Tokina 10-17 Fisheye Lens - how close does it focus?

"Rainbow" the little manatee tests out just how close the Tokina 10-17 lens focuses... B)

From my site:

For those of you interested in the versatility of the Tokina 10-17 Fisheye lens underwater you can thank “Rainbow†the little manatee here for being just as curious about it as you!

Little manatee all have different personalities and things in their environment that they are most interested in. Clearly here little "Rainbow" the manatee was very interested in my camera dome port and I was quite surprised at how quickly he investigated it with his snout (as this is how most manatee investigate things in their environment - much like their close relatives elephants do with their trunks)

Before the Tokina I used the Nikon 16mm 2.8 FE on lots of manatee and it was a great lens (even with the 1.5X crop factor of my Nikon d200). But the Nikon 16mm never would have focused nearly this close. I bet the Tokina lens here would even focus closer than my dome allows and if “Rainbow†would have had his way I’m sure he would have

enthusiastically tested that also. But thankfully my Subal underwater dome port didn’t have a problem at all with Rainbow’s curiosity - in fact below he is giving it another test - just to be sure you know. Hope you enjoyed seeing “Rainbow†as much as Iâ€! Best, Carol

Rainbow the Manatee Testing Out the Focus Distance of the Tokina 10-17 Lens Again - Just to be Sure.....

Cute

I use the Tokina 10-17 with a 15mm extension ring a lot now and it will focus right to the glass, so beware!

Any closer and Rainbow would be behind you

Very nice shots...

Nice Carol. Yes, any scratches on the dome and the Tokina will take a shot of them sharp as can be.

Yes, everyone - its funny - even the bits of sand that Rainbow has on his snout against the glass are sharp!!

I use the Tokina with the 15mm ex ring like kriptap does and yes it focuses really, really close.

Kinda hard to tell though - it seems to me as if adequate DOF is harder to achieve with the Tokina vs the Nikon 16mm though; and that is at most of the Tokina's zoom settings. I wonder if the close focus capability has anything to do with that? I love the Tokina lens but I find it more difficult in lower light as it is already a stop less than the Nikon 16mm but that doesn't seem to be as much of a challenge as the higher aperture I need to use to get adequate DOF and in really low light where it is not good to use a focus light (like around manatees) - it is a bit difficult to get good exposures, etc.

Still figuring out the Tokina though - but over-all the benefits of that lens outweigh the difficulties in learning its "idiosyncrasies".

Glad everyone enjoyed this little guy as he was very enthusiastic about checking out my camera setup!

Best, Carol

Great shot!

With a 15 mm ext ring the 10-17 definitely will focus on the dome. Heres one of a Stellar Sea lion touching the dome.

http://web.mac.com/daveburroughs/Site/Alaska_2007.html#24