what system should i get ?

[nrssp 0]

its time to go digital...but which one nikon .canon ?

what housing should i get. i am use to the slr's (ikelite n90s strobes ike 200's 100's)

is the nikon d100 better than the canon's ?

which way would you go..santa is coming soon and i like new toys for xmas..

any and all help to steer me in one direction would be great.

[ikelite 0]

Your ports, strobes, arms and sync cords work with the following:

 

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/2d100.html

 

And they will work with the new small clear molded housing for the Canon 10D we hope to show at DEMA............

[martys 0]

oh, now you've done it! you must share the info you have on the new 10D housing coming from Santa's workshop!

 

please, please, please

[marriard 3]

its time to go digital...but which one nikon .canon ?

what housing should i get. i am use to the slr's (ikelite n90s strobes ike 200's 100's)

is the nikon d100 better than the canon's ?

If you already own several Nikon lenses there is no compelling reason to go over to Canon.

 

Having tried all the cameras they are all basically very close to each other, and the expense of buying lenses is more than you could probably justify. I know I couldn't.

 

If this is the case the decision becomes not Nikon vs Canon but Nikon D100 vs Fuji S2 - there is abot 100 threads on this already on this forum alone, but basically it comes down to personal preference. I recommend getting your hands on both cameras and trying them out. I use www.alkit.com to rent cameras and lenses I want to try before I buy.

 

My personal choice was the S2, but this was very defintely a personal choice made for my own reasons.

 

M

[ikelite 0]

To answer 10D Canon housing question by martys: The height of this camera is enough less that it tends to be lost in the aluminum back housing into which we currently install the Fuji S2 Pro and Nikon D100, so we are making molds for a new small clear housing to be completed in time for DEMA we hope.

[martys 0]

that sounds very nice. Will it be comperably priced to the D100 housing? I'm going to Cozumel in early Nov, hopefully more detailed info, photos and delivery will be availble by early October.

 

thanks,

Marty

[nrssp 0]

what about the housing brand ???

so many to chose from..

i want to be happy when i get the system, i know its a hard one to answer, but you guys are into it. :freak:

[marriard 3]

what about the housing brand ???

so many to chose from..

i want to be happy when i get the system, i know its a hard one to answer, but you guys are into it. :freak:

That very much depends on the system you buy and the amount of $$$ you are willing to sink into it.

 

Most of the 'name' brands make good housngs, but you need to look at the fucntions on the camera YOU need to access while you are underwater. Then fins the houisng that makes sense for this decision.

 

I could be totally bias (and am willing to be for cash :-) ), but there is no 'best' in this game - just better suited and more or less expensive.

 

Always willing to help, but I don't want to push you in totally the wrong direction.

 

M

[sjh 0]

Hi there,

Of course it depends on how deep santas pockets are.......I have the nikon D100 in the Light and Motion housing and it is awesome.If your use to shooting an Slr and dont want any digital delay then I would look in to a higher end camera,Nikon,Cannon ,Fuji etcetera.

One reason I went for the D100 is that i already had Nikon lenses and it was one of the first to be under $1500 bucks for the camera body.

There are many manufactures with housings for this camera.

I was able to use my old ports on this new housing also and that helped me save a little cash.

What housing do you already have?

Regards,

Steve

[Andi Voeltz 0]

Hi, just wanted to give you this link... Hope it helps...

http://www.digideep.com/product.php?pType=...a&mID=25&pID=73

Currently you have 13 housings for the D100 to choose from.

 

Cheapest is ewa- marine

[Mega1Gator 0]

I took the advice of James W. and went with the Fuji S2 Pro and really like it. I have taken many land images getting used to the operation. It is now time to go to a housing and take it underwater. Any comments on starting out with the Nikon 60mm 2.8 micro (there is a nice rebate on it now) with an Aquatica housing? I was going to stay away from the Ikelite housing because of weight, 12lbs. I have been using Nik V's for some time and this is rather new to me but it seems that starting out with macro stuff would be the easiest way to begin to get comfortable with the set up, thoughts? Next, Ikelite has always been my favorite strobe and I was thinking dual DS 125s, ideas here? Is this too much flash and a smaller set of duals work? I believe that the 125s have modeling lights so aiming should be covered, no? Flat port should be fine, no diopters needed, am I missing anything? Thanks, Mega.

[james 0]

Mega,

 

Congrats on your purchase and "jumping" into the digital world. I'm sure you'll love your camera.

 

As for the 60mm Micro - yes, this is the first lens I recommend you buy. It is good for fish portraits, and will go to 1.5:1 on your DSLR.

 

As for strobes, no, the DS125 will NOT be too much power. I set them to full power when using the 60mm and then I can shoot f16 for fish and f22 for closeup critters at the closest focus.

