Inon Z-22 Ring Strobe and Sea & Sea Housing

Has anyone figured out a way to use the Inon Z-22 ring strobe with a Sea and Sea housing? The ring strobe will fit over ports with approximately 90 mm diameter. The Sea and Sea macro ports are about 100 mm (compact) and 115 mm (standard). I know that I can put the strobe on an arm, but I would really like to be able to attach it to the port. It is much more streamlined that way.

Or, does anyone know of someone in the US who can/will make a good quality custom port for this configuration?

Thanks in advance for any advice/assistance .....

Linda Ianniello

All of the custom ports I've seen that were small enough for the Ring flash to slide over weren't compatible with MF, and I wouldn't give that up with any incarnation the 105.

A Sea & Sea strobe adapter will attach to the strobe, and a 5" arm can usually suspend the flash directly in front of the port.

Two philosophies can be represented here... The custom ports are usually locked at their maximum reproduction ration, then the housing is moved back and for to focus. These custom ports can allow for a myriad of teleconverters and diopters to be used together, and allow the flash to light subject quite literally 2 inches away from the port.

Suspending the flash in front of your port allows total control of your lens, but aggressive use of diopers (or usinga 60) can bring the working range of the lens you are using inside the range the flash can light (yielding a black dot in the center). My guess is the flash can evenly light anything 4" from the port glass when suspended in front of it. This makes it compatible with most configurations of the 105, and again, allows focusing of the lens.

I actually use the Z-22 with 105 on autofocus with my Subal housings and a special port without mf nob on it. At the start I thought that i woul miss the the mf nob.

As long as you can select mf/af on the housing its no problem at all. Normally the AF works great, exept when shooting on the closest focus distance with a teleconverter.

I know that Ocean Optics used to make special ports for Sea&Sea to fit this strobe.

Hi Linda,

Ocean Optics in London England manufacture a custom port for Sea&Sea that accepts the Z22 Ring Flash. I bought one last year and bonded it to an Aquatica extension ring to make a port for my Aquatica S2 housing. The Ocean Optics port is good quality, and has a glass lens rather than acrylic. The only drawback is no manual focus. I seem to remember it cost around $150. You can find Ocean Optics at www.oceanoptics.co.uk

Bruce

Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

Bruce, I checked with Ocean Optics and they are having problems with the fit of their S & S ports, and prefer not to sell them out of the country so they can work with the customer if any problems arise.

A couple of people suggested a port ring, that would allow mounting the strobe on top of the port. I don't really want to do that, would rather mount it around the port as designed.

So I found someone in the UK who will make a custom port for the S & S housing, that will be small enough to fit inside the Z-22, and accommodate a 60 or 105mm lens. Seems to be the best solution. He made one for a friend's Seacam housing and he was very happy with the quality of the port. I couldn't find anyone in the US who could make a custom port...

So now I'm looking forward to being able to use this configuration, when I get all the pieces!

Regards, Linda I.