more fix questions..pls help

[mantababe]

S95 should be in my hands by tue 18th now i need to make the serious decision on the housing. i had decided on the cannon but keep coming back to the fix [but it is so expensive] so guys i read all the threads [i think?] and get the drift that this is the one to have, but i now need to really know why [i like you can use the rear ring, and that it takes all lens altho i not got any but want the baynet ones]....is the reason anything to do with being a kinda status symbol?? i have couple of questions_


*as it be sent from abroad do you have to pay tax on the price if so how do you do that?

*with the canon's and ike's plastic materia any water [flood/leak] can be easily seen inside, as can condensation...with the fix sexy ali body how can this be done?

* again on both the canon & ike the o-rings are clearly seen, giving you futher reasurance that they seated correctly...what bout the fix's? [since flooding the f31 i really want insure i cover this as much as i can whilst diving with s95]

* the buttons on the fix are black [same as the housing] on the canon & ike these are different colours from housing and thus stand out...so how well can you see the buttons on the fix esp in low vis waters???

*the plus point of using the rear dial on the fix is great but can this be accidently moved/knocked during a dive?

if im to pay the extra for this housing [bearing in mind im a poor hard working nurse :mooner: ] i wanna know that im getting more that just looking cool with gucci kit

sorry bout amount of questions, just wish i could see both the housing together to get more of an idea!!

 

[Chuckitall]

I had Fix housings on other cameras and they are great, no problems. I currently have an S95 with the Ikelite Housing and during my use in the Keys last weekend and was very pleased with the operation. I would prefer a direct shutter button, but can live with the side shutter button. I have posted some videos with this combo. I will say that if the Ike was say $500.00 or more, I would not have gotten that housing and saved for a Fix. Basically the price difference between the Canon and Ike were close enough to make the choice easier for the heavier duty Ike. Hope that helps.

 

[surf4life]

There is a bit of a cost difference between the Canon and Ikelite, but the Ikelite is going to work easiest with their strobes and W-20 wide angle lens. Heard some people complain anout the work around issue of not having the rear control dial access, but at least there's an option.

The Fix Fisheye type housing is custom made and designed for that specific camera from machined aluminum, so it's alot more durable than the other two. If you plan to have this housing it's going to last. I'd buy a second camera down the line. The fiber optic port makes strobe connection easier and doesn't require a controller, like the Ikelite would. Finally, the 165 degree coverage from the UWL-04 lens is pretty amazing.

These are my personal observations from what I've read. I'd say that if you're making the decision on a purely financial point, either the Canon or Ikelite should do. The cost difference in the long run won't be as big a deal when you start adding strobes and lens down the line. That said, it's better to start shooting pictures and make sure you're really into this hobby before spending a lot of hard earned money. Good luck with your decision.

 

[mantababe]

There is a bit of a cost difference between the Canon and Ikelite, but the Ikelite is going to work easiest with their strobes and W-20 wide angle lens. Heard some people complain anout the work around issue of not having the rear control dial access, but at least there's an option.

The Fix Fisheye type housing is custom made and designed for that specific camera from machined aluminum, so it's alot more durable than the other two. If you plan to have this housing it's going to last. I'd buy a second camera down the line. The fiber optic port makes strobe connection easier and doesn't require a controller, like the Ikelite would. Finally, the 165 degree coverage from the UWL-04 lens is pretty amazing.

These are my personal observations from what I've read. I'd say that if you're making the decision on a purely financial point, either the Canon or Ikelite should do. The cost difference in the long run won't be as big a deal when you start adding strobes and lens down the line. That said, it's better to start shooting pictures and make sure you're really into this hobby before spending a lot of hard earned money. Good luck with your decision.

thanks for that. ive been doing underwater photography for bout 3yrs now and love it, only getting new kit as just flooded my F31 [altho i had started to out grow that, great camera but not many functions] otherwise i wouldnt dream of spending anywhere near this type of money. i had decided on the canon but now im thinking that mayb in the long run the fix would be better, few months down the line you soon forget the extra cost. just want to make sure what i am paying is worth it in terms of what it does n not for the kudos that this equipment bring

 

[surf4life]

I'm someone that doesn't like having to tinker and modify equiptment, especially if it cost top dollar. Seems there is potentially more of that involved with the canon housing than the other two. The Fix housing just seems precise and custom for the camera and the Ikelite more generic. Having not owned them, but still feel like having access to the back control dial, machined aluminum fog free stronger housing, and fiber optic port are all worth considering. The sleek and steamlined of this system appeals to me for free diving, as well.

