Sea
& Sea Motormarine-II / EX
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The original Sea & Sea Motormarine
was designed as an alternative to the Nikonos for those users
who did not need a fully-fledged professional camera. It offered
an all-plastic housing (eliminating corrosion problems), a built-in
flash, and a motordrive; but it had only a fixed shutter speed
of 1/100s, and no facility for changing the primary lens. Macro
and wide-angle photographs were catered for by using supplementary
lenses, which were attached by means of a screw thread to the
original Motormarine, and later by a bayonet mount on the Motormarine-II.
The Motormarine-II introduced the Sea
& Sea proprietary TTL flash system, and a built-in close-up
lens. The Motormarine-IIex added a choice of four shutter speeds,
from 1/15 s to 1/125 s, all of which synchronise with an external
flash. The internal flash is not TTL controlled. It is also limited
to use in clear conditions underwater because of backscatter. |
Sea &
Sea
Motormarine-II EX
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MMII-EX with YS-60 flash and Sea arm IV. |
 Depth Rating:
45m.
 35mm film, 36
x 24mm format.
 Fixed main lens:
35mm f/3.5, FOV=46°.
MMII-EX features: automatic
film loading and advance, power driven rewind, automatic film
speed indexing (ISO 100 and 400 only), exposure metering, in-viewfinder
LED, and a built-in flash. An exterior bayonet mount accommodates
supplementary wide-angle and macro lenses. |
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In-viewfinder LED display includes underexposure warning, internal
and external flash-ready indicators, TTL flash OK confirmation,
battery check, and film-advance indicator. |
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Internal flash may be used on land, or underwater in clear conditions.
Internal flash is selected by means of the shutter speed dial
and synchronises at a speed of 1/125s. |
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Aperture range: f/3.5 to f/22, with click stops. |
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Focusing range of internal 35mm lens: 1m to ¥. |
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Turning the focus knob to the 'CU' position flips an internal
close-up lens into position and sets the focus at 46cm (18"). |
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One caveat with the Motormarine-II or
IIex is that the exposure metering system is not sufficiently
accurate for use with transparency (slide) films, and there is
no way to bracket TTL exposures. You can use slide films if you
work with the flash set to manual, and you will need a light-meter
if you want to do mixed balanced lighting with slide film, but
the added cost of an underwater light-meter rather defeats the
object of buying into the Motormarine system. Motormarine Cameras
were designed primarily for people who use print film. |
Motormarine-II Supplementary
Lenses
Depth
rating: 45m
 Can
be fitted and removed underwater.
 An external viewfinder
is recommended when using wide-angle converters with the MM2/ex.
 MM2 conversion
lenses do not fit the Motormarine-I,
III, or MX10. |
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16mm Wide Conversion Lens
WCL16-II (03031)
Ideal for photographing wrecks, divers, schools of fish and large
marine animals. Increases the Motormarine-II angle of view to
91°. Minimum focusing distance 27cm @ f/22. All glass optic
with peripheral distortion correction.
Construction: 4 elements, 4 groups. Dimensions/mm:
78d x 55l, Weight: 388g. Main focus setting: ¥.
Suitable viewfinder: VF15. |
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20mm Wide Conversion Lens
WCL20-II (03020)
Increases the Motormarine-II angle of view to 80° and reduces
the minimum focusing distance to 39cm @ f/22. All glass optic
with peripheral distortion correction.
Construction: 4 elements, 4 groups. Dimensions/mm:
72d x 54l, Weight: 263g. Main focus setting: ¥.
Suitable viewfinder: VF15. |
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Underwater Colour Correction
Filter
03050 - 72mm push fit for WCL20.
03060 - 78mm push fit for WCL16 and SWL16
Compensates for the blue colour cast in natural-light underwater
photographs. |
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Ikelite / UR/Pro UWCC Filter
True Blue water for WCL20 & WCL16:
- use 3" push fit Ikelite #6441.41 .
True Green water for WCL20 & WCL16:
- use 3" push fit Ikelite #6441.41G . |
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Macro Lens 1:2 ML-II/2T
(03040)
Gives half life-size images. Guide rods define the picture area
but can be folded away when necessary to avoid shadows from the
flash.
Subject area: 53 x 79mm. Focusing distance: 143mm.
Construction: 3 elements, 3 groups, all glass optic. Weight:
170g.
Main focus setting: ¥. |
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Macro Lens 1:3 ML-II/3T
(03010)
Gives one third life-size images. This is the most versatile
of the macro-lenses; it covers a wider range of subjects than
the 1:2 above. Upright guide rods frame the picture area and
can be removed when necessary to avoid shadows.
Subject area: 85 x 125mm. Focusing distance:
230mm. Construction: 2 elements, 2 groups, all glass optic. Weight:
142g. Main focus setting: 1m. |
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Lens Caddy LH-II
(03810)
Allows two MM2 conversion lenses to be carried on the flash arm.
With bolt for attachment to Sea Arm IV, strap for Sea Arm V,
VI, etc. |
 03480
 29130 |
Lens caddy adapter:
Screws to the back of the lens caddy and gives positive registration
to the Sea Arm V or VI.
03480 for Sea Arm V
29130 for Sea Arm VI |
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LH-II shown
fitted to
Sea Arm V. |
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Viewfinders
For underwater
use. View will appear out of focus in air.
Sea & Sea VF-17 #0140
Optical viewfinder with parallax adjustment knob.
Optical elements are acrylic.
90° coverage, suitable for 15-16mm lenses. Was also Supplied
with masks to modify coverage for use with 35 & 20-24mm lenses. |
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Sea & SeaVF15 Optical Viewfinder
All glass optics.
High eyepoint finder, 96° coverage, with internal markings
for 35, 20 and 15-16mm lenses. |
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Maintenance Issues
Q: What should I do if
I flood a Motormarine?
A: The problem with Motormarine
cameras is that they have a built-in flash, and therefore present
a serious electric shock hazard to any untrained individual who
tries to remove the inner housing assembly. The shock hazard,
incidentally, is real, rather than precautionary, because the
flash capacitor remains charged long after the flash function
has been switched off, and the tube connections are particularly
easy to touch accidentally. Consequently, you should only open
such cameras if you are qualified to deal with high voltages,
and this author accepts no liability whatsoever for the outcome
of such an action. If you are competent to proceed, the trick
is to discharge the flash capacitor immediately by placing a
dump resistor directly across the tube, and then check with a
multimeter to ensure that the resistor made contact. The camera
is than safe until the power is reconnected, but note that when
testing prior to reassembly, it only takes momentary selection
of the internal flash function to make the camera hazardous again.
Once the camera is safe, the procedure is to irrigate off any
salt water with distilled water, but unfortunately, due to rusting
of the steel shutter and iris blades, the camera mechanism is
unlikely to survive complete immersion even in distilled water.
If salt water has penetrated the shutter/aperture assembly, the
motor, or the drive-train assembly, the camera can only be recovered
by extensive dismantling and replacement of any corroded parts.
If flooding was superficial and you are able to reassemble the
camera, take great care not to overtighten or cross-thread the
four inner-body retaining screws. These screws fit into moulded
pillars in the ABS outer housing, and the ABS threads will strip
with the slightest provocation.
Motormarine II
circuit diagram, part 1.
Motormarine II
circuit diagram, part 2. |
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