Upgrading my Fuji S2 rig

[GLOC]

I am planning on upgrading my Fuji S2 rig which has given me some good service for a D200 this year.

I would prefer to have another Aquatica so I can re-use the dome port, shade and extender but have been offered a Hugyfot with 3 ports from Canada (price under discussion!)

I need to have an idea of what I can get for

2 x Fuji S2 bodies
1 x Aquatica S2 Housing including custom grips and 2 x Nikonos connectors with quick release Hotshoe connector.
1 x 8" dome port
1 x port extender to allow 8" to be used with 12-24
1 x focus/zoom ring for Sigma 10-20
Spare O-ring for housing

I was thinking in the order of a grand for the lot.

Regards

[Mike W]

Jeez - no idea if that's owt like the going rate, but around a grand for the lot sounds like a lot of depreciation to me....

I'm sure you've thought it out carefully, so what does the D200 offer that's better than your S2's for your sort of work?

Saw some of your shots at LIDS by the way, vurry nice, but hadn't realised you were there in person otherwise I'd have found an excuse and wandered off-stand to come and say hello,

[GLOC]

The biggest gains I can see are:

• Lower noise at High ISO, which with my style of ambient light makes a difference
• Better viewfinder
• Much better LCD for histogram and image viewing
• Easier white balance access and settings
• I am a kit tart

I had quite a few nice comments about my prints and I will be setting up a dedicated print sales site following some feedback at the weekend rather than try to sell through Images of Life. Shame divers are so tight I might go on a stand with someone at NEC depending on prices to see if I can sell there (or at least raise my profile). Would have been good to chat to some more bods whilst I was there.

When I bought the S2 Housing, bodies were around £350 each on Ebay (which is not far where they are at the moment), the housing cost me around £350, the port was £315. In effect someone will get a spare body for nothing if I sell it for a grand.

It would make an excellent entry level SLR setup for someone but I suppose it is only worth what someone is going to pay for it!

Thanks

[TimIngmire]

I would have said the same as Mike but I don't think that the Fuji S2's are fetching a lot of money 2nd hand - if the body is not sought after then the rest will also suffer.

One grand does not seem a lot given the package, personally I'd go for higher and see what offers came in.

At some point soon I'm likely to look at selling my D70 body, housing and macro port - I'd like to think I'd get more than £1000 for it and that less gear than Gareth is moving on.

TBH Gareth, unless the Hugy was a very good deal, I'd be tempted to stay with Aquatica given that D200 housings are starting to appear on a regular basis.

[GLOC]

Thanks Tim. There is no major hurry. The Hugy didn't have a price, so I offered 1/3 retail for it and got turned down Therefore I asked him what he wanted for it and am awaiting a response.

I am banking on people upgrading their D200s for 300s and shifting stuff on so will keep my eye out on Ebay, here and Wetpixel.

Thanks again.

[whacky]

Hi Gareth,

I was directed towards this thread by cussy as i have come to the conclusion I will be able to get a SLR set up sooner if i look second hand. However I know nothing about either the fuji S2 or aquatica so i will do a little reading and get back to you. Looking at your shots though it s more than adequate fo my ability

[ChristianG]

Originally Posted by whacky

I was directed towards this thread by cussy as i have come to the conclusion I will be able to get a SLR set up sooner if i look second hand. However I know nothing about either the fuji S2 or aquatica so i will do a little reading and get back to you. Looking at your shots though it s more than adequate fo my ability

I rather suspect that you would be getting a bargain there, because I rather suspect (but don't actually know) that Gareth looks after his equipment very well.

Both the S2 and Aquatica were pretty well state of the art when they were launched and Fuji, I might have said this before and more than once, knows a thing or two about colour.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. If I were in that market, and I'm not, I would look at that system very seriously indeed.

Gareth, you might test the waters as to price by advertising it on wetpixel? As an alternative I could also do so on my favourite u/w camera forum on your behalf although those guys are mostly pretty upmarket. Let me know, preferably via email, it's there I think.

I don't, with that "upmarket" statement, cast any insinuations. I'm just telling it as it is.

[GLOC]

Thanks Guys,

I never heard back from the Hugyfot guy, my first offer must have p*ssed him off somewhat!!

Whacky, after you have done some research, drop me an email via my website and we can chat offline. I also put something on YD too with a slight increase in costs.

However, I need to find a replacement before I can sell this lot as I have several trips planned around photo shoots (Scapa, Narvik, French side of the Channel )

Thanks for the help everyone.

[yellowduke]

Gareth,

just in case you haven't seen it. Cameras Underwater has a used Hugy housing for the D200 for £1500.

"Hugyfot D200 housing (for Nikon D200) - complete housing system. Includes housing, extension ring, fisheye port, flat port, zoom gears for 12-24mm & 60mm macro."

It has apparently been serviced recently too.

Jim

[GLOC]

I hadn't Jim. Thanks for the heads up. Can see an expensive phone call coming up!!