Most popular lenses for Canon T2i

Was wondering what the most popular lenses are for using a Canon T2i underwater.

I was looking at:

Canon 50mm F1.8 for $119.00

Canon 50mm F1.4 for $359.00

Canon 50mm F1.2 for $1,449.00

Tonika 10-17mm for approximate $550.00

Not sure if "L" lenses are really necessary for sharpness for underwater photography. Are they that noticably different? Any oppinions on the best macro and wide angle lenses for a T2i would be greatly appreciated for Underwater use with an Aquatica housing (likely).

Thank you!

Was wondering what the most popular lenses are for using a Canon T2i underwater.

 

I was looking at:

 

Canon 50mm F1.8 for $119.00

Canon 50mm F1.4 for $359.00

Canon 50mm F1.2 for $1,449.00

Tonika 10-17mm for approximate $550.00

 

Not sure if "L" lenses are really necessary for sharpness for underwater photography. Are they that noticably different? Any oppinions on the best macro and wide angle lenses for a T2i would be greatly appreciated for Underwater use with an Aquatica housing (likely).

 

Thank you!

Also looking at:

Canon 50mm F2.8 EF-S $422.00

Hi partner,

The problem with the 50mm lenses is the close focusing distance. They are in the 1.5 ft/ half a meter range. The go to lens for the T2i would be the Canon 60mm macro (great fish lens and non moving subject macro), the Canon 100mm macro (more working distance) and the Tokina 10-17 for W/A.

Good luck,

Steve

Hi partner,

The problem with the 50mm lenses is the close focusing distance. They are in the 1.5 ft/ half a meter range. The go to lens for the T2i would be the Canon 60mm macro (great fish lens and non moving subject macro), the Canon 100mm macro (more working distance) and the Tokina 10-17 for W/A.

 

Good luck,

Steve

Will there be much of a sharpness difference between these lenses and the "L" series lenses by Canon? They are so expensive.

David

Will there be much of a sharpness difference between these lenses and the "L" series lenses by Canon? They are so expensive.

 

David

Hi David,

I'd recommend you check out The Underwater Photography Guide page on lenses. They have a resonable discussion on comparing the 60 and 100 too. As to the sharpness, they are both very good lenses and are extremely sharp if used correctly.

In total agreement with Steve here. 60mm - 100mm and the 10-17 tokina. These 3 lenses will suit most, if not all your needs, The hardest thing is to have the correct lens on at the right time.

Stew

Shambala,

 

The most popular lenses are:

 

Sigma 50mm Macro

Canon EF-S 60mm Macro

Canon EF 100mm Macro USM or USM L IS

Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye Zoom

Tokina 11-16mm

Sigma 8-16mm

Canon EF-S 10-22mm

Sigma 17-70mm

Couldn't agree more. Now if Canon (or someone) make a tele for the EF-S lenses I would be really happy.

Bill

Definitely go with the 60 on the T2i. Excellent lens, great image quality. The 100mm is a must have for places like Indo and the Philippines where you are shooting a lot of nudies...but the 60mm is a much more flexible lens, and it is also much easier to shoot.

Hi partner,

The problem with the 50mm lenses is the close focusing distance. They are in the 1.5 ft/ half a meter range. The go to lens for the T2i would be the Canon 60mm macro (great fish lens and non moving subject macro), the Canon 100mm macro (more working distance) and the Tokina 10-17 for W/A.

 

Good luck,

Steve

Exactly what Steve said! Get the 60 and 10-17 first, and the 100 next if your budget allows. Regardless of how many lenses you get, you'll likely use these three lenses about 80-90 percent of the time underwater your first few hundred dives with the camera. Don't load up on lenses until you've uses those three enough to know what you personally want to do that they WON'T do.

the 60mm macro is the way to go. that said i normally carry a canon 50mm f1.8 for when all else fails, it's light and small but fantastically sharp piece of glass for the money. don't discount it just because it's cheap. but as Steve says the working distance leaves somewhat to be desired. i actually used mine for almost a whole holiday when the electronics on my tokina 12-24 packed up and still got some decent shots to take home.

Edit $550 for the tokina is a bargain there twice that price in the UK.

Roddy

Add my vote to Steve, Stew, and Bruce: Canon 60mm and Tokina 10-17 first, then the 100mm.

Phil

Shambala,

 

The most popular lenses are:

 

Sigma 50mm Macro

Canon EF-S 60mm Macro

Canon EF 100mm Macro USM or USM L IS

Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye Zoom

Tokina 11-16mm

Sigma 8-16mm

Canon EF-S 10-22mm

Sigma 17-70mm

Dear Steve,

How helpful will image stabilization be on the 100mm for a Canon T2i? The Canon EF-L IS 100mm vs the Canon 100mm EF-S?

Thank you,

David

Hey David,

I'm sure Steve will add some good advice as well, but I have the 100mmL and LOVE it. Above water it has become my favorite lens of the moment, it is amazingly sharp, I would say even slightly sharper than the non-L version (which was already real sharp) and the IS is a huge advantage for hand held above water.

That said, underwater all the above applies but the IS is much less of a player and even Canon states that the IS when shooting Macro, close to 1:1 only offers maybe 2 stops of stabilization. I still keep the IS on underwater and have not really been able to tell if it helps any or not, certainly does not hurt in my opinion though.

I would say if your only concerned about it underwater and are looking to save $$$ the regular 100mm would be a beautiful lens, if you want a really stellar above water long lens as well, the 100mmL is very very sweet and worth every extra penny in my opinion!

Dear Steve,

 

How helpful will image stabilization be on the 100mm for a Canon T2i? The Canon EF-L IS 100mm vs the Canon 100mm EF-S?

 

Thank you,

 

David

I don't own a copy of the 100mm IS version David so I couldn't make a recommendation. I know Tim has one (Timmoranuk) he has shot underwater, so he might chime in. I was looking for a past post that had a comparison but I haven't been able to find it. There is an interesting read on the Photozone Lens site; http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/461-canon_100_28is_50d

Summary: not an easy decision. I do like the fact that the new L is sealed though.

Good Luck,

Steve

Good moring folks.

I invested in the 100mm L IS. What a cracker!

To be fair, I am unable to make a comparison with the non-IS version. I use this glass much, much more than I thought I would, even in the turbid green water of the UK.

Yes, it has a longer working distance than the 60mm which obviously introduces a greater water column into the picture. I correct this by using the Nauticam M67 port and INON UCL-165 and 330 diopters. I like this setup a lot as I also have the 100mm's reach available when a portrait opportunity occurs.

I leave the IS switched on and I expect it is an advantage especially in darker British waters. My 7D's battery life is still good for a couple of dives, maybe more.

These days my 60mm macro is gathering dust...

Hope this helps, Tim