HELP - Urgent dome problem

[Mike W]

I get the reflection problem, but only in specific circumstances.

My opinion (FWIW) is that it has nowt to do with the strobes and more to do with the direction of the ambient light, especially bright sunlight. I get most issues when the sun is high and coming directly over one shoulder - right into the corners of the dome where the shade cut-outs are - and especially when I'm shooting into a dark background, which I assume simply allows the problem to be seen more easily. What I find reflected is the front of the plastic zoom collar and the teeth at the base of it, but never the full ring, always just a part, if the sun is coming over my right shoulder the reflections would be bottom left.

This was all with my old Peleng pre-set, not the Tokina, which hasn't done this on me yet!

I too have blacked-out the white writing on the fronts of lenses, but not done anything about the springs as I've never noticed them in the reflections.


On the 50mm or 100mm debate, I only have the 105mm Sigma, and it's a cracking lens. Yes, for bigger fish I have to be too far away to get good saturation and contrast, so don't bother, but for stuff upto say a foot long it's fine.

And finally - packing. My hand luggage is normally 10 to 12kg, and over the last year I've not found a single airline that will accept over 5kg, and I've tried offering to pay, begging and even getting the tour company to ask the airline for me, so what I do now is wear a coat with big pockets, and trousers with big pockets.

I check-in my hold luggage as normal and when I'm asked about hand luggage I hold up the laptop bag. One trip in two I get asked to weigh it, which is fine, laptop plus bag plus power pack = 4.5kg. When I've got my boarding card, and prior to security, I take the camera body, lenses, strobe battery chargers and camera battery charger and my dive computer out of my pockets and stick 'em int he laptop bag, which then weights abotu 10kg, but security don't care about that, just that I have no liquids in there!

[Cerianthus]

as a PS:

Ikelite is going to adopt a modular flat port as well (and they already have the 8inch dome), it is in development: on their Dema blog:

"Digital SLR users will be thrilled with a new Flat Port System that integrates the existing 8" dome port bodies. The system incoporates a flat port assembly, a focus body, and extending rings in differing lengths. Besides looking smart, it promises to save luggage space and operate well with large diameter lenses like the Nikon 105mm VR. Look for these next month just in time for the holidays."

[Trevor Rees]

Hi Rob,

Back to your original question:

I've aways wondered about the pros and cons of Ikelite housings. With my Canon compact camera I sometimes had irritating reflections appear in the image when using the Inon fisheye lens. After a while I began to suspect that problems may have arrisen from having a clear see-through housing.

Could stray light be coming through and/or and bouncing around the housing walls causing this problem. I've heard one compaint before from another Ikelite user.
I somehow feel safer with all black photo kit, although I too have seen zoom gear teeth and port/lens shades in the final image, especially in challenging lighting conditions. A few wet pixel geeks have reported using black tape over potentially reflective lens lettering!

Just a thought - unhelpful of course!

Trev

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by Trevor Rees

Just a thought - unhelpful of course!

Not unhelpful at all. I too have wondered whether a clear body was a good idea. It must be said though that the way the lens sits in the dome port you'd be unlucky for light to get out from the body side. I have thought about modifying this area to black out a few things, but not done it yet.

I would have thought that light will hit the body at a low angle. In this case all light would be reflected away or would end up as total internal refraction and would travel just along the body and not into the body area. I could be talking rubbish though, but I bet someone has thought about it.
Rob

[KenByrne]

Thinking about the Ikelite ports and having seen the Sea & Sea ports with extenders a few things come to mind. The extenders are less bulky than seperate ports but weigh quite a bit and the Sea & Sea ports seem quite bulky to start with. Also having the extension adds another o-ring. I know some people who use 2 20mm extensions rather than have a 20mm and a 40mm. Saves a little weight but makes 3 o-rings when the Ikelite setup would have 1.

Final thought can you use the 50mm lens in the longer 105mm lens port. My guess is that it won't see the port at most focusing distances but may limit close focusing because a 1:1 it may well be focusing inside the port.

[Cussy]

Ken,
I could kiss you! Tried the 50mm in the longer port and it doesn't vignette at all, so I can take both lenses!!
Rob

[KenByrne]

Steady on I hardly know you.