D300 Which Housing?

[tubino 1]

The popup flash will provide TTL two different ways. The first is with strobes that are compatible with Nikon preflashes.

[snip]

For users of housings other than Nexus and Seatool, Zillion has a SU800 commander housing for CLS.

 

P.S. I also like the Nexus housings. The Seatool supports the back focus control that Nexus is slow to adopt and Nexus doesn't emphasize wide angle optics as much as I'd like. Their quality is as good as any and their macro port system is great. They also have wonderful grips. I considered Nexus but wanted that back focus control.

[snip]

 

Craig,

 

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I have to say many many thanks for a post packed with information that would have otherwise cost me a lot of effort to learn. This was extremely helpful for me! And probably for many others too.

Edited September 5, 2008 by tubino

[nortoda1 13]

Thanks to all who posted. I am strongly considering going with the Aquatica housing, save myself a few $$$ compared to the Subal. Seatool looks good but don't see the point in buying a housing without handles and then purchase handles from a 3rd party.

 

Now all I need is to do is get set up with a D300 and hosuing and wait for next Spring to get some decent conditions here in Ireland. Hopefully next summer is better than the last (wettest summer ever - and thats saying something).

 

all the best

 

Darragh

[Christian K 0]

Christian, there is what I wrote and then there's what you understood.

 

Here are the manufacturers' web pages: Hugyfot D300 and Seatool D300

 

According to the manufacturers, the Hugy is 800 grams, or almost 45%, heavier than the Seatool. Hugy doesn't list bouyancy at all. If the specs are to believed (size and weight both), I sincerely doubt that the Hugy is neutral underwater. There is 1000 grams to make up for that to be the case. I won't bother trying to explain grade school math.

 

Buying a housing primarily based on which is the smallest is dumb. Your housing determines your ergonomics underwater and, through it's ports, helps determine image quality.

 

This is very ackward. They actually did state that is was neutral on their old web site, from which I just copied the numbers yesterday. Last night I noticed that it was down and today they've lanched a new site where in water weight is not stated... Anyway. This is getting ridicoulous, but you did write that the Hugy had 1 kg m o r e boancy when in water. If one housing is stated as being neutral (0g) in water and one housing is stated as weighing 200g in water - that's a difference of 200g, not 1kg?

 

I wouldn't stretch as far as saying it is dumb to prioritize size. It depends on the needs of the photographer.

Edited September 5, 2008 by Christian K

[craig 0]

This is getting ridicoulous, but you did write that the Hugy had 1 kg m o r e boancy when in water. If one housing is stated as being neutral (0g) in water and one housing is stated as weighing 200g in water - that's a difference of 200g, not 1kg?

Yes, I did. The difference is 200g PLUS the 800g stated difference in weights, or 1000g. This is the difference in amount of displaced water between the two housings which drives home the point that the Hugyfot is NOT smaller than the Seatool as you said. Either the specs you quoted are wrong, the Hugy is bigger, or it is not is neutral. The combination you claim is not possible. See the definition of buoyancy.

 

I also didn't say it was dumb to prioritize size, I said it was dumb to make it of primary importance. There's a difference. Perhaps you could explain what "needs of the photographer" there are that could make a 400 or 500 or 800 gram difference in housing weight a deal breaker?

 

Seatool looks good but don't see the point in buying a housing without handles and then purchase handles from a 3rd party.

Seatool makes their own tray and grips so you could just get a standard package. Their grip is minimal, like their housings, so it's personal preference. I don't like the grips on Seacam or Subal either. I prefer formed grips like Nexus, Sea & Sea, and Aquatica. That's why I opted for my solution. In reality, buying a ULCS tray for the Seatool is not really any different than buying the strobe arms and the attachment points. You have to put together your rig from parts in any case.

[Christian K 0]

"Yes, I did. The difference is 200g PLUS the 800g stated difference in weights, or 1000g. This is the difference in amount of displaced water between the two housings which drives home the point that the Hugyfot is NOT smaller than the Seatool as you said. Either the specs you quoted are wrong, the Hugy is bigger, or it is not is neutral. The combination you claim is not possible. See the definition of buoyancy."

 

I think we both have agreed that there's something funny about the numbers. I'm guilty as charged for being lazy and just copying them from the manufacturers' websites. But I have sent an e-mail to Pascal on Hugyfot and asked for an explanation. I know how to calculate boancy, but there are, as someone pointed out, a couple of onknown factors about exactly how the numbers for in water weight was percieved, so I think that you cannot really make a correct calculation. A big domeport can certainly add quite some lift. I have a Hugyfot D200 housing, sitting beside me, I have a ruler in my hand and it is roughly: 170mm high, 210 mm wide and 120 mm deep. I don't have a D300 housing at hand, but I'm pretty certain it's about the same. The D200 housing is more or less neutral with a domeport without strobes, but then I think 100-200g would be persived as "neutral". Perhaps if you put a big dome on the Seatool, it will float?

 

"I also didn't say it was dumb to prioritize size, I said it was dumb to make it of primary importance. There's a difference. Perhaps you could explain what "needs of the photographer" there are that could make a 400 or 500 or 800 gram difference in housing weight a deal breaker?"

 

The size can certainly be of great importance if you travel a lot.

[eskasi 1]

I love my Sea & Sea housing for my D300....however, I sorely wished that they offered the space for the pop-up flash for use with fibre optic cables. There are rumors of a new housing from S&S that may do that.....

[MikeO 5]

Seatool looks good but don't see the point in buying a housing without handles and then purchase handles from a 3rd party.

 

all the best

 

Darragh

 

Funny, I had a Sea&Sea housing for my 10D. Handles ate into my hands and gave me cramps. Hated them. Passionately. Had to strip them off and add a very clunky looking aftermarket arrangement including a couple ULCS handle Terry and Dave made special for me (PS -- anyone want to buy a pair of extra long ULCS handles?). Also hated the handles on my old Ikelite housings. I much prefer to be able to configure my housing with whatever handle arrangement works for me! Like I said, I also prefer shooting by gripping the housing directly now that I can. Moral of the story -- to each his own!

 

Mike

 

PS -- I also like the fiber optic arrangement with my Seatool and the INON Z-240s. It is very liberating to be able to flood my sync cords on every dive .

Edited September 7, 2008 by MikeO

[craig 0]

You can actually swap out a strobe underwater when using fiber.

 

I always carry a strobe on my BC for creative opportunities. A couple of times I've needed to mount it into the arm because of dead batteries. With fiber that is easily done but sync cords make that messy.