Nexus Port Choices - Glass vs Acrylic

I'm switching to a Nexus housing (for D300) and need to finalise my port choices for the following lens:

Nikon 10.5mm fisheye, Tokina 12-24 (may switch to 10-17), Nikon 60mm, Nikon 105 micro-Nikkor (older non-VR)

I've gone for the MP60 macro port with 40mm extension (which I believe should double up to allow me to use the 105mm with the MP60 and the Tokina 12-24 with my choice of dome).

Now I don't know whether to get the FP170 (acrylic?) or the FP160 (glass?) - I presume either will accomodate the 10.5mm fisheye, but I see that there is a specific fisheye dome available too...so...

1. Can I use the 160 or 170 dome with the fisheye without resorting to the purchase of 2 domes?

2. Apart from a lower risk of scratching, is the optical glass significantly better at light transmission than the acrylic dome and is it worth the extra $$$ ?

3. On the issue of scratching - I would figure getting rid of a scratched glass dome might be a real nightmare compared to acrylic - so perhaps less is more in this case?

[the Anthis.co.jp website is not really helpful on any of this unless one can read Japanese, which I can't - as a side note is there any decent catalog/description of any of the Anthis/nexus products online????]

Can anyone offer insights/advice pls. Thanks

Hi,

I have been using MP-60 + 40mm extension for many years now & believe it is best combination

for 60mm (old or new) and 105mm (old or VR).

Re dome port, I have FP160,FP170 & 8" Zen port.

1.I used FP170(Acrylic) for a long time since film days & it has scratches. Only reason I had this was it was

cheap & was easy to package when I was buying first Nexus housing. It served me well but,

will go away when I sell one of my Nexus housings. Nexus also, has FP230 & is made with Acrylic but, has no

shade.

2.FP160(glass) is good and better than FP170 and more expansive but, heavy & it does not handle over/under

split shot well( you still need bigger dome port).

3.I found Zen 8" dome port at Reefphoto booth in DEMA & it is glass dome port made by third party & is like

dream dome port I was looking for. It is a Japanese optic with special coating and I am finding I do not get

scretches like I used to. plus, it comes with shade & neoplan cover ( I put cover on & remove it when I shoot

& put it back underwater). You can also, use with Tokina 10-17 just by adding a ring gear.

Sam

You can polish out plastic.

Glass can be polished, but it is a long and difficult process.

I use a D200 and Nexus' FP 170 acrylic dome with a Tokina 10-17 (and 20mm port extension) and Nikon 12-24 (and 40 mm port extension and +4 diopter). This was after lots of experimentation, and I'm happy with the results. Not sure about size differences between the D200 and your D300, but if the D300 positions the lens differently within the FP 170 dome my configuration may not be optimal for you. Nexus website does provide guidance but I've received better advice from the folks on this forum, particularly those who conduct comprehensive tests.

I have both. It is no bother to polish out any number of scratches on the v. large acylic dome I use. Since water has the same refractive index as the acrylic, scratches disappear except when shooting into the sun. The problem arises when. inevitably at some time, you need to wipe the inside. This is because dirt and even water droplets can get past the camera when the back is open on board a boat in breezy conditions for example.

I get equally superb quality with a smaller glass port but heaven forbid it gets scratched! It is easy to wipe the inside with the right sort of lint-free cloth though.

So there you are. I don't actually know the answer to your question! (So why did I post?)

So there you are. I don't actually know the answer to your question! (So why did I post?)

Haha..no worries John - actually it wasn't really a question, more of a poll for advice.

I think my budget is stretched enough to allow me to take the acrylic dome for now..the ease of "repair" should it scratch is a real plus. I think my pic taking needs to move from division 3 to division 2 before I get angst attacks over improving optical quality - I'll concentrate on improving technique first.

Thanks to all for your comments. Interesting about the Zen dome - not come across that before. Might be worth a look for another upgrade in the future... :-D

Steve