Anyone tried the Nexus external diopters?

[Jonathan Bird]

Has anyone used these:

http://www.nexusamerica.com/products/Nexus/SuperMacro.html

I like the SUPER DUPER macro I can do with a 105 and a +4 diopter on the lens, but it limits what you can do on a dive. The external one that comes off underwater could be really cool...if it is sharp. Anyone tried it?

Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

[docrobina]

Do you mean the "Woody" diopter? If so, I have one that I use with my S&S housing. Bought a port cover, cut a hole and popped in the diopter. I use it all the time. I love it! :D

[Jonathan Bird]

yes, the Woody diopter. That's the one! Can you post some pics shot with it?

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

I don't own one, but I've used one. I liked it. I probably have some shots on my web site made with it. I'll try to remember which ones and post a link. -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

It's pretty cheap, I think I'll order one and then build a mount that allows it to flip out of the way, like the really expensive one that Backscatter sells!

http://www.backscatter.com/hostedstore/products/macromate.html


Looks like the "MacroMate" that backscatter sells is a lot more powerful than the basic external "woody" diopter.

Jonathan

[docrobina]

yes, the Woody diopter. That's the one! Can you post some pics shot with it?

Jonathan

Just about all of my macro shots that are posted are taken with it on. :)

[Clay Coleman]

Here's a shot taken with the Woody diopter on a 105mm (35mm film). The diopter may have been responsible for the pink cast in the shadows on the sand (which is on the slide--not a scan aberration). This was shot in shallow water with plenty of surge. While I didn't use the diopter to get closer than 1:1, it did allow me to back off a bit to work in the surge. Also nice and sharp. -Clayhttp:///claycoleman.tripod.com/882d2bc0.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

Wow, nice and sharp, that's the important part! I e-mailed Nexus and got a response from Woody to just send him a check, which I did this morning, so I'll have the thing soon to diddle with. My plan is to create some kind of a "flip" mount for it before I go to Lembeh so I can easily add and remove it. Need all the help you can get with all those really small critters.

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

The one I used had a soft flange that you just stuck onto the end of the primary lens port. The guy who owned it (buddy Dave Breidenbach) simply tied a string to the flange and wrapped it around a housing handle when he wasn't using it. It's a pretty unobtrusive little device. -Clay
(I don't know what happened to the photo I posted--my site seems to be up)

[Jonathan Bird]

Yeah, but check this design out!

http://www.backscatter.com/HostedStore.LassoApp?-ResponseLassoApp=detail.lasso&ID=e737b5e3ca632991&s1op=cn&s1=MacroMate&sop=AND

Jonathan

[docrobina]

But Jonathan then it will get in the way when you wedge your port into some crack in the reef, risking a big ugly scratch.

I have had my Woody diopter for maybe 3-4 years now and just did what Woody recommended, and that was to get a port cap for my specific brand port, take the diopter out of the cap it comes in, using the original cap to trace a circle on the new cap, then use a scalpel to cut out a circle the exact size needed to fit the diopter. Carefully insert the diopter. It comes with a nifty lanyard that I attach to the strobe arm and on and off with ease!!! I love it!:D

[Clay Coleman]

B&H flip-up diopter: $549
Piece of string on Woody's diopter: priceless

[docrobina]

B&H flip-up diopter: $549
Piece of string on Woody's diopter: priceless

ha ha....

(actually I believe the manufacturer is Backscatter)

priceless and a savings of $$$$$$:D :D :D :D

[Jonathan Bird]

But Jonathan then it will get in the way when you wedge your port into some crack in the reef, risking a big ugly scratch.

Wedge the port into a crack in the reef? Now WHO would do such a thing? ;)

Jonathan

[Jonathan Bird]

You guys are forgettting one thing....I like to build custom camera pieces. I have a pretty decent little machine shop in the basement for building custom housing parts and car parts for my expensive hobby.

Jonathan

[docrobina]

You guys are forgettting one thing....I like to build custom camera pieces. I have a pretty decent little machine shop in the basement for building custom housing parts and car parts for my expensive hobby.

Jonathan


Really?! ..... How about little custom parts for OTHER peoples housings???? Any possibilities, say for gear zoom rings? :p

Robin

[Jonathan Bird]

Robin,
Gears are a little tricky and honestly beyond my machinist skills! But if there was a product really missing in the marketplace and I thought it was marketable enough, I might produce it. (In a case like that I would build a prototype and then farm out actual manufacturing to a volume manufacturing house).

Jonathan

[docrobina]

Robin,
Gears are a little tricky and honestly beyond my machinist skills! But if there was a product really missing in the marketplace and I thought it was marketable enough, I might produce it. (In a case like that I would build a prototype and then farm out actual manufacturing to a volume manufacturing house).

Jonathan

Oh well, worth a try. :D

But really the Woody diopter is nice. Just remember to wipe off the water from it, so it will not get water spots dried on it, inside and outside.

[Clay Coleman]

You guys are forgettting one thing....I like to build custom camera pieces. I have a pretty decent little machine shop in the basement for building custom housing parts and car parts for my expensive hobby.

Jonathan
Cool! My specialty is breaking stuff. We really need to get together! -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

So I got my "Woody" diopter the other day. Pretty nice and simple gadget. Seems to pop onto the flat port of my Ikelite nicely, snug enough to stay. I'll start working on some ideas for a flip bracket though!

Jonathan

[docrobina]

I promise that you will really love it. Did it come with the nifty lanyard?

Robin

PS Gonna be in Anilao in three weeks :D ... anyone wanna join me?

[Jonathan Bird]

Yes, it came with the lanyard. Anilao, such a nice place! Wish I were going to be there. I'll be in Donsol Philippines for whale sharks in April, assuming that the El Nino doesn't bake them all alive.

Hoping to test the diopter on the whale sharks....macro of the scales! ;)

Jonathan

[allison finch]

Here are a couple of pics with my Woody's diopter

a neck crab (the size of my fingernail) from Belize

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/allisonfinch_photos/crabs%20and%20shrimp/awebbelize07104.jpg

A slender filefish from Belize

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/allisonfinch_photos/awebbelize07071.jpg

I really love that diopter. However, if you figure a way to make it a fliptop for an Ike housing, I will be your first customer!!!