Aquatica 9.25" dome port

[Tom_Kline 141]

I'd like to see the 14-24 at 17mm compared to the 17-35 at 17mm. How much of the problem is field of view as opposed to the lens and dome interaction.

 

 

Absolutely! One needs to compare same FL and same formats!

Here is a link showing the entrance pupil of several Nikkors including the new 14-24.

http://www.vrphotography.com/data/pages/te...lenschoice.html

One can see how far forward it is. If the center of curvature of a given port is positioned not close to the entrance pupil it won't matter much whether your port is 8" or whatever.

It would be better if folks specified the radius of curvature ( r ) of a given port rather than its diameter (generally the specified diameter is not well defined). A larger diameter port may have a smaller r than a smaller diameter port. For example, the SEACAM 6" diameter fisheye port (a full hemisphere, thus r ~ 3") has a smaller r than their 4" diameter dome ports (<< hemisphere, r >> 3").

[Warren_L 0]

Ok, I just bit the bullet and ordered the 9.25" dome based on Jean's photos. I'll post a few samples once I'va had a chance to shoot it a bit. It should come in handy on my Bahamas trip in a few weeks.

[Warren_L 0]

Here are a couple of sample shots of the 14-24mm zoom @ 14mm on the D3 behind the 9.25" megadome.

 

This one is shot at f/5.6.

 

 

This one is shot at f/8.0

 

[james 0]

Wow, pretty good performance!

 

James

[marpacifica 0]

I just got back from a dive trip to the Turks and Caicos, where I tried to use the Nikon 14-24mm in the 8" dome port. To my dismay and surprise, I couldn't get the lens past the extension ring. The lens shade seemed slightly too wide to fit through the ring.

 

Has anyone experienced this and found a way around it, like removing the lens shade? I couldn't find a way to remove the shade without breaking it.

[Viz'art 24]

The older (pre 2008) dome where too tight for the 14-24mm, we have since opened up the throat of our extensions and dome to accomodate this baby. in you case you if you want to uses the 14-24mm, you will need to get a new dome port, as for the extensions, you can use the same, just put the extension on the housing first, then install the lens and then the new type dome port.

 

There is no graceful way to remove the shade from the 14-24mm, and having it removed by Nikon or a service center is likely costly and will leave your front element exposed.

 

Thanks Warren for posting the shots, its always nice to have field report validating my borring but necessary academic pool stuff

Edited September 1, 2008 by Viz'art

[Warren_L 0]

For further comparison, this is the D3 with the 16mm fisheye behind the 9.25" megadome (no port extension). This was shot at f/11. As expected, no corner sharpness issues.

 

Edited September 3, 2008 by Warren_L

[haydnyip 0]

For comparison, here are a couple of shots with the D3/14-24mm combo using the Sea&Sea D3 housing and 8" glass port. These were shot at 14mm, f/5.

 

I also want to know what kinds of zoom gear can fit this lenes. thx

[Warren_L 0]

I also want to know what kinds of zoom gear can fit this lenes. thx

 

I got whatever zoom ring was standard for the 14-24 from Aquatica for their housing. Seems to work fine. It also fits on the 24-70 as well.

[haydnyip 0]

I got whatever zoom ring was standard for the 14-24 from Aquatica for their housing. Seems to work fine. It also fits on the 24-70 as well.

 

 

Does it fit in S&S housing?

[Warren_L 0]

Does it fit in S&S housing?

 

I don't think the Aquatica would work with the S&S housing. I used a zoom ring specifically for the S&S housing. I can't remember which one - Ryan would know as he set me up with the housing.

[haydnyip 0]

I don't think the Aquatica would work with the S&S housing. I used a zoom ring specifically for the S&S housing. I can't remember which one - Ryan would know as he set me up with the housing.

 

THX reply. I don't want to buy a wrong ring.