Something Is Always Watching You

Despite stormy conditions & fixing/tweaking Subal 105vr macro port/TCs/ex rings/diopters - I've still been watched at Blue Heron Bridge!

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Something is Watching You @ BHB

leopard searobin's watchful eye

Hi Carol,

What a fantastic shot you got at Blue Heron Bridge!

That is great news you were able to get your Subal 105VR port modified and, most importantly, are now able to use it.

What kind of modification did they have to make on the port? I recently got the same port though I haven't used it underwater yet. I'm a bit nervous and hope I don't experience any problems with it.

Have you used any diopters with the 105VR lens and port? I bought the Nikon 5T and 6T diopters for use with my old 105 but not sure I can use them with the new dedicated port for the 105VR.

Thanks for sharing the image!

All the best,

Ellen

Hi, Ellen! Please bear with me in these answers because I'm on my phone & can't easily ref: links etc.

Yes I was totally thrilled to get my 105vr port fixed so I could use that lens! Ryan at ReefPhoto fixed it so fast as, since we met last Aug, Subal realized that with their changes to the d300 housing (over the d200), it rendered some of the early Subal 105vr ports too short. I believe now that all Ryan had to do was switch out a stableizing ring in the Subal port. Yes, I told Ryan I should have driven down there before I left on my trip last year & saved us both a lot of confusion..., but I couldn't fit it in so I haven't used the lens since I got my d300. It is great to have use of that lens again!

You shouldn't have a problem, unless you bought one of Subal's early 105vr ports; I don't think you did.

A warning though, there is a 2nd problem I was having that I thought was related to the "too short" port problem, but is a separate problem. Be watchful if you use any TTL converter with the d300; I just replied to Dr Fiscus post re: that.

As far as diopters & TCs here is the only workable way I have found to do it (with guidance from Ryan too!)

Nikon 5T & 6T must have black rings removed, there is a post I remember where we discussed how to do it. It isn't ideal, but still probably better quality than wet diopters. Hardest part for me is to figure out which side faces out now?? Then you have to attach with Blu Tak to front of 105vr (per the Tacketts' advice intheir u/w photo book). Once you do that here are the combos I found fit in my port ( but your port may be a mm or two different)

Note: manual focus works fully with combos below:

Subal 105vr port + 5T works great (rings removed of course)

Subal 105vr port + Kenko 1.4X TC + 20mm ex ring + 5T or 6T (rings removed) works

Subal 105vr port + Kenko 2X TC + 28mm + 15mm ex rings work & you can add 5T , but not 6T also (rings removed of course)

Subal 105vr port + Nikon 6T, rings removed-doesn't fit (at least in my port)

That's what I know, I have shot these pics with the 105vr port + 20mm ex + 1.4X Kenko & works great ( as long as I shoot in manual flash! But that's a whole other malfunction.

In a couple of days I will be shooting with the above + 5T, via has been so bad at the bridge you have to shoot the small stuff.

Hope this helps, of course with the longer ports Subal makes for the 105vr now, YMMV, but I don't it will be much different as the ports have to cradle the lens in a similar fashion. To my knowledge screw on diopters can't be used in those Subal105vr ports because of the way they secure the 105vr. (Unless one removes the rings of course).

But on the upside full manual focus control works with all the cingugurations I mentioned above & that is important with the 105vr lens.

Best Always Carol

Oops for all the typos, I can't easily scroll and correct on my iPhone.

Did want to add thanks to Ryan & the great staff at ReefPhoto for helping me fix the port and figure configurations.

Now if we can just solve TTL problem, I will be all set! (Again ref to Dr Fiscus recent post for that data)

Thanks ReefPhoto! Carol

You shouldn't have a problem, unless you bought one of Subal's early 105vr ports; I don't think you did.

You're correct, Carol. I didn't buy my Subal 105VR port until after I came back from Indonesia last fall and needed to replace my old 105 lens that flooded.

A warning though, there is a 2nd problem I was having that I thought was related to the "too short" port problem, but is a separate problem. Be watchful if you use any TTL converter with the d300; I just replied to Dr Fiscus post re: that.

So far I haven't used a TTL converter so hopefully won't be a problem. In any event, I am not going to install the latest firmware in case I should want to use a TTL converter in the future.

As far as diopters & TCs here is the only workable way I have found to do it (with guidance from Ryan too!)

 

Nikon 5T & 6T must have black rings removed, there is a post I remember where we discussed how to do it. It isn't ideal, but still probably better quality than wet diopters. Hardest part for me is to figure out which side faces out now?? Then you have to attach with Blu Tak to front of 105vr (per the Tacketts' advice intheir u/w photo book). Once you do that here are the combos I found fit in my port ( but your port may be a mm or two different)

 

Note: manual focus works fully with combos below:

Subal 105vr port + 5T works great (rings removed of course)

Subal 105vr port + Kenko 1.4X TC + 20mm ex ring + 5T or 6T (rings removed) works

Subal 105vr port + Kenko 2X TC + 28mm + 15mm ex rings work & you can add 5T , but not 6T also (rings removed of course)

Subal 105vr port + Nikon 6T, rings removed-doesn't fit (at least in my port)

Thank you Carol for this very valuable information! It probably would have taken me weeks to figure all of this out on my own. I'm very appreciative of your effort in posting it. I know it wasn't that easy doing it on your iphone. I do have the Tacketts' uw photo book so I'll have a look to try and perfect my Blue Tak technique

In a couple of days I will be shooting with the above + 5T, via has been so bad at the bridge you have to shoot the small stuff.

Let us know how it went using the 5T.

I must add this before I end this post:

Ellen