Viz'art 24 Posted November 20, 2009 Being a man of my word here are the first images of the new Aquatica A7D housing, those where taken minutes before the housing shipped out to Berkley White for a field test in Wakatobe (check incoming report from Berkley), talk about fresh from the oven! The AF-on & * star lever is the same approach as the 5D Mk II jus slide in and out to access the desired button, there is provision for an optional Hydrophone, there is a ON/OFF switch, which BTW is in quite a difficult spot to access, but we insisted on having it, anyone who found that they forgot to switch the camera ON before on older housing will know what it means to have access to that little detail. Optical fiber connectors will be available as well as Nikonos or Ikelite type as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stewart L. Sy 12 Posted November 20, 2009 (edited) Hi Jean! Awesome! When are you shipping and more importantly...how much? =) Just noticed, I guess it's too crowded to add a button to access the M-Fn button? Stu Edited November 20, 2009 by scubastu Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted November 20, 2009 Stu, the MSRP will be 2799 USD, I would like to be conservative and say that the first unit should be going out by early January. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stewart L. Sy 12 Posted November 20, 2009 (edited) Hi Jean Merci buckets! Still going to offer the port adapters for the other manufacturers' ports (Subal Old style bayonet)? Stu Stu, the MSRP will be 2799 USD, I would like to be conservative and say that the first unit should be going out by early January. Edited November 20, 2009 by scubastu Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted November 20, 2009 The Subal port opening are so small that our gears actually rub on the side of the port and extensions, we are still trying to work our way around that annoying detail, but in light of the D300s & 7D arrival this and other projects had to be backburned for a while, we will get our teeth on them starting in the new years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stewart L. Sy 12 Posted November 20, 2009 OK, was gonna get your ports anyway. thanks again! Stu Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted November 20, 2009 Just noticed, I guess it's too crowded to add a button to access the M-Fn button? I kind of missed the question, but the answer is yes we do, here is the picture of its location. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stever 0 Posted November 20, 2009 can't tell from the photos, but looks like i may have the same problem as with my Aquatica 20D housing of not being able to hold the housing with my right hand, thumb the star button for focus, then trigger the shutter possible to customize the length of shaft, orient the lever for different hand sizes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stever 0 Posted November 20, 2009 is there a way to do ttl with fiber optics or am i going to have to continue with the Heinrichs & Weikamp? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fotoscubo714 0 Posted November 20, 2009 Being a man of my word here are the first images of the new Aquatica A7D housing, That housing is a beauty. I really like you provided controls for the multi-controller which is missing with others. Looking forward to Berkley's review. Bo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Williams 0 Posted November 20, 2009 It's a beautiful thing Jean! Thanks for sharing it with us, I too will be interested in what Berkley has to say. Cheers, Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted November 20, 2009 (edited) is there a way to do ttl with fiber optics or am i going to have to continue with the Heinrichs & Weikamp? Stever, It will work with the usual suspect, Sea & Sea and INON with their own version of quenching the light output, pretty much what is being used by the compact folks. It's a beautiful thing Jean! Thanks Steve, for a minute I tought you were talking about me, you got me worried there for a second hold the housing with my right hand, thumb the star button for focus, then trigger the shutter Stever, that lever is pretty much spot on as ergonomy goes, the housing is quite a bit more streamlined than the A20 was, this lever is pretty much at the same place the 5D Mk II has it and its been commented as very adequate indeed, hence the reason for applying this method on the 7D housing. Edited November 20, 2009 by Viz'art Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stewart L. Sy 12 Posted November 20, 2009 Having held the Aquatica 5Dmk2 housing (and met Jean), I can attest to the ergonomics of being able to access the * and/or AF-ON button. Simply flick your thumb over from the handle. The newer housings are a far different from the older ones. Stu Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stever 0 Posted November 20, 2009 off topic, but has anyone experience with the Inon fiber optic quenching vs. TTL converter? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canuck 3 Posted November 20, 2009 off topic, but has anyone experience with the Inon fiber optic quenching vs. TTL converter? I used to use an HW converter in a Subal 20D housing. Until it failed. Now I have a fiber optic setup on my 40D Subal housing. Love it! TTL for macro is awesome. Check out my post of my setup. IMHO, fibre is the way to go. All of my photos from Port Hardy 2008 onwards are with this setup. Check out the photos to see what TTL can do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stever 0 Posted November 20, 2009 that looks really nice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betti154 5 Posted November 20, 2009 DRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL....... Looks awesome. thanks for posting Jean. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stever 0 Posted November 20, 2009 Jean, one last (i hope) question. Is it possible to have Nikonos, 6-pin, and fiber connectors? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted November 20, 2009 You have two bulkheads hole for connectors it could be any comination of two, but not all three Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aussie 0 Posted November 21, 2009 Jean, looks amazing, cant wait to get my hands on one! Is there a button to hit the popup flash for when using optical fibres? Or is this something to remember when setting up the camera (and not something you'd want to forget!)? Ryan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted November 21, 2009 You'd want to remember to pop it up, but it shouldn't be an hassle if you have a preflight check list as one should and always test their strobe for firing prior to the dive as one always do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betti154 5 Posted November 21, 2009 Ok, so you're telling me I can have it configured with Ikelite and the optic fibre bulkhead? Would that allow me to use a combination of strobes as I see fit, or perhaps future proof the housing. Will one optic fibre bulkhead support two strobes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted November 21, 2009 The Inon adapter can take two Optical Fiber, the Sea & Sea has a elbow type connector, so this later would be one per bulkhead, in essance you could have a Ikelite connector on one side from which you could run a dual cord and on the other side an optical port connector with the Inon cap and run two Inon strobes (or others with straight optical fiber cable). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betti154 5 Posted November 21, 2009 Jean, Thanks for the info. Awesome stuff. All I need now is a magic wand to convert my strobes into mega video lights mid way through a dive and I'll be set. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
