How to SAVE $4,200 on your underwater housing! // Nauticam vs Ikelite Comparison

[@RyanMyersExpeditions]

Wow. Great comparison video! Been looking at upgrading our underwater film system and this was exactly what I needed.

[@ikelite]

Thank you! We’re here whenever you’re ready and happy to answer any questions you may have.

[@Tom_Nagel]

Awesome job on the video, John! Your comparison video is spot on! I'm so grateful for my decision to go with Ikelite. Working with Ikelite has been a joy and has truly enhanced my love for creating.

[@ikelite]

Thanks, Tom. That means a lot. You’re killing it out there! Keep up the amazing work.

[@maddog1046]

I like and use Ikelite and I have used these systems for many years! However, I would love to see Ikelite develop and implement a warning light and alarm system similar to what Naticam housings have. I find that once a leak starts its too late and everything is lost! If the housing is not properly vacuumed sealed the warning light and alarm lets you know it before you even get into the water not only saving your equipment but giving you the time to correct the problem so you can make the dive with your camera. I know in theory that you can check the vacuum seal on an Ikelite housing using the pump, but that requires you to carry the pump around, which is bulky for the Ikelite system, and check it right before going into the water. The warning light system is much easier to monitor and use! Please consider this option!

[@ikelite]

Thank you for the feedback. We'll look into some options.

[@HawaiiCLIPS]

yeah, even a small cube sensor with green yellow red light that you could just stick in housing free space would be awesome

[@jessicathomas73]

I agree with this suggestion. Once you put it into the water and it leaks, it is far too late.

[@BlackScubaBear]

I was really into your housing but you didnt make one for the camera i have the GFX 100s So i end up with the nauticam housing. If you decided to make GFX Lines i will come in your direction.i saw you at the scuba show.

[@ikelite]

Thanks for stopping by the booth! Sorry we can’t be of more help with the GFX cameras at the moment but maybe in the future!

[@BlackScubaBear]

@@ikelite thank you for your time.

[@kenkiefer4088]

Can’t say enough wonderful things about my years depending on Ikelite products. The quality and dependability is amazing and has never let me down out in the field. Killer strobes housing and service - can’t beat it

[@ikelite]

Thanks Ken- we love you!

[@Wobbegong_th]

Since I started diving in 1996, I'd gone through 3 Ikelite Housing (Canon AE-1, Olympus C-7070, Canon G16), 2 strobes (DS-125, DS-161). Only 1 of them ever need to send back for service. I got the first one second handed and the strobe connector was corroded and leaked. Replacement service then was excellent. The other two served me well for almost 10 years each. I just order my 4th unit through my local dealer a few days ago. Also, I got Ikelite Housing for Canon S95 for my wife, which still works perfectly for about 10 yrs so far. To me, that speaks "Quality" and "Reliability". Keep up the good work, Ikelite team.

[@ikelite]

That's awesome! Glad to hear about the positive experiences through the years with the product and the service department. We sincerely appreciate the support!

[@ikelite]

Thank you for your continued support, happy diving!

[@kimberkiefer6886]

Great video....always great info and customer service for anything that is needed...... Love Ikelite!!!!

[@ikelite]

Much appreciated, Kimber. You rock!

[@JamieMPhoto]

I'm fairly new to the world of underwater photography and housings, but as a film photographer, I've been trying to decipher much older Ikelite housings and figuring out what modern parts I can incorporate into them while working in my preferred medium. I know it's extremely counterproductive to earning top profit and that the endurance of older housings is a major concern, but I sure would love some kind of resource to understand what I've been able to get my hands on. I am certainly starting to see this as a gateway into modern equipment I can manage to incorporate into my workflow (especially in terms of lighting), so at least there's that. Since I seriously doubt market demand would be high enough to justify any kind of new film camera housing, I guess long term would involve lots of measuring and seeing if any modern models might be compatible with my film cameras of choice.

[@ikelite]

We appreciate your perspective and look forward to seeing what you create! Many of us here at Ikelite have been shooting underwater since way back in the film days. We feel that the trade from 27 exposures (film) to virtually unlimited frames (digital) is perhaps the most important thing that's ever happened in underwater photography. Photography is an art form and everyone has a unique perspective. If you're still interested in shooting film underwater you can definitely find old film housings on eBay just about any day of the week!

