Hi, All --

Just found out this week-end that my internal flash in my old DC 500 SeaLife camera is defunct, and the manufacturer is no longer repairing them. It has really worked well for me for the past 3 years as my first underwater camera -- as I did not really want to start out by going ultra-expensive or fancy. But -- I HAVE been considering an upgrade, and guess the time is now. As I follow-up on my previous plan to upgrade, I am contemplating the Canon G10, which many on this message board seem to like. My question about the housing relates to the wide price discrepancies that I am finding in my web searches. For example, the Ikelite is over $600.00 on all sites checked, but the Canon housing is only in the $175-185 range. Why the big difference? Are there other housings that I should consider? As you can tell, I am really still pretty new at this stuff.

Also, while I have your attention, what are the recommended strobe(s) package for the G10? Advice there would be greatly appreciated!

Want to get this done before my next trip to Bonaire in December. Would like to get the camera well in advance to get used to it and its functions and operation.

Thanks so much!

S

The price difference in the housings is mostly due to quality of materials and depth rating. The Ike's are stronger and can go deeper that the Canon housing.
Another housing to consider if the FIX Fisheye housing for the G10. My wife has the Fix Housing for her Nikon P5100 and likes the compact size much better than the ikelite boxes.

As for Strobes, I'm quite partial to Inon. Anything in the D200 to Z420 range would work great.

Also for consideration would be the Sea&Sea YS110a.

Steve, Just for your info, Canon has announced the G11 for release this month which in preliminary reports is being toted as an improvement over the G10; underwater housing is also supposed to be avail. Camera lists for 499 same as G10; case i'm not so sure about. I will prob be getting the G11 for our next trip to Bonaire and prob use their case. (it will be my 4th canon case and I have never had a problem.)

Ken

FWIW, I have a G10 and really like it. I use the Canon housing and dual AF-35 strobes. They all seem to work well together. You can see a few pics of tongues on FaceBook. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22260&id=1171665341&l=9b005ec668

John and Sue -- thanks so much for the information. This all sounds logical to me. I have been corresponding to a fellow BTer who recently purchased the G10, and she has the FIX-G1 housing and the YS110a strobe package -- both of which she really likes. The downside of the FIX is the exceedingly high price tag! The Ikelite is looking better all the time, as I assume that it is good quality (I have never owned an Ikelite product).

Ken -- my time is running short before my December trip to Bonaire, and I am eager to get equipped. It's really interesting how these products keep changing and "improving!" Thanks for the update. Will have to munch on that one for awhile!

Tom -- thanks for the link to the photos. Very nice! Do you happen to know the difference between the various strobe packages. That is, why did you select the dual AF-35 strobes over the Sea & Sea YS11oa package, or the Inon strobes mentioned by John and Sue? Just a curious underwater photo amateur!!

Thanks again, all, for your great responses.

Steve

Steve I understand you nervousness about December rapidly approaching, (way too rapidly in my estimation), and the need to get a camera soon I am not pushing for a G11 just suggesting that you might want to wait a week or two and see if it hits the market. Here is the link for a hands on look from GB and it shows a lot of it's features. BTW Canon lists the price at $499 and Amazon lists it at $599, not sure of the discrepancy, anyway take a look at the video (use full screen). Discounts prob aren't going to happen so soon after release so you might want to hit your local camera shop and talk to them about expected availability if interested. Have a great trip!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-LQUtq9N10&eurl=http://www.dphotojournal.com/canon-g11-reviews-sample-images-user-manual/&feature=player_embedded#t=325

Thanks, Ken. Think I will hold out until the first of October, and then SPRING into action! Appreciate the heads-up on the G11. Before you know it, there'll be a G20!

Steve

I choose the two AF-35 because they appeared to be very simple and compatible, and not nearly as expensive (or versitile or powerful) as other options, but for what I do, they work very well.

On facebook, I have many other pictures.

On the G11, I did a google on the comparison between the G10 and the G11. I'd buy the G10 again, if given the choice. YMMV.

Thanks a bunch. Interesting that you would select the G10 again! As always, your underlying thoughts would be appreciated!

My secretary and I are sitting here wondering just what YMMV means, and all we can come up with is "Your Mileage May Vary." LOL :0)

Steve

Steve, Your Milage May Vary is correct.
Keep this link:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=YMMV

I bought the G-10 for my last trip to Bonaire and I could not have been happier with the results. I went with the Canon housing on the recommendation of John at Buddy Photo. In his estimation why pay more for an Ikelite unless you plan to dive really deep. I didn't use an external strobe on this past trip and about the only problem with that was wide angle shots. I've posted a couple here that I took of eagle rays and seahorses that were taken w/o the strobe and they were great.

Thanks, Gail. I am about to make my purchase, and your message comes in at an opportune time!

What do you/John mean by "really deep?" I do substantial wall diving and it is not uncommon to be at 100-120' on those. And, will the Canon housing accommodate external strobes? It's hard to tell from the photos I have seen on various web sites, including Amazon.com.

Thanks, again!

Steve,
The depth rating of each housing is usually advertised with the unit. The compact housings from the camera manufactures seem to be rated for about 120 ft., but that will vary from model to model.
Almost all housing will handle an optically triggered strobe. A few will also have a bulkhead for an electrical sync cord.
Opinions vary on which is better (fiber optic triggered strobes don't require another hole in the housing so less chance of flooding, but they are driven off the camera's internal flash, so you have to wait for the camera flash to recharge between pictures), I'm an electric sync cord guy, myself.

You might try contacting a underwater photo gear company and ask them about compatible camera/housing /strobe combinations.
A website I like is www.Digideep.com, or if you want to speak with a real human, try the folks at www.reefphoto.com, they have always provided me with good advice.

