Hi all,

I have been lurking for awhile but finally have a reason to come up for air and post some questions for the group. My most excellent wife conspired with our parents to chip and get me a new Digital Rebel for Christmas (I don't have any idea how she figured out that I wanted one of those... ;>). So now I am looking at housing the system to replace my MMII-EX and have some questions.

So far based on cost alone it looks like I will end up with the new Ikelite housing for the Digital Rebel. Since I already have the 18-55 lens I figure that I will get the #5503 dome port with the housing. So my first question relates to the need for a +4 diopter close-up lens on the zoom. Ikelite recommends one for zooms in this port, what experiences do people have using the +4 diopter versus not using one?

My second question relates to strobe options with this housing/camera options. Currently I use to YS-60's with my MMII-EX system. I would like to get two strobes for the new system as well but price is a bit of an issue. Would it be best to start out with a DS-125 and manual controller and add a DS-50 later (assuming I cannot afford to start out with both)? Or is there some better (and affordable) solution that will cover some wide angle and macro work?

Finally, for those of you already using Ikelite housings any experiences or thoughts that you might have about them would be appreciated (positive and negative).

Thanks,
Craig

The Canon Digital Rebel 18-55mm EF-S "kit lens" focuses to less than 1' and thus needs no diopter to see the apparent image a dome port creates. See my review of the pre-production Ikelite housing under the "Reviews' heading of www.wetpixel.com .

All in all a very capable tool for taking great underwater photos. I would also recommend the DS125 strobe with Smart Charger if you can afford it. The wide beam will work well for macro or wide angle shooting and get you started. It recycles so quickly you don't have to worry about firing several flashes in a row when a critter is letting you get close

Hope this information helps.

David Haas
dhaas@megsinet.net

www.pbase.com/dhaas

Thanks David,

I did read your review and found it helpful and informative. I wasn't sure about the diopter though, Ikelite's site says to use it for that lens but they also say it is not needed if the lens can focus to less then 12" (and it does 0.9').

Did you find it easy to handle the 18-55 lens underwater with the port (zooming in and out through the range)?

Craig

Hi Craig,

Any flash that you use with your 300D is going to be a manual flash, so with that said, can you use your YS60's? What kind of manual power settings (if any) do they have? You may find that if they have full and half power, they will work just fine with your setup. That will save you buying new strobes, but of course, you won't get as many power settings. In most cases, I find that with small strobes, I need to fire them at full power to get shots are f16 or f22.

I agree w/ what Dave said - the "kit" lens that comes w/ the 300D is great for "mid range" underwater use.

Cheers
James

James,

Unfortunately the YS-60s have a built in sync cable with the Sea & Sea type connector... I could send them back to the factory to get the cables swapped by I was thinking better to sell them to someone who can use them and get new strobe/s with more manual power settings.

Know anyone looking for a very complete MMII-EX setup? :>

Craig

Craig, sell the MMIIEX on Ebay. But, do it in separate parts. I recently sold my set-up that way and exceeded my reserves on all items.

Better chance of selling them individually and better return. IMHO

Not sure if you noticed but Aquatica is also housing the Digital Rebel.

Craig,

When I tested the Canon Digital Rebel I didn't zoom much. But Ikelite's sleeve and gear system will allow you to do so. The 18-55mm lens was kind of nice allowing moderate wide angle (equal to 29mm) for medium wide shots and closer equivalent focal lengths of say, 60-90mm for fish, etc.

I agree with Yasemtough and others that if you're going to go with an Ikelite housing and their cord system (which I think is a LOT better being the same connection on both ends versus the Nik V style connector) then just sell your existing strobes and build a new system.

Good luck!

David Haas
www.pbase.com/dhaas

Hi Dave,

Just my opinion, but I don't think it's a big selling point for folks to have to sell their strobes in order to use an Ikelite housing. Strobes are a big investment and they take some getting used to. Personally, if I had strobes I knew and trusted, I'd want to stick with them.

That's why I think Ike should make an Ike to Sea and Sea cord - but again, that's just my opinion.

Cheers
James (owner of no less than SIX Ikelite strobes...:-)

If I could use my existing two strobes that would be great but all in all I am not going to be too upset about getting new strobes, especially strobes with more manual control settings since ETTL is an unrealistice expectation at this point.

Of course what I would really like is a nice ring flash to play with for macro work...

Craig

I read elsewhere (I thought it was here on Wetpixel) that Ike plans to make some Sea&Sea to Ike cords... Anyone know if this is true?

mandarinfish is correct. Ikelite will have a cord in January for connecting "non standard" strobes from Sea & Sea to Ikelite housings............

James and Craig,

Yeah, I can understand it's a hassle to sell strobes you've been using and buy new. I also know the Ikelite DS125 strobe will make you think all others are sub-standard once you use one....

Easier to open and charge with the RCD style flip latch, small size to power ratio, modeling light built in for aiming and allowing your AF lenses to focus at night, battery "fuel gauge" LEDs which at least gives you a measurement if you should pop it on the charger in between dives. Last but the BEST reason: the recycle time......With a DSLR camera you can literally pull the trigger as fast as you want, especially set at 1/2, 1/4 or 1/8 power when a critter comes zooming by. Never worrying about if the strobe had recycled I figure I clicked my DS125 over 8,000 times last year underwater!

To me all these benefits outweigh selling and re-buying if you're going to put together a NEW underwater system. Plus with Ikelite you get service that IS service. It will remain to be seen if TUSA improves service and turn around time on Sea and Sea products......

In any event with the cord Ike will have soon folks can use their "other" brand strobes on Ikelite's new dSLR housings and any of the other cord capable models, too.

Keep Shooting!

David Haas

Pete Ladell will make you a macro port that takes the INON Quadflash (for any housing). It also has two 8mm threaded holes for ball-mounts -- and the mounting assembly swivels around the port, so you can switch your strobes from landscape to portrait very easily. He can be reached at pete.ladell@ukonline.co.uk .

I'll post photos of mine very soon. The one I have for my Seacam rig unfortunately can't be used for manual-focus setups because the zoom gear on the front of the lens is too thick for the tapered design. I'm going to contact him to see what can be done about it.

Eric,

That is very cool about the Macro ports, I will definitely hold onto that information and look into when the time is right.

Thanks,
Craig

I got myself the Canon digital rebel. Does anyone have any recent information regarding when the Ikelite housing for this camera will be available? I am planning a trip to Thailand in March and I hope I can get it before that. Thanks.

Kirk

It should be available at US retailers in the first half of february.