Subal, 20-D, 100 macro - manual focus?

Hello:

I'm really after comments from actual owners of this unit.

I've just made an order for a subal housing and have noted that the canon 100mm 2.8 usm macro lens cannot be focussed manually with this housing. The housing port does not have a knob for manual focussing.

Do users find this a problem??

Do you loose many shots because of not being able to manually focus??

I've heard that the 100mm can be a little slow with focus lock in dim conditions, which is why I am concerned about spending a lot of money to get a housing that does not allow manual focussing. Perhaps I should cancel my order and go Ikelite - they have a focussing knob>

Is it a problem??

Appreciate any thoughts, comments or recommendations - thanks.....Iain

I don't know about Subal, but I own an Aquatica A20 for the 20D and can say that you will not want to manual focus anyway, you'll be so close that manual will be very difficult, personally I can manual focus but never have and I've used it over 50 times. So don't let that put you off for this lense.

I have the C10 housing for the 10D, I believe the focus knob is the same on the C20 for the 20D. The focus/zoom knob is on the front left of the housing, not on the port. I have the zoom ring for my 100mm macro and it works just fine, but you do need to a good steady foothold to use it effectively.

btw - check out the post by BradDB regarding his experience with one of the first C20's a couple of months ago. It includes some great up close photos of the housing.

The 100mm lens is indeed difficult to focus in really low light (and on night dives), but there's a simple solution. Get the new 60mm macro lens; it is also 1:1, and with the 20D's 1.6X cropping factor, I doubt you'll want to use the 100mm (except for the occasional "special subject" that you really need to be a ways away from, e.g., jawfish with eggs in their mouths). I have a Seacam housing that allows manually focusing of the 100mm, but even when I was briefly using a 1D MkII (1.3x cropping factor) I don't even bother with the 100mm on dim/night dives; I much prefer the 50mm macro lens (and the 60mm is far better!).

The added advantage of the 60mm is that it will serve double duty as a "fish" lens, whereas the 100mm macro will be of little use for anything EXCEPT macro. If you don't already own the 100mm lens, I'd suggest that you hold off even buying it until you've used the 60mm for awhile, and see if you even feel you need the 100mm.

Hi Bruce;

Thanks for your feedback.

I actually already own the 100 mm lens which I use for surface shots. I also own a sigma 50mm 1:1 macro. I was going to use both these lens U/W. If the 60mm Canon lens is as good as or not better than the sigma 50mm, then I’ll buy one. I’m not to fussed on the money side of things and th3 60mm is quite a cheap lens.

I am assuming the 50 and 60 mm lens will utilise the same port. The 100mm requires a longer dedicated port, although with step rings you can still mount the 50/60mm – so I’ve been told.

The supplier told me the manual focus knob was on the port (so much for his knowledge).

With the 60mm are you able to use manual focus??

I looked at the images on the other thread and immediately became excited – wow what a nice housing!………….Iain

I can't compare the new Canon 60mm to the Sigma 50mm -- I think they're both f2.8 lenses, so are probably comparable in most respects, except I would expect the Canon lens to be faster focusing. As for whether it's manually focusable, I can't say. Sounds like you have a little more research to do...hopefully with a more knowledgeable housing rep! ;-)

Bruce

Thanks Bruce. Unfortunately there is only one rep in Australia, and I have to mail order....Iain

What good timing. I just returned an hour ago from a weekend competing in the 24th Annual Monterey Beach Dive Photo Competition. I bought the 100 mm macro lens last Thursday for use on my Subal-housed 20D and used it for the first time during the competition.

Here is my best macro shot. This shot did not even merit an honorable mention but I like it. This shot is unmodified except for resizing. It's not cropped. This contest allowed no manipulation whatsoever. I used in-camera settings to increase the saturation and sharpness.

The subject is probably a little less than 1 inch long.

Prior to buying the 100 mm lens I used the Sigma 50 mm macro. As long I do not add a filter to end of the 100 mm lens it will fit into the same port as the 50 mm lens with the addition of a 15 mm extension.

One issue I ran into right away was that the act of adding the port to the housing tends to hit the Auto/Manual switch on the lens and leave it in the manual position. I found that carefully adding the port extension first (before the actual port) helps avoid this situation.

I found the lack of a manual focus knob not to be a problem. I should add that I use a Fisheye Fixlight for focus assist and that I operate the 20D with focus control moved to the * button.

-Brad

It is important to differentiate between the older 100/2.8, and the 100/2.8 USM, both from Canon.

The older lens had terribly slow autofocus, while the USM lens is quite good. That being said, for the super macro shooting that many of my customers do, manual focus is a requirement even with the USM lens.

Subal provided a manual focus gear for the 100/2.8, but does not have an option for the newer USM lens. Something is rumored to be in the works, though.

In the mean time, I use the FP-FC60 port, a short extension (sized based upon whether the customer wants to add a diopter to the lens or not). To gear the lens I use a sewing machine belt that I stumbled upon locally. If McMaster Carr has an equivalent part, I'll share that number...

Ryan, very smart. I seem to remember that sewing machine belt from another one of your posts here.

I needed to fabricate a gear for my Seacam housing to use the Sigma 12-24 and I used one of the clear Ikelite gears. I cut it into a C and fit it around the lens zoom ring and keep it in place with a rubber band. It works well.

Cheers

James

Does this port support the 100mm USM? ->

Subal FP-FC105/3

I personally haven't had any issues using AF with the 100 mm. However, I'm just starting out so I may very well get into a situation in the future when I wish I had MF capability. I tried using the "*" lever for focusing but resorted back to the "half-shutter-trigger" technique to eliminate "brain lag". This past Saturday (NCUPS beach photo competition), I shot using the center focus point and AI Servo. I was able to come up with this photo (1st in novice digital macro. No post-processing allowed per competition rules. Resized for web viewing.):

.mike

Thanks guys - appreciate your input.

I hope to take delivery of my new housing in 2/4 weeks time - before I depart for PNG in early July.

I'm currently using the NEW Canon 100/2.8 usm lens - so I'll have to investigate Ryan's option unless Herr. Subal decides to rectify the issue before I take delivey. I beleive my housing is being machined next week.

Just spoke with the rep & he said the best port to use is the FP-90 flat port & 4FC021 focus gear for the sigma 50mm. He said this port will also accomodate the 100/2.8 usm with the addition of a subal 33mm extension ring (not MF). Apparently this port will also fit the canon 60 mm macro lens, if I should get on in the future.

I also lashed out and bought the subal GS-180 viewfinder.

I'm looking forward to meeting my new beast soon - now to part with my old friend (Canon G5 & subal housing). Cheers............Iain