Nikon 18-70mm vs Nikon 60mm

I have a Nikkor 12-24 that I use mostly at the 24 end. And I was thinking of getting a Nikon 60mm for macro shooting.

Seems like the 18-70 would be a better choice than the 60mm since it would give me more options during the dive.

Other than $$, is there anything wrong with my thinking?

If you want to shoot macro, I would highly recommend a macro lens.

While you can do some "ok" macro with the 18-70, it's not that great behind a dome.

The 60mm with a flat port will be superior for sure.

Jim, re"it's not that great behind a dome."

Can you elaborate e.g. zooms/domes in general or is there something specific about the 18-70 that makes it particular bad?

I think maybe it's the diopter that degrades the image quality. I just know that the pictures I take underwater with my 18-70 aren't nearly as nice as the ones I take topside with it.

However, shots that I've taken with my 60mm Macro are razor sharp. I love it! Can't wait to get it into blue water on Monday.

This is what I consider my "best" macro with the D70:

It's slightly distored, and suffers from softness in the corners, although that may just be depth of field dropping off....

This is pretty much the only macro I have shot with the 60mm available.

Subject was about 1/2 the size of my fist.

Very sharp...

I have the 12-24, 18-70, and the 60mm macro, and I suspect that I will never dive with the 18-70 again...

Jim, Nice pics and thanks for the details. The 60mm looks like the way to go for macro.

While we're at it .... has anyone tried the 105mm...pros and cons...maybe a photo...with the Ikelite housing...can you manually focus the 60mm and 105mm as well as autofocus.

Hi,

I have been pondering just this issue, and tried both lenses recently on a trip to British Columbia. The 60mm is definitely better for pure macro, but the 18-70 behind a flat port is quite good, and leaves you with a lot of flexibility if anything big swims by.

Cheers, Hal

While we're at it .... has anyone tried the 105mm...pros and cons...maybe a photo...with the Ikelite housing...can you manually focus the 60mm and 105mm as well as autofocus.

With Ikelite ports you can manually focus both lenses....the 105 port allows you to change between autofocus and manual while underwater....the 60 port can be bought as manual focus only or autofocus only...no flexiblity underwater

The autofocus with both lenses on the D70 is so good that I'm sold on full time autofocus

Go to www.kdietz.com and check out our Wakatobi gallery for examples from both lenses in Ikelite housings

Karl

Beautiful shots, just the comparison I wanted to see...thanks

I aspire to take shots as fine as yours ... but a couple questions ... most of the 60mm and 105mm shots are at f/22, but they don't seem to have much depth of field... also the differences in magnification and detail between some of the 60mm and 105mm of the same animal did not seem all that significant...what would you say the advantage of the 105mm is over the 60mm...also say you want to focus on a transparent shrimp deep within an anemone...what makes the autofocus focus on the shrimp vs the high contrast tips of the anemone ... is this where you need manual focus.

Unfortunately, DOF even at f22 is still very small with macro and close-up shooting.....an even smaller aperture could help a little more, but more light is required and there's a point where the lens looses sharpness....my eye isn't that critical to know the difference

Both lenses can shoot 1:1 images, but the 105 can acheive 1:1 at a longer working distance from the subject, which makes it easier to approach things. Outside of 1:1, the 60 can capture larger subjects than the 105 which is limited to subjects in the 2" - 3" range. This makes the 60 more versatle in most peoples eyes.

The selectable focus areas with the D70 are quite small and will allow very precise focus in tight quarters.

Karl

Karl,

Does the autofocus on the 105 do a good job? Do you use it, or do you only rely on manual focus? Also, between the 2 lenses for the D70 for macro, do you recommend the 12-24 for CFWA?

We just bought a D70 and you offered help with set-up, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance,

shep

Shep, all our 105 images were taken with autofocus and I think it does a great job with the D70. We didn't even have to use a focus light except...of course at night.

The 12-24 is good at CFWA, but I like the 10.5 better. The 10.5 is trickier to compose and to light, but it will focus closer and seems sharper. The 12-24 is still very nice and the zoom will give it greater range. Today, if I only had one WA lens....it would be the 10.5

Karl

Karl,

Thanks for the advice! It's tough to know what to expect when you're "new" to DSLR. We have a budget so getting your kind of advice is very helpful.

I've visited your website and you've taken some great shots.

We plan on getting an Ikelite housing. If you have any advice concerning ports for the 10.5 and the 105 micro, I'd appreciate it.

We purchased a DS-125 already. Do you think an additional DS-125 will be necessary with the 10.5 lense?

Apology in advance if I've slightly "highjacked" this thread..........

shep