My Camera Rig Floats Like a Cork

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A

arkstorm

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Location
Philly Burbs
# of dives
1000 - 2499
I am having serious buoyancy issues with my camera rig. The basic rig is an Ikelite 550D (T2i) Housing with 8" dome port. I have three configurations:

1. For shooting stills I attach a pair of YS-90 strobes and sync cord with ULCS arms and optionally an Ikelite Pro V8 focus light in the center -- result is slightly positive without the Pro V8 light; slightly negative with it.

2. For night video I carry two Pro V8 lights on the strobe arms -- result is negatively buoyant.

3. For day/natural light video I don't carry anything but the basic rig -- result is it FLOATS LIKE A CORK...in fresh water, let alone what would happen salt water.

Is there any sort of commercially available ballast weight that I could screw into the Ikelite tray handle? Or is my only option to jimmy-strap a two pound weight to the bottom somehow?

Thanks.
 
Interesting. I have basically the same rig though I haven't had it in the water yet. I was going to look for buoyancy arms as the thing weighs a ton on the surface. Looks like I might have the opposite issue.
 
phillybob:
Misc. Accessories


I'm sure with a bit of modification... I like the 20 pounder. WTF are they sinking with that ?
Click to expand...

Perfect...that link is exactly what I was looking for. Though I think a couple of pounds would suit me fine, that 20# brick might be a little bit of overkill.
 
Doubler:
Interesting. I have basically the same rig though I haven't had it in the water yet. I was going to look for buoyancy arms as the thing weighs a ton on the surface. Looks like I might have the opposite issue.
Click to expand...

I thought the same thing before I put it in the water given its weight alone. I was floored when the thing floated on me. I think the culprit is the 8" dome -- just adds a ton of buoyancy vs. weight.
 
I get my stainless nuts and bolts from West Marine. Hope it helped.
 
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https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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