Poll: Which housing for CP-5000?

[ReelBruin 0]

Ok, which housing for CP-5000? I used the Aquatica 5000, it was cool. I liked the clamshell closure, but didn't love the need for a separate attachment for the ikelite strobe arm, the need for a nikonos-ikelite cord, and the lack of abiliity to access the on/off turn switch.

 

How does the Ikelite compare? Any other recommendations? I know the list of 5 possibilities is:

 

Subal CP5

Ikelite #6190

Sea & Sea DX-5000

Aquatica A5000

Light and Motion Tetra 5000

 

Thanks!

[hge54_old 0]

I have the Light & Motion Tetra 5000. It is superb, except that the screen is difficult to see in bright light

Hal

[ReelBruin 0]

Is the TTL cord Nikonos-Ikelite or Ikelite-Ikelite? I looked on the Tetra website, and read about the ROC, and I can see the (I think) bulkhead for the TTL cord on the top center...curious about the design.

 

Also, the website says access to MOST camera controls...what's missing?

 

Finally, how is/where is the connection for the strobe arm?

 

Thanks for your help!

[hge54_old 0]

The TTL cord(s) is(are) a "wet mount(s)" on the top of the housing. It can be disconnected underwater. There are wings off either side of the housing for strobe mounting that is quite solid. The ROC allows manual strobe adjustments at your fingertips which is very fast and convenient. The only control not accessed is the Autofocus/Autoexposure lock button. I don't believe that the other housings access that control either. THe Sea & Sea housing does not allow access to the on/off switch which I think is a serious shortcoming.

 

I had never used anything but an MX-10 before, but I found this system very easy to use, and took it to Fiji having very little time to practice beforehand.

 

Be aware that Nikon no longer makes the CP5000, and that housings for the 5000 will NOT work on the 5400, or 5700

 

Hal

[kdietz 0]

My Ikelite housing for the cp5000 is bulletproof...........I use the WA port most of the time.........checking o-ring is a breeze..........double handle tray is very comfortable and the "foot" allows the housing to stand steady on the dive boat.........

 

Karl

[scubag 0]

Like Karl, I also use an Ikelite housing for my 5000. I liked being able to use the Nikon 19mm, but Subal, Aquatica and Sea & Sea also give you that option. The Ikelite is a bit bulky compared to the others and You'll definately build up your right forearm and wrist from one handing it, but the clear acrylic is a plus and for me the idea of having strobes, arms and housing all from the same supplier were a plus, only one company to deal with and Ikelite has always treated me well. This is the 4th Ikelite housing I've owned over the past 20 years. The only truly inovative feature I liked on the other housings was the ROC controller built into the Light & Motion housing, but I didn't want to go for wet add on lenses.

 

Doug

[rstark 0]

In my opinion the ONLY disadvantage to the Tetra is the inability to use the superb 19mm lens. I have the Aquatica and the fact that I don't have access to the on/off switch is a non-issue. The camera goes to sleep at a difined interval and therefor does not waste any power. The housing will have to be opened between dives anyway to switch out batteries. I really wish someone would come out with an external battery that could be plugged in for extended times.

[martys 0]

In my opinion the ONLY disadvantage to the Tetra is the inability to use the superb 19mm lens.

are you kidding? Have you seen the results from the wetmate wide angle adapter? it provide 100 degrees of coverage and is every bit as good as the Nikon 19mm (I have both). And the wetmate close up adapter if excellent as well. and I can change them while on the same dive.

 

wrt to the bulkheads, the wetlink connectors only work for the Sea & Sea strobes. The Nikonos bulkhead is not a wet connect. The cord is irrelevent to this design. You can get a Nikonos to Nikonos or Nikonos to Ike. Both are available from Ike. If you have Sea & Sea strobes alerady or are thinking of purching them, then get the wetlink bulkhead.

 

Personally I like the dedicated Nikonos bulkheads, but that's just me. I don't think one is better than the other, it just depends which strobes you're planning on using. I use dual Ikelite DS125s and they work great with the Tetra's ROC control.

[ReelBruin 0]

Can you elaborate on the "bulkhead" thing and wet connect? I'm a little new at digital housings. I have a DS-50 right now that I've been using. Is there something additional I'd have to purchase to make this work with the Tetra 5000?

 

Thanks so much!

[james 0]

Just a sync cord will be all you need.

 

The Nikon WCE68 wideangle lens costs <$100. Then add another hundred bux for the Ikelite port I guess. How much is the Tetra wideangle lens?

 

Cheers

James

[ReelBruin 0]

Re: the Ikelite Port - You mean if I want to use an Ike-Ike cord right? Whereas if I want to use a Nikonos to Ike Port, I don't have to buy anything? or do I still - sounds like it comes as a sea&sea port?

[rstark 0]

In my opinion the ONLY disadvantage to the Tetra is the inability to use the superb 19mm lens.

are you kidding? Have you seen the results from the wetmate wide angle adapter? it provide 100 degrees of coverage and is every bit as good as the Nikon 19mm (I have both).

I used to have the waid e angle wetmate and didn't like it at all. It was mated to a 995 so that might be it but the edges were not very sharp. With the Nikon 19mm you can leave it on and still do macro (do a search in the forum to see samples). That gives you the versatility of the removable lenses without the need to remove them. Just my opinion though.

[ReelBruin 0]

Thanks for all this input. I appreciate it. I'm torn. The way I see it:

 

Pro-Ikelite: clear acrylic, ike-to-ike system and I have a DS-50, don't mind the larger size, price, comes with red filter

 

Against Ikelite: would need to buy strobe controller to match ROC ($150)

 

Pro-Tetra: ROC

 

Against Tetra: Price, availability, need to purchase Ike or Nikonos bulkhead? Need to purchase strobe attachments?

 

Hmmmm.....

[ikelite 0]

I don't see why you need the manual controller because TTL works so well in the Ikelite housing for the Coolpix 5000.............

[martys 0]

I used to have the waid e angle wetmate and didn't like it at all. It was mated to a 995 so that might be it but the edges were not very sharp.

Curious, I didn't think Light & Motion ever made a Tetra for Coolpix 99x cameras. Are you talking about the same Tetra Wetmate lens? Even if LMI did, you're comparing apples to oranges because the Coolpix 99x is an entirely different camera from the Coolpix 5000.

 

wrt cost, yes the wetmate is more than the Nikon. but what isn't with underwater gear? the WC-E68 is not actually < $100. It lists for $179 and B&H has it for $139 plus you have to buy the adapter. There's like 4 times the amount of glass in the Wetmate lens compared to the Nikon and I have hundreds of examples of sharp corner to corner wide angle images I've shot in the last year.

 

wrt ROC, I use dual DS125's and have found in brighter waters the TTL works ok (not 100%), in the darker waters here in the northwest, not so good. The ROC is awesome and I use it ALL the time. I'm going to miss it when I get my housed DSLR next year

[rstark 0]

Curious, I didn't think Light & Motion ever made a Tetra for Coolpix 99x cameras. Are you talking about the same Tetra Wetmate lens?  Even if LMI did, you're comparing apples to oranges because the Coolpix 99x is an entirely different camera from the Coolpix 5000.

I was not talking about a L&M housing for the 99x. I had an Aquatica but the lens is exactly the same. I did try that lens on my Aquatica housing when I got the 5000 and didn't like it, but that was with Aquatica housings and the Inon lens(L&M lens is a relabled Inon) not the L&M so performance could be significantly different. It was only an observation