UK-Germany & BlueBoxx - Pentax Housings

[Fish Food]

I'm trying to find housing makers for a Pentax DSLR. I found two, but they are both German based. UK-Germany & BlueBoxx. (I don't really have any good English links for either company) Has anyone had dealings with either of these folks?

Also, Ive been told Ikelite makes custom housings. I can't find anything about it on their website. How much would that run me?

 

[diversteve]

BlueBoxx is mf'd by MediaSub afaik. They have an English website. Photo - MediaSub

 

[stiebs]

I have a UK-Germany housing for my *stDS. I cannot speak more highly for their service or for the quality of the housing. Everyone who has looked at it has been impressed by the design and build quality, easily on a par with the likes of Subal and Nexus.

Pics of my housing (Mark’s Stuff » UK-Germany Housing)

If you look at the second page, the first pics of the housing only have one handle. When I first bought it, I inquired about a second handle, but was told they don't make one - just hold the strobe arm. A year later when I bought a full set of o-rings from them to service the housing myself (which were happily supplied along with instructions and pictures on how to do it), I was surprised to find two new moulded handles and a bracket for the left one.

The housing set me back in the vicinity of 1500 euro including a standard flat port with zoom ring for the DA18-55m, and an extension suitable for the DFA100mm macro. Its pricey, but comparable to other housings of similar quality.

 

[Fish Food]

Nice set up Froop! One question though, does yours have/can they make a focus ring?

Eveyrone has their nice little Cannikon in the cute little Ikelite... But a Pentax in a black aluminum, now that's the stuff

Now I just need the USD to go back up


sjspeck, thanks for the link!

 

[stiebs]

I did ask about a focos ring for the 100mm macro, and although not standard, it was possible to do by using the zoom ring. So you can either have zoom or focus. But I'm just not sold on the accuracy of being able to focus through my mask and the housing viewfinder. I set the "OK" button function to AF Cancel, so if I find the camera hunting I can force the shutter by holding down OK. Beside, adding a focus ring the camera would be stuck in MF, as and you wouldn't be able to switch to AF. Even if you also had an AF/MF switch added, the gearing would most likely put too much strain on the AF motor.


And its so much nicer having something different (and much schmicker) than a big see through plastic Nikolite