Housing Preferences for the A640

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canismajor

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Location
Left Coast, California
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OK gang,

Now that I've got my cert I've decided to get a Canon A640 to begin my UW photography experience.

Any suggestion on the housings? Canon, Ikelite, Other? Why? Looked in past threads and didn't see much regarding this and even so, answers change with time.

So, what should I get?

Thanks!
 
I have a Canon A620 and chose to go with the Canon housing for two reasons: price and size. Sure, it has its limitations, but with the $250 I saved I bought a strobe too.

FYI: The main difference between the two are the depth rating and the Ikelite has the ability to mount additional lenses for macro work. And while the website says you are able to use the internal flash with the Ikelite housing, the lens port gets in the way (from what I've read).
 
canismajor:
OK gang,

Now that I've got my cert I've decided to get a Canon A640 to begin my UW photography experience.

Any suggestion on the housings? Canon, Ikelite, Other? Why? Looked in past threads and didn't see much regarding this and even so, answers change with time.

So, what should I get?

Thanks!

(probably almost the same case - ie workmanship wise) but I just recently bought the Canon case for my A570....Have 24 dives 60 ft & deeper(deepest was 120 once & 110 about 3 times) & like it....I can see ?possibly in the future the Canon case not holding up as long as the Ikelite box but I will cross that bridge when I come to it....ie by then, other newer & better cameras will be out that I will want to upgrade to( & the box can be thrown away then).....
 
Interesting. I would have thought there would have been something of an Ikelite contingent here. (On SB there are ALWAYS factions!)

So, either they're all asleep or dead... or Canon's the way to go.

Cool. Got my answer.

Many thanks jeraldjcook and diver 85!

Rick
 
The answer is: it depends on what you want and how much you want to spend ;)

I only use the Canon housings with my Canon A series housings. They do the job very well, are less expensive, are smaller and handier for my needs and they do allow me to use strobes. Some of them have round ports that accept wet mate lenses; the models with oval ports do not. If adding wet mate lenses is important and Canon only has the oval port, then this would tip me to Ikelite.

Ikelites are excellent housings that allow stobes and wet mates to be added easily. They are bigger and heavier and this is actually a plus for some users. Ikelite has excellent customer service. They are more expensive and for me and my needs, the extra expense has not been worth it.

HTH
 
Thanks alcina! That is helpful.

From what I understand the A640 has such an impressive macro lens that I probably won't need the add on "wet mate lenses." That, and the fact that this is just an experiment have me leaning toward the cheap side. ("Experiment" explanation: I'm a professional photographer and want to know if I can find true happiness shooting uw with a point 'n' click and a nano flash or whether I'm going to have to shell out for a serious camera/lenses, serious housing and serious flash units - meaning serious cash outlay - just to satisfy the creative in me and decorate the walls.)

So, if those are the only real differences, then Canon it is.
 
I house both of my Canon PnS cameras in the Canon housings. Ikelite is too expensive for me. There are several ways to mount wet mate lenses to the oval port cases, some off the shelf, some creative DIY.
 
I've only been diving with my A640 for a few months with the canon case but I love it. Case is really easy to use and have no problem accessing any of the controls/features.

I sometimes wish it had a better wideangle lens, and if the Ikelite houseing allowed a good external wide angle lens, then that would be worth considering. The A640 macro feature is great -- hopefully a year from now I will feel the same way ;-)
 
"and if the Ikelite houseing allowed a good external wide angle lens, then that would be worth considering"

it does, 67mm threads allow use of inon m67 wide angle lenses (choice of 2) or ikelites own wide angle lens.

the following were taken with a640 in ike housing, and inon 105 wide angle lens

IMG_0555.JPG

IMG_0865.jpg
 
Nice shots Art.

My wife shoots the A640 in the Ikelite housing also.
 

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