Ikelite D70 dome port attachment

Hi guys... just got all my new D70 gear from Ike the other day (yay!). Anyhow, I've been going through the instructions that come with the housing and ports on how to put everything together.

I've managed to put the 6" port to use with the Nikkor 12-24mm zoom. The first time around, it took quite a bit of effort to push down hard enough on the port to allow the two clips to snap into place. Examined it and it seems to look fine.

Subsequently, I've removed the port and when I now re-attach the port, it hardly takes any effort. I put the port on, press down on it a bit, and the clips almost slip into place with not nearly as much pressure required.

I'm wondering how it can become so much easier only after having it attached a couple of times? Does the o-ring initially compress a bit with the first attachment so that subsequent attachments are not as difficult? I'm worried that the port may not be attached correctly, but the two clips are in place and have snapped closed and the o-ring seems to be in place upon visual examination.

The O-ring MUST be lightly lubricated. Then it will always slide in easily.

HTH

James

Gear drive sleeve not in proper place meshed with gears would keep port from installing properly as would "O" ring extruded out of place. Lightly lube "O" ring and the port assembly should install easilly. Hold port in place while sliding locks into place. Allowing the port to jump up and pushing it back down can extrude the "O" ring. Make absolutely certain each lock has clicked and button is completely down. You can see the black line made by the "O" ring seal from inside of the housing. Try that with the aluminum exotica that can only rely on theory and hope that their port is sealed.

Thanks for the replies - I lightly lubed the o-ring and the port slips into place quite easily, and the locks slide easily to close over the port and clicks in.

I've found also that the zoom sleeve took quite a bit of working to get it on the my Nikkor 12-24mm lens. The rubber inner ring was a very snug fit. But I cannot insert the camera into the housing with the lens on. The Camera has to go into the housing first, then the lens (with the zoom sleeve already on) and then the port. Does this sound right?

Ike, I can not speak about the other exotica aluminum housings makers , but the Aquatica port seal is definitively not based on hope and theory, it is based on an engineering calculation. I was also wondering if all the through glands that are used on Ikelite housings use only single O-ring to seal the shaft, and since you cannot see these seals are they based on hope and theory? <_< Aquatica uses double O-rings on their shafts and there is obviously good reasons for this .

Sharp tongue! How's that Aquatica ETTL and ITTL work?

Sharp tongue? <_< , as I recall I wasn’t the one who opened the door on that one, Ike did, I stay neutral as much as possible, go trough my past posting if you want to confirm that, but at one point insinuating that our technology is reliant on hope and theory, well sorry, but there is a sizable crowd of aluminum exotica user on this website who might feel offended being referred to as naive for buying something else than see trough technology, Ike's got good economical products, but he doesn’t have the monopoly on quality and common sense.

As far as TTL goes, well take a stroll down this tread http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6199

It's nice that he has it, just dont think of it as essential or vital, that all. Should be the strobe manufacturer's job to supply the user with that technology built in the strobe as is the case in land photography, would be common sense, but hey that my personnal opinion.

Sorry about the diversion Warren, hope this tread can go back into it's unbiased natural direction of being informative and not propaganda.

Regards

Bruneau misinterpreted my comment. I have never inferred any of the port seals were questionable; only that you can not visually see the seal except on the clear housing. That leaves theory and hope. "O" rings seal on the mold parting line in a camera control application which is why Ikelite uses quad-seal "X" rings rather than "O" rings on glands. Leakage happens so rarely that I can say "when was the last time you heard of an Ikelite control leaking?" I don't know of any problems and am not inferring to any problems with Aquatica housings, so don't be so testy, Bruneau.

Not being testy, just don't go for inuendo, that's all, I apreciate your pride in your products, I feel the same about Aquatica, so lets bury the axe and get back to what we do best, share our knowledge with the members, without trying to downsize anybody.

Hmmm... interesting turn in the discussion.

Nonetheless, I am still wondering if my approach is normal for mounting the camera in the housing? As I posted earlier.....

