Canon S3 IS with Ikelite housing

[pretorjn]

Guys

I currently own a Canon S3 and are interested in getting the underwater housing for it from Ikelite. I previously used an IXUS 60, but are looking at an upgrade. Has anybody out there used the combination? Your comments, suggestions or reviews would be appreciated a lot on te usability, casing size, underwater photo quality, etc.

Thanx
J

 

[solisti]

I just bought a used Canon S3 with Ikelite housing and W-20 wideangle lens. Having owned before A95 with Canon housing, I van say that both the camera and the housing look a lot better.

Ike housing has dual handle tray with it and its use seems to be much more ergonomic than with the Canon housing. Espesially when with Ike you dont need to press the shutter button - there is a trigger you can pull. The Ike housing is much bigger and heavier than the Canon. Advantage or disadvantage? Depends how you want to use it I guess, I find it more easy to handle, but its winter now in Finland and everything is frozen solid so I have to wait until spring to get some real UW testing done.

Wideangle lens seems to work quite nicely, had just one quick test with it. Maybe some vignetting, at least in air. This is probably a must for S3, so you can get wide enough view and get close to your subject.

What the picture quality will be remains to be seen. I'm personally hoping it will focus better than A95 and get better shots in poor lightning... It will not work miracles though, so strobes are needed. I have a cheap chinese toy-strobe I hope I can get working with my rig, at least untill I can afford a proper strobe.

Oh well, waiting for the ice to melt... :water:

 

[scottg541]

I have that combination, because i really loved my S1 and canon case set up... i have not found the S3 to live up to the reviews and haven't gotten any great photo's out of the combo.

its probably just a case of getting used to it, but its the 3rd UW camera i've had and so far and the least useful.

I had the afforementioned S1-IS and an A620... both turned in about 100 dives before housings failed/ i got lazy with the seal... both of those were canon housings. This housing definitely instills more confidence, but is a pain to handle...

thinking of switching to a G9.

Scott