 

[dogdrjohn]

Hey Mantababe
I have been in the same boat as you, first for the S90 and now I have an S95 as well. When I first saw the prototype of the FIX housing, in a retro look silver aluminum color with black fittings I fell in love with it and would have bought it, but when it was finally available only in black I was able to resist. I wanted better video so bought an S95 last month, thinking I would probably need a new housing, but I find I can make it work in the WP-DC35 for the S90 so I am still resistant to a $800 purchase. Yes, it is cool, and the easier use of the back wheel would be nice, but the S95 is almost too much for me as it is. I have enough to think about with buoyancy and framing my shot and not scaring the subject and where the heck did my buddy go that I find all the manual controls on the S90/S95 rather overwhelming. Just got a $300 bonus for a 1 hour C-section on a Yorkshire Terrier yesterday so still might by the SeaRec/Seatool/FIX housing from Yuzo Kanda at uwdigitalcamera.com (he has it available NOW for about $800US, shipping to USA isn't that much, and I have paid no import duty on gear I have purchased from him in the past - don't know what duty England will charge you) but in your case I would just buy the Canon. With any housing you will want and pretty much need a strobe and tray/arm and WA lens and lens mount (the INON AD28 mount for the Canon housing is really well made) so the $600US you save will buy a lot, but certainly not all of that gear. I already have a D2000 strobe and a UFL-165AD lens. If I had to buy a WA lens, I might consider the FIX UWL-04 and the FIX housing, but that combo would set me back $1200US, about what I will spend for a week of diving and sleeping and eating at Little Cayman Beach Resort next month. If you really dislike the Canon housing after you try it, you still will not be out all that much money, and I don't think the pictures you take will be 4x better with the FIX housing.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

Hey Mantababe,
I have a Patime aluminium housing for my G11 and had the same dilemma between Ikelite and Patima/FIX.
I am a scuba instructor, dive every day and needed a camera i can have everday with me so i opted for the Patima aluminum housing because of it's greater ruggedness for everyday use.

BUT, is a aluminum housing under normal diving conditions really necessary? Ikelite housings are very well and proven housings built by a very experienced manufacturer and i belive that with normal use and care they will outlast a todays digital camera.
Sure if you drop a FIX and a Ikelite housing from 7 feet to the floor the FIX will probably have less damage or if the surge smashes you with the hosuing against a rock the FIX will have less damage as well. But will you do that or will you do all to avoid such situations?

The price difference between the Ikelite and the FIX is about 600$ and the money you save gives you access to accessoires like a (second) strobe, wetlenses, floats and so on.

The 200$ Canon OEM Housing is not soo bad either, especially if you don't dive deeper than 60 ft and with the proper care it will last long enough to make it a good investment.

 

[mitsuguy]

The 200$ Canon OEM Housing is not soo bad either, especially if you don't dive deeper than 60 ft and with the proper care it will last long enough to make it a good investment.

Maybe mines a freak, but I've had my OEM Canon housing well past its 130' limit without a hint of leakage or weird button problems...

 

[dogdrjohn]

I have also taken my Canon housing deep and it works fine, Same with the OEM housings I have had for a Fuji F30, and a variety of Sonys - P1, P5 and P100/150. Yes, I did flood a SOny P100, but the housing started to leak at about 10 feet because the o-ring was crimped. It was not the housing's fault. These little plastic OEM housings are really pretty good, and tend to cost LESS than the camera, not twice as much.

 

[diver 85]

Maybe mines a freak, but I've had my OEM Canon housing well past its 130' limit without a hint of leakage or weird button problems...

Make that 2 freaks then-----(I have the Canon A570 & Canon UW housing).....have over 200 dives on it & 1/2 or more are deeper than 60'---the deepest is 150' on a CZM Devil's Throat dive.....NEVER(knock on wood) a failure ie flooding or button problems....ie it works today just like the day I got it in April '07...

EDIT----ie the OEM's aren't all that 'bad'....