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Which lens config for Canon 5D in water?

Started by robcomptec ·

  • 64Posts
  • 64Replies

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Which lens config for Canon 5D in water?

64 posts
  1. OK here goes. Some comments. Lenses are very personal and choice depends very much on what you enjoy taking photos of.

     

    I own a 15 Canon but don't like fisheyes myself so rarely use it - remember that lighting can be a big factor if you go for a fisheye so your strobe(s) choice is important. The Sigma has a good reputation. Build quality of the Canon is probably better as is its resale value (goes for all Sigmas/Canons).

     

    I've used Canon's 20/2.8 and 24/1.4 primes underwater. The 24 is by far the better lens but the 20 works surprisingly well underwater (ie its soft corners don't get much softer!). The 28/1.8 sounds interesting and I'd like to try this one myself - fast lenses give brighter viewfinder images. For these lenses you don't have to use a huge dome provided a smaller one is matched up well - most manufacturer's will have data on recommendations about their smaller domes and prime wide lenses.

     

    I've also used the 17~40/4 which works well enough although its not up to the 24/1.4 - versatile though - check a zoom gear is available from the housing manufacturer you go with and a bigger dome is better. The 16~35/2.8 is faster and more expensive and by all accounts no better optically - I've a friend who uses one commercially and has no adverse comments about it.

     

    The 24~70/2.8 isn't bad but would need a diopter to bring focus to anything like reasonable I would expect.

     

    If you go for a Sigma Zoom - again check zoom gear availablity.

     

    Macro - good choice of:

     

    Sigma 50 - goes to 1:1 but I've always found Sigma 50s to be noisy and have had reliability issue (personally that is) - some people really like them and their optics are pretty good.

     

    Canon 50mm - only goes to 1:2 but works well underwater - its useful in not so good conditions. I quite like it within its limitations. Very cheap for a lens of its optical quality.

     

    Canon 100mm latest - stunningly good lens - by far my favourite macro lens to date. Both Canon's 50 and 100 macros have 'L' performance.

     

    Caon 60/2.8 - with a 12mm extension tube this lens give a restricted focus but promises a lot - I've just got hold of one and will try it as soon as the mud which passes for sea near me settles down a bit.

     

    Haven't bothered with any other macros - savings are not huge over the Canons and given the quality of the 100/2.8 I'd be hard pushed to recommend anything in its stead.

     

    Lastly, I was talking to someone who is using the new 24~105 IS underwater (custom built gear/large dome) and he finds it very good - especially likes the IS at the wider end. If I can get a gear......

  2. I finally got my housing port and extension rings all packed and will be testing them out this week.

     

    I hope to have some data to report on two prime lenses: Canon 14mm f/2.8 L USM (recilinear) and the Canon 85mm f/1.2 L USM

     

    I purchased the 14mm for WA specifically and have had such good lusk with the 85 on land I figured what the heck, I'll try it UW.

     

    Hopefully Curacao cooperates next week.

  3. Hello,

     

    If you order a special port for the Sigma 150 make sure it is long enough to accomodate the Canon 500D Diopter. I think the diopter adds an additonal 8mm but I would go w/ 10mm to be careful. It makes the lens MUCH better to use as it brings the close focus back to the range of the 100mm lens, ie about 5 inches away instead of 16. In fact, w/ this diopter on, you can almost touch the port tip to your subject and still be able to focus.

     

    I have the Sigma 24-70, I'll go check if it fits in the Ike port opening.

     

    Cheers

    James

  4. Sorry, the Sigma 24-70 does not fit in the Ike port opening either.

     

    Cheers

    James

  5. Well, I just had my first experience with the 5D and my bag o' lenses. They are all Canon primes.

     

    I absolutely LOVE the Canon 14mm. Following are are some sample shots (sorry can't figure out how to get them into the one post):

     

    1) 14mm at 1/320 f2.8 (CC20 Red filter + Cyan Strobe CC filters)

     

    2) 100mm macro at 1/80 f32 + flash (Night dive)

     

    3) 85mm 1.2L at 1/125 f5.6

     

    4) 85mm 1.2L at 1/125 f5.6

     

    5) Previous image w/o crop or edit

     

    I've added the last two images as an example of how much you can crop with this camera...

     

    I am still struggling with the one/two strobe issue. I like the lighting better with the two strobes but geeez what a pain to push thru the water.

