7 replies to this topic

[mexwell]

Hello everybody,

as I am in the market for an 5D MK II housing I consider Ikelite beneath others.

I had great results with Canons 17-40mm lens so far and consider it to be my WA choice.

When I read Ikelites port chart it states the #5503.51 BUT says also:
"Port is not long enough to accommodate accessory diopters or filters."

My questions:
- Is a +2 Diopter needed to get acceptable corner sharpness?
- Is close up WA (Dr. Mustards TM) possible without a diopter?
- AFAIK the 17-40mmm has a rear filter holder, Magic Filter will be possible after all
- Is the Port #5503.51 a good choice or is the 8" Dome necessary?

I would love to see sample pictures of this setup on a full frame camera....

Edited by mexwell, 21 July 2009 - 01:52 AM.

[Taxgeek]

Hi Mexwell. I can't answer all your questions, but here are some:

0. The bottom line from my research on this forum was that this lense is not a good lense for a full frame sensor and an Ike housing. (See below). If you have flexibility on camera or housing, maybe it would work.
1. I used the 17-40 on the 5d a bit with the 6" port. The 6" port produces completely smearly corners. At 40mm you could crop out and use the middle, but at 17 I considered most of the photo unusable. Slightly better if you shoot at f22 the whole time, but who wants to be limited to f22?
2. Indeed, there is no room for a diopter. The lens focuses close enough that you can "Achieve focus" without one, but not sharp corners. I suspect you can probably do close focus WA with this lense but somebody else should confirm.
3. There are a couple of threads that talk about this lense and other WA options for 5d (same geometry issue as 5dII), and post pictures taken. The 8" dome had better corners than the 6" dome with this lense, but still not what I would consider acceptable. The only combination I found examples of that seemed to do a pretty good job was the Canon (or Sigma? can't remember) 15mm Fisheye and the Ike 8" dome port. Some people had good advice on this back in 2007ish - search "taxgeek" and "15mm" or "17-40" and they should come up.
4. 17-40 does have a rear filter holder so you could use magic filters.

Susan

Hello everybody,

as I am in the market for an 5D MK II housing I consider Ikelite beneath others.

I had great results with Canons 17-40mm lens so far and consider it to be my WA choice.

When I read Ikelites port chart it states the #5503.51 BUT says also:
"Port is not long enough to accommodate accessory diopters or filters."

My questions:
- Is a +2 Diopter needed to get acceptable corner sharpness?
- Is close up WA (Dr. Mustards TM) possible without a diopter?
- AFAIK the 17-40mmm has a rear filter holder, Magic Filter will be possible after all
- Is the Port #5503.51 a good choice or is the 8" Dome necessary?

I would love to see sample pictures of this setup on a full frame camera....

Edited by Taxgeek, 21 July 2009 - 12:59 PM.

[mexwell]

Well, after a lot of reading I am very unsure of which WA lens to get.

I will go for the 8" dome! BUT I still think many people have (strong) soft edges
with the 17-40. A fisheye is no option for me because I will be mainly filming and
this lens would be too unflexible for me.

So which WA zoom would you consider the best choice behind the 8" Ikelite?
I saw one thread regarding the Tamron 17-35 but no sample pictures...

[matt215]

I'll chime in here. I've used a 5D, and will be using the mkii next month, in an Ikelite housing. I've used the 17-40 L almost exclusively. I feel like my images have been just fine. I've discussed this with photographers on trips, and with people at uw photos shops. i suppose it could be an issue, but i've never had an image "ruined" because of this. I love my set up and can't wait to start shooting video wit hit next month. Just my $ .02

[mexwell]

Hi Matt,

which Dome are you using?

Could you provide us with some sample shoots?
I would really, really appriciate that!

Thanks in advance!

[matt215]

8 inch dome port. here's a link to some of the images i have taken...

http://web.mac.com/m.../My_Albums.html

i just checked that link, and the 2007 cocos images aren't there. also, the first 10 or so of the 2008 cocos images are not mine, but the rest are.

Edited by matt215, 23 July 2009 - 06:00 AM.

[mexwell]

@Matt
Sorry, your gallery isnt working probably on IE (script errors) nor Firefox (no pics at all).
It seems a Mac only thing to be :-)

@all
From what I get out of this thread and some PMs is that I should avoid the small Ikeliteport at all costs. But the 8" modular port seems to do fine.

To make sure I put my money into the right housing. I like to ask everyone to please post some sample shoots of...
- 5D or 5D MKII
- Ikelite housing with 8" dome
- no crop
..to make up my mind about corner sharpness.

I really appreciate your help!!!

[dorin]

Hi Mexwell,

did you go in the end with 17-40 and 8" dome (ikelite). i just bought my setup, case for 5d2, 8" dome, port for fisheye and port for 100mm IS and i need something for inbetween, thinking that 17-40 may be a good option.

can you please share your experience as there are so many scattered mentions on the forum that i cannot make my mind.

many thanks,
Dorin