DSLR Housing Advice? polycarbonate vs. alum?

[dbh]

It's usually the length of the lens barrel that is the issue. I've not had a look at the 105 VR, but I suspect it's the length that is the issue.

scroll down to UWPhotoTech's post w/ pics....it is its girth.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12216&st=20

 

[Warren_L]

scroll down to UWPhotoTech's post w/ pics....it is its girth.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12216&st=20

I stand corrected. Thx.

 

[ScubaLuke]

The L&M housings (which is not even an issue with the D200) I believe are "electrical" housings. You can control aperture, shutter speed, strobes, etc. from buttons on the handles. Everyone I know that had / has one carried a spare ROC board because the are notorious for going "dead".

Yup, the L&M housing uses electronic controls. I have mixed emotions about electronic over mechanical controls. But it is so nice to have all the controls on the handles that I'm willing to take the risk. And FWIW, I haven't had a ROC board failure in the year or two that I've had the housing.

L&M has announced a housing for the D200 that should be available this summer. I'm already in line for one. I think I will check on getting a spare ROC board though. That sounds like a good idea.
Luke

 

[dsafanda]

FWIW: I've been using a L&M Titan for a couple of years.
I've never had a ROC board failure either.

I have ofcourse had to replace the batteries for the ROC controls but apart from that easy bit of maintenance they've worked flawlessly.

I'll definitely be purchasing the L&M housing for my D200 at some point after it is available.

 

[dbh]

I didn't know L&M was making a D200 housing so I did some investigating. Looks like this housing will have ROC strobe control but the aperture & shutter speed will be mechanical.

Dave

 

[ssra30]

Good point. Is the limitation the diameter of the port opening? If so that's going to be a difficult nut to crack for any manufacture. So the 105mm VR must be a beast if it's larger then the 70-180mm macro in dia. However that 105mm VR although limited in focal length could be one heck of a lens with VR feature, and macro capabilities 1:1.

I hope Subal and other manufacturers will solve the problem and able to support this lens. It is incredibly nice. I played with a pre production sample a couple of months ago and like it a lot. I think all the buttons etc kind of got in the way. Its low light focusing ability is pretty amazing and fast.

 

[RonFrank]

I hope Subal and other manufacturers will solve the problem and able to support this lens. It is incredibly nice. I played with a pre production sample a couple of months ago and like it a lot. I think all the buttons etc kind of got in the way. Its low light focusing ability is pretty amazing and fast.

If the lens will fit through the port opening, I think they can solve the issue. If the lens is too large to fit through the port opening, that is a serious problem as they would have to change the port size to fit the lens, and that means real trouble with existing ports.

Sounds like it does in fact fit through the subal port opening, it's just that the the existing ports no longer work right. Also there maybe some design around the VR feature.

My old lens collection grows more out of date every year :huh: I still need to replace my 80-200mm f2.8 with the VR version...sigh.. and now this!

 

[ssra30]

My old lens collection grows more out of date every year :huh: I still need to replace my 80-200mm f2.8 with the VR version...sigh.. and now this!

Everytime I tell myself that I need the 70-200VR, I only had to pick one up and my poor shoulder/back would say no. I suppose I am not depending on photography for living and don't really do much serious photography on land so it is a bit hard to justify it. The 18-200VR is a nice compromise, good range, decent quality and relatively light weight. I am planning a trek in Yunan Province, China, near Tibet later on this year and think the 70-200VR would be incredibly nice but that would probably also mean carrying a 12-24mm and probably a 17-55mm DX or 18-70mm DX as well which does not seem to go well with treking concept.
I am looking forward to get the 105mm VR but it seems that I won't have another divetrip for quite awhile yet! May be by then, Subal would come up with a new port system by then.

 

[dbh]

I sold my 18-70mm & 80-200 f2.8 and replaced both with a 18-200 VR. It is a great "walk around" lens. It fits my needs just fine and I am happy with the output. Topside photography is not very critical to me.

I have tried to justify a 105 VR, but my old 105 works great with the TC & diopters that I have (and ports that I have).....so I think I am going to pass on this one. IMHO, MOST people aren't going to get any better pics with it (YMMV).

I'll be anxious to see your results Boi.

Dave

 

[ssra30]

I sold my 18-70mm & 80-200 f2.8 and replaced both with a 18-200 VR. It is a great "walk around" lens. It fits my needs just fine and I am happy with the output. Topside photography is not very critical to me.

I have tried to justify a 105 VR, but my old 105 works great with the TC & diopters that I have (and ports that I have).....so I think I am going to pass on this one. IMHO, MOST people aren't going to get any better pics with it (YMMV).

I'll be anxious to see your results Boi.

Dave

Dave, I agree with the 18-200VR being a great walk around lens and it pretty much stayed on my D2X most of the time now and I have not touched my 18-70mm since I got the 18-200VR.
Personally I think the 105VR would work great with Kenko 2x teleconverter even in AF mode. I am not sure how useful VR would be especially for uw photography with strobe since I can't imagine why I would shoot macro with natural light.

Don't hold your breath waiting for my uw pic with 105. A recent change in my status and change in job in the near future pretty much mean that I am going to be out of the water for quite awhile. I might not get to dive again until sometimes next year
as the rest of my vacation time this year will be landbound!