Macro Lens Dilema : Buy new lens or new flat port

Hi everyone

I have a dileman here. Bought my Ikelite housing from a fellow wetpixelian and after shooting the 60mm and 15mm FE, I am thinking of trying the 105mm now.

Problem is the flat port I have does not fit my Sigma 105mm. Hence, I either get a new longer port which fits, or I sell my Sigma and get a Nikon, just so it fits into my current ports. Also, at 105mm, would it be easier to go MF or AF?

Thanks.

Regards

Eric

This is difficult to say. To answer this I would need a bit more info.

I'm in a similur position. I just got back from Cozumel where I had some success shooting the 60mm and 15mm FE and am planning to add the 105mm as well. Im considering either the Sigma or the Nikon. I also use the Ikelite housing.

Questions:

Do you already have the correct port for the Nikon 105mm already? The 5505 port for the 60mm will not work. If so is it the one with the manual focus gear and ability to switch between auto and manual focus?

Which Sigma 105mm do you have? Is it the new DX version? Does it allow you to do af/m where you can switch to manual focus instantly by rotating the focus ring?

Observations:

Lens Quality: The Nikon 105mm is a very well respected lens with legendary sharpness. I haven't heard anything one way or the other on the Sigma.

Autofocus/Manual crossover: Ikelite makes a special port that allows you to switch between manual and autofocus with the Nikon 105mm. You should be able to do the same thing with the Sigma DX lens since it has the ability to switch to manual mode by rotating the focus ring. IF you can get the normal flat port for this lens (it extends quite a bit) and you can get the zoom clamp around it (its pretty wide) then you should be able to use the zoom gear to focus.

Price: The cheapest solution would be to house the sigma you own. Nikon has a rebate offer now that will knock $140 off the 105mm so the price is closer between the Sigma and the nikon. The special port for the 105mm will cost more than the normal port for the sigma too.

Let us know what you do and how it works.

My Sigma 105 mm is the EX version. I have 2 flat ports, 1 normal and 1 with focusing gear (not the spcial one with AF/MF switch, either that or I dunno how to use it properly). The ports are just a little short (about 0.5 inch) to fit my Sigma, hence I reckon they are for the Nikon 105mm instead.

Also, the Sigma 105mm takes slightly longer to focus as compared to my Nikon 60mm on my S2, and it doesn't perform as well in low light conditions. Seems like the easier and cheaper route is to buy a new port for the Sigma instead. I really love the 60mm very much and the 105mm is going to be used sparingly for those pygmy seahorse shots, i guess.

It is the holiday bonus of $140 off the Nikon 105mm that attracts me. but I dunno if I would like the 105mm as much as my 60mm. Someone here has tried adding a 1.4X and 2X teleconverter to the 105mm, but none has tried with the 60mm. Wonder if the results would be good? Also, any "major" deterioration in pic quality with a +2 or +4 diopter added to the 60mm?

Thanks

Can you not get an extention ring for the port?

I think addiing dioptres to the 60mm is troublesome because you will end up with too short a minium focus.

Alex

Hi Alex,

It's not possible to use extension rings with the Ikelite housing. It sure would be nice if you could though. Ike, have you thought about making them - you could clamp the extension onto the port using a grayloc type of clamp.

This page shows how a Grayloc clamp works:

http://www.grayloc.com

Cheers

James

Can you not get an extention ring for the port?

Ikelite ports don't work that way. You don't use extension rings but rather need a whole new port as the port is one single piece. Fortunately the port he needs for the Sigma is only about $100 from B&H.

Does the EX version allow you to manually focus while in autofocus mode. I think the new DX will but I need to get my hands on one. How do you like the optical quality of the lens?

It sounds like you will need a new port if you want to do both manual and autofocus. That would be ~$150 in addition to the $450+ for the Nikon 105mm if you went that way.

The cheaper route is to get the normal port for the Sigma at $100. Then put the extra port on wetpixel classiofieds. If you don't think you will use it that much that's probably the best option.

tks everyone. I will try to make up my mind before the bonus rebate expires and work on my friend to carry it over for me should I decide to get the Nikon.

Guess i have only 2 choices for my X'mas present this year.

Eric

It's not possible to use extension rings with the Ikelite housing.

Sorry I should have known that. I was given an old Ikelite housing a couple of years ago - but I have't used it much.

Alex