My Micronesian Ikelite System for Canon R5 // David Fleetham's Underwa

Featuring David Fleetham

As one of the most published underwater photographers in history, David Fleetham knows a thing or two about setting up a camera system to shoot below the surface. He breaks down what's in his gear bag when he goes on assignment whether in Micronesia, Hawaii, or anywhere in the underwater world.

Watch David's video or scroll down to read the video transcript.

Håfa Adai, my name is David Fleetham. I'm an underwater photographer and Ikelite Ambassador and I'm just gonna go over a little bit about the systems that I use underwater.

Macro Lens & Camera

So to start things off we're going to talk about macro. This is my macro setup for shooting little teeny tiny things - I use the Canon R5 and for macro I use mostly the 100mm macro lens. I also have a 70mm Sigma lens that I alternate with. The Sigma is the old style mount and requires the Canon adapter for the mirrorless camera bodies.

Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing for Canon R5

The housing is Ikelite's Dry Lock Housing and I use the 45º Viewfinder for both macro and wide angle.

The camera tray screws on to the bottom of the body. I leave the lens on in the case of the 100mm lens and it slides straight into the housing. Before I do so I'll plug in the USB-C cord that I've got a second bulkhead for and then the hotshoe slides on to the top of the camera body.

Finally have a quick look at the o-ring to make sure there's nothing on there that I need to worry about. Check the ceiling surface on the back of the housing. Then clamp the locks on the side and top of the housing.

Ambassador David Fleetham pictured with both his macro and wide angle underwater systems

Ambassador David Fleetham pictured with his fully assembled macro and wide-angle underwater systems.

Ikelite DS230 Strobes

The strobes I use are Ikelite DS230 Strobes, their latest most powerful strobe and it packs a punch. I previously used the DS161s and by far these are a step up for the beam angle and for the power setting. It amazes me every time how far down I can go in my f-stops with a pair of these.

I've also modified my housing somewhat and then I created a bar across the top of it that mounts on Ikelite ball joints and it just allows me to add additional ball joints across the top of it. I've got five across the top and actually two additional ball joints on the bottom. And so the strobes go on the outer balls.

Additional Video Accessories - Macro

For shooting video when I have a macro setup I add a GoPro to the mount on the top of the housing so that if I'm shooting little teeny tiny critters and a whale shark swims by I can at least capture it with something this way. If it's something that requires video lights I take those along and also mount those on that bar that's along the top of it.

Image of a fish with blue background and rocky coral take by David Fleetham

Canon R5 + Sigma 70mm Art Lens © David Fleetham. Read more: A More Affordable Macro Lens | Sigma 70mm Art and the Canon R5

DIY Buoyancy Float

Then with the added weight of the video lights and the bar, and you know seven ball joints, the whole unit is quite heavy underwater and it took me a long time to realize it. I used to put ankle weights on my ankle because when I was shooting stuff I would fall forward. Finally I realized that this is so heavy so I made a buoyancy tube that mounts along the top of that bar in the center of it and it makes the entire unit almost neutral underwater. I can literally hold the system with one finger down below and as I'm shooting if I tilt the camera down or tilt the camera up the buoyancy can move back and forth.

I've tried the buoyancy floats or the buoyancy arms to make the whole thing neutral. With those at some point it feels just right in the water, but if you tilt down or up you're fighting that buoyancy. This system allows me to tilt the camera either way and still hold it with just one hand really easily underwater and pull the trigger.

David Fleetham underwater with his neutrally buoyant Ikelite System

Showing off the near-perfect buoyancy system David has rigged on his underwater system.

Wide Angle Lens & Camera

I have Canon's 8-15mm, their fisheye zoom. For me, probably 80% of the wide angle I shoot with this lens. I also have several wide angle zooms that if I'm shooting dolphins or sharks, things that don't always come right up to the dome, then I'll use one of those wide angle zooms. But this, for diver shots, for reef shots, is my go-to lens.

Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing for Canon R5

Again, the Canon R5, Ikelite Dry Lock housing. And I use that same 45º Viewfinder that I had on the macro set up. I've tried the straight viewfinder and this is definitely my preference.

Ikelite TTL Converter

I use Ikelite’s DS230 strobes, the new powerful strobes. Their beam angle has no problem covering the 180º that this fisheye zoom covers. I also use for both macro and wide angle, Ikelite’s TTL system. Easily 99% of the images that I shoot, I shoot on TTL.

I've shot Ikelite systems since 1976 was the first one that I purchased. Once they figured out the TTL systems on the new autofocus cameras, it was a game changer. It means that if there's a shark 20 feet away, you can pull the trigger and get a perfect exposure. 10 feet away, you can just keep clicking. A foot away, keep clicking. And all of those exposures are just going to be bang on.

David Fleetham pictured with his Ikelite TTL converter and underwater housing

"Easily 99% of the images that I shoot, I shoot on TTL."

USB-C Bulkhead

I also have the USB-C cable that I plug into the side of the R5. That cable allows two things - I can download the images from the camera without taking the camera out of the housing and I can also plug in an external battery pack like you use to charge a phone.

I have done that several times on dives where I've been out for two dives, one after the other. If I shoot heavily on that first dive, I'll plug that battery pack in and charge up the camera in the housing without taking the camera out on a rocking boat. It's ingenious and a great addition. I have had the camera battery die on me on the second dive when I have not done that. So it's just automatically in the gear bag now.

So the camera slides straight into the back of the housing. There's a zoom gear on here that you just need to line up and then it pops right in. The hotshoe slides on. Then just check the o-ring, make sure it's clear all around. Pop on the back and I do up the two locking clamps on the side simultaneously and then the last on the top.

David Fleetham pictured with Ikelite 8inch Dome Port

David foregoes the dome port shades for his split shots.

DL 8 Inch Dome Port

I've got the big port, Ikelite’s big 8inch Dome Port on here that allows me to shoot half above and half below images (split-shots). There's a shade that comes with that dome. I found at the surface as I'm dipping the camera in shooting half above half below, it causes bubbles on the front of the dome. So I took it off and I actually haven't put it back on and I use it without the shade for the most part.

The strobes go on that same bar that I had for the macro setup.

Turtle Split Shot taken by David Fleetham

The 8 inch Dome Port is key to getting crisp water lines on your split shots. See more: Tips for Shooting Split Shots with Your Underwater Housing. // Turtle split shot © David Fleetham.

Additional Video Accessories - Wide Angle

In case I'm shooting video, the same video lights that I have on the macro setup, I'll switch over for the wide angle setup. Then I've got a second float that fits on the top again to make this entire unit neutral.

Last but not least, GoPro Hero, I think I've got a Hero 10. It mounts on the Ikelite ball that is on the top of the housing.

We're almost ready to go. Before I put the camera in the water, I'll undo the vacuum port and pump a vacuum into the housing. I'll try to do that, even the night before, I'll put the whole system together, pump that vacuum and then in the morning check and make sure that that vacuum is still sealed.

These are the two systems that I travel with, which ends up being three 50-pound (22.7 kg) cases when I get to my destination.

I love the Ikelite gear. It has held up for years and years. If you want to see some more of my work, my website is my name - www.davidfleetham.com - Thanks for watching!

David's Gear

Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing for Canon EOS R5 # 71764
Ikelite DS232 Strobe # 40232US
Trim Weight System # 47140
DL 8" Dome Port # 75340

Ambassador David Fleetham left his hometown of Vancouver, Canada, for Maui in 1986 and never looked back. He earned his USCG Captain's license while working in various dive charter businesses, shooting, and submitting his photos to magazines and businesses. One of the most prolific underwater photographers of his time, David now has galleries and agents in over 50 countries that reproduce his images thousands of times each year. Read more...