aussie 0 Posted December 29, 2009 Hi Jean, Was just studying the images of the housing (I'm getting anxious!), and have yet another question. It looks like the housing is more similar to the 5dmkii housings than the 40d housings, in that the back half of the housing and a lot smaller than the front half of the housing. With the 5d housing I've been using this means I can't take the memory card out of the camera when I have a zoom gear attached (whereas I could with the 40D), because you can't pull the camera backwards through the housing with a zoom gear (something that really annoys me about your housings), and there's not enough space to open the memory card door on the camera while it's still sitting in the front of the housing. Can you confirm if this is the case, or if you've solved the problem of being able to take the camera in and out of the housing while there's a gear attached, without first having to remove the port, then the lens, then open the back of the housing and remove the camera? I used to think it was bad enough that I couldn't just pop the battery in and out of the camera without having to go through this process, so I'm not sure I could handle it if it was the same with memory card as well. Many thanks, Ryan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maractwin 2 Posted December 31, 2009 ... you can't pull the camera backwards through the housing with a zoom gear ... This depends on the gear. With some zoom gears, the gear grooves run the entire width of the gear. With others, part of the gear is smooth and only part of it is grooved: With the above zoom gear on a lens, you can't insert or remove the camera without removing the lens first. If the grooves run all the way across the gear, you can. The lens that used to annoy me with this was my Sigma 17-70mm. That lens was stolen recently with the zoom gear attached. On replacing it, I have gotten a different zoom gear without this problem. I mail ordered the gear from B&H Photo and the accidentally sent the wrong one. But I noticed that the gear I received would work with the lens if I sanded out the inside a little bit, and this one has grooves all the way across the outside. Problem solved. -Mark Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted January 8, 2010 Hi Aussie, The 7D (and D300s) will have a new designed lens release lever that can be pulled back to clear the zoom/focus gear, thus one will be able to easily pull the camera, lens and gear all in one shot, making it easy for replacing the memory card and/or the battery without having to remove either the front port from the housing or the lens from the camera . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheRealDrew 0 Posted January 8, 2010 Hi Aussie, The 7D (and D300s) will have a new designed lens release lever that can be pulled back to clear the zoom/focus gear, thus one will be able to easily pull the camera, lens and gear all in one shot, making it easy for replacing the memory card and/or the battery without having to remove either the front port from the housing or the lens from the camera . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradDB 0 Posted January 11, 2010 (edited) I took the Aquatica+ 7D out for a test dive Saturday during the NCUPS/Backscatter Demo Day. I managed to get in the pool while most folks were in the lecture. Art and I had the pool to ourselves for 20 minutes or so. Later the pool was full of photographers plus a discovery scuba class hosted by Wallin's. I was very happy with the control accessability on the Aquatica housing. I thought I would miss the top LCD panel but I adjusted quickly. The 7D brings up a display with all setting details on the back LCD as soon as image review complete, making the top LCD redundant. I suspect I still might miss the top panel while shooting wide-angle pelegics. It looks like all 7D housing manufacturers might ditch the upper LCD window in order to shrink the housing and simplify the controls. The top buttons are still there. Oh well, things change. Photos were great as expected. The video results were very clean to my eye - even at ISO800. I was very impressed with the dynamic range. I cant wait to pick up my housing and get my 7D into the ocean. I captured a 30 second 1080p, 24p video of Art tinkering with his G10. Don't ask my why his snorkel is upside-down. It was very dark in the pool area as you can see. Click on video to play and select resolution. Full HD is available. Details: Canon 7D, Aquatica Housing, Tokina 10-17 FE, ISO 800, F4, shutter 1/50, 24p Converted to 100% quality H.264 MP4 using MPEG Streamclip before upload. Watermark was added by MPEG Streamclip as well. To see 720p, go full screen then enable HD on the bottom right of the video To see 1080p click the "Go to Gallery" at the end of the video [smugmugl=425]ZT0xJmk9NzYxODI2OTgwJms9UHhna3ImYT0xMDkxMDM5NF9jUTNxdiZ1PW1vbnRlcmV5ZGl2aW5n[/smugmugl] Edited January 11, 2010 by BradDB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betti154 5 Posted January 11, 2010 Nice work Brad. You can even see the mould on the side of the pool. hehehe The drum roll question for Jean is when are they shipping? I promise I will jump the water the day I get it and upload something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aussie 0 Posted January 11, 2010 Berkley from Backscatter (one of Wetpixel sponsor) has taken our 7D housing for a road test and will post a review anytime soon, he most likely will have some comments on the weight and handling, I know he is very picky about the balance and handling of his gear and is not the type to sweet up a review just to please the crowd. I personnaly have not had the chance to put through its pace yet, the moment its back in the shop I will weight it one immersed with your configuration, but that won't be before the first week of January. Jean, I think I love you! By the way, what happened to the review that you said was coming? Cheers, Ryan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradDB 0 Posted January 11, 2010 (edited) Jean, I think I love you! By the way, what happened to the review that you said was coming? Cheers, Ryan. Berkley told me Saturday that he was almost done with the review. He has barely been in-town since the Wakatobi trip with the the 7D. -Brad Edited January 11, 2010 by BradDB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted January 11, 2010 Jean, I think I love you! By the way, what happened to the review that you said was coming? Cheers, Ryan. herrr, no offense but I'm a happily married man I talked to Berkley and indeed it should be online anytime soon, I did see a draft and I like what I read About shipping, we are gathering the last of the required pieces of the puzzle and are getting very, very close to shipping time, I am going to the Paris Dive Show next week end and I expect that they will be shipping by the time I am back next week. It is going to make a lot of hardcore Nikonians envious!