improved zoom ring for tokina 10-17mm (nikon mount) on Nauticam housing?

[Nicool 30]

Hi there,

 

I am facing issues with the way my Nauticam zoom ring attaches onto my Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom lens. This is the Nikon mount version, which i use with a D500 inside a Nauticam housing.

I know i am not the only one facing those issues and i have read though multiple threads (there, for instance) but they're all 4+ years old so i am writing hoping new solutions are available now.

 

I've followed the manual by removing the rubber ring which was attached to the Tokina lens (then some electronic circuitry becomes visible, whooo scary...) and put the Tokina zoom ring onto it.

 

What happens is that it doesn't fit very snuggily:

-when i attach the lens to the camera when opening the housing front port (e.g. when i am swapping lenses) i have to be extremely careful on the positioning otherwise the zoom gear starts popping off.

-same when i am just opening the housing back to change camera battery: at the time i slide the camera out/in it's very diffcult to avoid the zoom gear being disengaged.

-worst of all: while i am shooting the zoom gear may just disengage on its own and then i am stuck with a given focal till i open the housing. This happened 4-5 times to me in maybe 30 dives.

 

I have used several housing brands with different zoom gear solutions (Ikelite, Hugyfot, Nauticam M4/3 and then Nauticam DSLR), and i had used a different zoom gear for same lens model (not exact same lens though), which was the Hugyfot one which didn't require me to remove the lens' own rubber zoom ring. I feel this was a better design.

 

So my question is: have Nauticam or a third party manufacturer come with zoom gear solution that would fit snuggier on my lens when used in my Nikon D500 Nauticam housing?

If not, would anyone have a suggestion to circumvent the issues i am having?

 

regards

Nicolas

[TimG 62]

Hi Nicool

 

This sounds a right pain. Not being a Nauticam user I can't help with their solution - but have you tried putting, say, a rubber band (or something similar, e.g. a ring of neoprene) on the lens before fitting the zoom ring? This might give the ring more grip on the lens.

 

I had a similar-ish issue a while back trying to rig a zoom ring on a CFWA set up using the Tokina 10-17 and solved it with a bit of bicycle tyre which hugged the zoom nicely - and provided more grip for the zoom ring to cling on to.

 

Just an idea!

[Nicool 30]

Hi Nicool

 

This sounds a right pain. Not being a Nauticam user I can't help with their solution - but have you tried putting, say, a rubber band (or something similar, e.g. a ring of neoprene) on the lens before fitting the zoom ring? This might give the ring more grip on the lens.

 

I had a similar-ish issue a while back trying to rig a zoom ring on a CFWA set up using the Tokina 10-17 and solved it with a bit of bicycle tyre which hugged the zoom nicely - and provided more grip for the zoom ring to cling on to.

 

Just an idea!

Appreciated TimG! When i am back home i'll see what i can find which will help without damaging the exposed inside lens part

[TimG 62]

A pleasure, Nicool. I'm sure you can get something to work. I was working in Lembeh at the time and found an old bit of bike tyre on the roadside. It worked a charm. I'm guessing you don't get too many bike tyres lying around in Antibes though.... (I was there a couple of weeks ago for my first visit to Nice. I thought Antibes a cracking place!)

 

I know too what you mean about the electronics suddenly being exposed. What's that all about? I suppose that's what you get from a relatively "cheap" lens! All sorts of bits from mine came unstuck. It was always fixable but a few scary moments for sure.

[divengolf 17]

Had a similar problem years ago with an Aquatica zoom ring and a Tokina 10-17 lens where the zoom ring did not fit tight enough to prevent slippage UW. I installed three small set screws 120 degrees apart on the zoom ring. I positioned them to contact the zoom ring in such a way that they met the lens rubber zoom adjustment at a solid part of the lens. It was some years ago, but I believe they were 6-32 with an allen head. I bought a 6-32 tap and handle, about $10 back then. The biggest trick is to make sure that you drill the holes for the tap the proper size. Also pick the length of the set screws so they are flush with the outer portion of the zoom ring when tightened. And make sure that the set screws are positioned such that they do not interfere with the housing gear as the ring rotates.

 

I have since installed set screws on all of my zoom rings and have not had any slippage problems since.

 

Hope this helps.

[TimG 62]

Had a similar problem years ago with an Aquatica zoom ring and a Tokina 10-17 lens where the zoom ring did not fit tight enough to prevent slippage UW. I installed three small set screws 120 degrees apart on the zoom ring. I positioned them to contact the zoom ring in such a way that they met the lens rubber zoom adjustment at a solid part of the lens. It was some years ago, but I believe they were 6-32 with an allen head. I bought a 6-32 tap and handle, about $10 back then. The biggest trick is to make sure that you drill the holes for the tap the proper size. Also pick the length of the set screws so they are flush with the outer portion of the zoom ring when tightened. And make sure that the set screws are positioned such that they do not interfere with the housing gear as the ring rotates.

 

I have since installed set screws on all of my zoom rings and have not had any slippage problems since.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Interesting solution there, divengolf. Any chance of a pic showing what it looks like?