[@ikelite]

Additionally, if you have questions about a specific Ikelite housing model - new or old - please do email us via [e-mail] and we would be happy to help as much as we can.

[@JamieMPhoto]

@@ikelite I really appreciate that!! And in terms of the previous comment: Thank you! I appreciate that as well, and agree overall that having nearly unlimited images on a memory card is a game changer for people with longer treks and especially dives in lower-light areas. I can only imagine how much more impactful things like very high ISOs in that setting. As much as I love film, there are certainly areas where digital provides some truly major advantages. My interest is definitely in shallower areas much closer to dry land, so I am happy to be able to stick with my favorite medium, but certainly appreciate this pool (no pun intended haha) of technology and knowledge that I can pull from. And with that said, I'll definitely be sending a message soon with a few nagging questions that might not be super difficult to solve. Thanks again!

[@Economicshark]

Wondering where you bought your camera bag, looks super useful.

[@ikelite]

Hey, that is the Lowepro Vertex 300 AW Backpack!

[@naufalqnw]

I think I'm down with the clear back plus point. I can see what happened inside the casing. Yes the buttons location may be funky, but I'm fine with such button. But, yeah, if Ikelite can make the trigger lever like other housing trigger from the top, so that i can use tray trigger extension it'll be better.

[@ikelite]

The shutter lever is extended to the side of the housing with no add-on extension necessary when hand-holding. If you use a handle on the shutter side you can install an additional extension to put the trigger levers in the perfect location.

[@mauimanta]

I am in the ocean every week with my Ikelite R5 system. Back in the film days I had an aluminum housing briefly. This housing taught me about metal, salt water and corrosion. I have had Ikelite housings ever since. The current material is tough and if I don’t have immediate access to a fresh water rinse I don’t worry about it. Ikelite controls are simple and straight forward. No gears and multiple levers. Some housings look like they are put together by a Swiss watch maker. All I see is so many more things to go wrong that I would not be able to fix on a small island in Micronesia. Put this together with Ikelite’s unbeatable TTL system and the 230 strobes and I have a Canon R5 system that just continues to perform dive after dive.

[@ikelite]

Thanks David- those are huge compliments coming from one of the most published underwater photographer in the world! Few people have as many shutter actuations underwater as you do!!!

[@JoeMoniTrevathan]

Very happy with all my Ikelite products over the years. High quality, high value, and great customer support. Can’t be beat!

[@ikelite]

We love hearing that! Thank your for the continued support.

[@stanleystevens6278]

Prior to this video, I didn't know there's a difference for the camera controls at the back of the Ikelite and Nauticam housings. Thanks!

[@ikelite]

Thanks for watching!

[@georgeleskas6845]

Hello great video. I would like to ask if there is any housing for ricoh wg 80 or any waterproof cameras from ricoh

[@ikelite]

Sorry we don’t have one for the Ricoh and aren’t aware of one from another manufacturer.

[@AquaticImages]

Ikelite makes great value housings that works well and they have a fantastic service department. Ergonomics is discussed a lot, and I think for the most part Ikelite does a good job here (except for the video record button on my GH5 housing, which I never knew what to do with...) However the accessories and lack of native wide-angle domes (that won't kill your corner sharpness) are things I wish you guys would look into. I'm personally at the stage where I would most likely go Nauticam for my next camera setup because of things like leak-detect systems (which negates the need for a clear housing back imo), a vacuum pump that doesn't take up as much space as a regulator and the least practical weight system ever designed (sorry Ikelite). Where Nauticam kills it in my opinion is with their domes and wet optics, and while you can adapt some 3rd party options to Ikelite the difference is still there. If your whole thing is about being travel friendly, please shrink that vacuum pump and make a weight system that won't turn my easy-to-handle housing into a accident waiting to happen on a moving boat. That's my rant, sorry if it sounds a bit negative, I'm mostly a happy customer haha.

[@ikelite]

The honest feedback is highly appreciated. Our new vacuum pump is smaller than the previous version so that should provide more room. One consideration when relying on the LED leak detector is that a small amount of water entering the housing may be enough to damage a camera while swimming around without creating enough of a pressure differential to change the LED. We feel this is something you’d more clearly see through one of our backs. Nauticam does have some impressive optic solutions, but it is a sizable investment in both weight and cost for a solution dedicated to underwater use only. Todays lens choices for the camera bodies are getting too tempting to pass up for topside opportunities.

