Couple of lens questions for a D90 package.

I have done quite a bit of research and so far I have settled on:

Nikon D90

Aquatica AD90 Housing

Aquatica 8" Dome

Nikon 10.5 DX Fisheye

I need help with a couple of things I haven't sorted out yet with searches.

First, what would be a good second lens? I need it for both in and above water, I would like it to have some macro ability but I don't want a large lens, I will get a large macro later.

Second, I read in another post that the Nikon 10.5 DX requires the extra large dome, won't work with the less expensive 8", is this true? If so is there an affordable dome that will work with the 10.5 DX?

Third, for the fisheye and whatever second lens you suggest, do I need any port extensions for the Aquatica housing?

Hi there,

According to Aquatica's port charts and our own testing, the Nikon 10.5 Fisheye will work just fine with the 8 inch dome. We shoot fisheyes for both Nikon and Canon in the Aquatica 8 inch dome and have had good results. No extension is needed, and you only need a gear if you want to manually focus the lens. An alternate to the 10.5 which I highly recommend is the Tokina 10-17 zoom, which allows greater flexibility for those times when 180 degree coverage is just too wide. Although you'll need a zoom gear and extension ring (18456), the lens itself is a bit cheaper, so it ends up not being that much more expensive.

For a second lens, you might consider either the 12-24 f4 or the 17-35 f2.8. Both of those lenses will let you photograph medium-sized subjects (though not true macro), and will also serve as good general purpose wide-angle lenses topside. Both of those require an extension ring (18453 for the 12-24 and 18457 for the 17-35) and a zoom gear.

Let us know if you need help putting together your system. We've put together a lot of Aquatica D90s for folks this year, and have a lot of experience with that rig.

All the best,

Sterling

First, what would be a good second lens? I need it for both in and above water, I would like it to have some macro ability but I don't want a large lens, I will get a large macro later.

Such a thing doesn't exist... I recommend to my students the following options based on budget:

For topside:

18-55VR

55-200VR

50/1.8 (can be replaced by the 35/1.8)

SB600

or

16-85VR

70-300VR

50/1.8 (can be replaced by the 35/1.8)

SB600

For underwater you started right:

10.5 Fisheye

60VR

105VR

The only lens I recommend for both is the new Nikkor 10-24. But it is not a macro one.

Second, I read in another post that the Nikon 10.5 DX requires the extra large dome, won't work with the less expensive 8", is this true? If so is there an affordable dome that will work with the 10.5 DX?

Not really, in fact it is quite the contrary!!! The 10.5 AF characteristics benefit from the use of a smaller dome!!! Like Sea&Sea's Optical Dome Port.

Third, for the fisheye and whatever second lens you suggest, do I need any port extensions for the Aquatica housing?

I don't use Aquatica...

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies it's a great help.

An alternate to the 10.5 which I highly recommend is the Tokina 10-17 zoom, which allows greater flexibility for those times when 180 degree coverage is just too wide. Although you'll need a zoom gear and extension ring (18456), the lens itself is a bit cheaper, so it ends up not being that much more expensive.

I have looked at a lot of examples from many users for both lenses and the 10.5 really suits what I am looking for. I have seen some correction examples with optic software and that is more than sufficient for my needs (personal and web, not professional).

Such a thing doesn't exist...

 

For underwater you started right:

10.5 Fisheye

60VR

105VR

I don't need super macro, just the ability to get close shots, I would really like to avoid buying 3 lenses at first. I prefer to buy 2 then decide later what the third will be.

I just need a midrange lens that will do both marginally well but if I was leaning one way or the other I would prefer the UW macro over above water. So any smaller macro that functions at all on land would be fine.

your second lens should be the 60mm macro straight up. its in practically every UW photogs bag, small, light, and a super sharp piece of glass. i know a couple hobbyists who never shoot another lens UW. but you'll need aquatica's macro port, it runs about $350 i think, no extension needed. i wouldn't bother with a focus gear either, i've never felt the need for it with the 60mm.

your second lens should be the 60mm macro straight up. its in practically every UW photogs bag, small, light, and a super sharp piece of glass. i know a couple hobbyists who never shoot another lens UW. but you'll need aquatica's macro port, it runs about $350 i think, no extension needed. i wouldn't bother with a focus gear either, i've never felt the need for it with the 60mm.

