Advice sought - Canon G5, Inon strobe & SUBAL housing

[iainwilliams]

Hello - I need some advice please. I also posted on main photo page......

I have a Canon G5 and would llke to use it underwater.

I am thinking of buying a SUBAL housing and a Inon Z220 flash to use with this camera.

Is anyone using this set up?? Are you happy with the SUBAL and the inon flash unit??

The dealer says that the G5 does not produce good results underwater and wants to sell me a Canon EOS SLR camera at triple the price!! Although I realise he only wants a sale, it did make me wonder if an EOS SLR may not be a better buy for underwater use instead of the G5?

I NEVER print images, and if I do they are post card size. I view mostly on the monitor.

Advice sought - thank you................Iain

 

[lukeROB]

Hello - I need some advice please. I also posted on main photo page......

I have a Canon G5 and would llke to use it underwater.

I am thinking of buying a SUBAL housing and a Inon Z220 flash to use with this camera.

Is anyone using this set up?? Are you happy with the SUBAL and the inon flash unit??

The dealer says that the G5 does not produce good results underwater and wants to sell me a Canon EOS SLR camera at triple the price!! Although I realise he only wants a sale, it did make me wonder if an EOS SLR may not be a better buy for underwater use instead of the G5?

I NEVER print images, and if I do they are post card size. I view mostly on the monitor.

Advice sought - thank you................Iain

From what you just said I wouldn't even think about an SLR. You only print postcard size and view on the moniter. Taking the G5 underwater might be a good idea if you have lots of money, but seriously I could think of better options. First Subal housings are very expensive (and very good) you should look at possibly an ikelite for your setup (about half the price) if you really want to use the G5.

See my gallery for images taken with just a 3mp canon A70 for what the cheaper systems can do. But for the price you are thinking of spending I would get another camera specifically for underwater - one that comes with a manufacturers housing. A good 5MP (olympus, Canon or Nikon) with housing plus a tray, arms and Z220S strobe will come in at less than just the subal housing, in fact you could get a wide angle lens and the package would still be less than the subal housing alone.

So if you have lots of money, love your G5 and want the best get the Subal. However considering your only want to print postcard even a good 3MP consumer cam like mine will do a great job up to A4 (not at 300 dpi but considering the resolution that your eye has this print size is fine). A 5MP will do an A3 print if you even want it. Computer resolution is only 72dpi so anything above 2MP will be more than ample.

My suggestion is to look for the Canon S60 and housing which Inon will be making attachments for or try to pick up an older Oly 5050 and housing. The 5060 is good but you cannot use wet lenses with it.

 

[iainwilliams]

Taking the G5 underwater might be a good idea if you have lots of money, but seriously I could think of better options. First Subal housings are very expensive (and very good) you should look at possibly an ikelite for your setup (about half the price) if you really want to use the G5.

Thanks for your note.

Well - having lots of money is relative, but I'm no better off than most folks.

I used to have the Canon S40 and bubble shell, but I had many hassles with it - namely: continual fogging (despite using silica gell, dehumidified air and so on); the battery ran out of power very quickly; and the shell could only go to 30M.

Many of my dives are over 30M and I beleive that most of the "plastic" type shell housings are only pressurised to 30-40 m. Also I'll still have the battery hassle. The G5 battery lasts for three hours plus!

I've heard from a couple of folks thgat the Ikelite housings are OK, but can have problems - that is why I looked at SUBAL - and yes they are VERY expensive.

Any thoughts appreciated.............Iain

 

[lukeROB]

Thanks for your note.

Well - having lots of money is relative, but I'm no better off than most folks.

I used to have the Canon S40 and bubble shell, but I had many hassles with it - namely: continual fogging (despite using silica gell, dehumidified air and so on); the battery ran out of power very quickly; and the shell could only go to 30M.

Many of my dives are over 30M and I beleive that most of the "plastic" type shell housings are only pressurised to 30-40 m. Also I'll still have the battery hassle. The G5 battery lasts for three hours plus!

I've heard from a couple of folks thgat the Ikelite housings are OK, but can have problems - that is why I looked at SUBAL - and yes they are VERY expensive.

Any thoughts appreciated.............Iain

Maybe Check out the aquatica housings (don't know if the do them for the G5). What problems with ikelite?

How deep do you intend diving?
Batteries - I do 3 70+ minute dives with my A70 (LCD on all the time). I have never managed to get any fogging in my housing and never use silca pack or anything.

 

[iainwilliams]

I was told by a dealer (Sea Optics in Adelaide) that Ikelite housings leak easily - this apparently is why this dealer does not stock and sell them anymore - Sea Optics recommend the Subal...............$$$

I've looked over the Ikelite and it seems OK - good depth rating and a fairly reasonable price in comparison to the Subal. Certainly, if and when I upgrade I will not be too upset at throwing away the housing - unlike the Subal housing which is small fortune.

I already have decided to go with an INON strobe and ultralite arms.

I'd prefer to use my G5 as I am very familiar with its controls - images are good too, rather than learn yet another digital camera!!

