What lens to buy next !!??

Greetings !

I am currently facing every photographers dilema. I want, and deserve, a new piece of kit ! And a lens and/or strobe is top of the list (OK, and strobe).

I have a very basic couple of lenses for my N70 and Subal housing -Nikkor 18-70 zoom and 60mm macro.

Those that have caught my eye are :

Sigma 10-20mm

Nikon 105mm macro (have been told the older version rather that the new VR is better)

I appreciate that extention rings and gears will probably be needed too although I am hoping that the 10-20 fits the Dp-FE2 dome port (can anyone tell me ?) and that the 105 will fit the flat port that fits the 60.

If not one of these lenses, if you could only buy one more this year, which would it be (if you had my kit only!!) ?

Strobes ? The Inon D-2000 looks a good bet to accompany my S&S YS90?

Any opinions, advice and help will be greatly appreciated.

Gabby

It is unlikely that you will get away using existing ports, but check the Subal site. The 105 is much longer than the 60, and you need to check if the VR will fit your housing (it doesn't fit some brands due to its large diameter). The optics for the zoom will probably mean a specific extension for your port.

I have both lenses, but I haven't had the opportunity to use the Sigma 10-20 yet, except on land. Your choice really depends on whether you really like tiny macro, or prefer wide angle. The 105 is my lens of choice, as the conditions where I live limit the use of wide angle, and I love shooting small critters.

Also, are you currently shooting with one strobe? If so, I would recommend a second strobe over a new lens. First, the lighting quality in your shots will improve, and you will have a back up. It might be advisable to match your existing YS90, as then you could use a converter if you wanted.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Marli

Thanks for your thoughts.

You are right. What do I like taking the most ? Yes, its macro. I just have to get so close with my 60 or that would have been enough.

Besides needing 2 strobes, I thought the inon D2000 would be a good addition beause of the focus/modelling light. I have missed some good stuff because of low light focussing problems. I am unsure of what you mean by a "converter"

regards

Gabby

I have a very basic couple of lenses for my N70 and Subal housing -Nikkor 18-70 zoom and 60mm macro.

Just to get one thing straight, you have a Nikon D70 right? If in fact you have a film N70 then neither the 10-20mm or the 18-70mm will perform very well on this camera. If you have a digital then these are good choices.

The choice very much depends on your style of photography. Do you like macro or wide angle? If as you say you like macro then go for the 105mm. Subal now makes a focus port for this lens I believe. This will bring your photography into true macro. While the 60mm is a good midsize fish portrait lens if you want to get the small stuff like blenys and nudibranchs you need the 105mm. The 60mm has to be too close near 1:1 to be effective. One strobe can light this just fine.

If instead you want to experiment with both macro and WA then your choice is a little harder. For good WA with the 10-20mm you may want two strobes. So in this case you would need both the strobe, lens and port. But then you could try everything. The 18-70mm is barely wide enough to qualify as WA.

Personally, I would get the 10-20mm now and see how you like it. Focus on CFWA shooting where you only need to light part of the frame. When you feel ready add a second strobe. In that case I would go for matched strobes for simplicity.

You will end up with the 105mm anyway. For me the main Nikon UW lenses are the: 10.5mm, (15mm Sigma or 16mm Nikon) 12-24mm range zoom, 60mm and 105mm. Collect them all!

and don't forget the new Tokina 10-17