From: edwang@elst9.40 (Ed Wang)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: 8008 Housings
Date: 6 Nov 92 19:46:24 GMT
Reply-To: edwang@elst9.40
Organization: LSI Logic Corporation

In article 606@tsw.UUCP, ray@tsw.UUCP (Ray Izumi) writes:
> 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.

I do have a Ikelite plastic housing. I wouldn't worry about flooding for the
same reason that we wouldn't worry about car accident by trying to take as much
precaution as possible and having adequate insurance (home/fire itemize). 
For moisture alarm, you can make one for three dollars by taking apart a toy
sound gun and put inside housing. It comes with LED light and sound. There are 
enough room for that. 

The housing is very bulky, but is very well balanced in the ocean. 

Good points are:
	a. good price. (somewhere about 50-75% of those aluminium housing?).
	b. most important controls are available, incluing LCD window.
	c. virturely all the modes are accessible, P, Pd, Ph, S, A, M, shuttle
	   speed, aperture. Zoom is limited to those rotate type lens. 
	   Focus mode can't be changed UW. I found AF works wonderfully for
	   N8008S with a 35/70f2.8. Use a flashlight to help AF if necessary.
	d. it comes with it a super eye for easy view-finder.
	e. very easy to use. I used this setup in my free dive and got some good
	   pictures. I am still trying to get better.

> 
much stuff deleted.

> 
> 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.

I agree.
> 
> 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.

The name is Aquatica 80. (See Skin Diver Magazine of this year, forgot which month)
> 
> 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.

Does anyone have his number? 
> 
> 7) The ultimate housing, of course, is one of those plastic ziploc bags
>    for the 8008s. The strobe could go in a Hefty bag... ;-).
> 
That's where I keep my lunch! Just kidding.
> 
> I'd like to add some more topics to the discussion, too:
> 
> A) Which features of the 8008(s) do you actually use underwater?

I tried most of the possible features, like P-modes, two of them. S-mode, A-mode,
and M-mode. There are all used with Auto-focus mode. In P mode you can change
the suttle speed and keep the same exposure level by dial the command wheel. This 
gives you about the same function as in S, A, and M mode without you changing
the aperture. 

I even tried auto suttle release/self timer.

I also tried to change the zoom by lightly shake the housing pointing up or 
pointing down. The lens's weight will alter the zoom, but you are risking some
possibility  of flooding. If you use a rotate type zoom lens, you are ok because
there is a control for that.
> 
> 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


Ikelite Ai is the one I used. It's the middle one in Ikelite family. You could
use a 150D for more power, with more money, too. MV is a small one and gives you
a 5700K color temp. closer to daylight. The most important feature of strobe, I 
think, is its TTL capability. How well does it work with your paticular camera
is the key thing.
Ikelite arm is just strong enough to support strobe's weight in air. Use caution.

I am stucked with this setup (I can't afford to have another set), so I 
would get most out of it, right?. My opinion is in my situation (free diving),
time is very limited, it is very important that AF works quick enough, AE works 
accurately with TTL flush, the flexibility to choose among all modes to
your desire, and finish composing, taking the shot within one lung's time.

SB-24 is an excellent unit to work with N8008S. I'd like to have two to use 
for U/W (and still cheaper than one Ikelite Ai?). Any suggestion/info?

Edward edwang@elst9.lsil.com