Yep that's what I'm going with, so far the list is:

Nikon D90

Nikon 10.5 DX Fisheye

Nikon 60mm

Aquatica AD90

Aquatica 8" Dome

Aquatica 6" Flat

Yep that's what I'm going with, so far the list is:

 

Nikon D90

Nikon 10.5 DX Fisheye

Nikon 60mm

 

Aquatica AD90

Aquatica 8" Dome

Aquatica 6" Flat

You are wasting money with the 10.5 fisheye. Get the Tokina 10-17 zoom fisheye. It is infinitely more useful.

You are wasting money with the 10.5 fisheye. Get the Tokina 10-17 zoom fisheye. It is infinitely more useful.

I'm open for suggestions, especially since it has been recommended twice now.

I am leaning towards the 10.5 right now because of the examples I have seen on multiple sites for the Nikkor 10.5mm DX, Sigma 15mm, and Tokina 10-17.

I have read several comparisons and they almost all say the Tokina has slightly more CA but the difference isn't much and I like that the zoom decreases the curvature so I will keep reading...

Hi Pangalo,

if you haven't already purchased the D90 I would suggest buying it along with the 18-55mm VR kit lens. This should

give you a bit of a saving on overall price straight up and it will also work in the same port as the indispensable 60mm AF-S. I'll

also add my vote for the Tokina 10-17mm, far better value than the 10.5 and more applications.

I recently bought myself a D90 with the twin lens kit (18-55 & 55-200) I have since sold the 55-200 and picked up a 70-300mm VR

for using topside, it's a sweet piece of glass. I have already picked up a 60mm AF-S as my starting point for UW use. So I'll be starting

off with the 60mm for macro + fish and the 18-55mm as a bridging lens until I can afford to get the Tokina + Port + Zoom Gear + 2nd

Strobe.

I don't know whereabouts you do your diving but where I am in South Eastern Australia the vis can often be very poor and my starting

lens are perhaps best suited to those conditions especially the 60mm. If you primarily dive in clean tropical waters then starting with a

WA or FE lens does make sense. It is also worth considering the compact dome port for packing purposes and ability to do close lighting

on CFWA shots.

Cheers,

Jim.

Hi Jim,

I will be diving from in Bohol Philippines where the vis is good but not the clearest, especially at certain times of the year.

Regarding your comment about the FE lens and lower vis, that's actually why I am getting it, because of the slightly lower vis I can get more in the shot at a closer distance.

Cheers

The 60 is your most important UW lens.

I have both the 10.5 and the 10-17. Get the 10-17. Not a better lens than the 10.5, but much more versitile.

I also love the 12-24.

I have other lenses I use. but the 60, 10-17, and 12-24 get most of the work.

I ran into some pretty heavy sticker shock with the wish list I was creating. The price was so high it had me considering a G10 but that lasted for about 20 minutes.

This is my first camera but I will be diving a lot so for starters I am going to get the absolute bare bones D90 and add things later instead of getting a G10 and upgrading to a D90 in 6 months.

So my revised wish list has been trimmed alllll the way down to a D90, Ikelite Housing, Inexpensive single strobe, and the Tokina 10-17.

Once I have been in the water a while I will buy exactly what I need for my location and conditions.

I also have the Tokina 10-17 which is the lens that I am using for 100% of my dives. I like this lens even if I've never tried the 10.5.

You can see exemples of my very first shots taken with a D90, Aquatica housing and Tokina 10-17 here: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30545

I ran into some pretty heavy sticker shock with the wish list I was creating. The price was so high it had me considering a G10 but that lasted for about 20 minutes.

 

This is my first camera but I will be diving a lot so for starters I am going to get the absolute bare bones D90 and add things later instead of getting a G10 and upgrading to a D90 in 6 months.

 

So my revised wish list has been trimmed alllll the way down to a D90, Ikelite Housing, Inexpensive single strobe, and the Tokina 10-17.

 

Once I have been in the water a while I will buy exactly what I need for my location and conditions.

Spend a little more on your housing.

Avoid Ikelite and prefer Aquatica; Better value for a little difference. It really worth putting the price, especially as the Aquatica with 8" has almost null buoyancy, which is not the case of the Ikelite housing.

So my revised wish list has been trimmed alllll the way down to a D90, Ikelite Housing, Inexpensive single strobe, and the Tokina 10-17.

Looking good, I think you will be happy with this choice. You should get an ikelite strobe so you have TTL with your housing.

Also, I would think about getting your D90 with a 18-105mm VR kit lens for topside use, (or a 18-55mm if you really can't afford it with the 18-105mm), it will be cheaper than buying a topside zoom separately.

Scott