From: ray@tsw.UUCP (Ray Izumi)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: 8008 Housings
Keywords: 8008, housing, camera
Date: 5 Nov 92 17:08:49 GMT
Organization: The System Works, Redmond, WA

In article <1992Nov3.200717.27764@sdc.com> ken@sdc.com (Ken Marks) writes:
>
>	+ What kind of view finder do you use?
>	+ What is your experience with various housings?
>	+ What lenses do you recommend?
>	+ What problems are there to look out for?
>

Disclaimer: I don't yet have a housing, but I do have an 8008s and have been
actively researching housings. I've picked up a couple of good ideas so far:

1) Most people using the cheaper Lexan Ikelite housing are satisfied with it,
   and think that the horror stories about it failing are exaggerated. However,
   one photographer ruined his body (the camera's, that is) when the main latch
   got hooked on a cleat while being handed down into the water; he didn't
   notice this, with disastrous results. Also, Ikelite doesn't offer a moisture
   alarm. Nor can you change autofocus modes underwater. The housing is also
   rather bulky. I don't have any good information on the quality of the optical
   ports for these, but would like to hear some views from owners.

2) When choosing an AF macro lens, consider that the 105mm/2.8 can give you
   1:1 macro at a focusing distance of about 1', whereas the 60mm/2.8 requires
   that you put the lens about 4" away from the subject. This is not a problem
   for things like coral or nudibranchs, but is important if you want to shoot
   shy subjects. But I do have the 60mm, and it is a great lens for land use.
   At 60mm focal length, it serves very well as a standard lens, but has the
   added macro capability. The optics are excellent. But I'm going to get the
   105mm for UW use. As for wide angle, general consensus is that the 20mm AF
   is a good way to go. By the way, all the lenses I've referred to are the
   Nikon models.

3) While the Stromm housing is a good product, you lose access to all of the
   features of the fancy camera you paid so much for. This might not seem a
   big deal at first glance, but I think it would become a major problem in
   a hurry. Same goes for the Aquatica Sport housing.

4) I've narrowed my options to the Tussey and Aquatica housings (not the
   Aquatica Sport, but its full-featured big brother - the model name
   escapes me right now, somebody put decaf coffee in the pot this AM).
   They seem to be pretty close, and I'm hoping that somebody will come
   up with some deciding factor to help make the choice. In all the UW
   videos I've seen on TV, the pros all seem to be using the Aquatica.
   One thing I didn't like about the Aquatica is the lack of a window to
   see the LCD display; you have to get the MF21 data back for the 8008s,
   which runs about $160.

5) One innovation I'd really like to hear more about is the Aquatica
   housing for the SB-24 strobe. Hopefully this will also accomodate
   the newer SB-25 unit, since the SB-24 has been discontinued. Has
   anybody used this critter yet?

6) Some of the best housings ever made came out of Al Giddings garage,
   but I don't know if he's still making them commercially.

7) The ultimate housing, of course, is one of those plastic ziploc bags
   for the 8008s. The strobe could go in a Hefty bag... ;-).


I'd like to add some more topics to the discussion, too:

A) Which features of the 8008(s) do you actually use underwater?

B) Any experiences/recommendations on strobe arms?
-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ray Izumi, The System Works, Redmond, WA     206-823-4685      uunet!tsw!ray
"Put the pillow over your head, scream and cry - the garbage is coming!"
           - New York City Commissioner of Sanitation
Newsgroups: rec.scuba