Nikon 105mm VR and Subal Housing

Hi all,

I have a new Nikon 105mm VR and am attempting to use it in my Subal housing. The housing is a type 3-with a narrower diameter port attachment. I am using a standard Subal Flat port with an extension (27mm?)

Due to the diameter of the lens, the whole thing is a very tight fit. If I put the camera/lens into the housing first, when I attach the extension, it pushes the MF/AF selector onto MF! So I am inserting the camera into the housing without the lens, attaching the extension, and then attaching the lens, and finnally the port.

I have tried this though and for some reason, the port isnt sealing. After a close miss with a flood today, I though I'd ask and see if anyone else has any answers. I remember reading somewhere about using a coin to hold the MF/zoom gear away from the lens body-is this the secret?

All ideas and feed back welcome

Many thanks

Adam

The standard Subal extension rings need to be machined out to accommodate the larger diameter of this lens. We offer an extension ring 20 modified for this application (exr-20 is the appropriate extension ring for use with FP-90).

The modification is a simple one, and I'd expect that you can find a small machine shop near you that would modify this.

Dr. Mustard's Coin Apparatus is only necessary if your zoom control is bumping the lens switches, or knocking it off center.

First of all, I hope you tested it without the camera and lense to see it is sealing properly at all. Like you, I had to resort to using an extension ring with flat port to work the 105VR on a D2X subal. It's just an old design that doesn't fit well at all. If the ports seal without the lens inside then it's the lens causing the problems. I can't remember the length of the extension but if the port is not sealing properly then either the lens is ill fitting that it's pressing so hard against the port, causing the o-ring to come out of its seat or your ring isn't long enough and your lens is bumping against the port, making it impossible to seal. The best way is to try find out where it's leaking from. Is it the extension ring to housing or the port to ext ring seal?

Do not get the 105 port for it! I had huge problems with a D2x and Subal housing that port. Same issue.

How could Subal design a port that:

a: can't or in some cases, forcefully fit the lens it's designed for

b: is designed a long lens like the 105 macro and not make space for an achromatic diopter?

Put an extension ring on and you lose MF, which was the point of buying the special port. I checked with other Subal D2X owners who had the same port and they all say they had to jam the AF/MF switch (one of them had it break) and marks are left on the inside surface of the port. Duct tape didn't work for mine and when filing down or super glueing the switch was suggested, I laughed so hard. $700 for a port you have to file or superglue a switch to make it barely work.

Thanks Ryan/Drew,

I have dived the housing with the ports in place (but no camera/lens), and it didn't leak-so I guess it must be the diameter.

I'll get it to a local engineering works next week.

Many thanks again

Adam

I should add that the new 105VR port apparently doesn't have the fit problems with the D3 Subal housing as tested by Alex. It seems to be an issue with the older housing systems.

Drew, Adam isn't using that port...

I should add that the new 105VR port apparently doesn't have the fit problems with the D3 Subal housing as tested by Alex. It seems to be an issue with the older housing systems.

4th generation ports have more breathing room, but if a 3rd Generation port is installed this would be unchanged.

Aside from the very first production run produced, a diopter CAN be added to FP-FC105VR.

The housing's zoom control needs to be pulled out when installing the lens, but it doesn't need be shimmed as the control rests on the lens behind the a/m and vr switches.

I know Ryan. But I made a statement about the 105VR port so I thought I'd clear it up. I guess it sucks to be an early adopter. I hope the guy who stole it floods it too!