Diving depth are between 30 and 50 M locally, but shallower when on dive holidays in the tropics. We do quite bit of entended range diving here (Tasmania), so that is why I want the depth rating. I also am planning a trip to Bikini Atoll and will need the depth rating there also!

Interesting about your battery life - my old S40 battery gave up after 45 minutes. I also had major fogging hassles as the canon bubble housing heated up very quickly due to the camera heating up inside the housing.

Any thoughts on Ikelite?? I'm not sure if they are neutrally buoyant - Subal housing are neutral. Thanks..........Iain

 

[lukeROB]

I was told by a dealer (Sea Optics in Adelaide) that Ikelite housings leak easily - this apparently is why this dealer does not stock and sell them anymore - Sea Optics recommend the Subal...............$$$

I've looked over the Ikelite and it seems OK - good depth rating and a fairly reasonable price in comparison to the Subal. Certainly, if and when I upgrade I will not be too upset at throwing away the housing - unlike the Subal housing which is small fortune.

I already have decided to go with an INON strobe and ultralite arms.

I'd prefer to use my G5 as I am very familiar with its controls - images are good too, rather than learn yet another digital camera!!

Diving depth are between 30 and 50 M locally, but shallower when on dive holidays in the tropics. We do quite bit of entended range diving here (Tasmania), so that is why I want the depth rating. I also am planning a trip to Bikini Atoll and will need the depth rating there also!

Interesting about your battery life - my old S40 battery gave up after 45 minutes. I also had major fogging hassles as the canon bubble housing heated up very quickly due to the camera heating up inside the housing.

Any thoughts on Ikelite?? I'm not sure if they are neutrally buoyant - Subal housing are neutral. Thanks..........Iain

I would definatly go for the Inon Strobes and Ultra light arms - I just upgraded to a Z220S, should be here on Monday. These strobes can be used with any housing where you have access to the flash.

Heres another for you UMIE DCH-701 for Canon G3/G5. Depth rating 60m and around AU$1100. Ask Yuzo what he thinks about this housing - he always tells you how it is and may have more suggestions than me.

I would definatly deal with Yuzo, he has amazing service for being in Japan and I have bought several items form him without a hitch. I am not saying the Subals are a bad choice I just think you are thinking about spending a hell of a lot for something you only want postcard size prints from. The G5 is an excellent camera so I don't think you can go wrong by housing it, I just think there are cheaper options. Carey and David are great at Sea Optics and I have bought quite a bit from them, they just have a limited selection of what is available (either cheap or expensive nothing in between).

 

[iainwilliams]

First I want to thank you for your time. Talking with you has certainly fine tuned my thinking - and is helping me enormously in making my decision.

I am buying the INON strobe and ultralite brackets from Sea Optics - I prefer to buy local with electronics as replacements under warrenty (if required) are faster & hopefully easier.

I've narrowed my search for a G5 housing to subal, ikelite and the Japanese Yuzo housing- so I am getting there.............

Yes Carey & David are helpful, but as you mentioned do not stock anything inbetween the cheap and ultra expensive.

I agree that the subal - for my intensive purposes - is overkill, especially in the dollar dept.

Ikelite look OK, however, I feel that the polycarbnonate case will be very bouyant and require weight to make it neutral. I must admit Ikelite look horrible in apprearance - but I've known a few girls who also looked horrible, but in fact were very nice..........Iain

 

[lukeROB]

Ikelite look OK, however, I feel that the polycarbnonate case will be very bouyant and require weight to make it neutral. I must admit Ikelite look horrible in apprearance - but I've known a few girls who also looked horrible, but in fact were very nice..........Iain

LOL Nice call.

I agree the smooth lines of a Subal are tempting, but I really haven't heard many tales of the Ike's leaking and he is legendary for customer service.

Weighting shouldn't be too much of a problem. I found that the tray, strobe and arms seemed a bit negative and my A70 (which is very very bouyant) is now pretty much negative. Adding a tiny balance weight is never a problem, I wouldn't make my decision on this alone.

 

[Azotomix]

I just came back from holiday and find your post. So I do not know if I am too late and you have already chosen you underwater Housing.

I have a G5 and bought from HK the 10bar housing directly from them at USD 495 via internet. They did to me a 10% discount from the first price of USD 550. Pay wit Amex and got it in less than one week. Pay USD 45 for the freight with EMS speed post and USD 10 for the guarantee.
They also offered me external strobe but did not buy it as I just start shooting underwater. This one I will buy it later then I do not know if the Epoque strobe are good strobe or you can have something better with just an small extra amount of money.

10Bar Underwater Housings
Unit , 19-23 Ming Yuen Western St., North Point, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-25733228, 82000772 Fax: 852-28119180
Website: www.10bar.com Email: service@10bar.com


Unfortunately I did not have the occasion to try it yet. I will do it probably on the first WE of September. So I can not tell you right now if it is good or not. Camera fit perfectly in the housing and all the camera functions can set from outside.

I choose this 10bar because it allows me to go deeper than 40m and because I can use the camera with the internal strobe. The price for such housing I think is also interesting.

Let us know your decision.
As soon as I will try it I will let you know and will also post some pictures