Need help understanding housing/strobe compatibility for Canon SD880 IS....

[dwilli10]

I am about to purchase a Canon SD880 IS. I would like to dive with this camera and have been researching housing/strobe options. The Ikelite housing seems to be the way to go as it appears to be much more robust than the Canon option. I am baffled by the strobes, however. Ikelite suggests either the AF35 or DS51. I have dismissed the AF35 as it appears to be very underpowered. The DS51 looks like it would get the job done at a reasonable price, but the arm options and firing mechanism have me leery. Therefore, I have a few questions:

1) Does the EV manual controller on the DS51 fire the strobe in a reliable fashion?

2) There are two arm options for the DS51. The ball and socket looks like it will work better than the base arm option, but it still looks a little clunky. Anybody have any experience with the arm set up?

3) Do I have any options other than the Ikelite strobes? I am interested in the Sea and Sea YS 27 specificially, but can't figure out if it will work with the Ikelite housing without a lot of jerry-rigging.

4) If there are other options, I am assuming they will use a mask and fiber optic cable. Does this set up work well on the Ikelite housing or will I be constantly fighting to keep the FO cable in the right spot?

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[popsiclediver]

I just got back from Roatan with my 880 in an Ikelite housing..It is much more robust than the Canon housing...
In Feb I had the 880 in the Canon housing - it lasted 3 dives before the latch cracked. It is taking some getting used to the controls, the zoom is 'touchier'; the control does not have a 'stop', and is more difficult to 'fine adjust' than the Canon, and the travel in the shutter control took some getting used to.
BUT, that being said...I would not change it for the world. The Canon housing is a toy in comparison.
I borrowed a strobe as the budget got thin...it was a Ultramax, but I didnt care. Something was better than nothing!
It attached with a Fibre Optic cable that was velcroed to the front of the housing, and went into a hole on the strobe. easy and didnt come apart unless I tugged it out at the end of the day.
The 880 only has one pre-flash, or this is the setting that the Ultramax worked with...
Im still very new at this and no doubt someome else will have better info, this is just my experience

 

[JW13]

3) Do I have any options other than the Ikelite strobes? I am interested in the Sea and Sea YS 27 specificially, but can't figure out if it will work with the Ikelite housing without a lot of jerry-rigging.

I have the same fundamental question as dwilli10 -- I have been unable to determine whether the Sea & Sea YS-27DX strobe setup will mount to the Ikelite housing (6240.88) for the Canon SD880 IS camera. Does anyone know for sure? If so, what tray/bracket is needed?

I will buy from my local dive shop (always try to support them) but they don't know the answer to my question, don't have the inventory to just try it, and I don't want to just order it because I would most likely get stuck paying for my mistakes.

Thanks for any help!

 

[JW13]

I guess the lack of responses just reinforces the idea that the compatibility of these systems/components is a confusing topic................I'll probably just go with all Ikelite components just to be safe (financially).

 

[juanNC]

I have this camera and am looking for a housing and strobe. What did you end up going with and do you have any reviews on the housing and strobe you chose?

 

[SeaSoulSelf]

actually, I'm considering getting the AF35 to go with the Ikelite housing. Our LDS has the AF35 with a Nikon Coolpix set up and I liked the look of the strobe set up.

 

[Nemrod]

I am about to purchase a Canon SD880 IS. I would like to dive with this camera and have been researching housing/strobe options. The Ikelite housing seems to be the way to go as it appears to be much more robust than the Canon option. I am baffled by the strobes, however. Ikelite suggests either the AF35 or DS51. I have dismissed the AF35 as it appears to be very underpowered. The DS51 looks like it would get the job done at a reasonable price, but the arm options and firing mechanism have me leery. Therefore, I have a few questions:

1) Does the EV manual controller on the DS51 fire the strobe in a reliable fashion?

2) There are two arm options for the DS51. The ball and socket looks like it will work better than the base arm option, but it still looks a little clunky. Anybody have any experience with the arm set up?

3) Do I have any options other than the Ikelite strobes? I am interested in the Sea and Sea YS 27 specificially, but can't figure out if it will work with the Ikelite housing without a lot of jerry-rigging.

4) If there are other options, I am assuming they will use a mask and fiber optic cable. Does this set up work well on the Ikelite housing or will I be constantly fighting to keep the FO cable in the right spot?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Get the Inon D2000 strobe, diffuser, one inch balls (universal) and two butterfly clamps for one inch balls and a 6 to 12 inch arm. If you get the Ikelite housing then get their tray for the housing with the one inch ball extension. The extension will butterfly either to the D2000 with ball adapter (from Inon via Reef Photo) or to the one inch ball end arm, you will still need the Inon ball to strobe adapter. Reef can help you out. A one inch ball arm or ball is a one inch ball, lol, they are universal.

In this picture you can see the Inon D2000 strobe with diffuser and with Inon ball adapter, Ikelite tray, Ikelite one inch ball extension (slides into and locks into tray handle) and universal butterfly clamp, missing from picture is my 9 inch arm set with additional universal butterfly clamp.

N

 

[Nemrod]

I guess the lack of responses just reinforces the idea that the compatibility of these systems/components is a confusing topic................I'll probably just go with all Ikelite components just to be safe (financially).

Yes and no.

N

 

[JW13]

I have this camera and am looking for a housing and strobe. What did you end up going with and do you have any reviews on the housing and strobe you chose?

I haven't been in a hurry, so I haven't done anything yet.

Sadly.