Hello Everyone:

I bought an Ikelite housing, 5503 port and two ds-125 for my Digital Rebel/Kit lens in June. So far I've made about 20 dives with the set up. The problem is I can not focus the subject at a satisfying close distance.

I read that the kit lens can work well with 5503 port without the diopter. And some people have the experience with the port scratched with the added diopter. So is there any solution to achieve the closer focus distance? Can I use very slim filter?

Thanks a lot!

Which lens are you using?

If this chart says you need a diopter, you need it. Otherwise you don't.

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/2port_canon.html

Then, properly set up, if you want to focus closer you will need a different lens e.g. my favorite Nikon lens is the 10.5mm lens because it focuses down to about an inch in front of the lens. I don't know what the Canon equivalent is for this lens.

Peter, do you use the 10.5 for close ups only or for macro too?
I have a 60mm and find that I cant get close enough (I have a D70).
What is your experience/way to getting those little things that is about 5mm long?

This is as small as I go with the 10.5.

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/photo_gall...~5mm_FF_640.jpg

But these are more like what I usually shoot with it.

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/photo_gall...2005/frames.htm

Impressive close up Peter.....I see that I'm not using the full potential of my 10.5mm

Karl

Peter - was there NO cropping on that nudibranch ? Do u use a dome port or can one use the macro port if you only want to use the 10.5 for macro?

If that is the case I am buying a 10.5 tomorow!

I cropped about 50%. As for ports, I used a dome and can't imagine how a flat port would work.

And, although no one asked, here's a shot taken with the 60mm in my dome when the rest of my dive and camera gear was delayed by the airlines. Used a small extexnsion ring ahead of the dome:

Rand....you are the king of cleaning stations

Karl

I am not sure which route to go to get closer to my subjects with my 60mm - do I get an extension tube or do I get a 2x converter or do I buy a new lense, and if so, which one? I want to get to small things about 5mm in size

Wow..sorry I did not get back promptly...

The lens I am using is EFS 18-55mm. I am also using 18mm. Well I think it's another story for close-up lens. But for wide-angle, do I really need a ~10mm? Will adding a diopter to wide-angle will help it focus closer?

Weiwei

@bluepixel: The best way is: Get closer! If you are already touching the port, you could use Woody's diopter. I don't know which brand of housing you use, but a converter could work fine, although you have to extend your port most of the time.

@Weiwei: A slim filter might work

Bluepixel: Go with the 105mm, perhaps add some close up filters as well.

The 10.5 is not a macro lens but a super wide fisheye...

If I go with the 2x coverter, extension tube or 105 I need to extend my port (I have a Sea&Sea).
Which of the two would you recommend to enable me to take pictures of an amphipod? I cant get closer with the 60mm, it wont focus so close. I have heard that the 105 has to be kept very very steady - we have lots of surge

Hi,

I am using the 60 and 105 and had similar questions as you have.
Please check out the topic "Macro". There are some very helpful explanations.
If you want to get closer to your subjects you, the only way is to use an extension tube. You will only lose a little light and your close focussing distance will decrease.
As a result, the reproduction ratio increases to e.g. 1,5:1 or 2:1, depending on the length of the tube.
The disadvantage is that you are tight to super-macro for the whole dive. Your lens will not be able to focus to infinity anymore.

If you want to use a diopter, you will suffer from the some disadvantage of inflexibility. The close up distance will remain the same, but your subject will be magnified.

After questioning the forum members, Nikon dealer and well a known photographer, I decided for a 2x converter. Your 60mm 1:2,8f will be converted to a 120mm 1:5,6f which may cause trouble with AF. The lense's close focussing distance will be the same as before, which lets the reproduction ratio increase to 2:1. I think that is what you want.
FYI the matching Nikon converters are only MF. In case you want AF, you should use another brand. My suggestion is the Kenko AF 2x Teleplus MC7.

The 105 will not match your needs. It has a longer focal length, but a bigger close focussing distance as well. The reproduction ratio is the same as the 60 (1:1)

Unfortunately all theoretical because I am still waiting for the converter and port extension...
Anyone having more/better advice?

Thilo

Thilo
Thanx you for your comments - at last someone knows what I want!

If you can get the same ration with the extension tube (2:1) but can get closer than you can with the converter, why do you opt for the converter? Is it not better to rather get closer to your subject (less water) ? The price of the coverter and ext tubes here is about the same, I am not sureif the coverter will need an additional port, but then again, if I want 2:1 ration with ext tubes, it might be too long for my port in any event.

Bluepixel,

I do not know the Sea&Sea port-system, but for sure you will need a port extension. Depending on what you choose, the tubes or converter or diopter will extend your lens by 5mm up to 45mm (Converter).
Closer distance / less water sounds good,- but there is a limit somewhere.
The closer you go the earlier you subject will flee.
If you have swell/surge, you may hit your port and the strobes.
If you are very very close, how will you position your strobe(s) properly.
Specially when the subject is hiding between the coral/rocks it is very difficult at times to get close to it and position your strobes without having ugly shadows.
When I used to try close ups with my old Coolpix 995, I very often scratched the housing and the strobes frontglass.
Nowadays, when I try close ups with my 12-24, I am always scared to scratch my superdome. Using macro setup, I have always a safe distance.
I f you use an extension tube instead of a converter, you stuck up with super-macro for the whole dive.
With a converter you have full AF from close to infinity. This allows you to shoot fish behaviour and portraits as well. I prefer the flexibility of the converter.

