I recently got a Nikon L-18 with Ikelite housing package, then last week got the 0.56x wide angle lens. No strobes (yet).
The camera itself fits in a shirt pocket, nothing "fancy" by today's standards. It EATS AA alkaline batteries like crazy. I am now using lithium cells and they definitely are worth the extra $$ Housing is easy to use. Slightly positive buoyant.
Adding the wide angle lens makes the package definitely negative buoyant. It is a "wet" lens. ("wet lens" means that you shall have water between the wide angle lens and the camera housing. The advantage being that you can remove and replace the lens underwater. The disadvantage is that if you assemble the system in air you will need to let water in before taking pictures.) The wide angle lens came with its own diffuser for the internal flash. I tried it out on land and decided that I should keep the flashed turned off. The wide angle lens blocks nearly 100% of the internal flash, so until I get external strobes, I will just live without flash when using the wide angle lens.
- I woud like to hear thoughts on lens cover(s) (leave it on the boat?)
- Do you attach your camera to your BCD? to your wrist?
- Do you "burp" your wide angle lens after getting to the reef? Pre-fill it with freshwater on the boat?
- Any hints for protecting the lens ? (with this wide angle lens, the glass surface is right out there where it will get scratched if you let it drag across something)
Edited by Racer184, 15 October 2009 - 01:55 PM.