Mullet Spearer
Registered
I purchased an Ikelite 6d Housing and 8inch dome and lens extension port thru Ocean Optical Sales since it was on sale. Sales there suggested I should consider the Nauticam but since I own a G-10 and G15 Ikelite housing along with a DS161 and DS51 housing and like the TTL, wanted to stay with Ikelite. Received the housing, port and extension and used it in a pool along with my new Canon 6d and Canon 17-40 lens. Dialed it in and then 2 days later went to Jupiter, FL to dive. First dive the silver lock that holds the strobe arm in the housing tray falls apart and strobe arm and strobe fall out of the handle. I hold the strobe arm in the tray for the balance of the dive. On deck, use zip ties to hold it in place. Second dive, going well then I notice some water in the housing. Moments later a complete flood. Send the housing, dome, extension, camera and lens to Ikelite thinking they would warrant it and send me a new camera and lens. Well they could not recreate the leak in the test environment which I assume is in a controlled environment. They also could not tell me what caused the leak. Therefore, they repaired the electronics on the housing sent it back and basically said sorry for your $2,000.00 loss on the camera and lens. Here is my fustration with Ikelite. If you examine the way the back of the housing connects to the main body, it would be nearly impossible in my opinion for that to leak. Having made a lot of dives with my G10 and G-15, I fell totally comfortable with that system. Now, look at the way the lens extension port connects with the housing. It is as cheap as one could ask for. Ikelite will tell you that properly connected, the 4 slip connections are not even necessary. I suppose if we dove in a bathtub that may be true but I dive in the ocean and rivers so that logic is totally not relevant. Having gotten the housing, port, and extension back and having purchased NEW a Canon 6d and another 17-40 lens at another $2,000.00 I have failed to use it again. I would like to add that I wanted Ikelite to take the housing back and refund me the cost of what I paid but they would not. They also would not reimburse me for the camera and lens. There is a reason that the Nauticam housing is more expensive and I understand why. Point and shoot Ikelite housings - no problem but a DSLR with their totally substandard port extension should be avoided at all costs. I'm sure there are satisfied Ikelite DSLR users out there and I would have liked to have been in that family!
