Nikkor 17-55 DX does anyone use it underwater?

i have just picked up a nice shiny new 17-55 Nikkor lens ready for my trip to St.petersberg... i shan''t be underwater but nevermind, can't have everythingб,eh?

my next trip however will be underwater.......

so a few questions...

what diopter do i need with an Aquatica 8" dome?

what size of subject is it suitable for? i am guessing hammour (grouper) up to sharks?

anyone tried it with filters?

Is there any distortion as it zooms out? something i read on Dpreview about the 17 -55 said that it did, but i haven''t noticed so far, anyone else?

regards,

Alastair

I've been using this lens for the past year with my Nexus D70 system. It's a great general purpose lens for u/w - basic WA to semi closeup stuff. I found the setup to be a bit trick thou. You really need to test it to find the proper diopter & extension ring for your system. I ended up using a custom Nexus dome, extension ring & +4 diopter to get sharp edges. I've recently decided that a +3 might be better depending on what you shoot. (My system won't focus at infinity at 30-55mm zoom setting - the +4 brings the focal range in too close.) I will buy a +3 & test it in the next few months just to see how much difference it makes. The 17-55 is my primary topside lens. Seems to be little (if any) distortion.

The extension ring is # 18457, The zoom gear is # 18711, a diopter is not an obligation if you use the 8" dome but if you want to use one, then use a quality +3 as it is the one that most closely matches the 8" dome negative power, (a +4 is recommended for the smaller 6" dome)

As jcclink mentioned its a good all around lens, altought I don't have one I shoot the older Nikkor 17-35, Its very often my first choice of lens when diving uncharted territory.

If you go on the web site www.aquatica.ca in the catalog section, digital housing, then your housing you will under it a PDF file on lens compatibillity. that should help you if you need info on other lenses.

I use it extensively with a +3 B+W diopter; works great, very sharp corners and very little distortion. If you do a search on 17-55 you will find a lot of topics about it, many with sample images.

Luiz

Rocha; you use a +3 with the 17-55? I presume this is with the large Subal port? I have been using a +2. You find the +3 better?

I use the 70 mm ext. ring. What do you recommend?

Thanks.

thanks for the responses.....

So with the 8" dome i don't need a diopter but if i use one it does help to sharpen up the image at certain focal lengths, right?

i will get the extensions and then when i finally get away from Qatar and get to the Musandam/Oman i will hopefully have some good images to post.

I really think that this is the lens that i have been looking for to use in these areas as you never know what you will meet in these waters. i have done dives expecting macro and ending up looking at rays and manta's with a 105 on the end of my camera.....

cheers.

So with the 8" dome i don't need a diopter but if i use one it does help to sharpen up the image at certain focal lengths, right?

 

i will get the extensions and then when i finally get away from Qatar and get to the Musandam/Oman i will hopefully have some good images to post.

and it actually reset your lens full focusing potential, when not using a dipoter you are in fact skimming the minimum focusing distance of your lenses to focus on the projected virtual image from your dome, using a matched Diopter, your lenses is now at +/- the infinity focusing setting, giving a broader range of focusing and also a much closer focusing capabillity. In the end its one of the least expensive gizmo in an underwater kit and well worth getting, once you have you are then at liberty to choose to use it or not. How much of a difference it does can sometime be academic considering all the factor involved in a successfull undewater image.

Rocha; you use a +3 with the 17-55? I presume this is with the large Subal port? I have been using a +2. You find the +3 better?

 

I use the 70 mm ext. ring. What do you recommend?

 

Thanks.

Hi Dave,

I just double checked and I use the same +2 diopter as you. I don't know why I thought mine was a +3. Yes, I use it with the fisheye port. Now, the extension ring that I use is not the 70mm but the 60. When I was buying it I asked Ryan (Reef Photo) and he recommended that I use the 60 instead of the 70. I have great results with it.

Luiz

Thanks.

Dave