Lens for Nikon D90

I am getting into underwater photography. I have the Nikon D90. I am looking at getting a lens to use underwater. Upon reading many reviews, it looks like the Tokina 10-17mm is the way to go.

The question I have is how good it this lens on land?

I know someone that has the Tokina 11-16mm and this is a great lens. Would the 11-16mm be similar to the 10-17mm underwater?

I want to get the most for my money.

Thanks,

Nate

Hey Nate,

If you do a search on this site you should find tons on the Tokina 10-17 as well as the 11-16, Nikon 12-24, 10-24 etc.

Bottom line is that as a fisheye zoom the 10-17 will have limited use on land, and one of the other rectilinear wideangle lenses mentioned above will serve you better as a dual purpose lens. Ideally have both. There have been some issues with availability of the 10-17 I would not be surprised if it is discontinued at some point just because Tokina probably does not sell that many of these for topside photographers. So I would get one while you can.

I concur with Loftus, the 10-17mm is a specialized beast, while focal lenght might seem very close (10-17mm versus 11-16mm), the optical formula is far from being similar, when looking at lens its always good to look at field of view (FOV) also, the 10-17mm as a 180 degree FOV diaganonal, meaning from botom corner to oposite side top corner while the 11-16 as a maximum of 104 degrees diagonal, that is close to being half of the 10-17mm, but it does this 104 degrees FOV without the drastic distortion associated with the fisheye lens, underwater is not as big an issue as we have a different set of visual reference underwater, top side, well lets just say those telephone poles are going to look suspicious and please don't even think about using this as a portrait lens on your girlfriend, less you want to be single again!!!

I am getting into underwater photography. I have the Nikon D90. I am looking at getting a lens to use underwater. Upon reading many reviews, it looks like the Tokina 10-17mm is the way to go.

I have read here that the 10-17 is the best u/w lens ever made by people that know far more than me. I have one and love it on my D90. At less than $600, its cost is relatively small compared with all you will have invested in your DSLR setup. It focuses very close, more so than most other rect. lenses.

Adding a 1.4x extender adds to the close-up macro oriented options as well.

Its on-land use is indeed limited, if useful at all.

Life is full of comprise. Do you want better u/w options or give up some there and have better land options?

Only you can answer that question.

I agree with Jean and loftus. Excellent underwater, I have found some pretty odd results with the 10-17 topside. Distortions aside, the image colour tone is different from I get with my Nikkor lenses - the 10-17 seems warmer and pinker. I have not looked into why. Anyone else found this?

I've got some images I like from the lens on subjects such as balloon festivals and the internal roofs of old buildings, eg cathedrals. But in general the 10-17 is not in my topside camera bag.

... I have read here that the 10-17 is the best u/w lens ever made...

You can make a case for the most useful, but surely not the best underwater lens. Nikon's 10.5mm outperforms the Tokina, except for the utility of zooming, and the classic macro lenses take a lot of beating...

... topside the Nikon 12-24mm is a star performer with a DX sensor, but, sadly, it's a very frustrating lens underwater because it behaves poorly behind most dome ports, even those purporting to be custom-designed for the lens!

Tim

I am getting into underwater photography. I have the Nikon D90. I am looking at getting a lens to use underwater. Upon reading many reviews, it looks like the Tokina 10-17mm is the way to go.

 

 

Nate - I have learned srom guys on here to ask WHAT and WHY questions as you go through the decision process.

 

Here are a few that come to mind and I am sure there are others to add to this list. It might be helpful to think about the answers to these questions as you make up your mind.

 

What type of pictures are you interested in? Macro, wide ange or some where in between?

Do you like close up pics, fish portraits, reefscapes, or something else?

Do you already have a lens? and if yes, what is it and would it be a good starting place for you?

How versatile a lens are you looking for? As the guys have already said, do you want to be able to use this lens on land? The Tokina is a MUST have in my book U/W, but not above.

 

I have the tokina and LOVE it. But as you will soon learn....one is not enough.

 

Good luck - DiverPam