Using unbranded underwater housings with cameras

[boy22ban]

I use an Ikelite housing for a Canon S110, and I can report occasional sticking of the power button at depth (i.e. begins at around maybe 30-50 ft.), although I hear that this is common for this model line for Ikelite. It has never leaked or dripped in all of its 10 dives so far, and I am crossing my fingers. Apart from that, it seems to be a solid piece of equipment.

My thing about the "generic" housings is about the lens thread: the one I was trying at the shop would not (easily) accept a standard M67 lens, and it looks like the thread on the housing is sharper than what would be ideal. I had to gently and repeatedly screw-in and re-screw the lens to find the thread. I can imagine this to be much more challenging on an actual dive.

Another thing is the spring-type trigger -- the Ikelite lever is not the best I admit, but I think its better. I *think I feel the half-shutter still.

 

[duanejason]

The Meikon housing I use for the 550D does not have threads on the port therefore no macro diopter can be mounted. You can however use an EF 50mm 1.8 and create a fake macro if you get close enough and open the lens to F2-2.8.

 

[duanejason]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/97663594@N03/13228934603/

From a recent dive to 95ft, housing still working great :cool2:

 

[DesertEagle]

It looks like there is a 67mm wet lens for the Meikon housings now. Meikon Wide Angle - M67 - COMPACT HOUSINGS - FOTOGRAFIT An Amazon listing shows the lens on the Meikon NEX-5N housing Amazon.com: DAYJOY 40M IPX8 128ft camera Waterproof underwater 67MM threaded mount housing hard Wide angle/macro/fisheye lens case for CANON/SONY/NIKON/PANASONIC WATERPROOF CASE MEIKON BRAND: Cell Phones & Accessories

 

[duanejason]

Hm.. not bad!! looks like something to try&#8230;even just for fun. Too bad that won't work on my housing >.< My t2i Meikon housing doesnt have screw mounts on the port :/

 

[hellhole]

The really good thing about these meikon housing is the 67mm thread in front.
The rest if it is almost the same as the canon ones... And at a much cheaper price

 

[dfx]

The really good thing about these meikon housing is the 67mm thread in front.
The rest if it is almost the same as the canon ones... And at a much cheaper price

The housing for my S100 doesn't have a thread

 

[hellhole]

The housing for my S100 doesn't have a thread

oh!! sorry mate. in my shores. there is a meikon similar housing that has a 67mm thread and hotshoe. i mistook it for the meikon one

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[duanejason]

My meikon housing has a hotshoe for a focusing light&#8230; haven needed one yet, at least @110' the T2i can still acquire focus using natural light. Where I'm diving its pretty clear water ( unless it rains way too much).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/97663594@N03/13451173043/ from today T2i, 18-55mm kit lens. EXIF is on the flikr page

 

[Tigerman]

My meikon housing has a hotshoe for a focusing light… haven needed one yet, at least @110' the T2i can still acquire focus using natural light. Where I'm diving its pretty clear water ( unless it rains way too much).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/97663594@N03/13451173043/ from today T2i, 18-55mm kit lens. EXIF is on the flikr page

Where Ive had use for focus light is night dives, thats where it come handy having it attached to the housing..

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