Ikelite 8" dome may soon be available

Not breaking news so sorry if someone has already posted this, but I haven't seen it here yet and I watch the forums pretty closely.

Ikelite has updated their site with promising news that their long awaited 8" dome may soon be available.

http://ikelite.com/web_pages/dabigadoma.html

Ike, have you decided how to handle the 15mm FE on full frame cameras yet?

(You may want to add another line or a footnote to the chart to mention that the 5503 does not work for FEs on FF cameras.)

I have been waiting to get some info about the Ike 8" dome long time. I would like to order in couple days, but I still do not have clear picture how the whole system will work. Ike says:

"All new dome port system utilizing a new 4" radius dome and interchangeable mounting stalk lengths."

What is the interchangeable stalk? Some kind of extention ring? There is just one item to be ordered - #5510.81. I thought Ike only makes ports positioned for one pupil - dome distance. I am confused.. should I wait, should I order?

I would apreciate if someone explains how this new

8" dome will work and what parts need to be ordered.

thank you

Martin

The 8" dome is going to work slightly differently than the 6" domes.

On the 6" domes the stalk is attached. So you buy a separate port for each lens. With the 8" dome the stalk will not be attached. So you buy one dome that you will use for all lenses. And then you buy different stalks for your different lenses.

The stalks are not exactly extension rings, because they can not be stacked. But they serve the same function - in that now you can use the same dome for all lenses.

I woulld wait on ordering the 8" dome untill more information is available.

Thank you, now I have clear picture. The way Ike is launching this product on the market says it all... it was supposed to be available since october and there is still poor product description on the web.

I was about purchasing the tokina 12-24 and Ike has not been able to find out if this lens fits in it for 4 month ...

Now I want to make sure I will have it for my next trip and still have reason to hasitate on order.

What if Ike says some relevant information to this issue...

The Tokina 12-24 works well in the 5503.50 dome port (3" radius) assuming you use apertures from f8-f11.