What crap.............
I'm not a big fan of aluminum housings I can't see inside (do a search and find out how many of those flooded, in the rinse tank, port bayonetting off when the crew grabbed the port, etc.) and require more maintenance due to electrolysis of dissimilar metal fittings, no TTL flash control, etc.
Any housing can flood......
PS - Anyone who leaves ANY housing in a rinse tank not holding it and pumping fresh water on the buttons DESERVES for it to flood! I've seen every brand housing flood in a rinse tank......I NEVER leave my housing in a rinse tank.......
In 40 years of using UW housings I've seen them all and Ikelite will stand up to 99% of what a thinking diver / photographer can throw at it.
I've had dozens of friends / customers (and myself) back roll off a moving (in neutral) swim step while snorkeling with dolphins. All those folks had TWO port lock model not even the newest 4 port lock SLR housing. No one (including me) flooded their housing.
I've had sharks and other animals ram it, bite etc. and it didn't flood. I've used them under the ice, in pools with screaming kids and a whopping 1' of water pressure on it, survived diving out of bouncy pangas in Galapagos, 170' deep in Truk and more varied environments to count........
Yes, the standard "blank" with controls drilled and located for different models may not be as sexy or uber-ergonomic as some tout they need. But they help create wonderful photos in the right hands at a substantial savings.
Plus if you want TRUE TTL through your new camera's hot shoe then Ikelite is the only company with TTL circuitry connected to their DS (Digital Substrobe) models.
Don't take my word, go to the web site (
IKELITE Underwater Systems) and look through the galleries. Or if on Facebook browse some of the astounding photos on the Ikelite Facebook page users send in from UW studio shooting to all manner of UW environments.
THE first successful UW coffee table book by Chris Newbert "Within a Rainbowed Sea" had tons of the images in it shot with an ancient Ikelite film housing. So did Michael Aw's first book or two plus lots of other working pros and talented amateur photographers.
Sorry for the rant, I'm just tired of BS here from people who don't / haven't / won't ever use the equipment they have an "opinion" about.
You can spend more $$$$$$ but your photos will never show it.......Do a search for the images I've shared on Scubaboard all shot with Ikelite housings.
Not bragging just stating facts......
Old Geezer UW photographer and yes, Ikelite DEALER and USER
David Haas
www.haasimages.com