zoom gear for Sigma 17-70

I received my new Tokina 10-17 today and was playing around with the zoom gear and the housing, checking fit and where to put the gear and so on. This will be the first zoom lens I've used in an underwater housing. Though I have owned the sigma 17-70 from day one with my D200 ( it was my first walking around lens, knowing it could be used underwater also). I have never tried it underwater (having used only prime lenses), mostly because there hasn't been a zoom gear I could buy. Most folks who us it underwater use velcro, foam tape or something similar, which I'm told works "fairly" well, but I've never tried it.

After playing with the Tokina 10-17, I pulled out my Sigma 17-70 (non HSM), and to my surprise, the 10-17 zoom gear "almost" fit the 17-70, just very slightly too big. So I simply pull out some black electrical tape, and wrapped it around the zoom ring on the lens, 5 times and the 10-17 zoom gear fit on the 17-70 lens like it was made for it. I thought, this can't be this easy, so I put it in the housing and it works perfectly, like it was made for it,....REALLY! ;D

I know some manufactures (like seatool) don't make a extension\port that works with the Sigma 17-70 but for all who do, (whether it be a Canon, or Nikon mount) a Tokina 10-17 zoom ring, made for your housing, should work with a Sigma 17-70 lens after wrapping the zoom ring on the lens with electrical tape 4-6 times. Personally, this tape will just be left on the 17-70 lens, I see no reason to take it off as functionally everything works, and cosmetically, it is acceptable IMHO.

Just thought I might share this, hoping it may help a few others.

Hi Brandt,

I just got my zoom ring for the Sigma 17-70 from Subal, so they are available. However, $90 would have bought alot of electrical tape!

Phil

I know some manufactures (like seatool) don't make a extension\port that works with the Sigma 17-70

This is not correct. There was no 17-70 support for the S- mount ports (xti), but there is a port and gear available for the M- mount ports used on all subsequent housings.

Just a foot note, the standard Sigma 17-70 will work with your approach, but the HSM won't it as a considerable gird difference, for this one the zoom barrel is just about the same size as the Canon 100 macro lenses

Thanks Ryan an Viz'art for the corrections.

Sorry I was unclear, I simply was trying to convey in my original post, that this would not allow the 17-70 to work in a housing which didn't have a port. This is NOT a fix for lack of port support for your housing.

I didn't know the HSM had a larger barrel......good catch!!

Simply stated, If the Sigma 17-70 lens is supported with a port for your housing, and they offer a Tokina 10-17 zoom ring for your housing, it should work as a zoom ring for the Sigma 17-70 (NON HSM) lens also,..... with a little tape added.

Thanks Ryan an Viz'art for the corrections.

Sorry I was unclear, I simply was trying to convey in my original post, that this would not allow the 17-70 to work in a housing which didn't have a port. This is NOT a fix for lack of port support for your housing.

I didn't know the HSM had a larger barrel......good catch!!

 

Simply stated, If the Sigma 17-70 lens is supported with a port for your housing, and they offer a Tokina 10-17 zoom ring for your housing, it should work as a zoom ring for the Sigma 17-70 (NON HSM) lens also,..... with a little tape added.

Hey BrantD, I'ts funny because I just bought last week the 17-70 (non HSM) for my SEACAM D200 and I didn't like the idea of spending $$$ for a costum zoom gear. I tried without to much expectations to "dress" the lens with the zoom gear of my Tokina 10-17 and it (almost) fit like a glove. just a thin gap between them. I used an old ikelite rubber strips (provided with their zoom gear) and stick it to the lense's zoom barel. It works perfect!

BTW

For Seacam users, the combination that I use for this lens is the FP + PVL 30. No Vignetting!

I almost love this lens: Almost macro, almost wide on the same dive , like bad old days of P&S.

Dany

Thanks for the tips in this thred.

I have the Sigma 17-70mm macro HSM, had som help with port for the lense:

Ports for Sigma 17-70mm Macro HSM

Now I got some tips for zoomgear. B)