HELP !! Nikon D100, Ikelite....

[mjleblanc 0]

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

[james 0]

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

[mjleblanc 0]

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

[Rocha 0]

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?

[acroporas 0]

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?

[mjleblanc 0]

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

[mjleblanc 0]

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.

[james 0]

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

[Marc Furth 3]

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

[Peter Schulz 1]

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

[ikelite 0]

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.

[Marc Furth 3]

Hi Ike,

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

 

Marc

[mjleblanc 0]

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