Underwater Housing - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

01/26/2007 04:30:04 AM · #1

Has anyone ever used one of these housings?
Pros and cons?

Thanks,
Jan

jblaylockrayner

Nikon D2Xs

01/26/2007 05:24:25 AM · #2

I have replied to this twice but it does not seem to work?

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

01/26/2007 06:06:41 AM · #3

Thanks for trying though

Matthew

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/26/2007 06:22:11 AM · #4

Originally posted by jblaylockrayner:

I have replied to this twice but it does not seem to work?

Your comments are on the photo!

01/26/2007 06:34:36 AM · #5

Got your comments Jeff. Thanks!

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

01/26/2007 07:59:41 AM · #6

I have the Ewa-Marine U-AXP100 and for the most part I love it. After years of using a hard housing, the U-AXP100 is a bit more awkward underwater but easier to use above water (in rain storms etc.) It takes practice but you will eventually get the hang out of pushing buttons and turning wheels thru the housing and/or remembering which ones you canâ��t access and preset them. However, if wearing gloves in cold water diving about the only thing you can do is trip the shutter.

Make sure that you get as much air out of it before you seal it. You must use an internal or rear focus lens, as the front ring canâ��t turn with focus or zooming. Iâ��m not familiar with the lens on the Finepix S9500, but it is also better to use a lens that doesnâ��t change lengths when zooming, as water pressure will push the lens to the shortest physical setting. My 18-35 Nikkor was always pushed to around 24mm setting. Both the Nikon and Tokina 12-24 lenses work well, but will vignette with settings below about 14mm. Iâ��ve also had decent success with presetting both the focus and zoom with masking or gafferâ��s tape and moving the housing to focus and frame even with non-IF lenses.

One last comment/suggestion is to not use the specified Ewa â��Marine weights as they are designed to go inside the bag. I like using either extra weights from my waist belt or small curling weights strapped to the straps at the bottom of the bag. I find that besides having the mass at the bottom of the rig helping handling, if you were ever in a panic situation you could release the weights and send your camera to the surface.

Edit to add:

I read jblaylockrayner's comments on the difficultly getting the camera in the bag. I haven't experienced this, but the D200 and D70 that I use are quite a bit smaller than the D2X. The only loading difficultly is that post dive if I want to change memory cards etc, reloading the camera without getting some moisture inside can be difficult (I keep about three times as many silica packs in it as suggested. Which brings up another point NEVER leave the camera in bag and expose it to any time in the sun. The bag is like a greenhouse and will warm up very quickly.

Message edited by author 2007-01-26 08:16:11.