Need some advice on dome ports. I am heading out to shoot some (photographically) sharks in the Bahamas and was hoping to use the following lens:

12-24mm F4
17-55mm F2.8

Subal suggests that I get a gigantic and very expensive FE2 domeport and the relevant extension tubes for these ports. I am wondering whether I could use the more compact and less expensive SWB dome ports taking into consideration the smaller DX size of the CCD of the D70 Nikon?

Please advise also on what diopters I should place in front of the lens (if any) and the relevant extension tubes if I were to use the SWB ports because Subal provides no such information?

Kind regards
Paul NG

I just received my Tokina 12-24 for my Canon 20D this week and hope to be using it this weekend for the first time. I'm using my old Subal SWC ( I believe this is just a longer version of the SWB) dome port left over from my film days with a Subal +4 dioptre. This port/dioptre combination worked very well with my 20-35 zoom on my old film EOS50 so it should work with the 12-24 zoom which has an equivalent zoom range of 19 - 38 in 35mm film terms. I may have to do a bit of experimenting with extension rings before I get it right, but I'll let you know how I get on. I had a play last weekend with my old Canon 28-80 zoom with the same port, dioptre and a 15mm extension ring and was very happy with the results.

I have both dome's and the small one never gets used. i shoot the fe2 and do not use diopters. something about more glass that just does not sit well. I have very top quality diopters as well just do not use them. I cannot say about your digital question as I shoot film which is far less forgiving than shooting raw. If you do shot the small dome use the recommened diopters from subal website for your lens as the smaller galss needs more correction. That small dome is great for hostil environs as it is so compact. If you are going to always have a subal housing for whatever camera you will get in the future get the big dome as it will work with the next subal as well. Mark

Plus the DP-FE2 has the advantage of handling the Nikkor 10.5mm. You can't go wrong with it.....