Super Macro with Ikelite Housing

Hi, all.

Is it possible to do super macro ( more than 2:1 ) with an Ikelite housing? I mean, is there any flat port that can I use to do that?

The setup will be a Nikkor 105 2.8D plus TC Kenko Pro 300 2X.

Regards

Augusto Valente

Hi Auguso,

I got the 6.5" flat port with focus only to find out that the Canon 100mm macro lens does not fit. However, the normal flat port should be fine (anyone want to trade a 6.5" flat for a 6.5" flat with manual focus?).

I don't know the diameter of your 105mm lens but if it is greater than 2.8" the ports with build-in focus may not work. I can't comment on the usefulness of autofocus at 2:1 as I've not gone that far. If you don't need it or just manually set the lens to 1:1 magification and move the housing to focus then you should be fine with any flat port of the right length. Take the length of your lens, add the length of your TC and pick the next longer lens available from Ikelite.

Bart

I´m trying to figure this thing out too, since I got a 4T and plan to get this TC, so please let me know which port works for you and how much space is left lens to port, for stack the 4T diopter...

Ikelite should start to make ports in the same way they are making bodies for the 8" dome... I know this extension rings could be handy...

Ikelite should start to make ports in the same way they are making bodies for the 8" dome... I know this extension rings could be handy...

Agreed! At one point there was a statement to this effect on the 8" dome port page on the Ikelite site. Any hint of that has since been retracted. I have a new 105mm that is waiting for this new port, but if they don't make one soon I may break down and get the conventional one.

There is no standard focus port that can be used with the 105mm and a TC. There is only a focus port that works with the old 105mm. Unfortunately, this port does not have room to add a TC or even a 3T, or 4T diopter.

I had a focus port custom made from Ikelite that allows focus with the 4T. Ike only charged $25 more for the custom port. God rest his soul.

You could go with a standard non-AF port of the right length. Measure the lens combo and make sure it fits. This should work for the VR or old 105mm. I don't think you will successfully AF this rig no matter how powerful your focus light. You could set MF on the lens and pre-set the reproduction ratio you want--probably full out. Then you could just move in closer or farther until you get focus confirmation (green light) and shoot. This is largely the way you would focus at or beyond 1:1 on land anyway.

You could go with a standard non-AF port of the right length. Measure the lens combo and make sure it fits. This should work for the VR or old 105mm. I don't think you will successfully AF this rig no matter how powerful your focus light.

Agreed, but let´s say that you become a really supermacro freak and want to add a 2XTC+1.4X TC + one 4T with a 3T attached (or 5T/6T deppends if VR/ or not), even when you must use MF on this combination, there is really an AF port long enough to fit this combo? I think this is an Ikelite limitation. Let´s hope Ikelite make in the future a flat port body rings system as they did with the 8" dome (huge improvement BTW...)

Agreed, but let´s say that you become a really supermacro freak and want to add a 2XTC+1.4X TC + one 4T with a 3T attached (or 5T/6T deppends if VR/ or not), even when you must use MF on this combination, there is really an AF port long enough to fit this combo? I think this is an Ikelite limitation. Let´s hope Ikelite make in the future a flat port body rings system as they did with the 8" dome (huge improvement BTW...)

Well then you just ask them to make you a longer port. That is easily done. The only way you are going to focus that thing is with trap focus. So you don't need MF anyway.

But I think those combos are pretty silly. Have you ever tried to focus the 105mm on any subject live or dead with even the 4T or 6T attached? Its pretty hard to do handheld. Going beyond that is a recipe for frustration. For some real fun try a 50mm lens reversed on the front of the 105mm! Maybe its possible to do that on the copy stand but underwater? There are limits to every system this one I can live with.

But I think a flat port for the 8" dome would be a great thing, esp. for travel. I have to believe that some of the existing segments should work for the 60mm and 105mm if there was a flat port available.

If anyone at Ikelite is listening, just to get the ball rolling what would it cost to make a custom flat port to fit my 12-24mm 8" dome extension?