Which Housing Should Go for G9?

[onntkkk]

Hi All,

I am planning to buy a u/w housing for my G9. I am seeing many ppls in this forum are recommending on Ikelite housing eventhrough it is more expensive than the housing from Canon itself. May I know what is the advantages of Ikelite housing compare with Canon u/w housing?
Any reply will be appreciated.
Thanks....

 

[howeikwok]

2 advantages come to mind.

1) depth rating of 60m compared to 40m for the canon housing. It's more robustly made as well and will probably last you a longer time.

2) 67mm thread so you can use add-on wet lens to expand the capability of the housing/camera u/w.

 

[onntkkk]

Thanks Howeikwok, apreciate your reply.
1) But now I am only allow for 40 meters depth which is just nice for the Canon housing.

2) May I know how much is the wet lens?

Coz now cost is my concern. The Ikelite housing already cost me $900 which is tripple of canon housing.


Thanks for your reply.

 

[diver-hloc]

Thanks Howeikwok, apreciate your reply.
1) But now I am only allow for 40 meters depth which is just nice for the Canon housing.

2) May I know how much is the wet lens?

Coz now cost is my concern. The Ikelite housing already cost me $900 which is tripple of canon housing.


Thanks for your reply.

My 2-Cents

1) Having 60 metres doesn't mean that you should go that deep. But it will give you peace of mind if you are going close to the depth of 40m. I saw my 1st Mola Mola at 39m.... with my Canon casing only rate to 40m :sweat:. I heard some divers saw their Mola Mola as deep as 45-47m. So having a casing rated at 60m would be better right

2) Wet lens like Ikelite W-20 Wide-Angle Lens cost around $315 USD. Price might be difference here.... but don't think by much. http://www.ikelite.com/web_two/w20lens.html

But TS... a question for you

How often do you think that you are going to Scuba Dive on any given year ?? 2-4 times a year ?? or more ?? If you are not going to make use of that expensive casing more than 3-4 times a year. Why not just get the cheaper Canon casing, saving yourself $600+ and spent that on getting a strobe which would make more of a difference for your photography than the casing could do.

Again.... just my 2-cents worth.

 

[ahbian]

Hi All,

I am planning to buy a u/w housing for my G9. I am seeing many ppls in this forum are recommending on Ikelite housing eventhrough it is more expensive than the housing from Canon itself. May I know what is the advantages of Ikelite housing compare with Canon u/w housing?
Any reply will be appreciated.
Thanks....

Hi, your situation is very similar to mine as I am considering between the two housings, although G9 is still on my shopping list.

Maybe these discussions on another forum might be able to give you some related ideas.

You might need to sieve through some information, but I find the discussions in-depth and helpful.

 

[onntkkk]

Thanks everyone for the helpful information.
My dilemma here is I Canon housing cannot fix with wide angle whereas Ikelite did.
But the price is really too expensive for Ikelite compared with Canon.
1) Is there any dealer shop for Ikelite in Spore?

2) Can Canon housing fix with Ikelite strobe?

3) Is there any wide angle lens which can incorporate with Canon housing?

Thanks.

 

[Gymrat76]

I would go with the Ikelite housing for the following reasons:

1. Better construction and depth rating (60m vs. 40m)
2. If using Ikelite strobe can use sync cord attached to camera's hotshoe, i.e. internal flash doesn't fire, more shots on a single battery
3. If using Ikelite strobe, can use TTL, if you too lazy to use manual control
4. Larger room in the Ikelite housing, can put more silica gel (cam gets quite hot during operation, fogging can occur if no gel) - never happened to me yet as I always put 2 packs of silica gel in my housing
5. Direct attachment of the Inon WA lens to the optional short port of the Ikelite housing, no vignetting even at the G9's widest setting of 35mm.
6. Supplied Ikelite arms and tray provide good grip on the camera, even when wearing gloves (i.e. when diving colder waters e.g. Bali)

Cons are the bulk and weight and more hefty initial price tag, but worth it IMHO, especially if you're using or already have an Ikelite strobe?

You can get Ikelite and other brands from Scubacam and Oceanic Focus in Singapore.

 

[Gymrat76]

Thanks everyone for the helpful information.
My dilemma here is I Canon housing cannot fix with wide angle whereas Ikelite did.
But the price is really too expensive for Ikelite compared with Canon.
1) Is there any dealer shop for Ikelite in Spore?

2) Can Canon housing fix with Ikelite strobe?

3) Is there any wide angle lens which can incorporate with Canon housing?

Thanks.

Don't think the Ikelite strobe can be used on a Canon housing, only Inon via fibre optic cable (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

For WA angle lens on Canon housing - don't think its possible :dunno:

 

[coalfox]

You can purchase an adapter for your canon housing to fit the inon lenses. This is the one. It works perfectly fine with macro lenses but I think you will get vignetting if you put on a WA one..

 

[howeikwok]

Don't think the Ikelite strobe can be used on a Canon housing, only Inon via fibre optic cable (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

For WA angle lens on Canon housing - don't think its possible :dunno:

For ikelite strobes, you'll probably need the EV controller which can detect the camera's pre-flash. http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/mansensors.html

For attachment of wet lens on the canon housing, you'll probably need the Inon AD mount attachment and use the Inon AD mount series of wet lens. Either that you might want to consider modifying the canon housing to take a 67mm screw-on lens. I've seen a couple of my friend's housings modified to do so.

