Mixing An Ikelite Housing With A Sea and Sea Tray

[Skier]

Hi All,

OK . . . I can hear some people chuckling already but please stay with me:

After lots of research, including here I decided that to take my first steps into UP I would go with the following setup:

Sony WSC 300
Ikelite Housing
Sea and Sea YS27DX

I am a pretty experienced land lubber photographer (A700, never used when not in Aperture Priority or Manual so I get the technical stuff etc) but thought I would leave the big stuff for now and start with a much more basic set up - a decent point and shoot (The 300 has a manual setting) and a strobe set that I would be able to use with more advanced cameras as I progressed / developed my UW skills.

The Ikelite housing appeared to be significantly better than the Sony branded one. The YS27 appeared to be a good strobe and one that would give me flexibility in the future.

Problem: Ikelite housing does not work with the S&S tray. S&S use a standard central tripod bolt in the middle of the tray. Ikelite wants two (I am guessing imperial) bolts some 5 inches apart. Never the twain shall meet.

Is there any kind of tray adapter? Can I attach the S&S strobe to the relevant Ikelite tray with an arm bolted onto the Ikelite housing?

I am a little surprised that there is not more flexibility to mix. Seems Ikelite use the tray / bolt system to lock people in to their equipemnt. Is this the case? I thought it was with lens mounts (and admitedly the Sony / Minolta flash hot shoe) that were unique. Even so, adpaters are available. As a point of interest: One very major US camera store (talking to their UW specialist ordering line) and one online specialist retailer were more than happy to sell me this set up even though I made it clear I wanted to use it together! So, perhaps some confusion even there . . .

In the long run: perhaps not a bad thing as it means I will only be playing with the camera this weekend and having to get used to using that in a different environment. If I was in the UK (I am currently not) I would be investing in a couple of the relevant bolts and putting two holes in the S&S tray. The current S&S tray does not have any metal reinforcement anyway.

Thanks for your thoughts and help,

Ben

 

[dwilli10]

I asked a similar question on the Canon Corner forum with no response as of yet. Must be some sort of state secret. I am going to buy a Canon camera and I don't like their housing. I also don't care for the strobe choices from Ikelite. I can't believe Sea & Sea wouldn't make some sort of adapter. It would be very limiting for their business to shut out Ikelite users like that. But, I am new to this game and don't understand the business.

I haven't gotten far enough down the road with my research to figure out how to overcome this. If I get a straight answer somewhere, I'll post it.

 

[mmakay]

I suspect you haven't got a response because most Ikelite users are happy enough with the Ikelite handle/trays to not try other brands. You don't need to use Ike strobes, or even arms, with their tray.

These systems are not overly complex. If you have a drill and are reasonably handy, you can probably adapt the tray without buying a special adapter. Heck, if you lived closer, I'd be happy to do it for you!

 

[Skier]

I think I have a response to my own question; I hope it also helps others.

As mmakay says, an S&S strobe can go on an Ikelite arm. It is just that the S&S strobe / tray set up was good deal. Having said that, had someone at the photo suppliers flagged the issue I would have happily paid the extra $100 to bring this together in a 'personal' kit. And yes, if I was "at home" I would have been in the workshop, tray on B&D workmate, drill in hand and putting the holes in place. A short trip to B&Q (Home Depot) would have found the imperial bolts, but alas not there! However, I have 'found' a friendly workshop here in Shanghai and am going to try it. Two holes in the tray and . . . bingo. If that does not work, will revert via the following response from B&H which is very comprehensive. It also includes the "drill holes in the tray" solution. Copy the item numbers into their website for images and more detail.

If the customer wants to use the Sea & Sea YS-27 he might be able to make the set he ordered work. He would have to drill holes in the tray to match up with the 2 holes on the housing.

