Ikelite for 40D

[Scubakraut]

Hey Larry,
I think you guys mentioned you carry Ikelite housings? Can you get one for the 40D and the respective Canon 28-135 USM lens? Let me know how much that package would be please. Also what strobe would be good?
Thanks.

[Aussie]

Originally Posted by Scubakraut

Hey Larry,
I think you guys mentioned you carry Ikelite housings? Can you get one for the 40D and the respective Canon 28-135 USM lens? Let me know how much that package would be please. Also what strobe would be good?
Thanks.

I wish I knew that ST carries Ikelite housings as I have bought heaps of gear recently.

I would stick with the Ikelite DS125 strobe as it offers cannon TTL when you connect it to the Ikelite housing. It offers you quick adjustment also in the TTL on the back of the housing

I think the Cannon 28-135 USM lens has too large a diameter for a port. So you wont be able to use it in an Ikelite setup. It all depends on what your shooting but there are some lenses out there which are great value and are reasonably priced.

I dont shoot with Cannon but have a look at the:

Sigma 17-70mm macro (popular all use lens)
Tokina 10-17mm fisheye/wide (great for the big stuff)

Cannon 60mm or 100mm Macro (I really believe its a must have)

Hope this helps.

Aussie

[bversteegh]

The 28-135 lens won't work with the Ikelite housing, the diameter is too big.

I have the Canon 20D (the 40D predecessor) in an Ike housing. Lenses I would recommend you consider:

Wide angle: 15 mm Sigma Fisheye, 10-17mm Tokina Fisheye (my first choice, but costs more)

general underwater fish lens: 17-70 Sigma - has a decent macro capability; enough zoom to shoot from sharks/mantas to large nudibranchs

Macro: 60mm or 100mm Canon f/2.8 macro lens (the 60 is a little more foregiving, but you are right on top of critters to shoot 1:1 mag (something like a 6" stadoff from front of the lens)

As far as strobes - you have 2 paths to go here. If you want TTL with the Ike housing, you need to get Ike strobes (DS51, DS125, DS200). TTL is great for macro; so/so for wide angle. Great thing is, it is totally hands off. If you plan on shooting much wide angle, go with the DS125's; the DS51 doesn't have a wide enough coverage angle (< 70 degrees); a fisheye lens on your 40D will have from 100 to 140 degree field-of-view; depending on focal length (with a fisheye, you can't directly calculate FOV from focal length).

If you don't care about TTL, you can still use an Ikelite to Sea and Sea Synch cord to drive either Inon or Sea and Sea Strobes. I really like the Inon Z-240 Strobes - they are small, run on AA batteries, and have enough power and coverage angle to light a 15 mm Fisheye (you'll need 2 to light the Tokina at 10mm).

Also, Ikelite requires a seperate port for each lens (no ports come with your housing, BTW). So when you order your gear, don't forget ports, sync cords (get an extra - they tend to be somewhat unreliable), and strobe arms (ULCS arms are awesome, but pricey. The Ikelite arms are just OK, IMO).

[bversteegh]

Originally Posted by Aussie

I wish I knew that ST carries Ikelite housings as I have bought heaps of gear recently.

I would stick with the Ikelite DS125 strobe as it offers cannon TTL when you connect it to the Ikelite housing. It offers you quick adjustment also in the TTL on the back of the housing

I think the Cannon 28-135 USM lens has too large a diameter for a port. So you wont be able to use it in an Ikelite setup. It all depends on what your shooting but there are some lenses out there which are great value and are reasonably priced.

I dont shoot with Cannon but have a look at the:

Sigma 17-70mm macro (popular all use lens)
Tokina 10-17mm fisheye/wide (great for the big stuff)

Cannon 60mm or 100mm Macro (I really believe its a must have)

Hope this helps.

Aussie

I started my answer before I saw your post - our recommendations were pretty close

[Aussie]

Originally Posted by bversteegh

I started my answer before I saw your post - our recommendations were pretty close

Pretty close Bversteegh

Scubakraut, I think it comes down to what your shooting, where your shooting and how much you want to spend. Cannon 40d is a great camera and it wouldn't be right to use a substandard lens and small strobes with it.

Another thing I thought about is that you might look at the 8 inch dome port for the Tokina 10-17mm (Especially with it at 10mm). It will also fit the Sigma 17-70mm (with correct spacer). Might be an option to buy the 8 inch dome port and different spacers for each lens instead of a different 6 inch port for each different lens.

As for price I picked up the Tokina and Sigma for around $400usd. Which is cheap when you look at some high end lenses.

Your lucky that the USA has great prices and huge options and discounts for photgraphy gear and also dive gear.

I would also look at a good case (Pelican or Storm) to protect your valuable asset.

Aussie

[Scubakraut]

While I understand that the lenses recommended will be great, I'm reluctant in changing lenses. Also I have taken photos with P/S cameras in the past at 35mm and it works great for me. I'm interested if Ikelite can make a port for my new setup, Canon EOS 40D with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.

[bversteegh]

No, the diameter is too big. Ikelite has one standard housing size that they modify the control locations for different cameras. The hole in the housing that the ports mount to is a fixed size - and not big enough for your lens.

Something to consider - a really wide zoom range lens is hard to design for. Anything less than a 35mm lens should probably have a dome port - otherwise the corners won't be in focus, and you'll lose some of the angle of coverage of the wide angle lenes.

Conversely, macro lenses want a flat port to get more magnification.

[Scubakraut]

Maybe I just find a used 18-55 lens that is "cheap" and then get the housing. Will have to research some other options. I contacted Ikelite and asked if they could make a housing, but they replied they don't make "custom" housings. :-(
What other manufacturers make good underwater housings?

[bversteegh]

For a relatively affordable housing, you might check Aquatica, Fantasea, and Sea and Sea (only Fantasea is as affordable as Ikelite, but no TTL). If you have the money, Subals are awesome, but expensive.

The 40D is very new, don't know how many housings are out yet. If you want to get a good general purpose underwater lens - recommended you look at the Sigma 17-70. Lot's of people love this lens - I'll bet the cost of this lens and and an Ike housing is cheaper than most of the other housings by themselves.

[Scubakraut]

Originally Posted by bversteegh

For a relatively affordable housing, you might check Aquatica, Fantasea, and Sea and Sea (only Fantasea is as affordable as Ikelite, but no TTL). If you have the money, Subals are awesome, but expensive.

The 40D is very new, don't know how many housings are out yet. If you want to get a good general purpose underwater lens - recommended you look at the Sigma 17-70. Lot's of people love this lens - I'll bet the cost of this lens and and an Ike housing is cheaper than most of the other housings by themselves.

Is this Sigma 17-70 better then the Canon 17-55 USM? Maybe I can pick one up used somewhere.