New C5060 took a bath

[Ishie]

Thanks for all the advice!
Just got a call from DEPP. She wants me to send the camera to a guy in Salinas (same state), so I'm going to overnight it there. Once he's confirmed the camera has been reincarnated as a paperweight, she says within 24 hours, she'll ship a new one, and I can add an extra ten bucks or so onto my deductable (about 60 bucks, I think) and get it overnighted too.

So that pleases me greatly. If it happens again, I probably will contact Olympus first, save myself the deductable and insurance hike if I get more than two claims a year. I also probably will swap to the Ikelite as soon as possible and in the meantime, check and re-check the o-rings, add in that moisture alarm, and stuff the housing full of enough feminine products that if the housing floods again, the tide will go out.

Thanks!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

My first 5060 bit the dust in the same fashion, left lower Oring. Olympus didnt do me any good either, they said the camera was beyond economical repair and the only thing they could do was offer me another 5060 for the discounted price of $500. I told them to shove it... I bought the camera new online for $460 and you can find them for even less than that now. They tested my housing as well and couldn't reproduce the problem. I would be convinced that I had done something wrong except for the fact that this exact problem has happened to so many other people. If you ask Olympus, they'll tell you differently though - they told me they hadn't heard of this problem before and they had nothing from the Aussy Oly that acknowledged a problem.

I hadn't insured my camera at that point, big mistake.

My new 5060 is insured for the next time my housing unexplainably pops is left lower seal.

The problem isn't consistant and Olympus's testing is obviously not including all factors contributing to our problem in its experimenting. They won't acknowlegde a problem without being able to reproduce it.

I'm still using my Oly housing, but only because I can't afford an Ike at the moment. I should have gone that route from the beginning.

Goodluck

 

[justleesa]

Which Olympus office did you use Bugman? We've noticed that people have better luck with the CA office.

 

[Allison Finch]

When I got my PT20 housing, I was concerned by how the two o-rings have to work together to make a secure seal. I used it a few times with no problems. I decided to replace it with the Ikelite housing because it is almost impossible for the one o-ring to displace in the manner that plagues the PT20. It hasn't had any problems and, although it is bigger and heavier (tough when traveling) I like its substance. I don't regret the 500.00+ cost at all. A small price to pay when you are gone into the wilds of Papua New Guinea for a month of shooting. No amount insurance will replace your camera there.

 

[Ishie]

I can understand that.

Question: How do you like the Ikelite housing in general? I know it comes with a flash diffuser. I REALLY like how the one on the Olympus housing works, and I am hoping the Ikelite is similar since I won't be able to afford strobes for quite some time and since I'm diving Monterey, backscatter is definitely an issue.

I also have heard on the Olympus housings, there can be some trouble because if you pull the camera out and forget to lift the plunger for the mode dial, you can bend the mechanism inside the camera. I noticed on my Olympus housing that they have a tendency to kind of stick down.

Oh, last question. I heard the Ikelite housings are incredibly positive. How do you keep yours neutral?

Thanks!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Which Olympus office did you use Bugman? We've noticed that people have better luck with the CA office.

I sent it to CA and it was shipped back from NY... Ugh... Funny how that works

 

[Shader]

I can understand that.

Question: How do you like the Ikelite housing in general? I know it comes with a flash diffuser. I REALLY like how the one on the Olympus housing works, and I am hoping the Ikelite is similar since I won't be able to afford strobes for quite some time and since I'm diving Monterey, backscatter is definitely an issue.

I also have heard on the Olympus housings, there can be some trouble because if you pull the camera out and forget to lift the plunger for the mode dial, you can bend the mechanism inside the camera. I noticed on my Olympus housing that they have a tendency to kind of stick down.

Oh, last question. I heard the Ikelite housings are incredibly positive. How do you keep yours neutral?

Thanks!

Ishie,

After hearing time and time again the problems of the Olympus housing getting flooded I would seriously consider going with Ikelite housing. I don't know why Oly has refused to deal with this problem happening over and over and not doing something about it. Their product is obviously flawed and they can't seem to figure it out or admit there is a problem with it.

You will not have this problem with Ikelite as the Oring seals in a completely different fashion and the seal is clearly visible through the acrylic housing as are all the controls and functionality of the camera. I've had my housing/strobe setup for over a year on many extended travel conditions and haven't even needed to replace the Oring yet. It has been down at 150' and 5' and has never given me any problems. Was even knocked over and rolled down some stairs into the water without harm. They are rugged and durable housing with metal clips and not brittle plastic ones. If you can really afford the extra $$$ then it's worth the hassle of seeing what so many people on this board have gone through with warranty, returns, and repairs.

