That's a hell of a mouthfull! But anyways, is anyone using this lens u/w.

I purchased one to use as an all-in-one travel lens but I'm intrigued by it's fast AF and close-focusing ability across it's focal lengths. If anyone is using it, what port/diopter combos are you using?

Larry

Dave Haas had this lens for a while - I don't know if he used it underwater though.

Cheers
James

Larry and James,

Yes, I had that spectacular lens. Due to it not being able to focus less than 1', it would need a diopter to focus behind a dome port. Then there might be a question if the whole range would be in focus behind an extended dome port, too.

I got some nice surface pics due to the AF-S speed and VR (see two surface dolphin shots in my Bahamas gallery link below.)

The barrel is large, too, I think at least 72mm so it will be tight if you plan to zoom it and need to attach zoom clamps/rings/etc.

The other reason I didn't try and use it underwater is that on a Nikon D100 or Fuji S2 with the 1.5X magnification factor the lens equals only 36mm at the widest end. I found the 18-35mm ED lens equaling 27-52mm a much more usable range underwater.

Hope this helps....

David Haas
davidhaas@sbcglobal.net
www.pbase.com/dhaas

No doubt the new 18-70 f3.5 will be an excellent lens for UW use - I can't wait to get my hands on one!

Dave, I think the aim of using the 24-120 or the 28-105 is to get a "fish portrait" lens that can shoot anything from a couple feet in size to 1:2 macro or so. Therefore, I'm thinking it would be appropriate behind a flat port.

Cheers
James

The 18-70 looks like another interesting new lens but I'm proceding with caution when it comes to investing in a lot of DX glass. I already own the 24-120 so I think it's worth investigating the possibilities.

I'm really waiting to see if Nikon introduces a new Macro lens with AF-S. I'll jump on that in a second if and when it happens.

Larry

Larry,

You could go to Canon with the 100mm USM Macro! :wink: James, a lens in the 28-105 or thereabouts range is fantastic for fish pics. I use my Canon EF28-105 USM and it's a phenomenal critter lens. Couple that with Woody's diopter and you're talking 1:2 (or so) up to diver torso pics. I use it behind my flat port for the EF50macro and it does not vignette.

Stu

I would LOVE a 105mm macro lens with AF-S - that way you can slap a focus gear on it and control auto/manual with the CSM switch. (Don't you canon guys wish you had one of those...;-)

Cheers
James

Amigos,

Good points on using a flat port with this range lenses, i.e. 28-105mm and maybe the 24-120mm AF-S lens. The NEW Nikon lens James mentions will surely be a nice range, too.

One comment....Who wants to add rings and gears to their lenses? That's something I've loved about the Canon EOS system since its inception. All the controls on the camera body.

Yeah, switching in and out of manual / AF seems to be necessary for the 105mm Pygmy Seahorse crowd.....Having a control on Nikon / Fuji bodies to change the M,S,C switch always scared and befuddled me....I've seen lots of frustrated folks who either lost control of this tiny lever, or had a housing that wouldn't let you change it AFTER they sealed the housing with the dang thing set on the wrong focus choice. Ikelite always provided a Focus Lock switch which IMHO has always been a better solution on Nikon bodies. My new Digital Rebel housing has alever to activate Depth of Filed which on the DR does the same thing. Very simple and it works...

Personally, once I went AF whether wide angle or with a macro lens (Nikon 60mm, not 105mm which I never bought) I've NEVER focused manually underwater for 12 years.....I HAVE become proficient at the "turn 45 degress to get a contrast and get a FOCUS LOCK" , then recomposing technique, though!

YMMV

David Haas

Ahhh, the sign of a non-Canon user.

I put a focus gear on, and can manually focus AT ANY TIME with any USM lens (like the 100mm USM macro lens). If I want to auto-focus, I just hit the * button, which I always use for focusing, and which can on many housings be depressed without moving from shutter-lever release position.

No switches.

By the way, I heard at the Sea Rovers convention that Subal just modified a 10D housing for someone so they could hit the * button and shutter release at the same time.

I knew they would have to do this (and told them such at DEMA).

:-)
You can set up the D100 or D1x to do that too Eric, but you also have the option of using the CSM switch as an alternate.

So how do you switch between single servo autofocus and continuous autofocus? Is there a switch for that? I'm assuming that the * button acts like a half press when the AF is in single servo mode.

Cheers
James

Hey, James. That setting is on the camera body itself. You are correct -- * button acts as half-press in "One Shot" mode.