For macro screw-on lens, the most common and popular choices are the Inon UCL-165 M67 and UN series of lens from japan. I think you can get them from scubacam and oceanic focus for $180-$250. For wide angle lens, you're looking at around $450-500 for the Inon Wide Angle lens.

 

[coalfox]

there's 67mm screw-on attachment too the link is in my previous post..

 

[onntkkk]

Hi all,

I gotten some offer as below.
Any opinion which is the best package?

Ikelite G9 housing
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/5can_g7.html
Ikelite AF35 Deluxe Strobe Package #4035
http://www.ikelite.com/af35/autoflash.html
Pacakge Retail Price @ SGD1,530/=
Package Discounted Cash and Carry @ SDG1,295/=

or

Ikelite G9 housing
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/5can_g7.html
Ikelite DS51 Deluxe Strobe Package #3944.51 with Ikelite TTL sync cord
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/ds50_pkg1.html
Pacakge Retail Price @ SGD1,800/=
Package Discounted Cash and Carry @ SDG1,530/=

or

Ikelite G9 housing
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/5can_g7.html
Ikelite DS125 Deluxe Strobe Package #3944.75 with Ikelite TTL sync cord
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/ds50_pkg1.html
Pacakge Retail Price @ SGD2,550/=
Package Discounted Cash and Carry @ SDG2,170/=
(only left 1 unit of DS125 package)

or

Ikelite G9 housing
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/5can_g7.html
Ikelite DS160 Deluxe Strobe Package #3944.90 with Ikelite TTL sync cord
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/ds50_pkg1.html
Pacakge Retail Price @ SGD2,625/=
Package Discounted Cash and Carry @ SDG2,230/=

Thanks.

 

[NitroxCrazy]

Coz now cost is my concern. The Ikelite housing already cost me $900 which is tripple of canon housing.

I too have the same problem with regards to chosing a G9 housing and facing with the cost issue as well. However I too would chose the Ikelite housing for the reasons mentioned and because I prefer the size.

As cost is a concern and regardless of which P&S housing from Ikelite would typically cost about the same, chosing a cheaper camera like a S5 over the G9 could be a better choice? A S5 would typically cost about $600 while a G9 would cost about $800. A difference of about $200 which in my opinion could partly subsidize a macro lens.

 

[onntkkk]

Hi Nitro,

I got my G9 with price around S$650 at Johor. If you interested, just let me know. I can give you the shop name..

 

[howeikwok]

Hi all,

I gotten some offer as below.
Any opinion which is the best package?

Ikelite G9 housing
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/5can_g7.html
Ikelite AF35 Deluxe Strobe Package #4035
http://www.ikelite.com/af35/autoflash.html
Pacakge Retail Price @ SGD1,530/=
Package Discounted Cash and Carry @ SDG1,295/=

or

Ikelite G9 housing
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/5can_g7.html
Ikelite DS51 Deluxe Strobe Package #3944.51 with Ikelite TTL sync cord
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/ds50_pkg1.html
Pacakge Retail Price @ SGD1,800/=
Package Discounted Cash and Carry @ SDG1,530/=

or

Ikelite G9 housing
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/5can_g7.html
Ikelite DS125 Deluxe Strobe Package #3944.75 with Ikelite TTL sync cord
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/ds50_pkg1.html
Pacakge Retail Price @ SGD2,550/=
Package Discounted Cash and Carry @ SDG2,170/=
(only left 1 unit of DS125 package)

or

Ikelite G9 housing
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/5can_g7.html
Ikelite DS160 Deluxe Strobe Package #3944.90 with Ikelite TTL sync cord
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/ds50_pkg1.html
Pacakge Retail Price @ SGD2,625/=
Package Discounted Cash and Carry @ SDG2,230/=

Thanks.

I wouldn't get the AF-35 strobe as it's battery compartment seal doesn't look very secure. If intending to get strobe package and if you're not too concerned with TTL function then you might consider inon/sea&sea strobes with hard-wire or optical sync cord connection. Else only ikelite strobes will give you TTL with ikelite housings. If got budget then get the DS-125 and above series of strobes. The DS-51 is also a bit underpowered compared to the inon/sea&sea series.

 

[howeikwok]

Useful link when comparing strobes. :thumbsup:

 

[crusher]

G9? G10 coming out soon, 28mm wide angle...

 

[howeikwok]

G9? G10 coming out soon, 28mm wide angle...

hopefully they increased e battery life?

 

[Gymrat76]

between the DS-125 and the DS-160, I would pay the small difference and get the DS-160. Slightly more powerful and you need a lot of light underwater, especially if you do a lot of wide angle work.

Skip the AF-35 and the DS-51.. I think they are only good for close up work and portraits, anything wider/further and they are practically useless.

 

[coalfox]

hopefully they increased e battery life?

How long can dslr batteries last? all 4 dives? I don't think the new g10 batt life will increase significantly. What's the ideal battery life? Ability to last for 4 dives/day? Now, I'm changing it every 2 dives..