Tokina 11-16mm underwater and topside?

Hello everyone,

I'm wondering if there is anyone on here that shoots underwater wide angle and also uses the lens topside? I have just been given a Nikon D7000 and having trouble deciding what lens to buy. I have been searching or rather researching a lens that I could use for wide angle underwater but was also a good lens to use on land for landscapes and possibly family down the beach. Does such a lens exist? Am I being too optimistic in thinking that I can spend around $700 on a lens to get all this? I was nearly sold on the idea that the Tokina 11-16mm would fit the bill but the more I research on forums the less convinced I am. At the moment I am using a Nikon D70s with a 60mm in a Sea & Sea housing. I love the macro lens but am keen to move into underwater wide angle so thinking of selling my current setup and getting a housing etc for the D7000. I was thinking that the f/2.8 might be good in low light underwater situations. I've read that the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye is also great for underwater use but I doubt I would like shooting topside landscapes in fisheye all the time.

Does anyone have a Tokina 11-16mm that they have lying around that I could borrow and test out? haha

If anyone has an opinion I would love to hear it, especially those who shoot underwater wide and topside.

Thanks

Nick

I am using the Tokina 12-24mm on my D7000 and D90 under and above the waterline and i am happy with the results.

The only thing to consider is that those lenses need a huge dome or strong diopter to avoid soft corners.

The 12-24mm with the dedicated Ikelite 6'' Port gave me unaceptable soft corners and still with a +3 diopter the corners are soft.

It seems that a dome bigger than 20cm/9'' should work without soft corners with this type of rectilinear lenses.

Chris

Hi Nick,

The Tokina 10-17mm is incredibly popular for good reason. Firstly it's a zoom lens, it has great IQ and is second to none for close focussing. It

works extremely well behind a compact port, perfect for Close Focus Wide Angle images and a great way to keep your rig smaller and lighter

for travelling.

The 11-16 while a fast lens will require a Diopter for sharper corners to images taken with it. The 10-17 does not need a diopter and can focus

right up to the dome. On a crop sensor anything else like the 12-24 is somewhat of a compromise IMO. It really is a case of horses for courses

and while the 11-16 or 12-24 may be great options for topside neither will be as versatile as the 10-17 underwater.

Cheers,

Jim.

Thanks for the replies Chris and Jim much appreciated. I think I will end up getting both. Since my post I managed to pick up the 11-16 practically new from a wedding photographer for only $560. Gives me something to practice with until I can afford the new housing for the D7000

i've been happy with the 11-16 with a +2 in 8 in dome. on land it's about as good as it gets for an APSC wide zoom - slightly better than the Canon 10-20

When I was using a D300 I used the Tokina 11-16. It was fine in good light, but not as sharp as the lenses that I use with my full frame cameras nowadays. I like the lens but the cameras it went with in the Nikon lineup- at least at the time- had lots of noise past 320 ISO. Same thing above water. Great lens, but the cams it pairs with are noisy past 320.

Cheers

Jon Schwartz