I've found also that the zoom sleeve took quite a bit of working to get it on the my Nikkor 12-24mm lens. The rubber inner ring was a very snug fit. But I cannot insert the camera into the housing with the lens on. The Camera has to go into the housing first, then the lens (with the zoom sleeve already on) and then the port. Does this sound right?

Yes, that's right. With the Ikelite housing, the zoom gear is captured in a groove between the port and the housing. It's kind of a pain, because you can't take the camera out of the housing w/ a zoom lens attached, but that's just the way it is.

Cheers

James

It's the same w/my Fuji S2 and the 18-35 zoom. Camera-Lens (plus gear)-Port. Makes me really appreciate just shooting w/a prime.

Thanks for the info. That's kind of what I suspected but was not sure. I suppose I could use the 12-24 without the zoom sleeve if I just wanted to use a set focal length, but then a prime would be better I suppose....

I took a dremel tool to the foam lining the sleeve and it fits like a glove on my 12-24. You might want to consider that if it seems to tight. line up the bottom of the sleeve just right below the line of the gold lettering on the 12-24 and it meshes up with the teeth perfectly without a hitch...

Tony

Tony, can you please post a photo ?

Regarding the 12-24mm lens in the Ike port, use #5509.28 special zoom set that comes with the Ike D70s iTTL housing. This eliminates the compression fit of the "single gear sleeve with pads" you are currently using to operate the zoom, which came before the newer special zoom set.

Always make sure that the port o-ring is lubricated lightly to facilitate the piston fit seal between the port and housing. Use only Ikelite lube as other lubes can cause o-ring swelling. This info is included in instruction manuals and website info.

Regarding the 12-24mm lens in the Ike port, use #5509.28 special zoom set that comes with the Ike D70s iTTL housing. This eliminates the compression fit of the "single gear sleeve with pads" you are currently using to operate the zoom, which came before the newer special zoom set.

 

Always make sure that the port o-ring is lubricated lightly to facilitate the piston fit seal between the port and housing. Use only Ikelite lube as other lubes can cause o-ring swelling. This info is included in instruction manuals and website info.

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Hi Brett,

Thanks for the info. I actually tried the 5509.28 (I did a search on the topic and this has been discussed in the past) and it worked, but because the zoom sleeve sat loosely over the ring with the springs, the zoom sleeve would bend inwards a little around the area away from the notch where the sleeve meets the plastic ring on the sleeve, resulting in the cog on the housing losing contact with the zoom sleeve. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong.

Warren I don't know which rings came with your housing. I had one of the first production runs so maybe they switched things for the better but I love my ring that I trimmed up. The 1st pic is one of the ring having it dremeled

the second shot is a closeup of the ring and you can see the dremel marks on it. Only shaved maybe a mm or so off the whole thing till it fit on easily not to tight and not too loose.

the 3rd image is where the lip of the ring sits in order for it properly engage in the teeth of the housing gear, notice on one side just above the made in japan and on the other side the gold line I was talking about. Pics 3 and 4

this works every time no muss of fuss...easiest lens to put on. I think you want this zoom ring on. Don't defeat the purpose of being able to shoot at 24 when a shark comes by or an eel or turtle comes by. If you don't have the ring you may want to give ryan a call because I have no idea what number this ring is. Threw the boxes away a long time ago. Let me know if you have any more questions...PM me if you want.

Tony

Thanks much for the information Tony. The ring as it stands works fine, but it is really jammed on there hard, making it a b!tch to remove and replace. I may just try the dremel thing, but I would have thought that the ring that was designated specifically for the 12-24 would have been easier to use....

I would just suggest dremeling it some and checking the fit as you go so you don't take too much material off. I don't know why it was manufactured that tight but it is definately a custom fit now. I kinda enjoy monkeying with stuff so it wasn't a real big deal. You will have a great time with that lens underwater it is great topside as well as uw.

Tony