Any feedback on Nikon 10-24 wide-angle?

[gterrell26]

Been using a Nikon 60mm for macro for about a year and I am now looking to add wide-angle capabilities to my UW setup. I see many happy users with Tokina 10-17 but I would prefer to stay wide-angle not fisheye.

Any feedback good or bad on the Nikon 10-24 or Nikon 12-24 lenses?
Any feedback on the Tokina 11-16 F:2.8?

I am using an Ikelite housing. I would be interested in the housing\port you are using.

Many thanks,
Greg

 

[dbh]

Some people love the 12-24....I sold mine after using it on one trip. I thought it was soft in the corners....even with a +2 diopter. I use the Sigma 15mm FE and the Tokina 10-17 FE. The Tokina 11-16 looks like a great lens but I don't know anybody that has used it underwater. I am sure some one will come along.

Dave

 

[danclem]

Hi Greg:

I have both the Tokina 10-17 and the Nikon 12-24 in a Subal housing. They are both good lenses: don't think of the the Tokina as a heavy duty fish-eye. My work horse is a 60, and I use a 105 for macro.

You can shot the 12-24 in either a flat or dome port. It is like having two different lenses. I need to use a 2x diopter with my dome to get results. If you are going to get one wide angle lens, I would base it on what and where you plan on doing most of your shooting. You are not going to be able to get big pelagics up close with a 12-24, and you are not going to be able to do justice to more distant shots with a 10-17.

For me this year will see a lot more 10-17 than 12-24 use: mantas in Kona in February, whale sharks in Belize in late April, dolphins and white tipped in the Bahamas in June.

You will have fun with whatever lens you choose.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[dhaas]

There are two other options to make the beautiful, sharp in the corners Tokina 10-17mm more versatile.

The first is to simply shoot it behind a short FLAT port. Yes, that's what I said. Magnifies it about 1.3X but but being a Fisheye it still looks better in the corners than many (if not all) rectilinear lenses (Nikon 12-24mm, 10-24mm etc.)

The second option is buy the approximately $200.00 Kenko 1.4X Teleplus 300 teleconverter and use it with your Tokina 10-17mm. Several full frame Nikon D700 shooters I know are using this as their standard wide angle lens now....

It also works on APS-C (cropped sensor) dSLR bodies.

Get an extension ring for your dome port (or slightly longer extended dome port in my case shooting Ikelite housed Canon Rebel T1i) and you have a slightly narrower but super close focussing lens.

Unless I'm shooting over / under shots I have been using Ikelite's 6" dome port with my Tokina 10-17mm lens now as my main lens. Even shooting octopus 2 weeks ago at 17mm on a night dive from 6" away. The smaller dome is easier to light evenly with dual strobes too.

Narrowing your FOV (frame of view) was done all the time with film lenses and now it's back !

YMMV

dhaas

David Haas Underwater Photography

 

[gterrell26]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Just prior to your posts I had already went and purchased a Tokina 11-16 wide-angle from Reef Photo which should arrive any day now. I will be using it with a Ikelite 6" dome initially, Nikon D70 body.

I'll update the post with my opinions after I get it in the water.