Thanks so much, John and/or Sue. So much to think about, so best to get advice. I will contact Reef Photo.

Steve

Hi Steve I took T-Shirt Divers advice and bought the g-10 and the fix housing sea and sea y110. Reefphoto also liked that combinaton.Again another referal from T-Shirt Diver.

Mike --

I did contact Reef Photo yesterday, and got an immediate and detailed response from Richard Perry there. He did recommend the FIX housing, and corroborated the high recommendations on the G10. He also recommended the Inon S-2000 strobe, and gave his reasons for that. Total package cost came to $2,270. I am really divided between the Ikelite housing and the FIX. Still trying to justify the additional cost for the FIX. Will be making up my mind next week!

Thanks to the T-shirts for the recommendation to contact Reef Photo, and to all for their advice. Much appreciated!

I use Canon and Inon for my underwater rigs. I have both the Canon and Ike housings for them. Here is, in my opinion the major reason to purchase the Ike housing. If you are interested in using any other wet lenses with your camera, macro or wide angle you will need to go with the Ike housing. One problem with the G10 and I will assume the G11 will be vignetting you will get on your attached lens, it's livable though, due to the telephoto capabilities of the Canon cameras, this is the reason the Canon housing is oval and not round for the lens glass on their housing. Not sure if other lenses are available for the FIX but I would check into it before I made a purchase.
I use my wide angle lens for close up shots and they are amazing. Due to the vignetting (black ring around the outside of your photos) I just have to bump my zoom a couple of times and it is no longer in view (camera is seeing the inside of the barrel of the lens) of the shot.

FYI - These folks are making red lens and wide angle for the G10-G11 canon's using the Canon housing. The Ikelite is stil a more sophisticated housing, but for most I suspect these would do.

http://www.fantasea.com/s.nl;jsessionid=0a01054f1f43f4d320c484934340aa23ea5ea4fd6334.e3eTaxiNaN0Te34Pa38Ta38PbN90?sc=2&category=487&

Thanks for this, Bill and Jim.

I experienced the "vignetting" with the old SeaLife DC500 and the wide angle lens I have for it, not knowing that was the proper term for it! Also corrected it by just popping the zoom once or twice. Will definitely check the FIX housing for its potential to accommodate wet lenses. I appreciate the heads-up!

Steve

You may have already purchased, but if not here is my 2 cents: I have a G10 in the OEM housing and use Inon Z240 strobe with an optical cord.

I was really interested in the Fix housing, but its primary benefits are the possibility to add extra wideangle lenses and the ability to take it deeper than 130 feet.

I would like to have a wider lens, but don't dive deeper than 130 feet. For me, I just can't justify something like $1,500.00 for a housing and lens port so I can do more wideangle shots. I am not saying they aren't "worth it, just that I can't justify it for me and instead I put my money into a second strobe, which I think will make more of a difference to me.

Especially with cameras like the G series being updated every year, I just can't justify that for a housing, on my budget. I will probably need some "new and improved" camera in another couple of years, and would rather not have a $1,000.00 housing that I needed to sell. I feel somewhat the same about Ike housings, at least for the G10, and especially since I use an Inon strobe.

My son and I have been using the Canon housings for several years with no problems.

If you can swing it, I think the Fix housing is really nice, and if you are really into wideangle photos or dive deeper than 130' then I would get it. Of course you could also get the factory housing and try it, and upgrade later if you want.

JD --

Thanks for the advice! You make some really good points. I certainly do not dive deeper than 130' if I can help it!!

Indeed, just yesterday I have purchased, from Reef Photo in Ft. Lauderdale, the Canon G10 with the FIX housing and Inon S-2000 S-TTL Strobe. All of this was done after many conversations with Richard and Brandi at Reef Photo about the various options. I really debated about the Ikelite housing to save some dough. Here is what they said about housings:

{Quote} "As for housings, personally I would rule out the Canon housing, particularly as much diving as you do. It is basically a 'throw-away' housing. If you have problems with it, you toss it and hope you can still find a replacement. Canon will not service them.

The Ikelite is a good quality housing and worthy of consideration. It's biggest liabilities are the size and ergonomics. As you can tell from the photos, it is a box, no other way to say it. Reaching controls while holding the housing can be a stretch, even if you have large hands.

My personal favorite is the FIX G10. It fits the camera beautifully, and in the hand feels more like a robust camera than a housing. It is lightweight, very well made, and has more add-on lens options than any other G10 housing." {end quote}

I have heard the same from others, that the compact nature of the FIX is just so superior to the bigger and less ergonomically "right" Ikelite. So -- I just decided to "bite the bullet" and get the FIX housing. It can also accommodate seemingly high quality wide angle (dry) and macro (wet) lenses. This has been a real learning experience for me! In any event -- I am looking forward to higher quality photos than I routinely got with the SeaLife DC 500 (although that little camera DID produce some really good ones for me over the years).

Thanks, again, JD.

I can't disagree with anything they said (except I have a bit more faith in the OEM housing). I have heard nothing but favorable comments on the Fix housing and you should be very happy with it. If price were not an obstacle for me, I would have bought it.

I don't have the S-2000 but it looks very nice and is quite compact. Have fun and if you have any confusion on the Inon settings, check Reef Photo's "knowledge base" as they have an article on it that can be helpful.

Thanks, JD!

Well, I had to take out a second mortgage and sell my first-born child, but when push comes to shove, strong actions MUST be taken! )

The compact nature of the S-2000 was definitely a selling point that Reef Photo made to me in assembling the package. I can add a 2nd strobe later if need be -- will wait to see how the one strobe does first, and then decide.

Arrive in Bonaire December 27th for the inaugural use of my new "toys." Counting the days!