[@sofiaoropesa]

i started with ikelite for sony p200 point in shoot since 2006. happy with it. now i am on sony a7r4 and a9

[@ikelite]

That’s so great to hear- and what a big upgrade from the P200! 😁 Thanks for choosing Ikelite products! ❤️

[@noverbo1618]

Cost was one of my main deciding factors in acquiring my Ikelite housing. I currently own 2 Ikelite Underwater Housings: 1 for a Canon R7 and a brand new one for an Olympus TG7 (because I am so happy with the R7 setup!). I had to reach out to Ikelite with my first purchase after having technical difficulties with it, and I am so glad I decided to stay with Ikelite. The customer service is fantastic and I couldn't be happier with my setup.

[@ikelite]

@noverbo1618 Thanks for choosing Ikelite products! Glad we can help you to capture your vision underwater ♥️

[@masonstuder3093]

Does Ikelite have plans for releasing a housing system for the Fujifilm X-T5? Or have you done testing with an X-T5 in other Fuji housings?

[@ikelite]

We're finishing up the prototype for the XT-5 housing right now and you should see an announcement in the next couple of weeks!

[@RttnAm1]

Well the issue is that Ikelite won’t support the Z9.. so the 4000€ euro saved would go toward a Z8.. and then the nauticam seem a good option 😢

[@ikelite]

But only one of the two options buys you a backup camera body in addition to the housing 🧐

[@lichtfang-photography]

I have had Ikelite for some time. The equipment was good and I was satisfied. But now I have another brand (Isotta Housing) and I am more satisfied. I too have to say that Ikelite is good value for money. What I don't like: The Ikelite closure is very cumbersome. The Zoom Gear is a fiddly thing. I need to be able to change the lens quickly. That's not quick with Ikelite. Both are better solved with Isotta and the housing is smaller. Soon I will have to buy a new camera and a new housing. If the lens adapters for zooming were better, Ikelite would be on the shortlist. Conclusion: Ikelite builds good housings at an attractive price. But apart from Ikelite and Nauticam, there are other alternatives. Sorry for my bad english.

[@ikelite]

Thank you for the feedback. We're perpetually improving our products, including the gearing and port system. It's certainly possible that the issue you had has been addressed. When it comes time to getting a new system we'd be thrilled to have the opportunity to walk you through the details. Please do not hesitate to reach out when you decide to move forward.

[@lichtfang-photography]

@@ikelite Thank you for the constructive answer.

[@juhanivaihkonenunderwater]

I was shooting with Ikelite housing several years with several different ikelite housings, and now I have been shooting several years with Nauticam. I still have ikelite strobes. I do think they both have places. Ikelite still needs to fix their vacuum system. It's not enough to make vacuum test before you go to water. When I was using Ikelite, I was constantly checking underwater that is there water inside even with vacuum. Vacuum measurement system takes that totally away. I would cladly buy Canon R5C ikelite housing for my underwater travel photography even now if the vacuum system would be solid.

[@ikelite]

Hi Juhani, we have always appreciated your support. Unfortunately we are not planning to offer a housing for the R5C camera body. But it's not clear what you mean by vacuum measurement - do you mean a leak detector alarm system? We can see where that would be helpful!

[@juhanivaihkonenunderwater]

@@ikelite Yes, when there is clear light in green showing that low pressure has not changed, I don't need check underwater that is there water inside. if there is very small leak like hair or something there might already are water inside and it's very difficult to see that thru housing. Also it gives you peace of mind, can just focus on photo or videography, not for the leaks.

[@wcsdiaries]

​@@ikelitewhat about canon c70?

[@InfiniteBlue_]

Really happy with Ikelite products since 10 years. Even if I had problems or leaking I could in 90 % fix the problems myself. Easy to use lightweight and the only way for low wage people like me to continue in this passion. Without Ikelite i had 10 years ago maybe only the Gopro. Thank you guys!!! Ps: I use the extra space in my housing for toilet paper ^^.... thanks to the clear design I can continue my dive, monitor a possible leak until all toilet paper is soaked. I had once a broken trigger button seal I dove more than 100 dives with a leaking housing thanks to the clear back. Love it XD

[@ikelite]

Thanks for choosing Ikelite, we’re happy you’ve had a great experience!

