As a newbie to dSLR, I'm debating the best lenses to match with a Nikon d70s / d200 (in my dreams). Neither body uses a ff chip, so the digital lenses seem to make good sense. However, I have a nagging feeling that in 5 - 10 years we'll all be back on digital ff chips, and the lenses will be obsolete...

Any thoughts on this much appreciated.

Ariel

I think that the smaller chips will still be around in 5-10 years. So I wouldn't worry. Also with the Nikon system you are interested in, you would only be buying 2 lenses max for UW shooting that were DX only (10.5mm & 12-24mm).

Also 5-10 years is quite a long time. 5 years ago i was shooting on this weird stuff called film - and the camera I used then is totally useless too me now (and that camera cost much more than a lens)!

Furthermore even with FF cameras - a few of the current lenses really aren't up to it. (See http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/nikon-18mm-...non-1ds-mk-ii/). And even if the sensor sizes don't change some of these lenses will be considered obsolete, when improved lens designs are released.

So my advice. Is buy a camera, get underwater, and enjoy taking pictures!

Alex

I agree with Alex. It will be a VERY long time (if ever) before Nikon has a FF sensor in a D70 level camera. Buy the lenses you need and get in the water.

But even if you knew that the next D70 would be FF, you shouldnt worry about it. If you want thouse focal lenghts there is no way around digital crop lenses.

Now canon's EFs 60mm macro. That one makes no sense to me why they made it a digital crop lens.

I believe the Canon EF-S 60mm macro will do 1:1 where as the EF 50mm macro only does 1:2. Its a weak argument, but that's my guess as to why they did that.

The new 60 is also USM, isn't it?

Yea, it is a great lens, but why did they make it EFs?

Yes William, I agree that it doesn't make any sense. The only reason I can think of is a lower cost, but how much more expensive would it be if it wasn't EFS?

EF-s was what stopped me from buying this lens. The only reason I can think of is that Canon probably didn't think there isn't much of a market for a 60mm 1:1 for FF cameras. That's a very small working distance or a FF macro lens. I can't remember ever wishing I had on a 40mm macro lens on my Rebel during a dive, 60 sometimes but not 40.

I specifically shied away from buying EF-S lenses for Sarah's 20D because I needed something that would work on my 1DmkII also. In the end, I ended up getting her a Tokina 12-24 because it also works on my camera.

No EF-S mount, it works well on my 1.3x crop camera, but it'll go on Ebay once we get the 5D.

Cheers
James

Ummm, the Nikon 60mm is a 1:1 and was made for full frame....it sells really well...

Yes. It's probably just the way the Aquatica ports work out for the sigma 50 that I use. I find it really hard to get light on the subject even at 1:2.

By we... do you mean that Sarah will get the 5D or does she end up with the hand-me-down 1DII .

Hi James,

If you ever decide to sell the Tokina 12-24, keep me in mind.

You did such a great job of convincing me of the merits of this lens that I decided I want to buy it

All the best,

Ellen

James
How'd you manage to get the 12-24 Tokina to work on your 1D2? It vignetted for me from 12-15mm. I was so bummed cos I wanted a filterable 12-24. Sigma is sharp and wellbuilt but a monster and no filter...and it does FF without a problem.
As to the original post, the DX vs FF thing is a little muddy now. Nikon seems to have embraced cropped sensors. You can see that with the big ticket items (200-400VR etc) they still release FF lenses. Their problem is they have a huge FF installed base they cannot alienate. The only problem with buying FF is that you cannot get WA lenses that are wide enough. The "problems" with fast primes is to move away from the subject or get a shorter prime. You lose convenience and the niggling feeling you are paying for less in cropped lenses. Canon has made it "easier" by not labelling their EFS lenses "L"... thus justifying the premium on L which are FF lenses. I think Nikon will continue with cropped lenses in the foreseeable future, their DX lineup is deeper and higher quality than the EF-S lines, or so their prices seem to indicate. LOL

Hi Drew,

It only works at 15mm-24mm on the mkII but that is very wide. It works at all zoom ranges on the 20D and most on the 1dmkII so I think it's a pretty useful lens. I like it better than the Sigma 12-24 because it's smaller and lighter, takes filters and diopters, and is less prone to flare.

Cheers
James