Sea and Sea port options

I'm trying to get to grips with macro port options to use with Sea and Sea housings. Some feedback would be helpful.

Sea and Sea appear to offer different options for Nikkor 60mm and 105mm lenses.

Firstly, there is the option of the 'standard NX flat port' - the large looking one clad in rubber. This takes the 60mm but with an extention ring can then take the 105mm.

Secondly, there is the option of using the 'compact macro port base' with a specific length glass port for the 60mm and another one for the 105mm.

I'm not sure which is best. The first option is cheaper, lighter and has less components but the second option looks neater and more compact. Everyone I know has been sold the first option.

For any Sea and Sea users does anyone favour one option over the other and if so why? Any dvice, experience, comment, would be helpful.

Hi,

I am using both type & here is what I think the difference is;

1.If you planed to do manual focusing with 60mm, than you have no other choice but, use your 'first' option with ring gear.

2.If you planed to use both 60mm & 105mm (and even 200mm Micro lens) with AF mode all the time (which I do on my F-100) than, you can use 'second' option.

I like second option as you said it is compact & I use AF most of time.

Sam

Hi, and welcome to the forum! I had the standard port when I used Sea&Sea and it worked perfectly. I am not sure if there is a "best" option, as they are optically identical. The compact macro port system can be used in some zooms, that's the only reason I would consider it over the standard macro port. Check the Sea&Sea lens chart and see if you have (or plan to use) any of the zooms listed.

Luiz

A third option that isn't mentioned here is the Custom Flat Port, which is about $200 more than the standard port. This buys you the ability to switch the 60 & 105 lenses from Autofocus to Manual Focus (with the appropriate gear set), and manipulate focus from the port. This is the only way to do both AF & MF w/ the 60 & 105 in the Sea & Sea system.

Rather than use the kit lenses & midrange zooms behind flat ports (NX Wide Port, NX Zoom Port, etc) as Sea & Sea would recommend, most of my customers prefer using these lenses in dome ports.

Some of the most knowledgable people in the world about the Sea & Sea system work at or own the retail stores that sponsor this site. In my opinion it would be in your best interest to contact one or a few of them...

Useful comments so far. Thanks.

My UK Sea and Sea dealer does not like anthing other than the standard NX flat port, does not use manual focus and wants to steer me off the other port options for the macro lenses.

I was hoping to only use AF so the custom port did not grab my attention.

If I'm only interested in the 60 and 105 Nikkors the neater and more compact shape of the specific 60 and 105 ports caught my eye despite having never seen them. I can see that optically it should make no difference. It is just interesting to use Wet Pixel to see which route others have chosen

I had the similar choise recently. (with my canon 60mm lens)

For me the compact base + macro port solution was the better one since I have no intention of using manual focus.

Its really neat and is a perfect companion to the compact dx-350d housing.

Hi All

For me LESS IS BEST, IF YOU DONT NEED IT DONT TAKE IT

i use the following which streamlines the kit

60mm Micro - Compact macro port base and Compact macro port 35 (s)

105mm Micro - Compact macro port base - 40 Extension ring - Compact macro port 35 (s)

1 port ,1 extension ring, 1 base. fits all my lenses and is light and compact to travel with.

I then use compact dome port for all WIDE stuff and Coupled with the 40 extension ring fits all ZOOM lenses.

carrying 2 ports - 1 extension ring - 1 compact macro base does the LOT - SIMPLE

all gears for Manual focus are available to use if i wish to do so, controlled from the DX70 housing....

regards

craig

One thing to consider, as far as I know, the compact macro port is compatible with Nexus wetmount diopter (90mm) but I am not sure about the NX flat port. It looks a bit too big so it might be worthwhile checking this out.

CL-110 fits the larger port if you slice off the little foot on the bottom of the port with a razor knife.

I've come round to thinking I like the standard NX flat port. The fact that it is clad in rubber may be a bonus. I borrowed one recently and found the rubber offers good protection when the housing is resting on the rocks when shore diving. Also when the rig with strobes is all folded down the strobes have got something soft to rest against.

This standard port with a 40 mm extention ring should be all I need. This may be the lightest combination too, fewer o rings and a bit cheaper.

Just my thoughts at the moment.

Thanks to all those who replied - very useful.