blibecap

Forum username: blibecap
Real name: Bill
Posts: 717
Active years: 2006–2023
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique, Classifieds, Beginner Forum
Specialization: Housing mechanics, vacuum leak detection systems, Ikelite/Aquatica gear

Community Role

blibecap (Bill) was a dedicated Wetpixel community member for seventeen years, contributing extensively to technical discussions about underwater housing mechanics and maintenance. He joined in September 2006 and remained active through mid-2023, posting across a wide range of gear-related topics with a particular focus on practical, hands-on problem-solving.

Bill distinguished himself as a member with machining and mechanical fabrication skills, which he applied to underwater photography housing challenges. When a fellow member had difficulty installing a Vivid Housings Leak Sentinel V3 vacuum system on an Ikelite housing, Bill provided detailed technical guidance on the two-piece control gland construction, explaining how to disassemble the threaded components (^[1]). His machining capabilities were recognized by other members, with user bvanant noting “I know your machining capabilities” when suggesting Bill could fabricate a replacement camera tray for an Aquatica housing (^[2]).

Throughout his years on Wetpixel, Bill was an active participant in discussions about dome ports, viewfinders, strobe connectivity, fiber optics, vacuum leak detection, buoyancy management, and gear transportation. He frequently shared practical solutions to common equipment problems and was a reliable source of technical knowledge in the community.

Notable Contributions

• Housing vacuum systems: Bill was an early adopter and advocate of housing vacuum leak detection, participating in discussions about Backscatter’s Airlock system and Vivid Housings Leak Sentinel. He helped other members with installation and troubleshooting of these systems (^[3], ^[4]).

• Camera tray fabrication: When Bill acquired an Aquatica A5D housing missing its camera tray/saddle, he demonstrated both his resourcefulness and mechanical skills by seeking a sample tray to replicate, noting he could machine a replacement but wanted to ensure button alignment was correct. The thread revealed that Aquatica itself had no stock of the legacy part (^[5]).

• Dome port and optics discussions: Bill contributed to numerous threads about dome port selection, vignetting issues, and wet lens compatibility, including discussions about the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye in various dome ports and the use of diopters with wide-angle lenses (^[6], ^[7]).

• Strobe and fiber optic expertise: Bill participated in discussions about strobe synchronization issues, fiber optic cable modifications, and strobe positioning, drawing from experience with Ikelite DS-125 and DS-160 strobes as well as Sea & Sea YS-D1 units (^[8], ^[9]).

• Active classified trader: Bill was a prolific user of the Wetpixel Classifieds, both buying and selling gear as he upgraded through various camera systems. His sale listings and purchase inquiries documented his progression through multiple Ikelite, Aquatica, and Nauticam housings over the years (^[10], ^[11]).

Gear History

Bill’s forum activity traces a progression through several underwater camera systems:

• 2006–2010: Ikelite housings with Nikon bodies (D40, D90, D200, D300/D300s), paired with Ikelite DS-125 strobes and various dome and flat ports
• 2010–2014: Transitioned to Aquatica housings (A5D, AD7000 for Nikon D7000), while also exploring Nauticam viewfinders and Zen dome ports
• 2014–2018: Used Ikelite housings for Canon 7D Mark II and experimented with Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobes
• 2018–2023: Continued participation primarily in gear troubleshooting and technical discussions

Activity Profile

• First post: September 25, 2006
• Last post: June 8, 2023
• Threads started: 56
• Total posts: 717
• Peak activity: 2012–2016, during the height of DSLR-era housing discussions
• Forum focus: Predominantly Photography Gear and Technique and Classifieds, with occasional contributions to Beginner Forum and General Chat