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greedo5678 1 Posted January 11, 2010 i want one, i want one, i want one!!! Looks beautiful, better design and ergonomics than its rivals, which are few and far between for the 7d. Obviously havent put my hands on one yet, but have played with ur other housings and fell in love. As they say, a true continuation of the hands! Just picking it up, immediately made me change my mind, which was pretty much made up, from Ikelite polycarbonate to Aluminium and Aquatica. Minor point, how come its 2799us$ and 2550uk pound, surely the exchange rate cant be that poor? Do you set the retail price or just a recommended price and the dealers decide? Is Camerasunderwater your only uk supplier? No matter, will still get my hands on one. Will you be at London Dive Show with your own stand or just with Cameras underwater? Olly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted January 11, 2010 Hi Olly, glad you like it, it sure has this Nikon owner traumatized , if my lenses pool was not so insanely large I would consider flipping back to the Canon side, thats how happy I am with this housing, on the other hand we are coming out with the D300s housing that will sport all the latest advencement found in the 7D so housing wise I can't complain As dealers go, I have Camera Underwater in the UK and you can check other European as well here http://www.aquatica.ca/subpages/dealers/europe.html The retail pricing is determined by us, local consideration such as transportation, duties and taxes are not taken into account since these will vary from one country to another, I am not familiar with the duties and taxes structure in the UK, but I know that some mainland european do buy from Camera Underwater so they can't be that far off the mark as Europe dealers goes. I would like to do the London Dive show as well one day, you blokes seem like a likeable bunch, so I'm sure i'd have a pleasant time at the show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betti154 5 Posted January 12, 2010 Jean, it's my bday on 31st Jan, so I'll wait by the post for your present. We've got a virgin wreck to shoot on 6th Feb, so if I get it by that trip I' give you a report on how it handles at 90m+. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted January 12, 2010 Well I'll sure try to make this here birthday boy happy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aussie 0 Posted January 12, 2010 We've got a virgin wreck to shoot on 6th Feb, so if I get it by that trip I' give you a report on how it handles at 90m+. I haven't heard about this one Damo, although it's obviously a little out of my league. Look forward to seeing your shots! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greedo5678 1 Posted January 21, 2010 Just read the review and it only makes me want it more! But can u explain all the options and extra buttons, dials available? the XIT dial? Are they true aquatica options or are they independent manufacturers trying to better the ergonomics for their own style? If they are options you do during manufacture, i guess i need to specify as i order. So if there is something i would see useful on offer then tell me all!.... Olly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted January 21, 2010 Just read the review and it only makes me want it more! But can u explain all the options and extra buttons, dials available? the XIT dial? Are they true aquatica options or are they independent manufacturers trying to better the ergonomics for their own style? If they are options you do during manufacture, i guess i need to specify as i order. So if there is something i would see useful on offer then tell me all!.... Olly Hi Greedo5678, the XiT knobs are add on made from XIT technology, usefull when diving with thick gloves, Backscatter sell them not only for our housing, but for many other brands as well, the Aquatica 7D housing, aside from comfortably accessing all controls, the housing come with a port lock, both grips, a sliding tray for removing the camera and a large choice of connectors, of which there is a list below and more type will soon be available in the near future: 2 x Nikonos type manual connector 2 x Optical type connector on which you can connect either the Sea & Sea elbow type cords or the INON type straight cords (up to 4 strobes with the INON type) 1 x Nikonos Manual and 1 x Optical connector 1 x Ikelite type manual conector (an optical connector can be added as well) 1 x S6 type connector (an optical connector can be added as well) In short if it blinks and goes under, we can connect it On a different note, Damien, I am staring at a beautiful piece a machinery with your name on it that should make this soon to be birthday boy happy I will try and get a shot of it today, just to tease you , its going out tomorrow to Aussieland Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted January 21, 2010 Here is your incoming birthday present, first batch heading south, enjoy old man Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betti154 5 Posted January 21, 2010 Jean, That could be the sexiest thing I've ever seen - I'm sitting here with a grin ear to ear! Forget my birthday, it's like all the Christmasses have come at once. I think it's love at first sight!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viz'art 24 Posted January 21, 2010 WELL AS IT SO HAPPEN, IT THE X-MAS TREE ORNAMENT AROUND IT! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greedo5678 1 Posted January 21, 2010 Jean, Thanks again for answering. I wont need an XIT dial then, i do all my diving in the tropics, where thick gloves arent on the menu! And i will be using Inon 240's so take it their covered (this is my 1st dslr housing so new to this electronic cable stuff) i have optically fired epoques at the moment but cant be doing with the recharge times anymore. Olly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aussie 0 Posted January 21, 2010 Here is your incoming birthday present, first batch heading south, enjoy old man Cheers Jean, I'm hoping there's more than just the one housing in that shipment! Looks great! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmooney 6 Posted January 21, 2010 There is a lot more than 1 housing in that shipment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Williams 0 Posted January 22, 2010 That could be the sexiest thing I've ever seen - Damien, we need to have a talk son. Congrats on the new housing, it is indeed awesome. Cheers, Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AengusM 0 Posted January 22, 2010 Damo .... I too am worried about you You might even end up doing a shore dive next week...can you remember how to walk into the sea, could find you a pier to do a roll off? Seriously....long shorie next week to work up on it ? and I'm keen to see how it compares to the 5DII housing. Aengus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betti154 5 Posted January 22, 2010 The day that housing arrives, is the day I do my first Sydney shore dive in 3 years - that's how excited I am about this housing. You might even see me sporting this season's open circuit fashion, as I suspect the inspo will be overkill in the 4-5m depth range. All depends how LONG a shorie you want to commit to. Seriously though, it will indeed be interesting to compare it side by side to the 5DmkII on the same dive. Our challenge will be finding a worthy enough dive site in Sydney. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
