Sea & Sea DX port and 500D for 100mm macro

Just a heads up. Using the MDX 40D housing. If you try to install the 500D closeup lens on the Canon 100mm macro in the DX Macro 50 port and base (Recommended on the System chart) it will have about .002 inch interference and scratch the inside of the port with the serated edge of the lens. It's very close. At first glance it looks like it will fit. Measurement with a vernier caliper just saved me buying a new port. Since this seems to be a fairly common setup I thought I'd put up the post. It might save somebody some money. I'm considering machining off some of the outer ring of the 500D to make it fit. Is there a practical optical limit to how close the lens can be to the port glass?

 

I wish S&S had thought about the 500D when they made the port. Another .10 would have been all we need. Guess they can't think of everything.

 

Steve

Just a heads up. Using the MDX 40D housing. If you try to install the 500D closeup lens on the Canon 100mm macro in the DX Macro 50 port and base (Recommended on the System chart) it will have about .002 inch interference and scratch the inside of the port with the serated edge of the lens. It's very close. At first glance it looks like it will fit. Measurement with a vernier caliper just saved me buying a new port. Since this seems to be a fairly common setup I thought I'd put up the post. It might save somebody some money. I'm considering machining off some of the outer ring of the 500D to make it fit. Is there a practical optical limit to how close the lens can be to the port glass?

 

I wish S&S had thought about the 500D when they made the port. Another .10 would have been all we need. Guess they can't think of everything.

 

Steve

 

Thanks for the info, might have saved me from an expensive mistake. My new Sea&Sea 40D housing and ports are supposed to arrive tomorrow, can't wait for the new toys So a couple questions?

 

I've always used the external woodies diopter - do you know if the 100mm woody's (from my old Ikelite housing) will fit on the DX macro port 50 ?

 

Have you tried your 60mm in the DX base/macro port 50 combo - any vignetting problems at large apertures? Is the port too long to allow you to get close enough for 1:1 macro?

 

Also, which dome are you using with your Tokina 10-17? I have the NX fisheye - was told it works fine, even though not what S&S shows on their system chart page.

 

TIA

 

Bruce

Thanks for the info, might have saved me from an expensive mistake. My new Sea&Sea 40D housing and ports are supposed to arrive tomorrow, can't wait for the new toys So a couple questions?

Congrats on the new housing Bruce, You'll love it.

I've always used the external woodies diopter - do you know if the 100mm woody's (from my old Ikelite housing) will fit on the DX macro port 50 ?

The end of the DX macro port measures about 90mm, same as the compact port but with more of a taper, so it might be a little big, sorry I'm not much help. I did ask Woody 2 weeks ago if it would fit and he wasn't familar with the DX port so you may be the first to try it. Let us know how it goes.

 

Have you tried your 60mm in the DX base/macro port 50 combo - any vignetting problems at large apertures? Is the port too long to allow you to get close enough for 1:1 macro?

I have the compact port for my 60mm so I haven't tried the DX with it. The DX is about .60 inch longer than the Compact port setup S&S recommends.

Also, which dome are you using with your Tokina 10-17? I have the NX fisheye - was told it works fine, even though not what S&S shows on their system chart page.

I am going to try to use the NX without the extention ring 40 for the 10-17 and use my 10-22 with the extention. The 10-17 vignettes badly with the extention on. Starts about 16mm and in. I haven't got it in the water yet but it looks like it will work, worst case I'll need to get a shorter extension. I hope you enjoy your new setup.

 

Steve

An alternative is you can take the black outer ring off the 500D (I do that with my Nikon 5T and 6T) and attach the diopter with blu-tak or something like it. I can't use the screw on diopters either in my Subal 105vr port on my D200 (they didn't consider diopters in that newer port either, arrrgh!) - and focus knob won't line up plus it just gets skewed off center and isn't supported correctly if I try to screw on the diopter while using an extension ring.

 

This solution was suggested to me by Ryan Canon and is also written down in the Tackett's book 'The Essential Underwater Photography Manual'.

 

Just another alternative (that won't scratch the port.... )

 

Best, Carol

I got the Athena Port for my 105VR.... Athena also makes a version for the Canon. See here (scroll down)

 

http://www.athena-opt.com/kougakue.htm

 

The end of this port is threaded to accept any M67 thread Closeup Lens such as Inon's. I believe these are stronger in magnification than the woody's. THe port is lighter and smaller than the assembled DX port. In addition, it is also slightly cheaper too.

 

I have no idea if the focus gear from Sea & Sea will work with this port. Best to ask Ryan at Reefphoto. I got mine from divervision and had it shipped to me. I also bought the Athena focus gear.

An alternative is you can take the black outer ring off the 500D (I do that with my Nikon 5T and 6T) and attach the diopter with blu-tak or something like it. This solution was suggested to me by Ryan and is also written down in the Tackett's book 'The Essential Underwater Photography Manual'.