[@cwilliams6884]

kind of off topic but is it possible to use a dry dome with a compact camera? I use the panasonic lx-10 with the lx-10 housing. I've heard people say you can only use wet lens with this setup

[@ikelite]

Absolutely- we prefer dry domes over wet lenses! For the LX10 housing you need the DC4 Dome Port # 6404. See: www.ikelite.com/blogs/buying-guides/when-to-use-a-dc-series-dome-port

[@cwilliams6884]

@@ikelite thank you!

[@harryvlogs7833]

Great please make an affordable one thats like $600 for lumix s5ii

[@ikelite]

We do have a housing for the S5 II but not in that price range. www.ikelite.com/products/200dl-underwater-housing-for-panasonic-lumix-s5-ii-mirrorless-digital-cameras

[@rickygodette]

Will a 24-70 lens work with the lens port shown?

[@ikelite]

The 24-70 will work with the dome port in the video but you will need a combination of extensions. Here is a link to the port chart so you can see exactly what is required. The 24-70 is definitely a great lens, but something shorter and wider like either the RF 14-35mm or 8-15mm fisheye + adapter would be more ideal underwater. www.ikelite.com/products/underwater-housing-for-sony-zv-e10-mirrorless-camera

[@richiemattinson2415]

Love this comparison! Many of my dive buddies use Nauticam and have asked why i don't "upgrade" to a Nauticam system! UPGRADE??? 🤔 Both systems do the same job with the same results IMO. But, the wet lens options of using after market wet lenses for example, do give the other a distinct versatility advantage advantage. There have been many times I wish i could had an option to flip a diopter or change to a flat port to CFWA witha quick port add on underwater. Yes the vacuum pump is a bit large, but itvwas initially designed for workshop mechanics i guess. But, it still works for me!! Having said all that, Ikelite is and will always be my go to system for the more pros than cons for my system requirements. ❤

[@ikelite]

Good point, Richie. Thank you for the kind words and support! The external lenses are often pairs with lower end camera lenses but it is an alluring concept. Perhaps we’ll look into a solution 🧐

[@stevenmiller7759]

Every time I get a new camera, I think it is the last one I’ll ever need,… then 😅I see the next generation.. I’ve housed 7 cameras over the year’s (always Ikelite) -and the housings are all still perfectly useable, but my older cameras aren’t. You can go on some nice dive trips for $4000.00

[@ikelite]

Good point Steve, underwater housings are kind of like cars - they do lose a lot of value on the resale market.

[@nes.torfernandez]

I agree that for the price difference ikelite leads the price point they are at the moment but being a full time operator of both brands ikelite ( Nikon Z6ii ) and nauticam whit the blackmagic 6k the features are superior, the build quality and ergonomics. In my housing ( ikelite ) I have to move my finger off the shutter to change shutter speed while I can use the nauticam housing as if it was the camera in land, also the manual focus and zoom system on ikelite is far inferior than Nauticams one. I’ve been wanting to get a underwater housing from ikelite for my blackmagic 6k or any blackmagic or even my R5C and no luck and here another reason why they can’t be compared to nauticam 🤷🏻‍♂️ just my thoughts

[@ikelite]

Nestor, we appreciate your comments and we can see how investing in ergonomics may pay off for someone who's in the water full time like yourself. Regretfully the BlackMagic 6K and Canon R5C aren't in the cards due to the size of the cameras. Unfortunately we can't do it all but we do try!

