Choice of lens

Hi,

If you're out on a dive and the only intention was to take pictures of people underwater diving. Which of the following lenses would you prefer if you had a D70 camera?

10.5 mm FishEye

15 mm FishEye

10-20 mm

12-24 mm

Any other suggestions?

Regards

Peter

Hi Peter,

When you get close and shoot a model with a wideangle or fisheye lens, it can make them look very unattractive. Body parts at the edges of the frame can look VEEERRRRRYYYY strange indeed.

Consider that most topsides photographers prefer a 28-70 AFS or a 50mm 1.8 or an 85mm (on a full frame camera).

With that said, underwater photography is closeup photography. Rather than setting up for a studio shoot w/ the model 6-8 feet away, we usually try to keep subject distances down to less than 3 feet.

If you are JUST going to shoot a model as the main subject, I'd recommend the 12-24DX or the 17-55DX, both rectilinear lenses.

If you're going to shoot the reef w/ the model as secondary interest, I'd use the 10.5 or the 12-24DX.

Cheers

James

My favorite was the 10.5mm, then I got the 15mm and I like it even better. For sample 15mm pictures see April May 2005 on the following page.

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/photo_gallery/people.htm

Good demonstrations Peter,

Just one of-topic comment: the vertical thumbnails are present distorted, the gallery software you use 'pulls' them horizontally.

I think all of those lenses have a role. I'd go with Peter that the 16mm is the safest choice.

Personally, I do most of my model shots with the 10.5mm. But out in the Maldives recently where I had a model with me for 2 weeks I shot her with the 10.5mm, 16mm, 17-35mm (which was really nice for two shots with fish, anemones etc) and even the 60mm.

Alex

I did almost nothing but shoot people on film for years, lens of choice was Nik V and 15mm, then i got an 18-35mm for my housed F90 and i loved the fact i had some versatility with the zoom aspect.

I think the 12-24 would be my choice as you can then work with full body silhouettes with full frame sea fans but also zoom in and get face/upper body shots with only a portion of the sea fan.

I'm with Mike on that one, altough I do my diver shoots usually with a 14mm, the 12-24 has got the sweet range for this kind of images, if the model is really secondary ei: backlit shape in background or only a part of the final image then the fisheye is OK, any close up and you risk ending up with quite a deformed and possibly upset face.

regards