S80 and Ikelite housing issues

[nvert]

S80 + Ikelite housing = :shakehead

Looking for ideas here on a problem that Ikelite recognizes but does not have a fix for.

I have both the S80 and its Ikelite housing. I chose them because of the camera's quality/cost/convienence and the ruggedness of the housing. However, after using this configuration on a dive trip, I was left frustrated and annoyed. The problem is that the Ikelite housing knobs work against you while at depth. Due to pressure, they remain in constant contact with the camera making it very difficult to change settings or take a picture. They simply do not deploy at depth and the camera will not take a shot if the zoom or one of the dials remains active due to the engaged knob.

Because of this, I frequently had to use both hands to operate the camera - meaning, in order to take the picture I had to use one hand to pull the zoom or the dial knob out while the other hand held the camera to take the pic. Sometimes, I frequently even had to use one hand to pull the zoom knob out while I used my other hand to pull on the dial knob. Needless to say I was looking more at the camera rather than the dive and subject. Buoancy became an issue and so did loosing many shots.

After an email to Iketlite, they said they had no fix for this problem. And that was it.

Sooooooo.....has anyone else encountered this problem and how do you work with it? My idea is to simply get two springs that fit around the shaft of the knobs on the outside of the housing in hopes of making the knobs automatically deploy after pressing them.

Any other ideas? Advice or opinions?

Thanks!!

Brad

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Have the same issues, which really is a result of the camera not made with diving and the Ike housing in mind, or is it the other way around.

You should be able to easily solve this by rotating the 90 degree dial knob adjuster on the housing(The big one that really has a fair amount of resistance due to pressure, as you've mentioned) away from the rotating dial on the camera so it doesn't touch it.

When I need to adjust a setting with this knob, yes's it a bit of a PITA, but it is do-able, and then I just place the lever overagain to where it is not in the way.

Hope that rather wordy paragraph or two helps and is understood.

This really is the only thing I do not like about this system. I can't really fault Ike, as they're just trying to make a housing that deals best with what I would call a less than ideal camera button operation (For us underwater folks that is).

regards

 

[stu_in_fl]

they release a fix from the original housing (that had a knob that would press down on that rotary button at depth) - they now have replaced that with a sort of lever one that you can rotate so only presses down when you want it to - when not wanting to change the dial or flash seting, the lever is moved so it downt touch the dial....
I received the parts to do the upgrade via mail one day (I had filled in the waranty card)...this was 4 months ago or so, so I assume if you purchased recently you have the upgraded one....not the easiest to change the shuter speed or appeture but better than before as you dont have to lift the know each time...

Until I received the fix, I just had to keep pulling the knob up while pressing any other button....

edit: fixed the type the following post is referring too

 

[Scuba_Steve]

You mean 'knob' Stu, not 'know'.

But yes that's the same thing I was talking about.

I guess my camera came with the 'fix' already done to it. That was a month ago.

regards

 

[greenflash1]

Sell the Ikelite and buy the canon it works great!

 

[shellbackdiver1]

Knowing what you know now and if had the chance to do it all over again would buy the Ikelite or the Canon case? I ended up with the Canon case but always wonder if I made the correct decision.

 

[MasterGoa]

Do you guys think that putting the case and camera in the freezer with the case
not locked and then locking it as you tak it out could work?

The cold air of the freezer would be expanding and adding positive pressure
to the inside of the casing...

But I thing the stronger spring idea would work great too...

 

[Scuba_Steve]

I would buy the Ike over the canon.

Sturdier housing by far, and I guess since the 'fix' which was how mine came, I don't see a difference to be gained by using the canon housing at all. I've used two canon housings for a short period of time and I have to say there wasn't really anything I disliked about them except their depth rating was too shallow for a lot of my diving, or at least right at the edge of most of it.

As for Goa, I'd personally not mickey-mouse around with that nonsense and get your 'fix' done. As previously mentioned, it works as well as it's going to given the camera's dorky set-up for what we are using it for.

I see you're a cold water diver as well, so we have this as bad as it will get as far as this operation is concerned. Once you see how to move the lever, it's not as a serious PITA that it looks upon first glance. I realized it and got used to it within 6 dives.

regards

 

[nvert]

I bought the housing in May and don't think I have this Ike "fix". I used it on a trip to GC - about 27 dives - and it was ALWAYS a problem.

The knob that controls the app/fstop dial is just that - a knob - and it does not disengage at depth. It would cycle frantically at 60'! The zoom knob is also a pia and when you have to pull one or both out to get the camera to operate plus work with a strobe precious time is lost not to mention there is more of a tendancy to focus on the "task" rather than where your buddy is or other diving safety.

Like I said, when I emailed them early August they replied with recognizing there was a problem but they did not have a fix for it. Personally, I think this is poor design and poor service espcially since a spring between the knob and the housing would work perfectly (my old canon DC60 used springs).

I just don't know where to find the right spring.

 

[stu_in_fl]

I bought the housing in May and don't think I have this Ike "fix". I used it on a trip to GC - about 27 dives - and it was ALWAYS a problem.

The knob that controls the app/fstop dial is just that - a knob - and it does not disengage at depth. It would cycle frantically at 60'!

Like I said, when I emailed them early August they replied with recognizing there was a problem but they did not have a fix for it.

...the attached pic should show you what the "new" control should look like. Ike should be able to send you one (for free) if you do not have it. It stops the "cycling" you refer to as when you are not using it to do anything, you position it so it doesn't touch the dial.