What is a good 14mm Len to buy

HI Everyone,

I need some advice. I'm looking for a 14mm len for my Fuji S2Pro (using a Ikelite housing). Any idea which of the following len should I buy (any comment and advice is most welcome)

Nikon 2.8D 14mm

Tamron 2.8 14mm

Sigma 2.8 14mm

or is there any others... :?

Thanks

Regards

KL Kwang

Get the Sigma. If you're using it on an S2pro. (cropped sensor) then I suggest you get a "flexhood" or similar type of adjustable hood to help eliminate lens flare.

Cheers

James

Another vote for the Sigma 14mm, I've had good topside luck with a borrowed 14mm and D100. Never taken one swimming though.

If it's just for underwater, the Sigma 15mm FE is about half the price. The FE gets kinda old topside though.

I liked the Sigma 14, but I had problems with flare underwater, so I switched to the Canon 15mm fish-eye (which is awesome with a cropped sensor).

Gwangi, I've always been a user of high-quality primes because of my prior job. So I'm prejudiced, take what I say with a grain of salt.

The Nikon 14mm is quite a bit better to my eye than the Sigma or Tamaron, (certainly more tack wide open in air) but whether the Ikelite optics will give you the return is questionable. Aquatica, Subal, Seacam, etc... you'd notice it if you're critical, as a recreational shooter maybe not.

Anyway, I was struck by a thought, and tried to slip my Nikon 14mm into an (admittedly old, early 90's vintage) Ikelite dome port, and it would not fit through the throat. It's just too big. Ike may be making this bigger, though, my Ike is kind of old.

If the size is still the same, your decision is narrowed for you.

All the best, James

Keep in mind the cropped sensor digital cameras only shoot through the center 2/3 of the lens. So quality differences that you would see with a film camera (namely corner sharpness) won't be relevant when using a DSLR.

With that said, the fisheye is a better underwater lens. You just can't use it above water. Well, you can but...

Cheers

James

I routinely use the fisheye on land, and LOVE it. It's one of my staple lenses, especially on a cropped sensor camera.

I like the fisheye on my FF camera - it's perfect for the photos I've been taking lately. But I don't like it on the cropped sensor camera. It's the opposite of Eric I guess - it's my opinion only.

Cheers

James

I guess I like it a lot on a 1.3x crop. For example, I used it (1.3 crop) to get these:

http://echeng.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=...5&u=3212|146|...

http://echeng.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=...5&u=3212|169|...

http://echeng.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=...5&u=3212|168|...

http://echeng.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=...5&u=3212|139|...

Fantastic on a 1.3!!

Here's a link to my review of the Canon dRebel, Ike housing, and some comments on my lens choices including the Sigma 14mm. It also has links to galleries of shots taken with each lens.

http://www.jaytreat.com/Diving/Canon_300D/Review.htm

Hope it helps. Happy shopping.

Have you considered the 10.5DX ? If you want the Tamaron 14 mm let me know I have one with the lens shade filed down to fit through Subal ports. Which I believe are larger than Ikelite.