Cheers
Thilo

I guess the first question is how long have you been shooting? Most entry level photographers have not mastered the art of getting close. It could be your technique on approach and not the camera. Techniques like staying close to the bottom, holding your breath ( ), moving the camera out and away from your face closer to the subject while still keeping an eye on the view finder are some techniques. You can get pretty tight with a 60mm lens, like almost filling the frame with a nickle. Don't go haywire on spending doe on more equipment until you are sure you need it.

Practice on land and see what your camera will do. Then you will have an idea of your system's capability prior to your next dive.


Joe

If have been at it for a while, but no matter no long you have been shooting, you will NOT get an amphipod of 3mm to fill your frame !
I got the 2x coverter today (on loan) as well as an extended port. I will be trying this tomorow - so lets see! I will report back

Good Luck Bluepixel

I hope you'll have great success with your new setup and lots of little amphipods are willing to model for you.
I am curious to read your report and maybe see some pic's.


Thilo

As you say, if you want super macro, I mean real super macro, you need special equipment beyond normal macro tools.

Joe

Thanks for the votes of confidence - I dont think I will have super super super micro macro shots - but it has to be bigger and hopefully better than what I am getting now. With limited funds I am hoping this will do the trick.
In my next life I will have a photographic memory and 9 gills

Peter,
I was very impressed with your close ups that I ordered the 10.5 mm from B&H last night.

Alex if your monitoring this thread, I’d like to change my order for your Magic Filter to fit the Nikon 10.5 mm.

Thanks,
Marc

The 10.5 is for wide angle. I would not order it for macro. How Peter got a nudi shot like that means severe crop or the thing was a foot long. I have Jelly fish pictures that were literally laying on my port that are 4-5 inches and they still don't come close to filling the frame.

Joe

The only thing that comes close to filling the frame on my 10.5 is a diver (ok, or maybe a jewfish) and that's when they are very close! The coverage of the 10.5 is so wide that your strobes will appear in the photo if you don't pull them back far enough.

Hi,

I think we have got a misunderstanding of this thread.
When Peter posted that he can go very close with his 10,5 I think he did not want to tell us that this is his favorite macro lens.
Its just the typical situation when you take your camera with wide-angle set up underwater and suddenly you see a nice small subject and wish to change the lens instantly.
If you then take a good shot with wide-angle very close to a small subject, it is always amazing how close you can go and what a depth of field you get.
A while ago I shot a very patient medium-siz scorpionfish with 12mm and managed to fill the frame by massaging him with my domeport
But this is not the kind of pic I intentionally want to shoot when I set up my 12-24 lens. Just a lucky shot.
In this situations I am always scared to get a frame-filling scratch on my dome!

Thilo

I didn't get to try my converter and new port today as diving was cancelled. I will have to wait for next weekend to try it out and will keep you guys posted.

I share the same opinion as Thiol ,

I’ve been sitting on the fence for along time wanting to buy this lens especially for the over- under shots I’ve seen. All the statements I’ve read here bout the Len are favorable, and I just decide to treat myself.

Thanks for the push,
Marc

Marc, I think that the 10.5 is a "must have" lens and that you will not regret getting it - here is SA it is extremely pricy and unless we have very good viz, it is better to stick with macro. presently our viz is around 5m - 7m - not too great for wide-angle!

At last I got to try the following:

Nikon D70 + 60mm macro lens + 2X converter in Sea & Sea Housing.

The 2X converter makes the lens focus rather slow, and at times it is so out of focus, you can't hunt for the object you are trying to take a photo of, until you focus in a bit, search and aim, and then fine-tune your focus.
You can also get a heck of a lot closer to the subject with the converter.
I will recommend the 2X coverter, but if you want to see the pics, e-mail me on imort@iafrica.com and I will gladly share the pics so you can see what I mean with the great difference it made.

Hi Bluepixel,

I’m glad you are getting acceptable results with your extender, my experience was horrible.

I bought a Tamron Pro 2X extender for my Tamron 90 mm macro. My D2X did not focus properly, it would hunt very slowly and only occasionally lock on. I never recorded any images, back in the box, back to B&H.


PS
I called Tamron and they advise me that they could not guarantee focus compatibility with the D2X.

Marc

Hi all,

I have used the 60mm plus a 2x and woody'd diopter to get fantastic results. The challenge is to steady the camera and at the same time shoot a subect that will cooperate. In the picture posted, it was a very small hermit crab. This picture is deceiving. It looks like a hermit is out and peering in open water. In reality, the crab is in its shell deep. It is actually peering out of one of its spiral chambers way inside of the shell. This is a pic of it simply peering around the corner, but you would never know. Thats why this would never win a competition. If the judges knew the degree of difficulty and how the image was composed, the equipment used, it might do well.....asuming they judged that way.

I love the shot and will forever know deep inside how difficult the shot was to take.

The challenge for you ( and me) will be:

Don'tmove
Be patient
Keep your eye on the viewfinder
Pre set your strobes as close to the subject as you can
be as negative as possible
Shoot a lot of pics (the dof is a killer)

And you might nail a winner.

Good luck.

Koe

Marc, I must also say that I found the focus a real challenge at times, more of a problem if you have to hunt for the object thru your viewfinder if you can't even see it until you focussed!
I am however pleased that I got the amphipods I was looking for. I borrowed a port, now I suppose I must buy one! Can you not borrow a Kenko 2x? Our shop lets you return in 7 days if you are not happy.

Koe/Kelpfish - your story is very interesting - I have previously tried those inside joppies and just couldnt get to them. Perhaps this is how to get there! Yes, the dof is a real killer - I wonder why we do this to ourselves..... :-))

I will try again next week.... Oh ye, and of course my FIRST scorpion fish - and it got away before I could even compose the picure!