E-PL1 10 bar buoyancy NEED advice

[nikitich]

Hi everyone!
I have got a 10 Bar housing for my e-pl 1 and everything looks fine so far exept it's buoyancy. The housing is REALLY negative at least comparing to canon PC housings. I have tried adding some hard foam plastic and it really takes a LOT to make it float. I planned not only to dive but also to snorkel without strobe and tray so now it really looks confusing.
I am heading to Egypt in couple of days and I need some good advice from you guys how to handle this problem in the best possible way

Thank you!

 

[jhelmuth]

Hmmmm...... maybe I'm happy I went with the Oly PT-EP01 housing afterall

 

[JackConnick]

There's no way an aluminum housing with minimum size is going to be anything but negative. Plus you are using the 17mm port. But I think we're talking a couple of pounds here. Strobes balance it out and the use of flotation arms can help quite a bit.

I dive with a Nauticam D300s which is heavy as well. I just take a couple of pounds off my weight belt and don't really have an issue with it.

Personally I think that's better than a very buoyant Oly case with a much larger size.

I'm guessing that with the zoom port the 10NBar housing is maybe 2# negative, but I really don't have a way to check.

Jack

 

[under water]

If it is the 2 pounds or so that Jack mentioned then you should have no issues. Just adjust your weights by 2 pounds and make sure you have a good lanyard, like this one on Jack's site to attach to your bcd.

I use two similar ones with my current G9 / Ike setup. It is about 2 pounds as well.
I tried using floats, but it didn't make that much difference and made the whole thing bulkier.

 

[sylpha]

I have to say how much i agree with a decent lanyard. I see so many with plastic clips which are just too easy to break, we pay good money for our equipment and it doesn't cost that much to secure them to us properly, why do most UK dive shops not sell them?????

 

[nikitich]

Well so far I have really had no issues snorkeling. It is absolutely OK. Will take it diving tomorrow with sea&sea multi tray ang standart arms + Inon S2000. Will see how it goes. Snorling without strobe gave me absolutely beautiful results.

 

[jhelmuth]

There's no way an aluminum housing with minimum size is going to be anything but negative. Plus you are using the 17mm port. But I think we're talking a couple of pounds here. Strobes balance it out and the use of flotation arms can help quite a bit.

I dive with a Nauticam D300s which is heavy as well. I just take a couple of pounds off my weight belt and don't really have an issue with it.

Personally I think that's better than a very buoyant Oly case with a much larger size.

I'm guessing that with the zoom port the 10NBar housing is maybe 2# negative, but I really don't have a way to check.

Jack

Jack - I agree with you on most points. I admit that I have a personally negative prejudice against Chinese (10bar) housings (but that is my issue). IF it were not a Chinese housing AND the dome port were as good as the Zen WA100 (just speculation at this point - but I like glass domes over acrylic), I'm sure I would have more strongly considered the 10bar. With respect to the positive nature on the Oly housing, I'm planning to see where it all falls out once I add the Zen dome port, and all other parts to my rig. If it's still a bit positive, I can easily (and cheaply I might add) adjust the bouyancy with strategic placement of some lead or stainless plates. I really do want to achieve a nicely balanced and neutral kit...


BTW... looking forward to getting the Zen dome port from you Jack! Ryan (owner of Zen) was very grations in his comments about you and recommended I do business with you (a good recommendation I'm sure).

Jim