Fishing for comments on Nikon D5200 w/ Ikelite housing

[naimis]

I used a Canon PowerShot G9 for a few years and am considering moving up to DSLR. So far the D5200 seems to be the best bang for the buck, particularly taking into account low-light performance/sensor noise.

While it's been several years since I last dove, and is still an open question whether I'll go back again, I wanted to ask around to see what people thought of this camera and the Ikelite housing for diving.

There are a few things I've noted as being significantly different from the G9 I'm used to:
1) The P&S G9 did all autofocusing via the main sensor. DSLR cameras have a separate autofocus sensor. The D5200 can't have a "live view" and use the autofocus sensor at the same time, though in this situation the CCD makes for a back-up autofocus sensor, similar to the P&S camera. Using the main sensor for autofocus is apparently slower.
2) The Ikelite housing seems to have a magnifying lens for the viewfinder to make it more visible while diving. Hopefully obviating the "live view" for the most part?
3) Aperture can't be adjusted while in "live view" and this includes while recording video. Anyone find this to be a hassle?
4) I'm coming from the P&S G9 which had zoom controls on the camera rather than on the lens. Looking at the older housing manual and other information I've seen, the ports are designed to take care of this. Clearly it's available, but different. Not a show stopper.

If anyone out there has comments on the above or any other observations on the D5200/Ikelite combination they'd like to share, I'd be interested in hearing.

Edit: One last thing, do the ports available from Ikelite have the ability to attach filters? I could do that with the G9 housing and used it for UV/biophosphorescence photos.

 

[gizmo1972]

simply do not use the live view i run D700 & Aquatica housing the only time i use the back display is to view the pic after ive taken it to see if im going to delete it ! usually when using DSLR you use the view finder
hope this helps

 

[conundrum]

I'm using D5200 with ikelite housing. One thing I want to tell you "forget to use live-view, use only viewfinder".

D5200 can autofocus and change anything (speed shutter and aperture) for shooting still picture, but cannot change while you're recording video. However the major problem is its very slow operating while shooting still picture in live-view mode. I have to wait for quite a few seconds before I can shoot another picture, for me it unacceptable in many situation.

Moreover, my Sigma 10 mm. Fisheye cannot auto focus in live-view. I don't know why, but its auto focus work well when don't use live-view.

Other thing you have to consider is D5200 has not focusing motor, so you can't use well known lens like Nikon 10.5 mm Fisheye or Tokina 10-17 Fisheye (that the reason I have to use Sigma 10 mm FE instead for wide angle).

In Ikelite housing you can't use any fiber optic to trigger strobe. I use Ikelite sync cord for Sea&Sea version and use Sea&Sea YS-D1 which have sync cable connector.

 

[PatW]

I use a Nikon D7000 with a Nauticam housing.

I come from. DSLR background. I only use the viewfinder. It works fine. I can use it at a surprising distance from my eye. Also with the viewfinder, I have virtually no shutter lag except for focus. For fast moving critters, I can set a distance and shoot when they move into it.

Also the control of focus using the viewfinder is superb. I can focus on an eyeball which is not something I was able to do with live view in a point and shoot.

Given the cost of these systems, I would suggest getting a camera with a built in focus motor like the D7000 or D7100. The cost of the system is so high that you might as well get a more advanced camera body.

I only use the video screen to check exposure during dives. I shoot in Raw format and manual mode. The auto modes can kick you into inappropriate settings too quickly for. My taste. Topside they usually do fine but underwater with the wide range of light, I find them problematic.

 

[Diver_Phil]

Do you have a link to some pictures you have taken with this setup?

---------- Post added September 24th, 2013 at 04:49 AM ----------

I'm using D5200 with ikelite housing. One thing I want to tell you "forget to use live-view, use only viewfinder".

D5200 can autofocus and change anything (speed shutter and aperture) for shooting still picture, but cannot change while you're recording video. However the major problem is its very slow operating while shooting still picture in live-view mode. I have to wait for quite a few seconds before I can shoot another picture, for me it unacceptable in many situation.

Moreover, my Sigma 10 mm. Fisheye cannot auto focus in live-view. I don't know why, but its auto focus work well when don't use live-view.

Other thing you have to consider is D5200 has not focusing motor, so you can't use well known lens like Nikon 10.5 mm Fisheye or Tokina 10-17 Fisheye (that the reason I have to use Sigma 10 mm FE instead for wide angle).

In Ikelite housing you can't use any fiber optic to trigger strobe. I use Ikelite sync cord for Sea&Sea version and use Sea&Sea YS-D1 which have sync cable connector.

Do you have any pictures posted using this configuration?

 

[conundrum]

Here are samples from my system. There were shoot from vary location.

D5200 + Ikelite housing
Sigma 10 mm Fisheye
2 x Sea&Sea YS-D1
Arms 8" + 10" x 2

 

[conundrum]

Here the system I used (taken by other diver).