Canon Customer Comments

I have had the Canon Rebel G for about 2 years. (time flies when having fun). I've worked for a university in a marine science/marine option program for about 8-9 years. In the past I used Nikonos V cameras with a wide variety of lenses 15 to 80mm, ext tube.... The Nikonos is a great camera, but I found it limited in my needs. While the Nikonos is small and portable, I found the view finder and focus not so hot. And since I was purchasing this with my own funds, I found that I could buy the complete Ikelite and Canon system for the cost of a Nikonos 15mm lens, sans body and view finder. Overall, I purchased the Canon Rebel Ikelite kit (100a flash, Pelican case, flat port and housing). I would never go back. The choice of camera is variable, as I own a number of Nikon bodies for land work, but made the move to the Canon for a number of reasons. 1) Co$t 2) small and light 3) it works 4) I can go completly auto or any variation of all the above 5) it is cheap enough to replace if ever flooded. (relative to the N90) If you purchase the Rebel, I would go with a Sigma 24-70mm lens, cost is low, value is high. I might suggest avoiding the Canon lens that comes with the camera, but the lens does work fine. I now own the Vivitar 19-35 lens and Sigma 2.8 100macro. I use the auto focus except if I am using the macro lens, then I sorta cheat and use the zoom gear to control the focus, and I've gotten some great results. I did some night work on manta rays, and did miss a few shots, due mostly to me being excited (it was really neat). I've since purchased Ike's electronic slave and dome port, and hope to go back with that, and the 19mm Vivitar lens. For focusing, the wider the angle of lens, the quicker the focus (at least that is my feeling), plus you get a clearer picture. Also, I almost always use the flash, which has a built in light, excellent for hands free night diving, and helps to focus very well. I like the camera, and Ikelite's service flat down can't be beat! They helped me out last year in modifying my housing to fit a newer model of the Rebel and did some other modifications I requested (I lent my camera to my boss, and it was stolen). The large Pelican case is sturdy and holds mostly everything. I now use a rolling action packer for my diving gear and camera system, even between islands, I rarely worry about any damage as this is a sturdy system. The Ikelite system is extremely sturdy, and you get the bennies of using the camera out of water too! I went to Pohnpei and shot over 30 rolls of film in a few short weeks and the camera was great. A final funny thing, is I find it easier to change film and lenses on a moving boat with the Ikelite camera then the Nikonos (I still use both for survey work). I hope I've not bent your ear to much, the Canon-Ikelite is an inexpensive yet incredibly versatile camera system. ............ John Coney, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Marine Option Program