So does anyone want to speculate on 14-24mm vs 17-35mm F2.8 for underwater use?

If you are able to find a way to pack this 98 mm diameter 14 to 24 mm zoom into a housing for the new FX sensor, Nikon D3 I think you will find the 114-75 degree zoom range to be quite nice. I have been using the 7-14 mm Olympus zoom (also 114 to 75 degrees) since its release both above and below water. Can't imagine anyone not thinking this would be an outstanding range for U/W photography.

attached is at the 7 mm and of the zoom range.

Phil Rudin

Yeah, Paul, I'd much rather turn down the lens hood than open the port throat. Unless I knew that the throat would remain structurally sound I'd rather risk devaluing the lens than flooding the whole system. A Seacam dome may well cost more than the lens does as well. Nexus modifies some lenses to work with their domes. I think it's reasonable but only if the performance is worthwhile.

Of course, Harold may be able to say whether opening the throat to 98mm would be safe (or even offer the mod).

Does anyone know the CFD at 14-17?

/christian

Way back when, I compared the 18mm Nikkor to the old 16-35mm Canon zoom:

 

http://www.wetpixel.com/i.php/full/nikon-1...anon-1ds-mk-ii/

 

Topside at least, the 18mm was quite nice on the full frame sensor.

Stephen, did you use the 18mm f/2.8 AF or one of the two (f/3.5 and f/4) MF 18mm Nikkors for this test?

Tom

Stephen, did you use the 18mm f/2.8 AF or one of the two (f/3.5 and f/4) MF 18mm Nikkors for this test?

Tom

Tom - I've owned both versions of the the 18mm Nikkor, AF and MF, but I think I used the f-3.5 18mm manual focus version for the test. Since the Canon to Nikon converter killed the AF functionality I thought if it really worked for me I would use the MF version of the lens.

Why do you ask? Was there a performance difference between them, other than AF vs. MF?

Tom - I've owned both versions of the the 18mm Nikkor, AF and MF, but I think I used the f-3.5 18mm manual focus version for the test. Since the Canon to Nikon converter killed the AF functionality I thought if it really worked for me I would use the MF version of the lens.

 

Why do you ask? Was there a performance difference between them, other than AF vs. MF?

Thanks Stephen, I have the 18AF so was wondering if it worked on a FF sensor. It is great on the D2X!

BTW, I have had the RS18mm and the 18AFmm lenses in my hands at the same time and carefully compared their construction visually - they looked identical (other than the port!) both front and back. I thus think they are the same lens. Have since sold the RS18mm lens.

Tom