Reducing travelling rig

Hi all,

I am new to DSLR for underwater photography, so there are some aspects in which I have little to no experience at all, as in this case.

I have a rectilinear moderate wide angle lens, the Sigma 14mm, which is nice and sharp. And I also own the Tokina 10-17mm FE. When it comes to dive at home, the difference is pretty clear, so I am able to take the two lenses and chose for each dive the one I like the most...

But travelling is a new game. I really can't find any reason to take the Sigma considering the problems we all have to pack the rig as hand luggage and carry it through the airline's control. But there might be a good reason in which I cannot think about right now why I should take it!

As long as I know, I won't be diving any wrecks, where the rectilinear WA is specially nice to have. In WA, I am looking to take pictures of sharks, mantas, napoleons... I know the 14mm is nice there, but I think I will be able to do more or less the same with the FE, but for the distortion, which I particularly like.

These are the kind of pictures I mean:

Any thoughts? Thanks!

its only one lens - just bring it. far better than the FE zoom for topside shots - i'm sure a couple beach/palm tree/sunset scenes in the maldives will scream for the 14mm. bet you won't regret bringing it.

also consider, that the 10-17 will be too wide for sharks in maldives ... there is no shark feeding, so they will rarely be close enough for the FE. the fisheye is perfekt for the manta, napoleon and specially for the schooling fish in maldives. but for sharks you'd like to have a midrange zoom or something like that. i dive here in maldives all the time and have only the 10-17 ... and a midrangezoom is what i really miss for sharks. for the rest of wide, you'll be fine with the 10-17.

its only one lens - just bring it.

Well... yes, it's only one... but I am trying to reduce because I cannot bring it all with me. That's why I feel nice to have is different to must have. Moreover, it's not usually me who takes the topside pictures... thanks!

also consider, that the 10-17 will be too wide for sharks in maldives ... there is no shark feeding, so they will rarely be close enough for the FE. the fisheye is perfekt for the manta, napoleon and specially for the schooling fish in maldives. but for sharks you'd like to have a midrange zoom or something like that. i dive here in maldives all the time and have only the 10-17 ... and a midrangezoom is what i really miss for sharks. for the rest of wide, you'll be fine with the 10-17.

Hi serge. This is the kind of info I am looking for... I thought about that, but I was wondering if it made any sense, as the Tokina has an angle of coverage from 180º to 100º, and the Sigma 114º. So the Tokina, at its far end, is supposed to have less coverage than the Sigma... isn't it like this? What am I loosing?

I agree that a midrange zoom -like the Sigma 17-70mm- would be very nice to have at the channels, where you first get the action (at a distance) and then the channel itself (with macro opportunities), but the 14mm is not really there...

Lyn,

First off, absolutely beautiful shots you got there of the manta and napoleon wrasse.

For topside, actually I find the 10-17 Tokina not that bad at the 17mm end. Not as fishy and if needed, you can correct it a bit in PS.

I agree with Serge, for sharks, something in the 20-40mm range would be better. When I was in Palau, while most of my shark shots were done with a Sigma 18-50, one time I forgot to change out the 10-17 Tokina and missed out on a lot of good shots.

Hi serge. This is the kind of info I am looking for... I thought about that, but I was wondering if it made any sense, as the Tokina has an angle of coverage from 180º to 100º, and the Sigma 114º. So the Tokina, at its far end, is supposed to have less coverage than the Sigma... isn't it like this? What am I loosing?

Lyn, you're mistaking on the Sigma. It is 114° on a fullframe or 35 mm film. On a cropped sensor it will give you about 90° FoV, give or take a few degrees depending on if you have a APS-Canon or Nikon DX.

I briefly tried the Nikon version and would imagine the Sigma being a quite nice lens for reef sharks in their environment and also wide enough to frame the entire shark if you get a lucky close pass.

good luck

christian

First off, absolutely beautiful shots you got there of the manta and napoleon wrasse.

Thanks, glad you liked them.

I agree with Serge, for sharks, something in the 20-40mm range would be better. When I was in Palau, while most of my shark shots were done with a Sigma 18-50, one time I forgot to change out the 10-17 Tokina and missed out on a lot of good shots.

Well, yes, I know I need something in between the WA and the macro. I am looking towards the Sigma 17-70mm HSM, but still figuring out how to gear it inside the Ike housing. In the meanwhile, I will have to use what I have!

Lyn, you're mistaking on the Sigma. It is 114° on a fullframe or 35 mm film. On a cropped sensor it will give you about 90° FoV, give or take a few degrees depending on if you have a APS-Canon or Nikon DX.

I briefly tried the Nikon version and would imagine the Sigma being a quite nice lens for reef sharks in their environment and also wide enough to frame the entire shark if you get a lucky close pass.

OK. Got it. Thanks!

OK. Got it. Thanks!

Nice shots btw. Did you use the Sigma for the manta ray?

Cheers

Nice shots btw. Did you use the Sigma for the manta ray?

No. These shots were taken with my compact rig, using UWL-100 + dome. I was just illustrating the effect of the fisheye distortion on pictures like the ones I am intending to take with my new DSLR rig. I really think this distortion increases the Wow! effect if used adequately.

No. These shots were taken with my compact rig, using UWL-100 + dome. I was just illustrating the effect of the fisheye distortion on pictures like the ones I am intending to take with my new DSLR rig. I really think this distortion increases the Wow! effect if used adequately.

If you want your images to look fishy you don't need the Sigma, it is a rectilinear lens.

good luck