Sony 100mm Macro Focus Gear Installation // 200DL Underwater Housing [VIDEO]

Featuring Logan Wood

The Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 Macro GM lens is one of the best close-up lenses to use with your underwater housing. It's autofocus performance is exceptional and our go-to way to use this lens for most situations. But sometimes Manual Focus is the way to go, whether it's a need or an artistic desire. 

Logan Wood shows you how to install the improved Focus Gear for Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housings. He also explains how to set the system to allow quick switching back to autofocus on the fly. 

Follow along with the video below, or scroll down to read the video transcript.

This gear does not work with all Ikelite housings. Refer to the appropriate lens port chart for your underwater housing to ensure that you are using compatible equipment. If you're unsure, please contact us by email to ikelite@ikelite.com.

Installing the Lens

The first thing we're going to do is take the housing with the camera installed inside and set it on its back and remove the body cap from the camera. Next, we'll take our lens and remove the back cap and just ensure that our autofocus is set to ON. Even though we're using a manual focus gear, it's still nice to keep that on just in case you want to switch to autofocus while the camera and the lens are in the housing. From there, we'll line up the white dot on the camera and bayonet the lens on like normal. Remove the front cap from the lens.

Keep your lens switched to AF before installing in your underwater housing, this will give you the flexibility to switch between manual focus and autofocus.

Installing the Focus Gear

Now we'll grab our manual focus gear. You'll see one side is flat and the other has teeth. Install the manual focus gear teeth-side down into the housing. Drop it over the lens and push down. You'll feel it drop into place and engage with the knob on the side of the housing. Give the knob a few turns to make sure that it's fully engaged with the focus gear.

Next, grab your Tool for Zoom Retainer Ring and using one side of the tool fitted into one of the tab indents on the retaining ring, tighten down the focus gear. This does not need to be very tight, just turn it until you feel it stop. Again, double check that the knob is engaging with the focus gear.

Fit one side of the Tool for Zoom Retainer Ring into one of the indents on the retaining ring as pictured. Tighten the retaining ring down until it stops. No need to over-tighten this. 

Next, ensure that the focus collar on the lens is in the forward position for AF/MF. While this gear is for manual focus, if the collar is in the forward position, you'll be able to use autofocus or manual focus on your dive and you can switch between the two inside the camera. 

Make sure the focus collar on your lens is in the forward, AF/MF position. This will give you greater creative flexibility being able to switch between manual focus and autofocus. 

Installing the Port

From here, you've set up the manual focus gear for the Sony 100mm macro lens and all you need to do is put on your extensions and port. Make sure that all your thumbscrews are backed out from the inside diameter and put a little bit of Ikelite lubricant on the o-ring of the housing itself. Line up the thumbscrews with the pockets on the housing. Press down and tighten down all three thumbscrews.

From here, we recommend putting a vacuum on your housing and you're good to go diving. 

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

 

Equipment Used

• Ikelite Focus Gear for Sony FE 100mm Macro (DL housings only) # 50008

 

Additional Viewing

Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS Lens Underwater Results

3 Lightroom Edits to Make Macro Subjects POP [VIDEO]

Sony AF/MF Switching Focus Modes Underwater [VIDEO]

Macro Close-Up Underwater Camera Settings

Sony a7R VI Underwater Extended Cut from Yap // 4K 67MP [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