Seacam Systemport

Has anyone used one of these? Kasey, Paul, Steve?

"Systemport: This is a combination of front port with port extensions for several lenses (AF 60, AF 105, AF 200, AF 70-180). Distance adjustment can be done directly at the system port at some cameras."

Here's a photo, hotlinked from http://www.seacam.de

I'd like something like this that I can use with a 50mm, 100mm, and 150mm macro lens for my Canon housing.

I'm wondering if I can get the Nikon systemport with a variety of extensions and get some gears custom manufactured for the lenses.

Cheers

James

James - The Systemport idea evolved from the N90s era when an aperture ring blocked the possibility to use zoom and focus from the housing. With your Canon, and any Nikons from F100 onward, the Systemport was not required for zoom/focus or focus and AF/MF shift ( a la 60/105mm Micro-Nikkor).

However, the Systemport is still utilized for specialty lenses like 70-180 Micro Nikkor and 200 Micro-Nikkor where focus is WAAAAY out there and a focus gear that long would bind. Plus, with those lenses you need focus, zoom, and AF/MF, so the focus gearing on Systemport allows for a third control not possible with housing and normal ports.

You don't need it for your 50 and 100 macro lenses, and I think Harald told me the Sigma 150 was too wide to fit a focus gear on the lens and let it mesh with the Systemport. I know you engineer types have way too muuch money and are always looking to buy the latest/greatest housing accessories, but I don't think the Systemport will actually help with the lenses you have at present.

Hey James - Will you buy a systemport for me

Hi Kasey,

Want to buy a new unused 70-180 macro lens?

Cheers

James

Unfortunately I already own this lens - barely used it though. I'm not as big a fan as you and craig are. I did just order a zoom ring for it to try it in my Seacam housing, however. It may be useful for some of the muck diving I've been doing lately!

James,

If you are looking at keeping the number of ports you have to a minimum, then you can use the modular approach of the system port even with normal ports.

Just add port extenders on to your P90 flat port. I'm guessing you'd need to add extender PVL 30 to fit a 105 USM inside the port (a PVL 60 for a 105 non USM) and PVL 100 (or maybe just the PVL 30, that you use with the 105 - accompanied by a PVL 70) for the 180 USM L.

There - P90 plus PVL30 plus PVL 70 = 50, 105 and 180 compatibility.

Of course, I may be talking rubbish, so best that Steve or Paul confirm this theory?

Steve

Sounds good to me - exactly what I do to minimise bulk and weight!

Hi Guys,

That's what I was planning as my "fall back" plan. It's all good and well for the 50mm and the 100mm as there are focus gears that mesh w/ the housing focus gear.

But what about the longer lenses? What about if/when you use a teleconverter?

I need MF for my long macro lenses - especially the Sigma 150mm f2.8 or the 100mm USM with a 1.4x teleconverter. I don't intend to house the Canon 180mm but I'm sure others might want to.

I'd also like to house the 70-200mm F4L with diopter in the future. A systemport with a knob for zoom/focus on it would be ideal.

Thoughts?

Back when I was shooting Aquatica this was easy. They have a nice flat port w/ focus knob that will fit BIG lenses. You then use the zoom knob on the housing for zoom and the focus knob on the front of the port for focus. If you add a teleconverter, you just use a longer port extension, and since the focus knob is on the front of the port, it moves out also. Easy as pie. With Seacam's excellent reputation, I'd expect something like this or better, like the Nexus Multi-port. Seacam has a solution that looks quite good for Nikon shooters, but now that Canon is getting so popular, I'd like to see a similar solution.

I'd be happy to be the "guinea pig" on this one.

Cheers

James

I see your point.

Seacam do actually have a *very* long focus gear that allows the Nikon 200 to still mesh with the housing gear. However that won't solve your zoom requirement, nor will it probably fit the Sigma and Canon lenses.

I'd say this is one for Harald.....

Hey James, sounds like you could use a nice Seacam housing for a Nikon D2X to solve all your problems....

Soon followed by a report on trying to buy all your old Nikon lenses back...

Sorry but couldn't resist that...

Mike

James says: "I need MF for my long macro lenses - especially the Sigma 150mm f2.8 or the 100mm USM with a 1.4x teleconverter. I don't intend to house the Canon 180mm but I'm sure others might want to."

James - The 100USM with teleconverter is possible with existing Systemport. We have sold several such rigs. The diameter of the lens is not the issue there. There are other new lenses, specifically the Sigma 150mm and Canon 180mm that require a new Systemport to be machined. Harald has had that in mind since last DEMA after conversations with you, Eric, and Craig. I have no doubt it will happen eventually, but with him at the CTS show in Singapore I hesitate to suggest a time frame without talking to him first.

So, bottom line, most any lens of the right diameter can probably be accommodated by the right combination of port extensions and gears. But there are lenses that did not exist when the Systemport was designed that simply can nt be accommodated. This is the same reason several housing designers had to come up with a different port mount system when the 17-35mm Nikkor lens came out and they realized the housing orifice was too small.

I wish these things could happen quicker, and share your angst at wanting to use all the tools in your arsenal. I too would like to use either the Sigma 150mm or Canon 180mm and look forward to the time when it is possible.