be dependable. The best customer service is the one you're never required to use!

I didn't realize I was short on cash    .... damn

 

Karl

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Poor Karl, you don't even know that you are impoverish!

I personally had very good experience with Ikelite housing and they continually improve and tweak the design. When I switched from Oly C4040 to C5050, all the little changes in buttons, mounting plates etc continue to show that Ikelite really do try to improve their basic design and they do listen to feedback from customers.

Their D70 housing currently has the unique ability to support i-TTL. I would not consider Ikelite inferior housing just because it is cheaper. It just have different features than other housing and different people will prefer Ikelite or other housings depending on their preference. Luckily when I bought the D2X housing, there weren't that many choices to choose from

I didn't realize I was short on cash    .... damn

 

Trust me...if I thought another housing would make my photography better....I'd have it 

 

Karl

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Hi Karl, that's not what I meant! If you have an unlimited budget you can buy the housing (and camera) that will best serve your purposes, and it's great if it is an Ikelite! If I had a D70 or 20D I would really consider Ikelite, especially now that they have that 90 degree connection for the sync cord. What I meant was that if you have only 1,300 dollars to buy a housing, Ikelite will be your only choice.

Now, to that comment on weight, I think my point is still valid:

Ikelite 20D and D70 housings:

Weight: 3.25 kg

Subal for D2x:

Weight: 2.7 kg

Subal for D70:

Weight: 1.8 kg

If you just compare D70 housings, the subal weighs a bit over half the Ikelite.

Luiz

But Subal is not the only one. There are many housins that have those qualities

UK-GERMANY UK-D-D70

190x165x120mm

Weight: 2000

Sealux CD70

131x176x158

Weight: 1950

Nexus D70

127x171x317mm

Weight: 1814

Hugyfot HFN D70

208x160x125

Weight: 1950

Look people, there is nothing wrong with an Ikelite housing or any other for that matter. No need to be biased toward one manufacturer or another. If it keeps the water out and it works then that is all that matters!

Sorry, forgot to mention that this argument gets tired week after week...

Rant over....( friday night and vodka in the system as well)

Luiz, no problem...I'm just having a little fun....your point is well taken As travel weight limits are becoming much more restrictive, weight and size are becoming real issues when deciding on housings.

Prospective housing buyers will have to decide if they can save enough on overweight baggage fees to offset the higher costs of lighter housings....everything is a trade off....that's why we have so many options....everyone has different priorities on making selections

Karl

I should stay out of these from now on. I have a Seacam housing and my wife has an Ikelite. I like both of them and am a bit jealous of her "smaller and lighter" setup...:-) She tried all of the housings at DEMA and picked the Ike.

Cheers

James

I do think that Ikelite housings ae exelent for the Price but not in EUROPE

I am living in Sweden and I have call around and everybody have prices that are about 1500 EUROS

Way to expensive. Sealux is 1400 EUROS in Europe

TO order from USA I must pay 25% customs and I must, if something hapen, send the housing to USA

What I what to say is that maybe in USA the Ikelite is the best & only choice if you have not mutch money and you whnt a great housing but in Europe is not the case

Look people, there is nothing wrong with an Ikelite housing or any other for that matter.  No need to be biased toward one manufacturer or another.  If it keeps the water out and it works then that is all that matters!

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I completely agree, and I think that, if anything, people were biased towards Ikelite in the previous messages. I didn't see anybody speaking about the advantages of non-Ikelite housings (other than that they were pretty and that photographers with aluminum housings looked better), that's why I did that comparison, and I used only Subal simply because I was lasy and didn't want to search in all manufacturers websites B) . Anyways, you are right, in the end, keeping it dry is all that matters.

Luiz

So far we determined that, important issues are:

Cost, we all wished it was not an issue, but you want the best bang for your buck. <_<

Construction quality aka craftsmanship.

System reliability aka how often will you need to fix a problem? Simple design offer simple solution.

Weight above and under, and why not, u/w handling & balance.

I would also add:

Ease of access to the battery and changing the card.

Ergonomics, it might be a glorified shoe box with a port in front but it’s still something that you have to use and ease of use and feel good are important features, a bicycle is not just A bicycle, you can ask Lance about that one.

Geographic will play in the decision, if you need accessories and it’s a nightmare to get them…

They are different tools (or Toys) with different budget/features for different individual (with strong opinion, most of them). I am bias in my selection of products, but do respect that they are other choices than my choices. Steer away from prophets and gurus and remember to have fun in the end, and your final choice should reflect just that, have fun.

Cheers

Best bang for your buck = sure Ikelite togelter with Sealux

But we can to speek about housings like this is great the other is not.

Housings are very individual and very near the way you take photos underwater

What are you doing: Wide Angle - Macro - Available Light photos...?

Eyesight do you need a Grand viewfinder?

Size off the housing and many other thinks.

For me , becauce I am a freediver, one of the advantages of non-Ikelite housings

is the size.

But if i was a Scuba diver the thinks will look diferent

There is no the perfect housing out there

Make a list with the thinks that you whant and find a great dealer with a great price & service.

On the End there is only you down there taking photos.

Amazing so many friends would like to share your experience.

Just a week left for my work. I got so much information about my question.

First, thanks all of you. Your valuable experience is better than any advertisement from shop.

Second, lots brand you mentioned about can not be found in m place. I live in Taiwan where near the mainland China.

Third, because of the cash, I only can support DSLR and housing w/ port (maybe w/ one strobe) for 3000 US dollars. What I have already had are INON D-180s and I can borrow few nikon lens, strobe(nikonos 105, ikelite 300, sea&sea ys-90) from my laboratory now. Therefore, nikon maybe the best choice for me. D-70 or D-70s(in fact, I am not sure what's the "key" difference) or D-100.

Althought, I have done lot's of homework about not "too experience", however too much detail affect my decision. I still meed you guys' advice.

Thanks again.

Colin

D70 and D70s are the same dimension, the "S" version has a larger LCD in the back (very small difference) and more recent electronic, the most recent firmware upgrade of the D70 bring'it to D70s level as far as focusing etc.

the D100 has a more rugged body, better finder but older electronic and is on the edge of retirement, even if I have two of thoses cameras myself, I would suggest going to the D70s.

what lenses do you plan on using?