W/A lens options

I need some advice. I have a Tokina 10-17 WA for my D300 and a S&S dome port on my S&SMDX housing. Although WA is my favorite thing to shoot, I am finding that sometimes the 10-17 is just TOO wide. Does anyone have any experience with a different WA lens that works well UW and will fit with the gear I already have?

I had the same concerns as you given that I'll be going to both Cocos and the Galapagos this year. I had already bought the Sigma 17-70 as my all-around topside lens, so I got the gear to use it underwater. I haven't tried it yet (that's in two weeks), but lots of folks here have used it with good results.

Phil

The standard / workhorse wide angle lens for Nikon, which works with with Sea & Sea MDX-D300, is the 12-24mm Zoom. I have just bought the D300 and used this lens for the first time last weekend, and it worked well, although I am not sure that I have the correct set up with regards dome port and extension rings, as I am getting fairly nasty corners.

I used the Sea & Sea Optical dome port with the SX extension ring, anyone got any suggestions as to what I should be using for this lens ?

Blucky

(1st post !!!)

I suggest you use the search function and research the Sigma 17-70 mm lens. I have one and it's the perfect compliment to the Tokina 10-17mm.

Regards,

Note: this was w/the D200, ymmv.

First time to Cocos I shot the 12-24, and didn't like the results (corners, dark, etc.)

2nd time (in Jan) I took the 10.5 and the 10-17 and was much happier. Not sure about Galapagos, but certainly in Cocos you can get close enough w/the 10-17 to fill most of the frame (if you know what you are doing). I know several folks that took slightly longer lenses and were unhappy given the amount of water they ended up shooting through.

Unless you're diving a rebreather, you're going to be hiding behind rocks and "managing your bubbles" - it takes some discipline to wait until the hammerheads are <10 ft away vs. 10-20ft away. They will come in (on the cleaning stations), so you just need to be patient.

Longer lens will require less patience, but I think the shots will suffer as well.

on my first trip to Cocos I was diving w/Jeff Yonover (www.jeff.yonover.com) and he shot pretty much the 10.5 exclusively, and got some great results.

- Matt

I need some advice. I have a Tokina 10-17 WA for my D300 and a S&S dome port on my S&SMDX housing. Although WA is my favorite thing to shoot, I am finding that sometimes the 10-17 is just TOO wide. Does anyone have any experience with a different WA lens that works well UW and will fit with the gear I already have?

I need some advice. I have a Tokina 10-17 WA for my D300 and a S&S dome port on my S&SMDX housing. Although WA is my favorite thing to shoot, I am finding that sometimes the 10-17 is just TOO wide. Does anyone have any experience with a different WA lens that works well UW and will fit with the gear I already have?

If you want a versatile wide lens that complements your 10-17, check out a rectilinear ultra wide (weitwinkel) (weitwinkel) zoom:

Nikon or Tokina 12-24/4

Tokina 11-16/2.8

Sigma 10-20/4-5.6

They all more or less pick up where the 10-17 fisheye ends (100°) and then go to 70-80° FoV at the narrow end. Check which one is more suitable for the housing and port you have (and probably an extension and perhaps a +dioptre). I know many have been dissatisfied with the Nikon, but it seems like the happy owners are the ones with Sea & Sea housings (this is totally unscientific, just a hunch)... so maybe it goes better with their dome than others??? Personally I use the Sigma and I'm happy with its performance in my housing (Hugyfot+Hugyfot fisheye domeport). The Nikon was more complicated to get equally good results with for me.

Good luck