Best, Carol

 

Hi Carol. Interesting thought. How do you go about taking the outer ring off without damaging the glass? It's funny, I was reading the Tackett's book again last night then saw your post this morning. I looked again and haven't been able to find the section you're referencing. Can you give me a little help with section or page number? Sorry to be so slow, I know I'm probably looking right at it. Are there alignment issues if you just stick it down? I'd give Ryan a call but then I'd feel like I need to buy something. I hate to bother those guys just to ask questions. Well..... I have been thinking about a new focus light.

 

Eskasi, I was considering the Athena port but it was brand new for the Canon when I ordered by rig and the guys at a couple of shops recommended the DX port instead. Probably because it was new and no one had any experience with it. Let us know how yours is working out.

 

Steve

The UPS man stood me up today So can't play with my new toy over the weekend.

 

So pretty sure I know the answer to this, but the info on the web site is pretty weak - are the DX and NX ports interchangeable? looks like the DX is larger diameter, so I think the answer is no. So if I want to get a shorter NX macro port for my 60 mm, I have to buy the NX compact macro base also?

 

does Athena or any of the 3rd party vendors make a DX to NX converter ring? Seems kind of wasteful to have to carry multiple macro bases adapters - but there wasn't a decent NX port solution for the 100 mm lens.

 

Is anybody shooting either the Sigma 17-70 or Canon 17-85 with this housing? Is the extension 40 the right adapter to use with the NX fisheye dome for these lenses?

The UPS man stood me up today are the DX and NX ports interchangeable? looks like the DX is larger diameter, so I think the answer is no. So if I want to get a shorter NX macro port for my 60 mm, I have to buy the NX compact macro base also?

If we see a guy chasing the little brown truck around Texas we'll know who it is. You're right about the different dia of the ports. The DX is about 4.25 in dia thread and the Compact base is just a little over 3.5 in. dia inside. I don't know of anyone shooting the 17- 85 lens underwater, the crop factor would make that a 27 -136 and it would be hard to get great images consistently. As sure as I say that someone will post a whole series and prove me wrong but it's clearly not in the wheelhouse of where I want to be underwater. The Canon 10-22 seems popular and of course the Tokina 10-17 almost everyone loves. If I remember correctly the 17-85 changes length with the zoom so it would be problematic. I don't know who you used to purchase your new rig but the guys at Backscatter or Ryan at Reef Photo are a great resource for port questions. You might give Marine Visions a call, they are in your neck of the woods south of Houston. Of course you'll feel like you have to buy something after taking up their time but that never seems to be a problem in this crazy obsession some erroneously call a hobby.

 

Steve

If we see a guy chasing the little brown truck around Texas we'll know who it is. You're right about the different dia of the ports. The DX is about 4.25 in dia thread and the Compact base is just a little over 3.5 in. dia inside. I don't know of anyone shooting the 17- 85 lens underwater, the crop factor would make that a 27 -136 and it would be hard to get great images consistently. As sure as I say that someone will post a whole series and prove me wrong but it's clearly not in the wheelhouse of where I want to be underwater. The Canon 10-22 seems popular and of course the Tokina 10-17 almost everyone loves. If I remember correctly the 17-85 changes length with the zoom so it would be problematic. I don't know who you used to purchase your new rig but the guys at Backscatter or Ryan at Reef Photo are a great resource for port questions. You might give Marine Visions a call, they are in your neck of the woods south of Houston. Of course you'll feel like you have to buy something after taking up their time but that never seems to be a problem in this crazy obsession some erroneously call a hobby.

 

Steve

 

My buddy Gudge uses the Sigma 17-70 very effectively on his Subal - kind of his "fish" lens. But the Sigma also has a useful macro capability (like 1.25:1), so he could go from reasonable wide angle (27 mm equivalent) to enough mag to shoot a nudi, all with one lens.

 

I have a 17-85 Canon that came with my old camera as the kit lens - I used it occasionally uw with my 20D; but was never thrilled with it - as the magnification at the macro end wasn't very good. I agree with you - not a lens I will use very often uw - but it would be nice to have the option I shot it behind an Ike 6" dome (an Ike port specifically for the camera) - and the performance was OK even with the difference in length over the full travel.

 

I also just bought the 60mm macro last fall, so haven't used it uw yet. It may scratch my main itch - I love my 100mm macro lens going for the little stuff - but it was not a very good "fish" lens. And the 15 mm Fisheye wasn't either, so I had a big "hole" in what I was shooting. Probably the 60 will help a bunch.

 

18 days till Indonesia - can't wait to get all my new toys broken in properly

 

My new MDX40 Sea and Sea "baby" arrived Monday - it is really sweet

 

Everything fits and works so far (not wet yet, will test dive Saturday).

 

To answer my earlier question - the 100mm Woody's Diopter fits like a glove on the DX macro port 50 - so I was lucky.

Lucky you! Due to the long holidays where I am (11 days!), I won't be able to play with my new stuff till Monday.

 

Only problem left is Adorama has been very inefficient at processing my D300 body order. I am so annoyed by their lack of response and attitude. If it were not for the fact that I traded in some gear there, I would have bought it somewhere else!

 

Glad to hear that the 100mm Woody's fits well! Make sure you share your pics from Sat's test dive!