To answer your other questions:

Yes you have full TTL functionality with the Ikelite and can use every feature of the camera.

There are locking lever arms on the side so you don't have to hold them in while changing the settings for exposure and flash.

The housing comes with a single metal handle tray that also acts as a counter weight so the camera is slightly negative and easy to manipulate underwater. Just make sure you have that sucker secured well to your wrist cause if you drop it out on a wall it's byebye.

You can also get a nice dome port attachment for various lensesor you can wet mount some lenses right to the housing like my Epoque wide angle. It's great when I want to shoot wide in open water, all I do is just grab it out of my BC pocket and screw it right into the threads on the lens port while underwater. No getting out of the water, drying, cleaning, lubing, and assembling to add on the other lens.

Hope this clears up some issues for ya.

 

[Ishie]

Okay, I've ordered the Ikelite housing and it's on its way. Should be here around the same time that DEPP sends me a new camera. They've been very helpful so far.

The new housing set me back about $520, but I really want to minimize the flood risk, not just for the sake of finances (since it's insured), but because despite this happening on a regular weekend trip to Monterey, which I tend to do at least twice a month, it was really heartbreaking to have it dead the whole weekend, and I would HATE for that to happen on an extended trip. Once the Ikelite comes, I'm doing the whole pantyliner, moisture alarm thing too. I know, closing the barn door after the horses have gotten out, but still...

So... er... anyone wanna buy a slightly used PT-020 housing?

I really appreciate all your advice. Thank you!

 

[Shader]

Okay, I've ordered the Ikelite housing and it's on its way. Should be here around the same time that DEPP sends me a new camera. They've been very helpful so far.

The new housing set me back about $520, but I really want to minimize the flood risk, not just for the sake of finances (since it's insured), but because despite this happening on a regular weekend trip to Monterey, which I tend to do at least twice a month, it was really heartbreaking to have it dead the whole weekend, and I would HATE for that to happen on an extended trip. Once the Ikelite comes, I'm doing the whole pantyliner, moisture alarm thing too. I know, closing the barn door after the horses have gotten out, but still...

So... er... anyone wanna buy a slightly used PT-020 housing?

I really appreciate all your advice. Thank you!

Well done Ishie!

You will be very pleased with your new housing and will be saving for your strobe in no time. The diffuser will be necessary for now as you may get a shadow from the protruding lens port being so close.

As for the moisture alarm,pantyliner, and desicant, it's really not necessary with these housings. They are that rugged and solid and seal so well as you will soon find out. I know you are worried from your past experinces but you will relax some after using the Ikelite. I did order some more Ikelite grease and and extra O-ring which set me back a whole $5. I have yet to use all the grease that originally came with the housing and I have not replaced the O-ring as of yet although I may before the next excursion. There is no weird shaped O-ring track on the Ikelite and it is just a simple rectangle the ring fits around. It's very easy to take the O-ring off, clean, and inspect all surfaces.

I would do a submersion test first in a cooler with luke-warm water without the camera in the housing when you get it. Actuate all the arms, knobs, and buttons and leave in the water for a half hour or so. Remove and wipe-off the outside. Then visually inspect the interior. You should find it nice and dry without condensation and will be good to go. A bummer about the camera mount plate though is that it slightly covers the battery door so you have to physically unscrew the camera from the mount to replace the battery. I can live with that over flooded camera though. For parts and accessories check out:

http://www.helixcamera.com/home.html

http://www.adorama.com/

Happy Photoing!

 

[Shasta_man]

Regardless of the housing, always check the sealed housing in a bucket before going out for the dive.

Okay, I've ordered the Ikelite housing and it's on its way. Should be here around the same time that DEPP sends me a new camera. They've been very helpful so far.

The new housing set me back about $520, but I really want to minimize the flood risk, not just for the sake of finances (since it's insured), but because despite this happening on a regular weekend trip to Monterey, which I tend to do at least twice a month, it was really heartbreaking to have it dead the whole weekend, and I would HATE for that to happen on an extended trip. Once the Ikelite comes, I'm doing the whole pantyliner, moisture alarm thing too. I know, closing the barn door after the horses have gotten out, but still...

So... er... anyone wanna buy a slightly used PT-020 housing?

I really appreciate all your advice. Thank you!