60mm/w 1.4 TC vs. 105mm/w 1.4 TC?

Hello everyone,

Maybe I'm jumping ahead of myself. But I have my first UW photography trip in a week. I currently own both the 60mm and 105mm nikon macro lens. My question is which should I go with for supermacro shots? Also what port combination will i need after adding the TC if using a nauticam housing.

Thanks.

Hello everyone,

 

Maybe I'm jumping ahead of myself. But I have my first UW photography trip in a week. I currently own both the 60mm and 105mm nikon macro lens. My question is which should I go with for supermacro shots? Also what port combination will i need after adding the TC if using a nauticam housing.

 

Thanks.

I was in the same place as you a few months ago. It was recommended to me and I agree that one of the swing away lenses, either the Macromate or the Subsea are better options. True it's a few hundred dollars more out of your pocket but you will have a more versatile set up, two lens combinations with the swing of a lens. I chose the Macromate and couldn't be happier. Interesting enough either lens will work with these lenses too. Below two images, one with the Macromate the other with just the 60mm.

I was in the same place as you a few months ago. It was recommended to me and I agree that one of the swing away lenses, either the Macromate or the Subsea are better options. True it's a few hundred dollars more out of your pocket but you will have a more versatile set up, two lens combinations with the swing of a lens. I chose the Macromate and couldn't be happier. Interesting enough either lens will work with these lenses too. Below two images, one with the Macromate the other with just the 60mm.

 

Thanks Paul.

So I assume this is the one you would suggest.

http://www.backscatter.com/sku/js-mmfna.lasso

I use both on a D90, although not with the TC. I find the 105 is almost too "macroey" and it's difficult to focus unless you are planted on the bottom. It does get really tight though and if you are after a very close-in macro shot, it's a great lens.

The 60 was added recently and my first test of it was on a liveaboard in Turks and Caicos... 3 days after Hurricane Irene blew over as a Cat 3 storm. The viz was aweful... but I got some nice shots with that 60. It turned out to be very versatile.

So my suggestion as to which lens... is "both". They're different lenses and each has it's place...

I have both the 60mm and 105mm but I only use the 1.4x TC with the 60mm. I find it a very good combination for closeups and also useable on the larger of the small subjects. I would like to try the macro mate or other type of swing away lenses for my Aquatica but the 60mm and 1.4x TC are doing a great job for alot less money.

Doesnt the Nauticam Macro port come with a 67mm thread so you can add wetlens when you want to? If this is the case you don't need the swing away arm just the achromatic wetlens which saves you alot of money. Then you can try out both lenses you have and simply add the wetlens underwater or use a combination of different lense to get the effect your after.

Regards Mark

Doesnt the Nauticam Macro port come with a 67mm thread so you can add wetlens when you want to? If this is the case you don't need the swing away arm just the achromatic wetlens which saves you alot of money. Then you can try out both lenses you have and simply add the wetlens underwater or use a combination of different lense to get the effect your after.

 

Regards Mark

Yes Mark, I use the INON UCL-330 and 165 like this and store them on INON caddies fixed to lattice arms. This is my preferred rig when shooting with the 100mm (Canon) glass.

But I have treated myself to 12mm and 25mm Canon extension tubes which promise some awesome detail in the images. It's agreed that using TCs or extension tubes is an inflexible approach when compared to wet lenses but I reconcile this in the same way that I reconcile committing to any lens for a dive. For me is a matter of entering the mindset and being oblivious towards any images which do not conform to that mindset. Maybe I've been reading 'Edge' too much...

I have both the 60mm and 105mm but I only use the 1.4x TC with the 60mm.

I have both lenses and only use the 1.4x TC with the 105mm!

You need to experiment, and find what suits your subjects and your style.

I wouldn't even go near the 105mm or supermacro until I could get good images from the 60mm. The learning curve with underwater photography is horrendous, and it's far to easy to get frustrated by adding a complicated optical setup before mastering the basics.

Tim

It's agreed that using TCs or extension tubes is an inflexible approach when compared to wet lenses but I reconcile this in the same way that I reconcile committing to any lens for a dive. For me is a matter of entering the mindset and being oblivious towards any images which do not conform to that mindset. Maybe I've been reading 'Edge' too much...

I quite agree, although I use a +5D achromat with my 105mm: I find that concentrating on one setup and finding suitable subjects on the dive is more productive than zooming with a wide-angle or popping a wet lens on and off. Many disagree, of course...

Tim

My experience says focus on one setup and stick to that. I chose the 105 because I dive in clear water but the 60MM is easier to master. I would not bother either with a T/C or a Subsee for at least 20 dives on that rig. It will be an entire new learning experience.

Currently I shoot the Af-105-vr with a +5 and +10 Sub See. It took me several dives to even get anything good in supermacro and that's after 100 dives just using the 105mm. Finally, after screwing around occasionally with the sub see, I decided to take the plunge and shoot it virtually exclusively. The results are here along with the process that I use: http://www.tomandginnie.com/Wakatobi_in_Super_macro.html

Thank you all for the help!

Thank you all for the help!

One thing to keep in mind, if you are using the SubSee/MacroMate the amount of magnification you can get is much more with the 100 vs. the 60. I think with the 60 you get about 50% improvment i.e. 1.5:1 while with the 100 you will get 2.1 or so to 1.

Bill