Aquatica and Tamron 17-50/2.8 or Sigma 18-50/2.8

I have an Aquatica A20 housing (well, I will have it again soon, I hope - the b*****d flooded day before yesterday and I have to sent it back) and currently use it with the Sigma 10-20 and the Canon 100/2.8. I have both the 8" dome and a flat port for it.

I want to get a standard zoom for fish portraits and general shooting, but something better than the kit zoom. I was thinking of one of the 3rd party zooms. Anyone know if Aquatica's zoom gears will work with either of these lenses?

I emailed them and they said the only support the lenses listed on their site - well, these lenses arent listed. But neither is the Sigma 10-20, and that works jes fine with one of their gears.

So, anyone have any ideas? Or if there are enough people, perhaps we can agree on one of these lenses and have Aquatica do a few custom jobs.

Vandit

Vandit,

Sorry to hear about the flood!

I use the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 (non macro version) and have found it to be a pretty nice lens underwater. I used it behind an Athena dome + a 40mm ext. on a S&S housing. It's a nice fast lens for fish portraits as well as pretty decent w/a even at 18mm. Corners were a bit soft. I haven't tried it with a diopter (there is a newer macro version of this lens). Image quality is very nice. This is my walk around lens, so it was a nice plus to find that it works well u/w. It is slighly slimmer than the Canon 10-22 so I've found I could use the Canon 10-22 zoom gear with some foam tape.

@18mm

@18mm

@50mm uncropped

Hey, nice shots, Michael. That Sea&Sea TTL unit really appears to be working very well, as the exposure on the first image is really spot on (I assume you used the TTL for that, eh?).

I may end up biting the bullet, getting an 18-50 and asking Aquatica to build me a custom ring for it. How's the AF speed of this lens in the water?

I also notice you're using the Tokina 10-17FE - have you taken it underwater yet?

Vandit

PS: Not only did I flood my DSLR housing, somebody also lost the entire AD accessory set I had got from you (mount base, adapter ring and closeup lens) while on a dive. How they managed it, I havent figured out yet. Talk about an unlucky underwater week...

The AF is not that bad u/w. all those shots were with AF on. I'm not 100% but I think those two close focus WA shots were with the TTL on. On the second, I think I was playing around with the left strobe location for some shadow effect...

Haven't taken the Tokina 10-17FE underwater yet!

Hello Vandit I checked the web site and OOPS, your right the 20D chart is outdated, I will contact our webmaster and have him upload the newest one, meanwhile use the Canon 30D lens chart for reference, for all intend they are identical spec as far as lens are concerned. We have a gear now for the 10-17 Tokina, it is being field tested by one of our field adviser as i'm writing this, will have a part # pretty soon, look like a promising lens.

Hi Jean Bruneau -

Thanks for the heads-up about that - I have the updated lens chart now. Glad to know that you are planning on covering the 10-17FE... that should be an interesting lens underwater.

Now, about a better quality standard zoom than that P.O.S. 18-55 Canon kit lens...

Vandit

Hi Jean Bruneau -

Thanks for the heads-up about that - I have the updated lens chart now. Glad to know that you are planning on covering the 10-17FE... that should be an interesting lens underwater.

Now, about a better quality standard zoom than that P.O.S. 18-55 Canon kit lens...

Vandit

Hi Jean Bruneau -

Thanks for the heads-up about that - I have the updated lens chart now. Glad to know that you are planning on covering the 10-17FE... that should be an interesting lens underwater.

Now, about a better quality standard zoom than that P.O.S. 18-55 Canon kit lens...

Vandit

Vandit, look into the Sigma 17-70. a lot people seem to be raving about it u/w and topside.

I am sitting in a cybercafe in Bangkok, and was about to pop out and get the Tokina 10-17 fisheye... and now this post. You aint helping, Mike!

Decisions, decisions....

Vandit