 

Cheers

James

[craig 0]

James really likes his S2/Aquatica/DS125 setup. Perhaps a little too much. Where are those pictures?

[james 0]

OK, so I kissed my housing - is that so wrong?????!!!!!

 

Thankfully, none of those photos are on the web.

 

Cheers

James

[Andi Voeltz 0]

OK, so I kissed my housing - is that so wrong?????!!!!!

Wahahahaha.... Pleeeeeeeeazee.... post some!

Remeber we had this mugshot thread in The Galley

[ikelite 0]

May I reduce the 12 pound weight "Mega1Gator" quoted above for Ikelite housings? The new aluminum back housings for Nikon D100 or Fuji S2 Pro with full complement of controls and handles weighs in at just under ten pounds above water. Adding a lens port increases weight to 10.5 pounds, but greatly enhances waterproof integrity.............

[Mega1Gator 0]

Well, sorry for the mix up but I spoke with a person at Ikelite just a few days ago who said he was a tech and quoted me that poundage and referenced the newer design so I was just repeating what I was told. Well, now that we got that stratended owt, and given that I am making a decision on a housing, how much does the new Ikelite housing with camera in weigh versus the Aquatica with camera in? Anybody know? Mega

[Mega1Gator 0]

Is weight like size, does it even matter?

[marriard 3]

<>

[marriard 3]

Is weight like size, does it even matter?

Weight only really matters out of the water.

 

Bouyancy matters in the water (I like my housing ever so slightly negative)

 

Size matters underwater when you are trying to get into a small space. But I find strobe arm flexibility matter more there than actual housing size.

 

M

[Mega1Gator 0]

M, you are using an Ikelite housing, what do you think compared to other housings available? Aquatica says theirs is about 8lbs with camera in, bouyancy, I am not sure about, I will assume neutral, maybe James W. can tell us as he tested that housing I think. Mega

[jimbo1946 0]

I've kissed worse things than a housing... my first wife, for example.

 

I second the motion on the 60mm micro lens. It's a great lens, and if I could only use one lens, that's the one I would use.

 

As for housings, I used a Nikon N90s in an Aquatica housing, and I use an Aquatica housing for my D100. I'm very pleased with the Aquatica. I may even kiss it when no one is looking.

[jimbo1946 0]

Adding a lens port increases weight to 10.5 pounds, but greatly enhances waterproof integrity.............

I'm getting too old and slow, because I had to think about that for a few seconds.

 

Years ago, someone asked my U/W photo instructor if you could change film underwater. He said "Yes, but you have to be very quick."

 

[scorpio_fish 5]

Like I wrote in my AD100 review. Size does matter.

 

Size:

 

Smaller packs better and gets in a rinse bucket easier. It reduces drag in the water, which can become secondary to strobes, but does have some impact.

 

The Aquatica AD100 is definitely larger than the Aquactica A90 or Nexus N90 housing. It is more in line with an F100 housing. Aquatica designed the AD100 housing to be slightly larger than it had to be in order to accomodate more than one camera (i.e. the S2). It is probably closer to the Ikelite standard case.

 

Ikelite's D-SLR cases use a modification of their MD case (which is also used for the F100). I found the standard case pretty bulky. The MD case is definitely beyond the standard case in bulkiness.

 

Balance:

 

Perhaps more important than size and definitely more important than weight is balance. I believe there is a bit of a compromise. The two sizes fits all Ikelite cases and standard plastic ports allow them to be extremely well behaved in the water with only minor variations or weight shifts amongst different camera models. The "fits like a glove" machined aluminum housings reduce the size of the case, but can lead to unwieldy combinations. My Aquatica housing with a port extension and 8" dome port can get pretty "tippy". The same was true with a really long flat port, heavy 200mm lens and strobes stuck up at the end of the port. Strong forearms help.

 

Port system:

 

This is what led me away from the Ikelite housing more than anything else. With a myriad of extensions, the Aquatica can handle pretty much any lens or lens/TC combo with one dome port and one flat port. The ports are wider and can accomodate more fat lenses. There was no option for the 200mm for the Ikelite. I also found the performance of the 8" dome superior to that of Ikelite's 6" dome. I found myself with a bunch of separate Ikelite ports and wanting more, whereas I've got the same basic ports and several extensions for the Aquatica. Again, this packs much easier.

[Mega1Gator 0]

Guys, outstanding posts and thank you. I am close to kissing my NikV's goodbye, unlike my first wife, I will remember them fondly!

 

By the way, I have never actually seen the Aquatica housing, how do the Ikelite strobes attach to the housing. I am almost decided on dual D125's. May seem like a silly question but I am wondering how easily they can be secured and adjusted, any thoughts? Mega