Keep the kit you need to add:

IK9523.31 (Tray)
FABJCIT (Fantasea Ball Joint Connecter)
FABJASS (Fantasea Ball Joint Set)
(About $150)


Alternatively, if you just want the S&S strobe without buying the tray kit:
SEYS27A - S&S Strobe
SECFOLT - Fibre Optic Cable
SESMS - Strobe Mask set
IK9523.31 - Ikelite Tray
FABJCIT (Fantasea Ball Joint Connecter)
FABJASS (Fantasea Ball Joint Set)

For me, the latter is the faff of returning the orignal kit.

There is also a similar question posted here, but assumes you have an Ikelight tray already. I am 'not allowed to post a url until I have made five posts (how unhelpfu) so search on "ikelite-housing-sea-sea-strobe"

Hope this helps dwilli10 - seems to me there is a small business in making a tray adapter . . . let us know if you get other solutions suggested.

Ben

 

[fatbadak]

Have you thought about trying the ultralight tray? Either the TR-D or TR-IK?

 

[Nemrod]

I built an adapter for Canon to Ikelite. I see no reason an adapter could not be made for Ikelite to Sea and Sea. The Ikelite uses 12-24 screws, I had to order longer screws for my adapters. I did have a pic up of one of my adapters but nobody was interested so I deleted them.

You could just install your YS or Sea and Sea strobe to the Ikelite tray, there are many ball adapters for various strobes available.

N

 

[markrovner]

Ok this is really funny -- after a few days of feverish research, I have arrived at a pretty similar outcome:

Sony W300
Sony Marine Pack (gets great reviews on Amazon)
Either YS-27 or Ike DS92 strobe

My problem is that everyone seems to hate the tray and arms that Sea & Sea makes for the 27. the Ike system will take the Marine Pack, but the Ike won't do the fiber optic syncy thing. Does that matter?

 

[Skier]

Fatbadak - no I haven't. Will look that up, thanks.

Nemrod - would be interested in seeing a pic and how you did it. The solution posted from B&H does exactly what you suggest - puts the S&S strobe on the Ilkelite tray although quite why they recommend Fantasea accessories I don;t know. WIll contact them when they reopen next week.

markrovner - check Backscatter.com They did a review for the Sony, Sony housing and the S&S YS27 and arm. Can't post links yet (two more posts to go grrr).

The Ike does do the fibre optic link - as a kit The S&S Strobe actually comes with a strobe mask set (or you can buy seperate for US$30). Alternatively, and I think this looks like a better solution, you can use the Strobe mask that comes with the Ike housing and put a hole in it (the mask, not the housing ) and attach the FO cable to that. Seems to work OK, although yet to try it myself (couple of other posters suggest this in various places).

Saw people using the S&S setup with a Sony camera last weekend although not the 300.

(BTW - when you get the IKE housing, the knob used to turn the menu dial does not work and just slides on it. Don't worry - it works fine in the water - the pressure, of course, sorts this out and ensures good contact).

Ben

 

[Nemrod]

Ikelite can supply either a one inch ball or a 1.25 ball. Get the one inch is my guess, I did and then get a matching ball for your strobe from it's manufacturer or one designed to fit. I got from Inon a 1 inch ball for my D2000, I am sure S&S has similar. Then get a arm or arms and butterfly clamps for the one inch balls. I also made a aluminum deflector for my Ikelite which incorporated an Inon optical cable plug. Works like a charm.

N
Canon 570, modified Ikelite housing, Inon D2000, Inon 100WAL with dome, Ikelite tray

 

[Nemrod]

If this helps so be it.

The aluminum plate was fabricated to adapt the Canon housing and Inon AD mount to the Ikelite tray. The adapter is threaded to use the same 12-24 screws as Ikelite chose for their housings. I added the thumb screws by inserting 12-24 screws into them and then pouring the base full of epoxy.

If you are just mounting a housing straight to the Ikelite tray then you may need to only drill the Ike tray for the 1/4-18 (I think it is) tripod socket. Visible as well is my homemade Inon AD to 67mm adapter for Inon bayonet lenses. Good luck.

N