[@ztn_pdh6518]

I have not used an Ikelite product myself. But when I was in the market for housings the option was a very expensive nauticam, a ikelite and a budget Chinese housing. I was not willing to put up with the upfront and maintenance costs of the nauticam brand. A few of my dive friends have used ikelite and after floods decided to invest into nauticam or aquatica or some Italian brands. I won’t go into if the floods were their or housings fault as that is not the point. The housing has one job to do and one only. No one was familiar at that time with the Chinese brands nor was anyone willing to risk it. The way I saw it is the biggest issue is that Ikelite had was no leak detection system to check the system before a dive. Yes it has the nice visible back part but in my experience once a flood happens it goes very quickly and good luck getting out of 30m deep water. All that nice glass in the back will do is show you how your camera is dying. Therefore I disregarded ikelite as an option. That left me with buying an expensive housing or going really cheep. I decided to try the Chinese brand. It was by a whole 0 cheaper then the Ikelite housing (so much about Ikelite being the budget brand) this housing had 2 o-rings on the cover and a leak detection system. So I bought it for 250usd (including a port and had to add another 120usd for the leak detection system). I tested it first extensively before placing my mirrorless inside and if it went it was just 250 dollars. Had that housing for 8 years. Is it better than Ikelite. No, by far not. Ikelite has better materials, buttons feel better. But it will tell me if there is a leak in the system and double o rings! Over the years I bought another to use as a donor for the buttons that went, or just general items that would wear out. I really don’t like it when people try to justify their product by pointing out the issues of a competitor. In this case is nauticam expensive, yes. Does it have a high maintenance tag + shipping, yes. But is it safer? 100% just because of the leak detection system. So if you are shooting for living a high end brand makes sense. But does that make Ikelite the best budget brand. No. And I stated why above. You always get what you pay for. If you are really on a budget and want to spend that cash on a pair of good strobes, lens, macro setup, travel etc. Ikelite is still a lot more expensive then some other options. Are those ugly, feel bit cheap and limited to 40m. Yes. But guess what? They do the same job and that is only one job, prevent water from getting in. So where does that leave Ikelite? Not the best quality, not the cheapest option, just videos talking about their competitors. Think Ikelite can do more and hope they do as that pie will shrink further with more competitors coming to the market every year.

[@ikelite]

Thanks for your thoughtful reply! We do offer a vacuum leak detection system and there are several videos showing how that works. We always recommend checking for leaks before entering the water.

[@olivierclement5801]

I owned Ikelite and Nauticam housings, yes Nauticam is way more expensive but for a good reason. I can easily see the difference between the two housing, one is well design and well engineered the other one is not so great to control and poorly design and produced. Both work, having the budget, I go without hesitation for the best one.

[@ikelite]

Housing models released even just a few years ago would be less sophisticated than what we produce today. Our designs continually change as we make enhancements and improvements with each new camera model release. We aim to make professional quality images attainable through a full set of features at an affordable price point.

[@DuartedeZ]

You know what costs 4200 usd? My camera which I won't know is flooded because I have no warning lights... The stress is not worth it.

[@ikelite]

Flooding is always a concern! We recommend vacuum testing a system before taking it underwater, ideally overnight. Warning lights won't tell you how much water there is, where it's coming from, or how close to your camera it is. Our housing design does allow you to actually see inside in the rare event that there is water intrusion so that you can route the water in a way that is less likely to damage your camera.

[@harryvlogs7833]

Dude both theses housing are more than 1500 so to much compare to a cheaper one

[@ikelite]

We're looking at professional grade systems, if you don't need so much in terms of functionality or durability then there may be some cheaper options out there for your camera.

[@harryvlogs7833]

@ikelite yeah but seafront make a professional grade hard plastic diving case for like $400 unfortunately not for my camera

[@JoshuaMunozfilms]

wow can honestly say I've never seen a more inaccurate video. I'm sure everyone has had difference experiences with housings but boy my time with Ikelite was miserable. Yes, the price point of Nauticam is way higher and really it shouldnt be that high. But the amount of problems Ikelite has makes the price worth it to get something more expesnive. In the video you didnt talk about the rust or sticky buttons that ikelite has problems with or the comparison between the vacuum systems of the two housings and how dominent the nauticam is. They are also rated for the same depth. Also, having a clear back isn't going to save your camera, it just means you're going to watch it flood. If something is that wrong with the setup the clear backing isnt going to save the camera before its too late. I'd pick a seafrog over Ikelite any day!

[@ikelite]

Sorry to hear that you’ve had a bad experience! Proper assembly and good maintenance habits are essential to keep any underwater system dry and free of salt buildup. It’s good to keep in mind that a vacuum system does not prevent leaks, it helps to detect possible problems. Our housings are all rated to 200 feet (60m). If you need to go deeper we would recommend a housing that’s rated for deeper!