     

    The 100mm Macro is tough to focus as everyone has said but I'm hoping that when the ring flash comes in it wil make life easier.

     

    The 85mm was a wildcard. It fit the same flat port as the 100mm Macro but the body of this lens is so large in diameter that the manual focus gear got in the way. An extension ring solved this for me. I really like the 85 for portraits. I took some "head shots" of several divers in our group and they were really nice. The bokeh on this lens is super. I think that this would be my choice for Sea Lion shots at the Oil Rigs. Pretty boring otherwise but maybe with better fish (and a better photogapher) it might be more interesting.

  6. 14mm at 1/320 f2.8 (CC20 Red filter + Cyan Strobe CC filters)

    post-5528-1145269985_thumb.jpg

  7. 100mm macro at 1/80 f32 + flash (Night dive)

    post-5528-1145270080_thumb.jpg

    Edited by hoovermd
  8. 85mm 1.2L at 1/125 f5.6

    post-5528-1145270132_thumb.jpg

  9. 85mm 1.2L at 1/125 f5.6

    post-5528-1145270179_thumb.jpg

    Crappy Full Size:

    post-5528-1145270487_thumb.jpg

  10. What dome was used with the 14mm? It looks like you have a fair amount of blurring at the edges with the 14mm, similar to what I am getting with the 16-35 behind the 6" dome.

  11. What dome was used with the 14mm?  It looks like you have a fair amount of blurring at the edges with the 14mm, similar to what I am getting with the 16-35 behind the 6" dome.

     

    I noticed that last night when I got the photos on the "big screen" too.

    I'm using a 6" dome with a 25mm extension and cannot seem to get the entrance pupil location (seems to be a trade secret or something) so I'm having a difficult time locating the dome central to that.

     

    If anyone can tell me the answer to these two questions I's appreciate it:

     

    1) Do I want the entrance pupil location to match the center of the dome? I think Yes.

    2) Does anyone know the location of this point on the Canon 14mm? Seems to be somewhere near 20mm behingd the front edge of the lens face...The engineers in Japan have flat said NO to my requests...

     

    I understand that there are a few ways to find this point it is just that I only had 2 days between getting the dome and leaving for the trip...

  12. Hi,

     

    i'd like to know if you use the Ikelite Dome 8" with 1.4/24mm Canon ??

    Thank you

  13. I used it w/ the Aquatica 8" dome and they are very similar. With the Aquatica, I used about 25mm worth of extension on the dome.

     

    HTH

    James

  14. Hi all !

    I have the 5D. I am buying the Ikelite housing, I really like Ikelite from my past experiences. Questions: I bought the Canon 17-40L and the 100mm macro. What ports/domes/diopters/extensions, etc. do I need to buy for this lenses ? First time with a SLR underwater so I have no idea about ports and stuff. (it was really simple with my G5 !!)

    thank you all very much.

  15. Congrats, it's a great camera!. I've bought one as well & have the ikelite housing. Seems very nice, but I havn't had it in the water yet. As for ports- I have the new 8", (#5510.81) for the 17-40, which is great because when I want to use the fisheye I just have to switch to the shorter stalk, rather than needing a whole new dome. For the macro, it depends which version of the 100mm macro you have- refer to the port selection chart- http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/2port_canon.html

     

    Anyway, so far I've tested the 17-40 in the 8" dome on land & it seems to work nicely. You shouldn't need diopters with either of these lenses (unless you want to be able to focus even closer with the macro).

     

    Fergus

  16. Anyone use/tried/opinion of the 24mm f/1.4? I have this lens which I bought for a low light purpose, Aurora Borealis. I tried it on my Digital Rebel but was wondering what I can expect going full frame? I bought the 8" dome before I changed cameras. I didn't realize it was going to be back ordered until after the upgrade. Will be getting 5D housing for my July dive trip.

     

    --Chris

  17. Yeah, it's excellent. The shots in my Bahamas Shear Water gallery taken at 24mm were made w/ this lens.

     

    Cheers

    James

  18. Sweet combo James!

  19. Here's one of my faves shot w/ the 24mm and the 8" Aquatica dome and 25mm extension:

     

    MG_5847.jpg

     

    Let me try to find one w/ some reef in the corners.

     

    Cheers

    James

  20. Here's one w/ some reef - but it's cropped so don't know how useful it is:

     

    MG_4608.jpg

     

    24mm @ f9

     

    Cheers

    James

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