Nikon Z 105mm Macro Focus Gear Installation // 200DL Underwater Housing [VIDEO]

Featuring Logan Wood

If you want to shoot macro with a Nikon Z-series camera underwater, the Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro Lens is definitely the way to go. We're using Nikon's killer autofocus system most of the time, but in those situations where manual focus is necessary we've got you covered. 

Logan Wood shows you how to set up this Focus Gear for manual focus operation when used with a compatible Ikelite DL underwater housing. 

Follow along with the video below, or scroll down for the article version of this video. 

 

Nikon Z 105mm Macro Lens

If you're shooting macro underwater with a Nikon camera, chances are you're using the Nikon 105mm macro lens. If you want a bit more control over your focus for making fine-tuned adjustments, you'll need the Ikelite manual focus gear for the Nikon 105mm macro lens. Here's how to set it up inside a 200DL Underwater Housing.

 

Attaching the Gear to the Lens

Grab your lens and manual focus gear. You'll see that on the manual focus gear there's a flat side and there's a side with teeth. The side with teeth is what's going to go inside the housing and face the back of your lens. Slide the manual focus gear on the lens until you feel it stop.

Ensure the lens is switched into the autofocus position and the focus gear is oriented teeth-side toward the lens mount. 

Setting the Lens for AF/MF

Ensure your lens is set to autofocus by flipping the switch on the side of the lens to A (autofocus). While this is a manual focus gear, if you have it set to autofocus on the lens, you'll have the ability to switch between autofocus and manual focus inside the camera so that once it's in the housing and you're diving, you're not locked in to just using manual focus. 

 

Installing the Lens & Gear in the Housing

Grab your housing with the camera installed, put it on its back, and remove the body cap from the camera. Next, grab the lens, remove the back cap and the lens cap, and bayonet the lens onto the camera as normal by aligning the white indexing dots.

Using the retainer tool, fit one side into one of the slots on the retainer ring in the housing and tighten down the ring. This does not need to be over-tight, so just turn it until you feel it stop. Once it's tightened down, turn the knob on the side of the housing to ensure that it's engaged with the focus gear. 

Fit one side of the zoom retainer tool into one of the slots on the retaining ring as pictured. Tighten the retaining ring down until it stops, no need to over-tighten.

Installing the Lens Port

Now the manual focus gear is installed, so all you need to do is install your extension and dome. Grab a little bit of Ikelite lubricant and apply that to the o-ring on the housing base and extension as well as sealing surfaces. On the extension and dome, make sure that all thumbscrews are backed out from the inside diameter. Line up the thumbscrews  of the extension with the pockets on the housing itself, and press down, repeat to attach dome to extension. Tighten down all thumbscrews.

From here we recommend putting a vacuum on your housing and you're good to get in the water. If you have any questions, our team is available to help, send an email to ikelite@ikelite.com.

Equipment Used

• Focus Gear for Nikon Z 105mm Macro Lens # 50001

 

Additional Viewing

Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro Lens for Underwater Photography Review & Results

Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S and Nikon Z6 II Underwater Results

How the Nikon Z6 III Smokes My Old D800 Underwater

Low Light, High Performance: A Review of the Nikon Z8 From a Blackwater Expert

Top 3 Best Lenses for Nikon Full Frame Mirrorless Underwater [VIDEO]

 

 

Logan Wood is a published photographer, cinematographer, and Producer at Ikelite. Stemming from a great appreciation for the outdoors and living an active lifestyle, his work focuses on capturing and sharing the natural world through the latest technologies. When not in the studio, Logan can be found cruising on his bike, going to concerts, and researching where to go next. You can see more of his work at loganwood.net and on Instagram @jlowood