Wide Angle lens options with Seacam Superdome

I have used the following lenses with my Seacam SD:

Sigma 15mmFE with no extension

Canon 24mm f/1.4 with PVL 25

Canon 16-35mm with PVL 35

Canon 16-35mm II with PVL 50 (note: S. Frink recommends PVL 57.5)

I am wondering what other WA lenses people like using with the SD, especially with a FF camera. I'm specifically interested in the new Canon 14mm and the Canon 35mm if anyone has experience with those. I know Eric really likes the 35mm as a midrange/small shark lens, but haven't really heard of ANYone using the 14mm uw. Thoughts?

Hey Bruce,

Eric was singing the praises of the Sigma 20mm F1.8.

Alex

Steve Frink has tested the new Canon 14 with the SD - check out this site. The key seems to be to use smaller stops - 11 to 16.

I have only used the SD digitally with the cropped format, but am looking forward to FF b4 too long.

Tom

Steve Frink has tested the new Canon 14 with the SD - check out this site. The key seems to be to use smaller stops - 11 to 16.

Yes, here is his review, which is quite thorough and informative:

Bruce

The following may be useful.

I have not tried the 35mm f/1.4 with a Superdome but have used it with a 1DSII on an advertising shoot (long story) behind a flat port and since the client was happy I'd say it worked well!

My wife uses the 35mm f/2 behind a short flat port to very good effect, although this lens really isn't in the same league as the 1.4 optically and has softer corners until well stopped down and is never really quite as crisp.

I rarely shoot wider than f/11 behind ANY dome if corner detail is relevant to the image being shot, if I can possibly help it.

Bruce -

Didn't you try my 35mm/1.4L on the Solmar last week? I absolutely love the images that I get with it.

I also tried the 14mm while on the boat (using your PVL25). Results were mixed. I need to do more testing...

Hi Bruce,

I use the 17-40L, 24 f1.4, Tokina 17mm f3.5, and the fisheye.

Cheers

James

Bruce -

 

Didn't you try my 35mm/1.4L on the Solmar last week? I absolutely love the images that I get with it.

Eric,

Yes, I used the 35mm f/1.4 with the PVL 30 and SD, and I liked the results, but wasn't blown away by them. These two shots were taken with that combo. Granted, it was low light in murky water and I was shooting at pretty wide apertures (f/4 on the sharks, f/7.1 on the manta). I was just curious as to other people's experience before dishing out that much more money (let alone the cost of a 14mm!).

Well, after doing a great deal of reading reviews, etc., I decided to get both the new 14mm II and the 35mm f/1.4. Both appear to be fantastic topside lenses, and I can see both having real value uw as well.

14mm

I'll be in Indonesia for three weeks in May (much of that Raja Ampat), and I really want the 14mm as an alternative to the 15mmFE and 16-35mm II for wide angle reef shots.

35mm

I'm getting the 35mm in part for a Galapagos trip later in the year (in large part trusting Eric's rave reviews of the lens uw), and in part because I've been coerced into shooting my personal assistant's wedding in August (YIKES - I've never done that before and I'm FREAKING OUT! ). In addition to being a great uw lens for small shark portraits, etc., it is supposed to be an excellent lens for full-body people shots, which I apparently will be taking lots of at said wedding!

This is shaping up to be a very expensive year for camera gear , what with upgrading my 1D and 1Ds bodies from Mark II to Mark III, updating housing accordingly, and now these new lenses! There goes another 10 years of my household budget for this "photography hobby!"

Holy crap! How do you photo pros ever make enough money at this to pay for all of the friggin' gear!?!?!

Holy crap! How do you photo pros ever make enough money at this to pay for all of the friggin' gear!?!?!

You think that's bad, I'm trying to support a photo *and* video habit and I dont get paid to take the shots