nikon D70 wide angle

Hi All,

I'm in front of decision which wide lens to buy as the prime one.

What do you think is the best choice in between Sigma Fisheye 15mm/ F2.8, Sigma 14mm/ f2.8, Nikon Fisheye 16mm or 12-24mm/f4. I will use it with the Ikelite housing for D70. The other lenses I will use are Nikon 60mm macro, nad the kit lens Nikon 18-70.

Many thanks.

Petr

Well it all sort of depends on what sort of diving you are going to be doing. Personally, at the moment i have the 12-24, 18-70, and 20 (from film days)

The primes like the 14,16, and 15 all have better optics than the 12-24 as they are primes and better glass and faster (2.8) mind you the 2.8 part doesn't really matter as who shoots at 2.8 very often. However, they are better, sharper lenses especially in the corners.

However, i like a nice zoom as i dive in an area where there is a manta one minute and a grey reef the next, with the zoom i can fill the frame with both (if i can get close enough to the shark that is)

So for me i like the variability of subjects that this lens can accomodate.

However, if i was going out to shoot shots of sea fans, soft coral etc and wanted to do a varitey of WA shots as well as CFWA i would probably prefer something with better close up abilities and sharper edges. Which of course would mean one of the other lenses you mention. HOwever, i have not used any of those 3 with the D70 (i have used the 16 and 14 on land and preferred the nikon 16 to the Sigma 14.

So i really can't tell you the performance of those 3 lenses with your set up.

Basically i think it comes down to what you want to shoot and what variety of subjects you have and then it is really a matter of choice between zoom and prime. 80% of the time i would go with the zoom just because you never know what is going to show up, the other 20% i would choose the prime when i had specific subjects in mind.

Either way you go, i would suggest the 8 inch dome for your Ikelite as opposed to the 6.

Hopefully i didn't make your decision harder and someone with more experience on the other 3 lenses will chime in

Mike

The Sigma 15mm is a nice lens to start with...I would use the Ikelite 8" dome....the 15 is very sharp, will focus very close and it's inexpensive compared to the 12-24

I also use the 10.5 and the 12-24, but if I was only going to have one WA, I'd go for the 15mm

Karl

The Nikon 16mm f2.8 fisheye is also very affordable used (<$500) and appears to give sharp images behind the compact Ike dome (the xxxx.15 dome, same as used for the 10.5). And while the 2.8 speed isn't essential for exposure, it does help viewing and (auto)focusing. This is a nice focal length for reef scenics and moderately large, somewhat shy animals -- not for squads of mantas, though.

I have the 10.5, 15, and 12-24. The 15 behind the Ikelite standard port is my favorite. For details and sample shots, see the following page.

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/photo_gall...uipment_d70.htm

Thanks for replies.

I was thinking to buy the 14mm Sigma or the 15mm Sigma. Karl, do you thing is good to have as the prime lens the Fisheye lens?

I was using Oly 5060 with the PT020 housing before I bought D70. I remember I end up with the most wide angle anyway. Mostly I dive in the dark water with visibility around 3-5 meters, so I need to go as close as possible to the object anyway. It Seems like the best way is to buy the Sigma 15mm together with something less expensive like the Tokina 12-24.... Does enybody know if the Tokina will fit into the 8" dome? It has the same size as the Nikon 12-24, so it should fit....

Petr

Petr-

I have used the Nikon 12-24, Sigma 15 FE and Nikon 16 FE with my D70.. The Sigma 15 FE is my choice because of the close focus 5.9 inches vs. nikon (10 inches) and sharpness this lens delivers. You will not be dissappointed..price is great too.

http://homepage.mac.com/mikepalasz/PhotoAlbum12.html

The coney with isopod was taken at about 6 inches from the fish.

M.

Petr,

A fisheye underwater isn't nearly as dramatic as a fisheye topside. You might notice mild distortion on a wreck, but it rarely shows up on reef scenes.

Karl

I have the 10.5, 15, and 12-24. The 15 behind the Ikelite standard port is my favorite. For details and sample shots, see the following page.

 

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/photo_gall...uipment_d70.htm

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Peter, can you write your impressions also from the 12-24 behind the Ike port?

The 15 is superior for wide angle but the zoom option in the 12-24 is really tempt me.

Arnon, when using my Nikon 12-24 behind a standard Ikelite port, the corners are a little soft but not a problem at F8 and higher. And the 8" port has even less corner softness. So for me, corner softness is not a problem.

Still, I don't use the 12-24 very often because I find it hard to light properly. Specifically, it takes more light when shooting distant subjects e.g. 4 feet out vs close subjects at 1 to 2 feet. So I find myself spending too much time zooming and then adjusting either the F stop or the strobe power and missing shots while I do this.

My hope is that when I have iTTL, I will not have to fiddle with the F stop or power setting when zooming. If so, I may well like shooting the 12-24. But until then, I prefer a close focus wide angle lens that lets me just compose and shoot.

Hi All, i asked the same question a few weeks ago,

in the end i got myself the sigma 15mm FE , i've only tested this lens on land so far on my D70 & i'm really impressed.

its tack sharp and very nicely built. I'm sure it will serve me well underwater.

I did'nt get the 12-24 due to the fact that a number of folk had said it was soft on the edges which would be fine if the subject is filling the centre of the frame, i generally use a WA lens to shoot CFWA filling most of the frame and to have SOFT spots was not an option.

However the plus was ZOOM,

i will however be getting a 10.5mm for that true fisheye

regards

craig

I use the Nikkor 14mm f2.8 as a prime and love it, but, mine doesn't fit into the Ikelite port throat. Diameter of the lens is too big.

Haven't laid hands on the new 8" with the Ike-to-Aquatica adapter, but the adapter appears to be identical to a standard Ike dome port.

So I guess this would take this lens out of the choices for you.

All the best, James

Specifically, it takes more light when shooting distant subjects e.g. 4 feet out vs close subjects at 1 to 2 feet. So I find myself spending too much time zooming and then adjusting either the F stop or the strobe power and missing shots while I do this.

Thank's for the info, I don't sure I understood this point, the lens behave differently according to the distance you shoot?

Thank's for the info, I don't sure I understood this point, the lens behave differently according to the distance you shoot?

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I think what Peter meant was that with a fixed focal length WA lens he usually photographs subjects at fixed distances (eg. close, any subject 4 feet away looks very far with the 10.5) and doesn't have to constantly adjust aperture and flash power. With the zoom, he has several lenses in one, he can shoot a reef scene from 1 ft at the 12mm end, and a large fish in the next frame from 4 ft away at the 24mm end. This requires adjustments to obtain the correct exposure, and I can see the problem if you do that a lot.

Luiz