Ikelite Announces Housing for Canon EOS 70D

The first housing for the 70D is here, with Ikelite's fantastic TTL flash metering system built-in!

By Brent Durand, September 16, 2013

Ikelite is first-to-market with a housing for Canon's new EOS 70D. The 70D is a mid-level DSLR in Canon's lineup that features a revolutionary 20.2MP ASP-C 'Dual Pixel CMOS AF' sensor.

So what's the big deal? To date, digital SLRs have used advanced phase detection autofocus through the viewfinder and slower contrast detection AF in live view. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor allows use of phase detection AF in both viewfinder and live view, providing fast and accurate autofocus for video and live view shooting.

Highlights:

• Easy-to-use TTL flash metering and adjustment (with Ikelite strobes)
• Video start/record button on side of housing for easy thumb reach
• Glass optical viewfinder
• Available starting October 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

Ikelite proudly announces a full-featured, TTL enabled underwater housing for the Canon EOS 70D DSLR camera. The Ikelite housing is packed with standard features which perfectly complement the 70D camera's capabilities.

Product Features

TTL or "Through-The-Lens" flash metering means the camera controls flash duration to properly expose an image. The Ikelite housing for the Canon EOS 70D includes built-in proprietary circuitry which tells your camera that a TTL external flash is attached, allowing the camera to adjust exposure more accurately**. Spend more time showing off great photos, and less time tinkering in Photoshop.

Fiber optic slave flash units require the camera's flash to fire every time. This constantly drains your camera's battery life, builds up heat inside of the housing, and creates a shutter lag as you wait for the camera's flash to recycle in between shots. The Ikelite housing for the Canon EOS 70D translates direct electrical impulses from your camera, triggering your strobe and precisely adjusting its power without the need to fire the camera's flash. In-line communication between the strobe and the camera completely eliminates signal interference and false triggering caused by light rays bouncing off the water's surface or your buddy's flash going off.

Exposure adjustments directly through the back of the housing put the perfect shot within reach every time. Tweak your TLL exposure or take total manual control without taking your hand off of your housing. Two pushbuttons below the camera's LCD viewfinder act as a remote control for Ikelite DS-series strobes**. Access plus/minus exposure compensation in TTL mode, plus 7 manual power settings in half-stop increments. Strobe settings are indicated by a series of LED lights and plainly visible even at night.

Controls are customized to put all important camera functions within comfortable reach. We bring video record start/stop and AF lock out to the side of the housing for quick access using your thumb without taking a hand off of the handles. The housing with tray and handles is nearly neutral in fresh water depending on choice of lens port and lens. An glass optical viewfinder is enhanced for viewing underwater with a dive mask.

For a system of this caliber, a tray with dual handles is essential to good handling, balance underwater and attachment of external lighting. An aluminum tray with right- and left-hand rubberized grips is included with the Ikelite housing for the Canon EOS 70D, providing balance and comfortable hold, plus two quick release points for strobe and video arms, and tripod attachment holes. The complete handle assembly removes with just two screws for traveling.

An over-sized knob smoothly engages our unique system of universal zoom gears. We provide two zoom sets with each housing, one for use with most popular larger diameter zoom lenses and a second designed for use with smaller diameter zoom lenses. Both sets are lightweight and easy to install with no modification to the lens required. A variety of dome and flat ports attach with four locking latches for maximum security and quick changes between dives.

NOTE: A lens port is required for waterproof operation.

Special polycarbonate blends allow us to create an extremely strong yet clear and lightweight enclosure. We believe there's no substitute for inspecting the actual o-ring seal once your housing is closed. Our signature clear construction lets you see that the housing is watertight and dry before you enter the water, and provides full view of the camera while you're diving. Polycarbonate is fundamentally corrosion-resistant for easy maintenance year after year.

Quality in engineering, manufacturing and service. Like every Ikelite product, this housing for the Canon EOS 70D camera is designed, built and tested in the USA. We use locally sourced, top-grade materials from trusted vendors we've been working with for decades. Our housings are built by hand and individually tested for fit, function and waterproof integrity. The average assembly technician is a certified scuba diver and has over 16 years of experience building Ikelite products. We back our products with over 50 years of experience and service within the dive industry.

Full details are available at http://www.ikelite.com/web_two/can_70d.html

** Requires current model Ikelite DS Substrobe. Non-Ikelite strobes provide manual exposure only.

Availability

The Ikelite housing for the Canon EOS 70D is currently in production for release by early October.  This product is available for pre-order through any Authorized Ikelite Dealer.

Product No. 6870.70
Lens port, camera and lens not included.

Further Reading

• 5 Photos you Need in your Portfolio

• 10 Amazing Photos from Friends of the Guide

• Sola Nightsea Ultraviolet Light Review

Where to Buy

Please support the Underwater Photography Guide by purchasing your underwater photography gear through our sister site, Bluewater Photo & Video. Click, or call them at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!