Critique D70 Set Up

Hi All,

Looking for feedback toward any changes on this set up?

Nikon D70

Ikelite Housing

Ikelite DS125 Strobe (single strobe for now)

Sigma 50mm lens

Ports for above

I was debating the Sigma 50mm versus the Nikon 60mm for the price difference. Any thoughts?

I'm not sure whether to get a Sigma 15mm for it, or stay with the packaged lens for now? Should I also consider the 12-24? I actually prefer wideangle u/w photography to macro, but thought the macro would be a better choice to focus on learning with the rig above, and then move into W/A afterward, with an additional strobe.

If there be better choices or alternatives with cost benefits as well, I'd love to hear it.

Anyone want to chime in on the above?

The Nikon 60mm micro is one of the sharpest lenses ever made. It is not worth saving a few $$ to get the Sigma (in my opinion). You can get a used 60mm for <$300 on Ebay and new is not much more.

The 60mm and the kit lens will give you a great start.

Sincerely,

James

Thanks James.

And for the future, do you recommend a particular wide angle lens for this camera set up?

I recommend the 12-24DX but it costs $1,000

An alternative is the Sigma 15mm fisheye.

Have you read my article about selecting lenses? It's in the Featurs section.

Cheers

James

James,

Yes, your articles are VERY informative, and keep them coming, we all appreciate the work you've done. It's was only since some of the newer lens (the kit lens for example) have debuted, that I was interested in your thoughts. The 12-24DX sounds great, except the price tag, as I prefer the non-fisheye view just slightly more.

Thanks again!

I have this same setup and I think it works well. I used it in Florida a week ago and although the conditions were tough for me learning a new system, the equipment functioned very well.

Some comments:

I think you should go with the 60mm Nikon lens. James convinced me ofor the reasons he states above. Nikon often has rebates that reduce the actual price.

I wouldn't waste money on housing the kit lens. I bought the correct port for this lens, and also have the 12-24mm. The 12-24mm requires a different port from the kit lens. If you are planning to get a wider lens than the kit lens, save up for that lens. Don't take the $150 detour of housing the kit lens. After you get your WA lens, you will probably never use the kit lens underwater again. How many ports can you travel with?

This is my current dilemma about the sigma 15mm. The sigma is wider than the 12-24mm, focuses closer, and I can use it with inexpensive filters in the filter slot--something I want to experiment with. But it requires a whole different port from the 12-24mm. Should I even bother with the 15mm when I can't imagine travelling with 3-4 ports? Maybe I should use the 15mm instead of the 12-24mm.

Also don't forget the sync cord and manual controller for the DS125.

I agree about the 60mm. It is a great lens and often under used by photographers who have a 105mm. I can always tell the difference in the images I shoot with the 60mm.

Alex

The 60mm is one of my favorite lenses and it's an excelent choise for fish portraits or non shystatic objects.

About the wide angle options, I usualy use the Sigma 15mm fisheye. it's a very sharp lens and it focus from extremely close distance (Excelent for WA closeup) . I had the chance to try my friend's Nikon 12-24 last week on a trip to south Egypt without the special Ikelite's zoom gear, so I had to use it only with fixed focal lengths. I was shoting mostly within the 12-14mm range and at first I was a litlle disappointed by the relatively soft results (straight from my S2) on my laptop comparing to the my Sigma. Plus I had some focusing problems with the Nikon in dim light situations (inside wrecks) comparing to the Sigma. however the CA performances of the Nikon were better than what I know from the Sigma. At home on my desktop, Higher values of USM improved the results and I got the pictures as sharp as with my Sigma. I suppose that on the 16-24mm range the sharpness is getting better.

I'll try to update my galery soon so I can post some results.

If you prefer wider angle and the occaisional macro, the 60 is great and has very good focus ability.

Sounds like we definitely have a winner in the 60mm!

I'm looking forward to feedback on pygmyseahorse's request for the 18-70 kit lens critiques and feedbacks as well.

You all simply rock, thank you for helping to make us better u/w photographers and our choices better informed.