[trimix125 73]

Hi,
i put bicycle inner tube rings around a lens, if the focus or zoom gear gets not enought grip.
Cheap, allways helpfull during dive trips for other field repairs, and make no scratches on the lens body.

Regards,
Wolfgang

[divengolf 17]

Tim,

 

Here's a couple pics of the zoom ring. My lens is packed for a trip to Africa, so the ring is removed. This will give you an idea of what I did.

 

Harry

 

[JackConnick 76]

If it's not gripping the lens tightly, just add a few of the spare pieces of oring that come with the gear. That will tighten it on the gear slieve.

I used a piece of 1/2" Magic Scotch tape around the middle of the lens to secure the two halves together a bit. It fits pretty well.

[TimG 62]

Tim,

 

Here's a couple pics of the zoom ring. My lens is packed for a trip to Africa, so the ring is removed. This will give you an idea of what I did.

 

Harry

 

 

Neat! Thanks, Harry. You must have a steady hand....

 

Enjoy Africa!

[Larry C 24]

If you still have a zoom ring from another brand that worked well, Nauticam makes an adapter gear that sandwiches them (at least the Sea & Sea or Nexus). You might check it out, as it solved me having to buy all new rings for my D500 when switching from my MDX-D300 to Nauticam NA D-500. It's only about $125.

Edited July 17, 2017 by Larry C

[Nicool 30]

If you still have a zoom ring from another brand that worked well, Nauticam makes an adapter gear that sandwiches them (at least the Sea & Sea or Nexus). You might check it out, as it solved me having to buy all new rings for my D500 when switching from my MDX-D300 to Nauticam NA D-500. It's only about $125.

Thanks Larry very interesting!

Have you bought such equipment for the 10-17mm tokina specifically?

[Larry C 24]

I'm using it on the 10-17 and 60 AF-D f2.8G. I just spin it off of one and put it on the other. The Sea & Sea uses a smaller diameter gear, so they fit right on. According to the website and package, that one fits Nexus and Sea & Sea. You'd have to look up yours. I only have experience with the Sea & Sea.

[trimix125 73]

Hi,
if the tooth will fit the Nauticam housing,
you can use an old Ikelite focus / zoom ring.
Just fit / upholster it with cycle rubber or foamstripes with adhesive.
Then outsidi if possible the ikelite screw or if there isnt enought space, a bycicle tire ring.

Have done this with my Nikon 70 - 180mm macro zoom, works fine.

Regards,
Wolfgang

[leepix 1]

Old Ikelite rings had that problem. I think they sitll sell sets of narrow neoprene strips with sticky on on side. Came it three thicknesses. You were supposed to put them on the rings and then tighten down the ring screw. Those might do like Jack has suggested?

 

Since the Nauticam is without the ring scew, I think you could put them on lens barrel. same as Jack hoping they will stay stuck?

 

Though I do like the set screws that Stingray used.

[synthetic 4]

$200 for a zoom ring and you have to drill your own set screws?

[sunnyboy010101 12]

Hi,

if the tooth will fit the Nauticam housing,

you can use an old Ikelite focus / zoom ring.

Just fit / upholster it with cycle rubber or foamstripes with adhesive.

Then outsidi if possible the ikelite screw or if there isnt enought space, a bycicle tire ring.

 

Have done this with my Nikon 70 - 180mm macro zoom, works fine.

 

Regards,

Wolfgang

 

 

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but your comment has me very curious. Are you saying the ikelite zoom or focus ring for a DLSR (Say A Canon 7D) will fit a Nauticam housing for the same camera?

 

For example, would this generic Ikelite part http://www.ikelite.com/accessories/5509.28-zoom-sleeve.htmlfit an Nauticam NA-7D housing?

[Nicool 30]

Hi guys, problem solved!

Thanks again for the various feedbacks since i posted my original question. I must say i didn't fill like drilling on my lens, but i've just found, tested and validated another approach which i am happy to share: basically i've used gaffer tape to hold the two rings on the lens which used to separate and cause the zoom gear to disengage while diving (those which sit below the rubber ring which needs to be taken off to install the nauti gear). Of course the gaffer tape comes too wide but it's easy to cut to the right width. See attached a photo of how it looks like before i re-attached the nauticam zoom gear. In fact it added too much diameter to the lens and the nauti gear wouldn't fit. So i have taken it off, shorten it out of 2 parts say 4cm length each, and attached them on 2 opposite sides of the lens. This way the nauti zoom gear could fit and the lens still doesn't move. I am very happy of such an easy fix!

Cheers

Nicolas

 

 

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See photo

 

 

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[JackConnick 76]

A single layer of 1/2" "Scotch Magic Tape" fits between the sections of the Tokina lens perfectly to hold them together.

 

I've not had the inner ring of the Nauticam gear slip on the lens itself and I've installed dozens of these. If the outer ring slips on the inner ring, then add another section or two of the little sections of cut rubber "oring" that slip into the groves of the outer ring.

[Nicool 30]

Hi Jack, actually the nauti gear slipped because the sections of the tokina lens didn't hold together: it was the bottom part of the rotating tokina bit which disengaged, and the nauti gear with it.

So i got just same fix you it seems

 

 

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