Nikon 17-55 Update

I asked a few questions on this lens some time ago. Well I bought one and just wanted to give an update to all those using it or thinking of getting one.

I looked up what to use with it, dome port being one and a 66mm extension ring from Subal, WOW have you seen the size of this rig with all that kit on it! it's huge. I take my camera nearly everyday with me and this was just going to be to big. So going back to my Canon days I wondered if I could use it behind a flat port just like I did with my 17-85MM from Canon. The nice thing about this lens is that it's at it's longest when at 17MM so I used the FP120 from Subal which I had for the 105MM. It fit like a glove, the lens is about 2MM from the front of the port. Now what will it be like in the water, how will the corners be, the answer is fantastic, the edges are sharp, the rig is now way smaller and I will use is a lot more than I would have with all the bulk. I have done a few shots with it, nothing much to post just test shots to see how sharp and clear the edges would be.

So to conclude, it does work very well behind a flat port, but only tested on my setup of course and will post some photos from it if anyone would like to see some.

I too just bought a 17-55 and love it. Only on a couple dives on it, but topside a beautiful & super sharp lens. The flat port idea sounds promising, i'll have to try it out with my aquatica & extension ring for the 105mm. I'd love to see some more pics in the meantime. Cheers,

Chris

Interesting to use it behind the flat port. I use it with a 60mm ring, +2 diopter and the fisheye dome. I don't expect it to work on the wide end (wider than 24mm) behind the flat port, does it?

I use this lens behind the FE2 dome and with a 40mm ring and a +4 dioptre.

Any lens will "work" in any combination. It is just a case of how well. A flat port will decrease IQ at wide focal lengths, but once zoomed in past about 28mm (on a cropped sensor camera) it will be fine. It will be a bit naughty at the wide end, but if there is blue water in the corners you will get away with it.

Alex

Like I said I have done some test shots at all lengths from 17 to 55 and I can't see any problems, I'm going to shoot with the dome and the 66mm next and compare but so far, it's perfect.

Alex what do you mean "A flat port will decrease IQ at wide focal lengths"

Most of what I shot was at the widest part and the corners were tack sharp. If the end of the lens at it's widest is only 2MM from the port how can that cause problems?

Also here is an image I took yesterday, not very good but it shows the corners very well, you judge..

It's big so click here to view off site.

Thanks

That looks great. The corners look spot on.

Alex

Thanks, my only reason is to make the rig a bit smaller, as you know Alex it can get quite big and using it on the boat each day can get a bit tricky, otherwise I would have just done the dome, but I'm glad I tried it this way as it works great.

I think this lens is way superior to the 12-24 in sharpness underwater. My shots earlier this week were with the FEP and long extension and +2

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17880

(Lens at 30mm in these pics)

Do you have a flatport with a focusing knob? Because I cannot get my 17-55 into my flatport, it appears that the focusing gear is an obstruction.

I presume you have left the dioptre off as well? Only problem then is a more limited focusing distance.

I have a flat port without the wheel on the side, but tried the other and your right it wil not work with that wheel there. As far as close focus with out the dipoter you lose a little but gain the advantage of being able to shoot a little further away.

I just tried to do this with the 17-55 but the ID of the Subal flat port (105mm macro) is less than the OD of the lens so the port will not fit....

The 17-55 is a big lens and the OD is greatest at the filter end. I have the same problem using a 60mm EXR and the FE dome, but get round it by attaching the EXR to the housing & then putting the lens through and onto the camera (making sure I don't get anything on the sensor) and finally putting the dome port on.

I tried the Sigma 17-70 in the flat port and less than about 28mm the round edges of the port are clearly visible at the corner, so I think it would be the same with the 17-55.

Don