HELP! I have a real paradigm. I am in the process of selling off my Nikonos system with the hopes of getting into digital. My major problem is that I am on a limited budget. Like $1500. I was first looking at the Sealife DC500 Maxx with the two strobes. A second strobe was the next purchase for the Nikonos so I want to have at least the option of adding a second strobe. Well in reading the reviews on ScubaBoard no one was really impressed with it. The $1300 fit into my budget and the camera has some attractive features but seems to lacks image control. I then looked at the Sea & Sea DX8000 but could not find much information about it. Sea & Sea doesn't even have it on their website. I did read a couple of amateur reviews about it that were positive. Then I found the Olympus C7070 which looked to be built to go underwater...But..The Olympus website shows its estimated retail price is $449. so looking at the Ikelite, with true TTL, for $600 with a decent strobe gets me up to if not over my limit. And then for some reason when I look on the net for the C7070, I can't find it for much less than $700 which gets me way over my budget. The Olympus housing is cheap but looks like a toy. Then I read that some people have experienced close-up focusing problems. Did I mention that I like to do close-up work the best so what ever I get need to get me close.
Now the last thing I should mention is that I already own a D70 but I have no clue about housings. The Fantasea is in my budget but It does't seem to have much of a following. Somewhere I got the impression that it did not provide all of the controls but I can't verify that and the strobe connection is apparently for the Nikon SB-105 or equivalent. Does that mean that the D70 will use in TTL mode?
Also I bought a Tamron AF lens instead of the Nikon because the Nikon mounting hardware is plastic and the Tamron is metal. But will the gears fit or will I have to buy a Nikon lens? All of the metal housings are way to expensive and the Ikelite housing doesn't leave me much budgetary room and Ikelite seems to nickle and dime you to death. This is way to much to consider...I think I'll switch to video. Just kidding.
Sorry for such a long message. I could have made it a lot longer! But, If anyone has any advise I would love to listen.
Thanks,
Russ
Now the last thing I should mention is that I already own a D70 but I have no clue about housings. The Fantasea is in my budget but It does't seem to have much of a following. Somewhere I got the impression that it did not provide all of the controls but I can't verify that and the strobe connection is apparently for the Nikon SB-105 or equivalent. Does that mean that the D70 will use in TTL mode?
Also I bought a Tamron AF lens instead of the Nikon because the Nikon mounting hardware is plastic and the Tamron is metal. But will the gears fit or will I have to buy a Nikon lens? All of the metal housings are way to expensive and the Ikelite housing doesn't leave me much budgetary room and Ikelite seems to nickle and dime you to death. This is way to much to consider...I think I'll switch to video. Just kidding.
Sorry for such a long message. I could have made it a lot longer! But, If anyone has any advise I would love to listen.
Thanks,
Russ
