HELP !! Nikon D100, Ikelite....

I know I am probably missing something basic here, but I have just begun attempting to bring my photography underwater. I have a Nikon D100, SIGMA lens, Ikelite housing, UK lighting...

I have attempted, in a controlled environment, to use this set-up, and I cannot get the camera to focus underwater. I have tried all three of the focusing modes for the Nikon, but none work. I am sure that someone here can hit in the head and make me see what I am missing!

Thanks in advance !!!

Monty

Hi Monty,

We need more information to help.

Which Sigma lens?

Which Ikelite port?

Without that info, it's just a wild guess, but I bet you're using a dome port and your lens needs a diopter to focus behind the dome port underwater.

Sincerely,

James Wiseman

I am using the Ikelite 6800, with the dome port as you surmised. I am trying to use the SIGMA 28mm F1.8 EX DG ASPHERICAL MACRO lens.

Thanks again for your response.

Monty

Hi Monty,

Since this lens has a short minimum focusing distance (20cm), it should focus behind a dome without the close-up diopter. It sounds like an incompatibility between the lens and port, maybe the lens is too long or short for the port. It looks like it is a fairly new lens, as it is not listed at the ikelite port chart:

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/2port_nikon.html

Do you know what dome port you are using? One other thing, does the lens hunt for focus? I mean, does the camera do anything when you press the shutter?

Hopefully this is a dumb question, but does it focus in the air? Did you try it in the housing, but out of the water?

Thankfully, I'm not quite novice enough not to try it above water. Yes, I have used the camera and lens above water, and it works just fine. If I put anything at all on the front of the lens, like a filter or what have you, it will hit the dome, so hopefully, I won't have to but a new port !!

Monty

Rocha,

I believe that the dome is the 5503.80 dome port. As far as I can tell, the camera doesn't do anyting at all when I press the lever. Above water, it is fine. When I was last at the pool, I could actually lift it out of the water, take a picture, and bring it underwater, and nothing at all happened.

I did make a futile attempt to pre-set it at a manual focus distance, say 6 feet, and bring it down to see if that would function. I could not get a focused picture at any distance, even with a pre-set focus on the lens.

I could actually lift it out of the water, take a picture, and bring it underwater, and nothing at all happened.

You need a diopter.

Start with a +2 diopter on the lens. If the diopter looks like it will hit the front of the port, then you DEFINITELY have the wrong port.

Cheers

James

I would also add that their is a good chance that the Lens protrudes to far into the dome to focus correctly even with a diopter.

You stated that you preset the camera to 6 ft., I would try 12 to 18 inches in front of the dome to focus on the apparent image, I might be wrong but it’s worth a try?

Marc

See attached for port dimensions to verify port part # you have.

Photographing a subject three feet from the camera, the lens will be set at about the 12.5 inch marking on the lens. You should not need a + diopter close-up lens assuming the lens will focus as close as twelve inches.

Hi Ike,

What about the Lens being so close to the inside of the dome ?

Marc

First of all, I must say that finding this website was perhaps the single best aspect of starting to take pictures underwater!

Thanks all for your great advice. I will contact Ikelite, and proceed accordingly.

Thnaks again.

Monty