Ewa-Marine Housings

[Aggie04]

Sorry no pictures, but this is only relevant for this section.

Has anyone had any experience with these housings? I'd like to get the one that will fit a hotshoe mounted flash. I've got a 300D and a 580EX and can't afford to get a REAL housing, but I would like to start shooting underwater.


Thanks!

[Russell]

I've got one. It works well but I only use it to shoot shallow water stuff and I've never tried it deep.

[L Stegall]

Russell, when you say shallow, how shallow do you mean? I'm like Clint in that I'm not looking to buy a big housing and flashes for the very few times I get to dive. But, I'm headed to Hawaii in a few months and would like to have something that I could use to snorkel (I'm not going to worry about it during my deeper dives). This seems like a reasonable alternative for say 1-10 feet, but there is something about it that makes me a little nervous. So, I guess I'd like to know more about how often you have used it and what you found to be a plus versus a negative. (or anyone else)

Thanks.

[Russell]

I've used it quite a bit - mainly for shots like you see HERE. When I say shallow, I'd say less than 10'.

Pros:

Inexpensive
Compact
Doesn't Leak!


Cons:
Probably can't take pronlonged abuse
Can't attach an external flash to reduce backscatter
If you want to do a lot of dive photography, I'd invest in a housing.

[L Stegall]

Thanks - that's exactly what I am looking for - something where I could do those over/under water shots with a fisheye or ultra wide angle lens. I can't justify a full blown housing for that or for just those super shallow shots right under the surface. I'd been thinking of getting a G7 and a Canon housing, but I really want wider angle than it offers. I agree - if I was going to do dive photography (and I'd love to, but married to a non-diver so my opportunities to dive have become limited), I'd get a full blown rig.

[Aggie04]

Thanks Russell!

I'd just be using it for snorkeling, and eventually when I get a REAL job, I'll get the Ikelite housing for my 300D.

What lens did you shoot those pictures with? Do you have the version that screws onto the filterthreads of the lens (internal focus lens required), which I think is the U-AXP model.

[Russell]

Originally Posted by Aggie04

Thanks Russell!

I'd just be using it for snorkeling, and eventually when I get a REAL job, I'll get the Ikelite housing for my 300D.

What lens did you shoot those pictures with? Do you have the version that screws onto the filterthreads of the lens (internal focus lens required), which I think is the U-AXP model.

I had an Ikelite housing but didn't like it too much. It was too cumbersome for me. But if I was a better scuba diver, perhaps it wouldn't be so unwieldy.


I shot those pictures with a 20-35mm f2.8 and I do have the U-AXP.

Thanks,

Russell

[justin-branam]

if i may throw my $.02 in here. for what i think you are wanting to do, i would say save up a little mor money and get the ike housing first. for the 300D, you can find good used housings for as low as $600 if you are patient. im now a believer in buy quality and buy once. if the ike is what you want, dont throw away money on the bag first. just wait a little longer and get what you want.

also ill note, i have an ike 350d housing setup and i love it. that thing is a workhorse. had it for over a year now, and it has yet to dissapoint me, with over 50 hours of diving on it.

[Aggie04]

Originally Posted by justin-branam

if i may throw my $.02 in here. for what i think you are wanting to do, i would say save up a little mor money and get the ike housing first. for the 300D, you can find good used housings for as low as $600 if you are patient. im now a believer in buy quality and buy once. if the ike is what you want, dont throw away money on the bag first. just wait a little longer and get what you want.

also ill note, i have an ike 350d housing setup and i love it. that thing is a workhorse. had it for over a year now, and it has yet to dissapoint me, with over 50 hours of diving on it.

I'll eventually own an Ikelite housing, but I just wanted something that I can afford now and just go snorkeling with not diving. Even though the AUX version is rated for 150', I wouldn't feel comfortable taking it down. I was just looking into the cheaper version that is only rated for 60' and about $100 less.

Where have you seen used Ikelite housings for a 300D at?

Thanks!

[jamesw]

Check the classified forum at http://www.wetpixel.com/forums There have been a number of really good deals on 300D housings lately.

Cheers
James

[t00mies]

i have and used a ewa-marine u-ax housing for a trip to cancun. i used it while snuba-ing and snorkeling. the snuba guide said we were about 22ft under.

i think they work pretty well, especially considering how much cheaper they are than a hard enclosure.

you actually have to inflate the bag a bit before going under, as the water pressure will just about shrinkwrap the housing around the camera. buttons can be pressed with some effort and you can still use the viewfinder. its pretty hard, but not impossible to zoom while underwater.

i dont have any pictures of the camera in the bag, but my setup was a 300d + tamron 28-75 f/2.8 + 430EX flash.

i dont know how much larger a 580 flash is, but if you'd like, i can have a picture taken of the 300D and the 430EX and maybe you can estimate how much larger a 580EX flash would be.

some pictures taken while in the ewa-marine housing -- http://www.pbase.com/t00mies/for_sale



t00mies