Subal CD5 MK11 For Canon EOS5D MkII

Canon full frame cameras are hugely popular with commercial photographers who make their living from the quality of their images. The Canon 5D MkII camera once again raises the benchmark in a compact professional body. The 5D MkII provides 21 megapixels for noise free, finely detailed images. Low light performance is excellent. You can also burst shoot up to 13 RAW images. And the provision of full HD video recording adds a new dimension to underwater photography.

Subal, under the design expertise of Arnold Stepanek, have created a housing around the Canon 5D MkII that really matches the camera itself in terms of build quality, ergonomics and style. With pre sales advice and after sales service from Mark Keokemoer and Steve Warren at Ocean Optics, you are buying into an underwater camera system that is complete.

The Subal CD5MkII comes with all the essentials, like full controls and dual flash sockets, as standard. Where options are offered, they are there to let you customise the CD5MKII to your personal preferences. So you get to choose the type of flash connector and viewfinder to meet your own needs.

Subals CD5MkII housing is not cast, but carved from a solid billet of aluminium. This is specially treated to avoid any long term corrosion problems. Subal housings have a very strong reputation for standing up to professional use in the harshest environments over many years of hard use. So your Subal housing for your Canon EOS 5D mkII will be an investment. The housing is 70 metre rated. The CD5 MkII hugs the camera body making this an extremely compact housing, reducing drag underwater. It is also very lightweight - from around 2.5kg - so it is practical to travel with it safely in your hand luggage.

Your Canon 5D MkII camera mounts securely onto a slide in camera saddle. Canon's are very easy cameras to load into a Subal housing as almost nothing needs to be lined up. The hull closes using Subal's time proven QuickLock latches. Only two are needed, so opening your housing for card or battery changes is fast and easy. A safety lock is incorporated, making it virtually impossible to make a mistake. A soft 4mm diameter compression O ring makes the seal. Soft O rings are a little more tolerant of particles on the seal as they can mould around them.

The Subal CD5MkII provides very comprehensive control over your camera. Speed is often the key to getting a successful image underwater. The careful placement of key shooting controls around the hull of the Subal CD5MKII ensure you can react instinctively and decisively when the action is fast and furious. Subal's soft touch shutter trigger minimizes camera shake from releasing the shutter, helping to keep images sharp at slow shutter speeds and high magnification, important with low light and macro photography. Shutter speed and aperture are quickly adjusted without moving your right hand from the firing position. The non slip dials fall under your thumb and ring finger. The zoom control is driven by your left hand for fast composition.

You can also turn your Canon 5D MkII on and off to save battery power, use your display light, AF on or AE/F lock (you choose), select exposure mode, metering mode, white balance, AF, drive, flash compensation, menu, picture style, info, play, erase, AF point, set and live view.

The CD5MkII is equipped with twin hand grips that are designed to compliment your control of camera functions. The right grip is the well known Subal strap handle or comfort grip. This uses an overhand strap to secure your housing to your hand without you having to constantly grip it. The problem the comfort grip helps solve is that holding a pistol grip with your fingers locked around it for long periods, especially if your camera system is heavy and unbalanced (the Subal CD5MKII is very finely balanced and near neutral in the water), or you use thick gloves, can lead to cramping. The Subal comfort grip lets you relax your grip and flex your fingers and thumb. The strap is adjustable.

Subal offer three viewfinder options for the CD5MkII. The smallest is an image reduction finder. This type of optic is found on many of our competitor's housings. This type of viewfinder lets you see the entire viewfinder image at once, but does so at the expense of making the image much smaller. With this viewfinder you'll need to use a low volume facemask and keep your eye pressed against the eyepiece to see into thecorners of the focusing screen.

The GS180 is a genuine magnifier. It increases the size of the Canon's own viewfinder image by 50%. The larger image makes manual focusing easier, eases reading information displays and improves composition. The GS180 is an eyelevel finder - you look through it from behind just like using your Canon 5D MKII's own viewfinder. With the GS180 it isn't necessary to have your eye against the finder eyepiece. You can use larger face masks, including full face models, and bulky mouthpieces found on some rebreathers. You can also see around the viewfinder, giving early warning of subjects about to enter frame.

The WS45 is also a magnifier and increases image size by 50%. This finder has an eyepiece slanted at 45 degrees. This position allows you to look down into the viewfinder from above, making it an excellent choice for low level macro work, where you cannot lie prone on the seafloor and see through a conventional eye level finder. The WS45 lets you place the camera on the sand and view your subject from overhead. It's also good for split level photography as the finder eyepiece can remain above the waterline. For your convenience, the WS45 swivels for horizontal and vertical shooting.

The main LCD panel is deeply hooded to both protect the screen and provide a shadow to make viewing easier in strong light.

The Subal CD5MKII is a professional housing and this is reflected in the design of the flash circuits. Strobes create more problems than all other underwater camera equipment combined in our experience. The CD5MKII comes with two strobe sockets as standard, each independent of the other. You can fire two strobes simultaneously or, in case of a failure, such as accidentally flooding a socket, use either socket as a back up. It's this kind of Subal featured fail safe design that professionals appreciate. Your choice of connectors will depend on whether you wish to shoot a TTL strobe, such as a Canon Speedlite in its own housing, or a manual gun, like the popular Inon Z- 240. For TTL use we normally recommend the Subtronic S6 connection, needed to carry the six circuits used by Canon TTL Speedlites. For manual systems, the Nikonos type socket provides access to the widest possible choice of underwater strobes. Two strobe mounting shoes are standard - these accept most pro level arms including our own range, Inon.

Subal ports are renowned for their optical excellence. Only glass is used for the lens. Subal understand this is the final component in the optical chain between your camera, lens and your subject,:Subal strive for optical perfection. Ports mount quickly and easily using a two claw bayonet. Two mount sizes can be specified, and both can be switched around at a later date. The Mk3 bayonet mount has been in use for around 20 years. If you already own a Subal with this mount, you may want to keep this fitting on your Subal CD5MK11 and utilize your existing ports. If you are new to Subal, then we'd recommend you use the slightly wider Mk4. And if you are confused, give us a call! You can easily remove and install lenses through the front of your housing - you don't have to take out your camera.

Your Subal CD5MkII is already fitted with an optical leak detector. Other finishing touches include anti skid pads on the base to protect

your housings finish and a mount to take a focusing light. If you are considering investing in the Subal CD5D MkIIhousing, we'd recommend that you make an appointment to look over the Subal CD5MkII in detail. It's a good idea to bring along your face mask, especially if you use corrective lenses, and your favourite gloves if you will be using these. These items will help you assess viewfinding and handling. Expect to spend an hour or two discussing the Subal system and accessories. Steve and Mark will want to know as much as possible about the kind of underwater photography you'll want to use your Canon 5D MKII for. Many of our clients will bring along a laptop with examples of their own work or the images they aspire to help with these discussions.

If you decide to purchase your Subal CD5MKII housing from us, we'd suggest you visit us for a full day. Mark or Steve will work with you one on one. During your visit you'll be shown how to install your Canon camera into your new housing, how to gear up lenses and any adjustment to controls can usually be made while you wait. You'll also be shown how to test your flash circuits. A key part of the day will be going through the proper pre dive maintenance that will protect your system from flooding. Finally, you'll have the chance to make a test dive in Underwater Studios movie tank. Mark or Steve will be alongside and ready to offer on the spot advice using our Ocean Technology Systems radiophones.

The CD5MKII follows the traditional values of the Subal housing dynasty that have built the brands reputation. It is simply one of the very best underwater photography systems out there.