ikelite housing and nikon 60 mm

Hello everybody!,

At the moment I have an ikelite housing, a D70 and a 8'dome port. I recently bought a 60 mm micro nikon lens. I understand that a flat port performs better with macro. When looking around, the shop told me the ikelite flat port for the 60 mm only supported manual focusing. Is this true and if so, does anybody has an alternative which also supports automatic focussing.

Thanks,

Mike.

Ikelite makes two 60mm ports....one is manual focus all the time and one is automatic focus all the time....I would recommend AF

Their 105mm port can be changed between MF and AF underwater

Karl

The 60 can be used in the manual focus port in autofocus, just don't hook up the gear...

The system doesn't offer the ability to switch from AF to MF underwater, though.

The 60 can be used in the manual focus port in autofocus, just don't hook up the gear...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why didn't I think of that

Karl

As they said, you can use the lens in either flat port #5502.41 or #5506. See port chart for port recomendations for which ever lens you are looking at.

But a slight correction to your question. The lens does not perform better in a flat port than a dome port. Every lens is at better behind a dome port though the difference is much less for a macro lens than for wide angle. The problem using a macro lens (and especially a short macro lens like the 60mm) is that you are almost guarenteed to scratch the port on a rock trying to get close enough to your subject.

The flat ports are 1. smaller and therefore less likely to get in the way, 2. Made of a more scrtatch resistant material. and 3. cheaper to replace when you scratch it.

Also with flat port the magnification is higher, I don't know exactly how much but I see a significant different between the dome and flat ports.

You can also use the AF port as a MF port if you attach the zoom clamp and zoom gear using the zoom knob to focus since you won't need it on the prime lens. You won't be able to change between MF and AF though. Just be careful not to accidentally switch to AF in this config.

The 60mm AF port is cheap. The 60mm focuses very well in low light and I think you will prefer AF all the time.

Thanks everybody for the reply. I think I stick with the 5502.41 to be able to AF.

Mike Frens.