Dome dilemma - Subal user

I already have 4 Subal domes, but I am interested in getting a new dome for my system. Basically I want something different to what I have already, so I am interested if anyone has any experience of how these compare.

Two specs I'd like to explore are large domes and acryllic domes.

I am particularly curious about non-glass domes, because of the potential weight saving for short trips, or trips where wide angle is low priority. Two options I have always admired are Sea & Sea fisheye dome and Aquatica 8" dome - and getting them adapted to my Subal.

The other option I am curious about is the Zen range of domes, but it is tough to find info. Anyone using one?

I haven't been able to find any reviews etc comparing these options. I'm mainly interested in shooting fisheye lenses.

Alex

Hi Alex

I am a sea & sea MDX-40D shooter and my first purchase was the sea & sea fisheye dome port. I was very happy with it when it was new and scratches free. There are 2 major draw backs of the S&S fisheye port 1 it scratches extremely easily and 2 there is a tendency to get reflections of the front of your lens in your images when shooting into the sun. Those 2 things aside it is a very sharp and light weight dome port.

After about a year I decided to look for a glass dome port so I gave the guys at Reef a call and they recommended the 8" Zen port. It is truly a fantastic piece of equipment. The optical coatings on the glass seem to make quite a difference to the total image quality and not getting those reflections of the lens in my images makes all the difference. The only draw back for me is its weight. Both the mounting plate and the shade are made out of aluminum which adds quite a lot of weight to an already heavy piece of glass.

Hi Alex,

On the dolphin trip last month Ryan provided a new Zen dome for Berkley to try out. You might want to talk to them and see what they found. Ryan was doing some new dome tests too I think, while you were out in the Red Sea.

Good Luck,

Steve

Alex, I am in a similar boat. Would love to find somebody who machine or provide an adapter for mounting either a Nexus 170mm dome port or Aquatica 8-inch dome port on a Subal housing with a 4th generation mount.

Hi Guys,

I have a small machine/engineering shop located right around the corner from me.

I just go in and see 'John' and tell him that I want 'this' to screw into 'that' and then both of them to go 'there'

and then politely ask him how long? Usually one week and the cost is a carton of beer.

Surely there must be plenty of these little machine shops located right around 'your' corner and I'm sure that

they would love a bit extra work at the moment. Machining is not rocket science, it just takes time and care.

I have always checked 'Johns' work in the ocean during my next dive. I know his work is always spot-on. . . . . I hope...

As long as the machinest has the male and female threads at his disposal to measure then there shouldn't be a problem?

Bruce...

Hi, I was looking for an upgrade from my Sea&Sea NX Fisheye Dome Port some months ago.

I ended up buying an Optical Dome Port to use mostly on my 10.5mm or a WA zoom (had the 10-20 Sigma, now am looking for a 10-24 Nikkor).

Personally I think that for the DX lenses 10.5, 10-17... the smaller domes are a must in order to get the full benefit of their close focus capabilities.

But in that search I ran into these guys, and they apparently have amazing products:

Athena

OPD-200v Pro

I have even contacted them, very helpful, but I got a good deal on a Sea&Sea Optical Dome, which is apparently made by them... at least the glass part.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

Alex

Alex

Adapter to SUBAL - SEA & SEA

The owner is named Joe and you can go for me (JOAQUIN GUTIERREZ)

We manufacture everything you need.

www.sagadive.com

That looks very nice. Plus if I get that I can borrow a Sea and Sea dome and see how I like it.

The adapter pictured goes the wrong direction for you, Alex. It is for mounting Subal ports on a Sea & Sea housing. Backscatter offers adapters to put acrylic Sea & Sea domes on a Subal housing (replacement bayonet geometry), but why anyone would shoot through a piece of plastic is beyond me...

Well, I got lots of advice from Alex so here's a bit by way of return.

Firstly, don't be afraid of acrylic. Some of my sharpest pictures wee taken using acrylic ports. However, you do get good ones and less good ones. I now use a Sea & Sea Optical Glass port that is smaller (not compact). I got it from Japan because Sea & Sea in the UK said it would sell for around £1500 by the time they and a dealer took their margins. I think I paid around a third of that. It is excellent. So excellent in fact that I think I get sharper pictures on the 10-17 Tokina DX than I do with the 16mm FX set-up (also behind glass).

I actually went away from Subal to Sea & Sea and Hugyfot. I have never experienced a flood with any Sea & Sea housing and the Hugyfot has Hugycheck.

I speak as the owner of a cupboard with Aquatica, Nexus, Seacam and Subal housings in it.

My wife says why don't I sell them? I say: Because no-one wants them! (They are for film cameras.)

The adapter pictured goes the wrong direction for you, Alex. It is for mounting Subal ports on a Sea & Sea housing. Backscatter offers adapters to put acrylic Sea & Sea domes on a Subal housing (replacement bayonet geometry), but why anyone would shoot through a piece of plastic is beyond me...

It is made for all possible combinations

subal sea&sea

sea&sea subal

hugy....

seacam....

.........

My English is not very good, sorry