Canon EOS Ti1 Housing

[Riceman1011]

I want a housing for my camera. It's a Rebel Ti1. What housing do you recommend?

 

[Becca_007]

I like Ikelite but it's the only one I have any experience with.

 

[bvanant]

I like the S&S RDX series housings for this. One thing to remember is that when you go for a housing system, you are going to be getting ports, focus rings, strobe arm adapters etc. Once you get into a system most everything except the housing lasts for a long time. At the T1i level the S&S housing is about the same price as the Ike but they have housings for a lot more sophisticated cameras if you move up. The IKE/Other housing debate is like religion and I am not wanting to start a flame war. If you can find friends who have the housings or run up to Backcatter/Reef/H20Photopros and play with housings. Ergonomics are what separate the smaller metal type housings from the Ike which tends to be bigger so it really depends.

One thing is to get good lenses, don't simply use the kit lens or you will be disappointed. Also, remember that you can get great pics with any housing, look at Dave Haas's stuff to see what you can get with Ike housings so that isn't an issue, but handling/packing/size might be for you.

Bill

 

[Scubadew1]

I bought the same camera last May, and checked out various housing with Reef Photo in Ft Lauderdale, FL. They recommended the FIX housing, so that is what I bought. The only thing I don't like is that I can't open the housing with the tray attached - just a little too short, which is a PITA. I have to take the camera off the tray off to change the batteries. The next size tray is way too long, so I will live with it. I am not handy enough to make my own.

I bought the 60mm and 10-17 mm fisheye lenses for it. I love the wide angle, and the 60mm is good for fish portraits, but not for the really little stuff. I will be buying the 105mm. Also, for topside I bought the 18-200mm lens and it is the only one I use topside. Love it! A friend uses the stock lens that came with the camera - I think it was an 18-55, as his basic underwater lens with a dome port and loves it. I haven't tried it yet.

The camera is great. Hope you enjoy it.

Debbie

 

[bvanant]

I think you mean the 100, if you are talking Canon, not the 105 (Sigma maybe). But the 100 and the 60 have the exact same magnification (1:1) so you will have to do something else to get more magnification and that is a whole nother story. The Seatool housing is indeed nice but about twice the price of the S&S or the Ike.

Bill

 

[Riceman1011]

Basically i am just getting started with underwter photography... And i dont know how these housings really work. Right now i have a Sealife DC1000, but i wanted to use my Canon instead. The lenses i have for it are, 55MM and 205MM. How do these fit in the housing. Is it an attachment that i have to get?

 

[Becca_007]

For Ikelite you buy a port for the lens you are going to use. Ports are only made for certain lenses.

 

[Riceman1011]

Do they make them big enough for the 205MM or do i not even want to use that big of a lense?

 

[bvanant]

Neither the 18-55 nor the 250 are really best for underwater use, but the 18-55 which is the kit lens for the T1i is not bad for fish portraits and general reef scenes. In general, you will need the housing, and a port (both Ike and S&S make ports for the kit lens) and a strobe with arms to make some good pictures. Go to the Ike and S&S websites and you can see pics of complete setups so you will get a feel for what you are getting into. Then go to the Underwater Photo Guide
Underwater Photography Guide
and learn how to use your system.
Bill

 

[Riceman1011]

What is a good lense for underwater use?