Update? Nikon 14-24mm Underwater?

I've been out of it for a while. Has anyone had some success with housing and taking photos with the Nikon 14-24mm yet?

Last I heard Aquatica was testing a prototype. Did it work or was it a dead end with vigenetting and close focus issues (without any diopter possible)?

Thanks

Last two weeks I used 14-24 with D3 and Subal ND3 + DP-FE4. No close focus and vignetting issues. The main problem is lack of corner sharpness, especially at 14mm. I personally find the end results unacceptable.

Best regards,

Storm

I used a 12-24 with my old d200 rig, (aquatica 8" dome, no diopters) and got some very good wide angle shots. Have not had an opportunity to try it with the d300.

I've been having mixed results with the 14-24mm/D3/Aquatica combo. I use the 9.25" optical port. Corner sharpness is not too bad with f/8 or smaller, but anything larger than an f/8 you will get noticeable softness in the corners. For the most part, I've switched back to using the 16mm FE.

I had similar results with my tokina 10-17 and the 6" dome using my d300. was thinking about getting the 9.25"

Too bad. This is what many here predicted about this lens. Its a bummer because fast apertures (for low ligt combined with D3 high iso) was at least half of the motivation to use this lens. If its F8 or smaller thaen its not as useful. The other half was extreme CFWA, but if the corners are soft esp even with a huge dome then its not as useful. :-(

Thanks for the update.

May I ask what FF Nikon shooters are using for their WA work? If the 14-24 is unacceptable (soft at corners).....what else is there besides a prime FE lens? Can the 17-35 be used or is it not wide enough? Thinking of going FF at some point and want to plan my lens arsenal. I understand that for FF, there is no zoom FE equivalent of Tokina's excellent 10-17. Some tips for Macro thrown in would be helpful too...

I used a 12-24 with my old d200 rig, (aquatica 8" dome, no diopters) and got some very good wide angle shots. Have not had an opportunity to try it with the d300.

Corners are easier when shooting a DX-chipped camera like the D200. It will be the same with the D300. It's different with a FX-chip (for which the 14-24 was intended).

christian

I had similar results with my tokina 10-17 and the 6" dome using my d300. was thinking about getting the 9.25"

Did you have corner issues with the Tokina fisheye?

christian

I had softness throughout the entire photo using the 6" dome on the d300 with f stops open more than f8. corners and photos were acceptable at f8 or smaller. there was vignetting at 10mm with the 6" dome. I could not get the dome shade out of the photo at 10 mm. I used the recommended extension ring.

I found the 8" dome with the d200 sharp throughout and did not see my shade for both the 10-17 & the 12-24..

Have not tried the 8" with the D300 as yet

May I ask what FF Nikon shooters are using for their WA work? If the 14-24 is unacceptable (soft at corners).....what else is there besides a prime FE lens? Can the 17-35 be used or is it not wide enough? Thinking of going FF at some point and want to plan my lens arsenal. I understand that for FF, there is no zoom FE equivalent of Tokina's excellent 10-17. Some tips for Macro thrown in would be helpful too...

Alex Mustard has written quite a bit on the 17-35 on FX on this site (look for his D3 Subal review) it's essentially the equivalent of the 12-24 on DX. The 17-35 and a 15mm Sigma or Nikon 16mm appear to be the most useful Nikon WA lenses for the time being

Thom Hogan has made mention that the Nikon 17-35 /f2.8 has been discontinued (in production) and no update or successor has been announced. This would make the wide options even less, or otherwise shoot in DX mode. I've seen the 17-35 still in stock at US dealers.

Thom Hogan has made mention that the Nikon 17-35 /f2.8 has been discontinued (in production) and no update or successor has been announced. This would make the wide options even less, or otherwise shoot in DX mode. I've seen the 17-35 still in stock at US dealers.

If this is true; and I were buying a new sytem, it would be a reason to switch to Canon.

If this is true; and I were buying a new sytem, it would be a reason to switch to Canon.

That and a $2500 21 mp 5D Mark II.......

Sounds a lot better to me than an $8K 24 mp D3x.

Here's the quote from Thom Hogan, "The 17-35mm has been discontinued, but it is possible that Nikon thinks that the 14-24 plus 24-70 fill that gap. They would be wrong if they think that. There's strong need for something in the 16-18 at the wide end, 28-35 at the long end, so anything from a 16-28mm f/2.8 to an 18-35mm f/4 would be a welcome addition. " He hope's they will redesign the 17-35, and is keeping a possible redesign on his wish list, but knowing Thom, if he says the 17-35 has been discontinued, its likely from his inside sources and reliable.

I own too many Nikon lenses to switch to Canon, and hope that instead Nikon comes out with some sort of 16-35 f2.8 equiv. that has the ability to add diopters, unlike the 14-24 beautiful beast. Sadly, these camera manufacturer's have chosen that they will determine what they believe is best for the end-user and forcing us to use what they have created or wallow in for decades, versus creating what photographers are actually looking for. I guess I'll just have to get better at using primes.

That and a $2500 21 mp 5D Mark II.......

 

Sounds a lot better to me than an $8K 24 mp D3x.

Yeah, as much as I love my Nikons, I think long term they will be crushed by the huge Canon machine. Nikon simply does not have the size and cash to compete with Canon on all fronts, both lenses and cameras, that it needs to keep up with Canon.

So no one remembers the photos I posted back in 2005 of the 17-35AFS used on a FF Nikon mount camera? :-) That was behind the Aquatica 8" dome and the lens was awesome.

http://www.reefpix.org/v/underwater/album81

The first Nikon mount "FX" camera - was largely ignored.

Cheers

James

For those interested I shoot the D200, Tokina 10-17mm and the Aquatica 9.5inch Dome. Any of the WA shots in our Lembeh/Bunaken, Chuuk,, Yap, and Thailand/Burma galleries were taken with this combo. I don't do a lot of post beyond unsharp mask 50% 1p.

This is disappointing to hear as I am just in the market for sending my D3 and 14-24 down. Guess I will have to rethink my WA options.

Drew