sillago
Guest
Anyone have any opinions on whether I should buy an ikelite system or a sea & sea system for a n90x?
housed system for n90x
- Thread starter sillago
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
scorpionfish
Guest
Silago,
If you can try before you buy, it would be helpful. The Ikelite has sloppy controls and I do not care for it. It has one virtue, though, it is cheap. The Sea and Sea is well made, but check out the Subal. It's levers and controls are much more ergonometric than Sea & Sea's. If you try it, I think you will see what I mean. I really prefer the Subal, but I have to admit it is expensive.
I would normally suggest you try the Aquatica, but I hear that they are going out of business. I also have friends who have them and have a devil of at time getting parts for them.
SF
If you can try before you buy, it would be helpful. The Ikelite has sloppy controls and I do not care for it. It has one virtue, though, it is cheap. The Sea and Sea is well made, but check out the Subal. It's levers and controls are much more ergonometric than Sea & Sea's. If you try it, I think you will see what I mean. I really prefer the Subal, but I have to admit it is expensive.
I would normally suggest you try the Aquatica, but I hear that they are going out of business. I also have friends who have them and have a devil of at time getting parts for them.
SF
First, scorpionfish and I have very similar names, but we are not the same person 
I own an Ikelite for an N90s. It works great. The downside is that it is a little bulkier than others. The controls really aren't that sloppy, but do take a little getting used to, but you can see them real well through the case.
The Sea & Sea is a marvelous unit, but the downsides are: 1) The unit for the N90 is discontinued 2) The price of the unit is ridiculously high (not just compared to an Ike) 3) Ports are ridiculously expensive.
Aquatica is not going out of business. There was a management buyout of the company mid year. They are still going.
I own an Ikelite for an N90s. It works great. The downside is that it is a little bulkier than others. The controls really aren't that sloppy, but do take a little getting used to, but you can see them real well through the case.
The Sea & Sea is a marvelous unit, but the downsides are: 1) The unit for the N90 is discontinued 2) The price of the unit is ridiculously high (not just compared to an Ike) 3) Ports are ridiculously expensive.
Aquatica is not going out of business. There was a management buyout of the company mid year. They are still going.
scorpionfish
Guest
Silago and Scorpiofish,
The Ikelite is a good housing, but I think when you compare its controls to one of the aluminum housings, you will see what I mean by "sloppy". Perhaps a better choice of words would be "looser". However, if the budget is the primary concern, Ikelite is the choice because it is definitely cheaper. Depending on where you buy your housing, there could be a factor of two in price!
I happen to prefer the aluminum housings, but as I said, they are more expensive. If Aquatica does survive, that would be great; but the last I heard, they still had very large financial problems. That is not a good place to be in the current economic climate. However, the housing is a good one. Even though the Sea & Sea housing for the N90s has been discontinued, some dealers still have the housings in stock. If that is the camera you have, you may still be able to find a S&S housing. The Subal is very expensive, but I liked the "feel" of the controls from the very first time I picked it up.
Again, my suggestion is, if you can, try them out and see for yourself. One more thing: use the housed camera above water until you get used to all the controls. You can do this in the privacy of you home; and that may be the best way to do it. Compared to the NIkonos-type camera above water a camera/housing combination is very bulky and heavy! If you are currently a Nikonos, MX-10 or MxII-EX, etc. user, you may find that the switch will take some time. In my experience, housed cameras are, at first, more complicated than their non-housed brothers. But once you get used to them, they are more versatile.
SF
The Ikelite is a good housing, but I think when you compare its controls to one of the aluminum housings, you will see what I mean by "sloppy". Perhaps a better choice of words would be "looser". However, if the budget is the primary concern, Ikelite is the choice because it is definitely cheaper. Depending on where you buy your housing, there could be a factor of two in price!
I happen to prefer the aluminum housings, but as I said, they are more expensive. If Aquatica does survive, that would be great; but the last I heard, they still had very large financial problems. That is not a good place to be in the current economic climate. However, the housing is a good one. Even though the Sea & Sea housing for the N90s has been discontinued, some dealers still have the housings in stock. If that is the camera you have, you may still be able to find a S&S housing. The Subal is very expensive, but I liked the "feel" of the controls from the very first time I picked it up.
Again, my suggestion is, if you can, try them out and see for yourself. One more thing: use the housed camera above water until you get used to all the controls. You can do this in the privacy of you home; and that may be the best way to do it. Compared to the NIkonos-type camera above water a camera/housing combination is very bulky and heavy! If you are currently a Nikonos, MX-10 or MxII-EX, etc. user, you may find that the switch will take some time. In my experience, housed cameras are, at first, more complicated than their non-housed brothers. But once you get used to them, they are more versatile.
SF
bdombrowski
Contributor
I've been using an Ikelite housing for my N90S for about 2 years now. I'm pretty happy with it for the price and it's been trouble free down to 150 ft (deepest I've had it.) It takes awhile to learn to master all the controls, but this will be the same no matter what housing you use with the N90S.
I'm sure Aquatica and Nexus are a bit more elegant, but I think they cost about 3-4 times as much.
Brian D.
I'm sure Aquatica and Nexus are a bit more elegant, but I think they cost about 3-4 times as much.
Brian D.
FloridaDiver
Guest
I just received a Seacam housing for my F100 - it's absolutely beautiful! The design and ergonomics are impressive, and the fit and finish is perfect.
Seacam also makes a housing for the N90, which looks very similar to the F100 housing. If you're in the market for a high end housing - you can't do any better than a Seacam.
I purchased mine from Stephen Frink, check out his website at stephenfrink.com.
Seacam also makes a housing for the N90, which looks very similar to the F100 housing. If you're in the market for a high end housing - you can't do any better than a Seacam.
I purchased mine from Stephen Frink, check out his website at stephenfrink.com.
Similar threads
