Barry Guimbellot designs DIY small dome port for CFWA 
Wetpixel member explores the close-focus wide angle dome design process for his Nexus housing
Last Update: 01 March 2010 10:10 PM
10 comment(s) | discuss in forums
Author: Barry Guimbellot
Next I tried my Kenko 1.4 teleconverter with the Tokina lens and my DIY dome. Seeing the images using this combination was like I had upgraded my camera. I got really lucky in my port design since the port works great with and without a teleconverter.
Images taken on my first dive trip with the lens made a real believer out of me with what I had, so I came back to Dallas and talked to Kress Technologies again. With the help of Kress, we designed a one piece, all aluminum housing that is black hard anodized as well as a lens hood that is not only functional but sturdy.
First the machined housing had to be checked for vignetting
Tokina 14mm w/teleconverter
Tokina 11.5mm no teleconverter
Several friends decided they want one of these ports too, so I made some for them. Since I am building ports for someone else, I want to really make sure they do not leak at depths deeper than the 100 ft. depth I dived on my trip. A local dive store agreed to let me pressure test one of my newly machined ports in their pressure tank. A test to 65 lbs. sq. in. / 150 ft. depth proved the ports are water tight. The ports might be ok to a deeper depth, but that day the dive shop’s compressor was not working well so was only able to add 65 lbs. to the tester, so I just tell people they are good to 150 ft.
My finished port with removable shade finally done!
Nice article and a great invention.
You had better get ready for lots of orders.
Don
Posted by Don in Colorado on 03/01 at 04:26 PMGreat article and ingenious solution. Looks good too!
Posted by Arne on 03/02 at 05:47 AMThanks for the compliments!
As for the price Stew, I have worked a deal where I can sell some at $360+shipping, which includes the lens shade and a small allen wrench.Posted by Dupsbear on 03/02 at 11:39 AMCongrats Barry and great job! That’s not easy to do and I appreciate the amount of work you put in. I haven’t been following Alex’s articles on using the 10-17 w 1.4 so may be repeating things. will look those up. What exactly are the benefits over shooting the lens w/o the teleconverter. I am using 10-17 with the Sea and Sea Optical Glass dome and can focus to the glass.
Andy
Posted by asallmon on 03/03 at 10:54 AMHi Andy,
Thanks for the compliment!
I used the 10-17 with a teleconverter in the Philippines to get some great cfwa of 3” long nudibranchs, but still have the DOF to render a diver in the background. The teleconverter is great when you want to make your foreground subject very large, but still gives enough room to light the subject.
I also used the teleconverter in Cozumel when I wanted wide angle but did not want the image too wide. As matter of fact, I am now using the teleconverter more than without, except when I want to go really wide like in a cenote or on a shipwreck.Posted by Dupsbear on 03/03 at 11:01 AMAndy, I posted some images in the forum topic about my mini dome with some images showing the benefit of using the teleconverter.
BaryPosted by Dupsbear on 03/03 at 11:34 AMHello Barry,
Despite loving this style of image, I don’t think I fully understand the advantage of this combination, would you be able to explain the difference between the 10mm and 1.4 combo, versus just using the 17mm end?
Thanks Mary
Posted by Mary Malloy on 03/10 at 03:48 AMHi Mary,
In a nutshell, more working distance. Using the 1.4X TC gives more working distance when shooting timid creatures or if I don’t want to get too close. The working distance also gives me room to get my lighting where I want.
If I am not going to need the 10 mm coverage, I put on the TC. Sometimes, the 10 mm end of the lens is just too much, so using the TC gives me the full range of the lens, instead of only working the 17mm side.
Using the 10-17 Tokina with a TC gives me more of the angle of coverage I loved with the Nikonos 15mm, but now having a zoom. I posted some images in the DIY forum about my mini dome as well as on my site at http://www.creativeillusionsphoto.com/portsale.htm
I hope this helps,
BarryPosted by Dupsbear on 03/10 at 07:01 AMBarry,
I am just shooting wa Canon 17-40mm, but will want to get the Tokina and your port as well.Can you email me at with your pricing and availability?
Thanks
EddiePosted by EddieM2750 on 04/03 at 09:27 AM
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