Ikelite Housings

[Beau Nidle]

Anyone got any opinions or experience of Ikelite Housings?
And does anyone know any cheap sources for these either new or second-hand?

I'm considering a 6841 for my Sony A-100, but am not sure if this is the way to go and risk my primary camera or whether I should be looking at a seperate compact camera/housing for diving. Certainly the housing price is WAY more than I paid for the camera and all the lenses!

[John63]

I have an Ikelite housing for a Canon A640. It's been down to about 40m (rated at 60m) and so far (fingers crossed and touching wood) no leaks.

It's a bit bulky compared to the canon housing but I wanted the extra depth rating and the ability to attach wet lenses.

The controls seem to mate up okay, but the handle / weight is too big & heavy.

I got mine from a camera shop in Singapore ( :.:..Oceanic Focus...Singapore's one stop underwater photography equipment...Underwater Strobe, Underwater housing, Inon, Canon, Olympus, Nikon, Ikelite, You name it!!.... ) and even with shipping costs to the Middle East, it was cheaper than buying in UK. They also had everything that I wanted (strobe & lenses) in stock. Prices are in Sing $ and GBP1 = approx S $ 2.7


Personaly I would be wary about buying 2nd hand unles I knew the perosn selling, or it was a reputable shop.

Some of the compact cameras give superb shots and you can get some very attractive package deals, especially if you look at a slightly older or superceded model.

Cheers, John

[ChristianG]

Originally Posted by Beau Nidle

Anyone got any opinions or experience of Ikelite Housings?

I've never actually owned an Ike product but let me give you a little history. Ike Brigham, one of nature's true gentlemen, sadly died about three (?) years ago and the eponymous name comes from the fact that in the very early sixties he started by producing torches made of Lexan, therefore Ikelite. What he did first and foremost was listen to customers as a result of which Ikelite got a superb reputation for customer service above and beyond the call of duty.

He soon branched out into camera housings and then strobes and, per his usual service standards, he has no problems with ensuring that his competitor's products would also be available on these, think Inon wet lenses as an example. All of this has continued to this day.

Today I consider that Ike's housings and other products are unsurpassed in their niche in the market, the company is still run the same way and Jean Brigham is in control of it all, helped out by an extraordinarily good, and loyal, staff - courtesy of Ike.

Ikelite pioneered the art of "plastic" housings, until Ike did it all housings were made of metal of some type. You should have heard the roars of laughter when Ike came out with his first housing. Guess what? He was right, they were wrong. I doubt that any other manufacturer has anywhere near they expertise and experience of Ikelite in their chosen area of manufacture.

The above was written entirely off the top of my head, no research. I may be out in some of the detail.

[MartinJ]

And you might want to give Cameras Underwater a ring. They are the Ikelite distributors in the UK and are very helpful.

Martin

[Mike Ward]

I've used Ikelite for my SLR 3 years and 500 dives, with one broken retaining clip and no water leakage in that time. If/when I change my camera I'll buy from them again without even looking at owt else - not because the other stuff isn't good, simply because I'm very happy with the Ikelite.

[triplefin]

I would also never buy anything else - yes the housings are bulky but they are robust. When you consider what a housing has to endure the knocks and handling (often by people who may not be quite so careful with your equipment when you hand it up etc). The other reason I really like them is that fact that you can see the camera inside the housing which can be useful if you have a problem.

[MartinJ]

I like the TTL flash interface on their Canon SLR housings

[Tazzie]

I know of 3 SLR Ike housings that have flooded I think they're great for digi compacts but I wouldn't (PERSONALLY) put £X hundreds into a £lower end range housing

Having said that when you speak to Cameras Underwater the Hugyfot system I have "floods" - I've never had a problem

[jackdiver]

Originally Posted by Tazzie

I know of 3 SLR Ike housings that have flooded I think they're great for digi compacts but I wouldn't (PERSONALLY) put £X hundreds into a £lower end range housing

Having said that when you speak to Cameras Underwater the Hugyfot system I have "floods" - I've never had a problem

Yes, but CU have been quite clear that they think that the Hugyfot floods were down to user error (though I don't think they can prove it).

I hope you continue to not have a problem!



I also wouldn't get an Ikelite housing, but that's because they are bricks.

I like my nice small sea and sea one...

[MartinJ]

Originally Posted by Tazzie

I know of 3 SLR Ike housings that have flooded I think they're great for digi compacts but I wouldn't (PERSONALLY) put £X hundreds into a £lower end range housing

Having said that when you speak to Cameras Underwater the Hugyfot system I have "floods" - I've never had a problem

Any housing will flood if people don't take care putting it together and whilst using it! I don't think any should be any worse than any other personally as it really isnt rocket science....its a box with machined smooth surfaces which compress an o-ring between them....and there are swivel and button controls with o-rings in them!