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

Ikelite Manual Focus Gear Assembly for the Nikon Z 105mm Macro Lens

Featuring John Brigham

The Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro Lens is a top choice among underwater photographers for its incredible image quality and amazing autofocus capabilities. If you want to try your hand at manual focus, simply install this optional focus gear. John Brigham shows you how to set up the manual focus gear and flat port for the Nikon Z 105mm lens. This applies to all Z-series cameras in 200DL underwater housings including the Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, Z50, and Z50 II.

Follow along on video or scroll down to read the video transcript.


The Nikon Z 105mm macro lens is a go-to for shooting close-up subjects and it features an excellent autofocus system which the majority of us are actually using when we're shooting underwater. That being said, if you find yourself in a situation where you absolutely need to manually focus this lens, we offer a solution that lets you do that. Let me walk you through how to put that together using one of our DL systems.

 

Installing the Gear Sleeve in the Housing

This custom Manual Focus Gear for Nikon Z 105mm # 5509.72 features three friction-fit pads that will correspond to the ring on the lens that lets you manually focus.

In order to install this, what we're going to need to do is remove the body cap from the camera body. Now put the gear sleeve into the front of the housing, teeth side down. Make sure that the teeth engage with the drive gear of the knob on the left side of the housing. This is the knob that you'll turn to focus the lens when you're underwater. You'll feel it engage and then you can confirm by turning that knob and seeing the sleeve turn.

Ikelite Zoom Gear assembly for Nikon 105mm macro lens
Install the gear sleeve teeth side down into the housing and then check for zoom functionality before installing the extensions and port.


Attaching the Lens onto the Camera Body

I am intending on shooting this in manual focus only, so I'm going to put the switch to “M” (Manual) and leave it on “full." 

Note: Nikon also allows you to manually focus while the lens is in "A" or autofocus mode. Another option is to shoot in autofocus and override the AF using this gear to make manual focus adjustments.

Remove the back cap from the lens itself. Note where that white dot is on both the lens and the camera, line those up and feed the lens down into the sleeve. You'll feel the pads hit the manual focus ring of the lens, push it down until you feel engagement on the camera body then bayonet it on.

Before I put the port on, I'm going to confirm using the knob on the side of the housing that I am in fact turning the manual focus ring on the lens itself. Now all we have to do is put the port system together and cap everything.

 

Port Extensions & Dome Port

In order to accommodate this lens, I need two different extensions. I'm going to use the DL 20mm Extension # 75020 plus the DL 28mm Extension # 75028 plus the DL Flat Port # 75301.

Unthread the three thumbscrews of each component until they're not protruding to the inside diameter of the component itself. This will ensure that they don't catch any O-rings when you put everything together.

Next take note that the thumbscrew on each component will correspond to the pocket of the mating piece so that when you push the two pieces together and then you tighten the thumbscrew down, it will fall into the pocket.

Nikon 105mm macro lens assembly in an Ikelite 200DL underwater housing
When applying lubricant to your o-rings and sealing surfaces, always take the opportunity to visually and physically inspect these surfaces for any hair or debris that could compromise the seal.

Take a small amount of the provided Ikelite lubricant (just enough to add some lubricant to the o-ring so it can overcome friction in the piston seal) between your thumb and index finger and run your fingers around the O-ring visually inspecting it and also feeling for any debris that might affect the seal. I'm going to do that on the corresponding piece, which will be the other extension in this case. Apply the lubricant to the sealing surface, which is this vertical wall on the extension. Again, applying a little bit of lubricant and feeling for anything that could compromise the seal.

Now which component I put together first doesn't matter in this case, as long as they go together and then we cap it off with a flat port, that will accommodate this lens.

Now these thumbscrews only retain the two pieces together. The seal occurred when I pushed them together. No need to over tighten these thumbscrews. It doesn't create a better seal. It just keeps the pieces together.

Lastly, I'm going to do the same thing with that top O-ring as I did before, applying some lubricant and feeling for anything that could compromise the seal and I'll do that on the sealing surface of the flat port itself too. Line up the thumbscrews with the pockets, press down, and then tighten the three thumbscrews. 

Ikelite housing with Nikon 105mm lens installed for macro underwater photography
Note the thumbscrews on both extensions and the flat port will all line up in a row, one of these rows will correspond to the top (noon) of your housing, as pictured here.


Now you have both extensions and the flat port assembled. To put this onto the housing, ensure the thumbscrews are backed out from the inside diameter of the last extension. Apply a little bit of the lubricant to the O-ring on the port mount of the housing. Again, feeling for debris, visually inspecting to make sure it's clean at this time too.

I'll do the same thing on the extension and the port assembly here. I will take one of the three thumbscrews that will correspond to the top of the housing, drop it down over the lens and onto the port mount opening, press it down onto place. The seal occurred and now all I have to do is tighten down the three thumbscrews. 

From here, housing assembly is the same as it was before. You can create a vacuum, add your handles, extensions, etc. But you're ready to go, and you can manually focus the Nikon Z 105mm macro lens underwater if you feel like you need that creative control. 

If you have any questions whatsoever shoot us an email to ikelite@ikelite.com.

 

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John Brigham Ikelite Vice PresidentJohn Brigham is the Vice President & head of product development at Ikelite. He was born with a flair for design and an entrepreneurial spirit as son of Ikelite founder Ike Brigham. He worked his way up in the business and is a natural fit in the R&D side of things. John dives the equipment as much as possible to test product and put himself in the "fins" of the user. You may also find him on the other end of an email or phone call when you reach out for product advice and support. When he's not underwater he's flying drones, setting off rockets, training his German Shepherd "T2", and spending time with his family.

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