Hey peoples,
Through discussion help I am thinking the Tokina 10-17mm for my wide angle lens.

Im in Australia, where is the best place to buy one online and have it shipped?
I have a 6inch dome port (5503.5) but the ikelite.com suggests (5503). What is the difference? will i NEED to get a new one?

Any thing else i should know?

Matt

PS I think this is the lens for me. Are there any reasons why i should not get this lens.

Hi Matt

The differance is the length of the port
#5503..... Lens less than 3.0" (7.60cm) ... $200
#5503.50 Lens less than 4.0" (10.1cm) ... $200


DOME PORTS
Measure from bottom of port to top of dome shade
(except #5503.15 measure to highest point of dome)

#5503.15 ... 2.5" (6.35cm)
#5503 ........ 3.1" (7.85cm)
#5503.50 ... 4.1" (10.4cm)
#5503.55 ... 4.6" (11.7cm)
#5503.80 ... 5.1" (13.0cm)
#5503.85 ... 6.1" (15.5cm)

Also Ikelite suggest that
(17) Dome shade must be removed to prevent vignetting.

You will see parts of the 5503.50 port with that lens.

Hi,
I shoot this lens with my Ike housing, its great and you'll love it. You do need the get the 5503 port. I would suggest that you go for the 8" dome instead. IMHO its a much better way to go and if you do over/unders the results are much better.

Stephen

I shoot the 10-17 in the 8" Port with my Ike. If you use the 6" you'll have to take the shade off which is not desirable in my opinion. This lens is wide, wide, wide! You have to be careful to keep your strobes back far enough to prevent flares on the port - I would think without the shade it would be even worse in that respect.

Great lens though, totally sharp from edge to edge in the 8"; not sure about the 6", might be soft on the edges because of the curvature?

You will need a new port.

The 5503.50 is significantly longer and you will see the port through the Tokina lens.

I have the 5503.20 which is meant for the 20mm, so I dutifully removed the shade and went diving with it.

With careful strobe placement there is no problem, out of 50 or so shots I had 2 that had flare due to the strobes hitting the port. I lined the strobes with the edge of the port, push them out as far as I can (using only two 5" arms on each side) and angled outwards ever so slightly.

Worked like a charm, and I might add this was the first time using the setup.

Very pleased with the sharpness as well, not that I know how it will look behind an 8" dome, but I see no problem with the 6" dome.

Didn't have the occasion to try split shot so I can't comment on that.

You could try getting it from Singapore. Try Song from Oceanic Focus: http://www.oceanicfocus.com/catalog/index.php

I bought this lens to try, and used it only on 3 dives in July 2009 at Bunaken National Park, Manado, and I think it is taking over the Sigma 10-20mm for wide angle shots. The coverage is amazing, beautiful colours and wonderfully sharp. Even with the 6" dome. Rest of dives were critter hunting with AFS 105mm.

Reasons for not getting this lens:
- it is relatively slow lens at f/3.5-4.5, some reported slow AF due to this. I didn't perceive any slowness, but then I don't have a 10.5mm f/2.8 to compare. This "slowness" would only matter in AF speed, since we hardly ever shot wide open, do we?
- if you may want to move to full frame, although it is reported that from about 15mm it will cover full frame. Others said attach a 1.5x TC you will get it to work on FX. I don't know and haven't tried.

Hope this helps.