#5510.75 Focus Extension doesn't work!

[Fota]

Hi,

I finally invested money in the modular system all the way. Not only for the 8" DOME but also got new things for flatport. The main reason to go from the old to the new modular system on the flatport was to get the focus controlled 105 VR, #5510.75 Focus Extension. The other day I got tons of port bodies, extension, flat assembly etc. Really exited about the focus extension for the 105 VR I put it all together and tested. But, nothing happened when I turned the focus knob!
I examined closely and reinstalled the camera in the housing, removed the o-rings in the port parts to make sure I really closed everything perfectly, but no focus. I even tested to replace the Nikon plug with the shorter Canon plug to make absolutely sure it reached all the way to the lens. All the happened was that it moved the lens.

What disapointed me was the the technique was based on that the focus knob had to operate on the very edge of the focus rubber (not like the good old focus flatport). This meant that I positioning was very critical and I could not simply add e.g. a teleconverter and still get focus.

Anyway, the problem remained I could not adjust the focus manually. Desperately I tested the old trick, bicycle tyre. And, that did the trick!

Can't say that I'm happy with the #5510.75 Focus Extension, but at least my DIY trick saved my day.

I also disliked that there was alot of space inside the flatport from the edge of the 105 VR to the glas.

I used the #5510.75 Focus Extension together with the #5510.35 Flat Assembly
and the recommended #5510.22 Port Body.

The space could have been useful for adding a teleconverter, but when doing that the focus knob did not reach any edge of the focus rubber on the lens, so that made it completely pointless.

Ike also recommends thet #5510.16 Port Body. As that is shorter, I presume the focus knob will access the other edge of the lens's focus rubber. The benefit will be a shorter port (less empty space between the edge of the lens and the port glas), but don't know if I dare to order it. Will it at all work!?!?!

Here you can see my fix:

Well, final words: Hopefully I got it all wrong and you can tell me how to properly use the focus port.


(good news was that with my 60 AF-D combined with the 5510.22 there was absolute no space! )


/Peter

 

[Ikelite Staff]

Peter,

Sorry to hear of your trouble. We've double checked the specs on the #5510.75 with the Nikon 105VR and both port bodies, and they check out OK. When used with the #5510.22 port body the control hits the very front edge of the focus ring on the lens.

Based on your description of the problem I can offer two solutions:

1. Use the #5510.16. With this port body the control will engage closer to the center of the focus ring. As you state, it will also eliminate the extra room in front of the lens.... Though the extra room will not have an effect on your photos.

2. Send the extension back to us for evaluation and exchange.

Regards,
Jean / Ikelite
IKELITE Underwater Systems

 

[diverdoug1]

I had the same issue eith the focus ring on the modular system and a VR 105 lens. I returned it, and Ikelite changed the material that contacts the lens. It works very well.

 

[Fota]

I had the same issue eith the focus ring on the modular system and a VR 105 lens. I returned it, and Ikelite changed the material that contacts the lens. It works very well.

Oh, thanks for that info. That sounds very encouraging. Actually so much that I decided to send it to Ikelite. It's been a week now and I'm eagerly awating some words from Ikelite.

 

[Fota]

I had the same issue eith the focus ring on the modular system and a VR 105 lens. I returned it, and Ikelite changed the material that contacts the lens. It works very well.

Finally I got mine back. It took longer than expected but I guess the vulcano is partly to blame. Anyway, Ike did the same thing to mine, new material. This seems to work much better. I have not yet took a dive with it, but on my desk it works just as it should.

So, thanks Ike (and thanks diverdoug1 to tell me about the fix) , but also shame on Ike to make the original bad version... It costed me both time and money to have it fixed.

I also bought the 5510.16 (the shorted base port). The new material worked at the other end of the focus ring as well and the total length of the port is now identical to the length of the 5505.46. Which is good.