Canon 7D Lenses

[photodiver88]

Which lens should I buy for a Canon 7D?
I wish to have wide angle capability and be able to some closeup.
Is a wide angle zoom useful?

 

[M_Bipartitus]

The Tokina 10-17mm wide angle zoom is a common underwater lens. The Canon 16-35 F2.8L and 17-40 F4L are excellent lenses, but not as wide as some like underwater (at least on a cropped-sensor 7D)

Standard close-up models are the EFs-60mm Macro, EF 100mm Macro (both older non-IS and newer IS). The Sigma 50mm macro can also do well for close-up and mid-distance fish shots, but is getting a little short for serious macro work. For short focal length macro you need to get really close to the subject, and most living things don't like that. Also, I hear the Sigma lenses can be a little hit-or-miss when it comes to quality control.

Beyond these common lenses, it would be helpful to know more detail about what you want to shoot underwater or on land.

 

[photodiver88]

According to Ikelite:

The Canon 16-35 F2.8L "Lens diameter is too large to operate in port system"
So looks like this option is off the table.

The Canon 17-40 F4L "5503.51 is not long enough to add accessory diopters or filters"

So looks like these options are off the table, or do I misunderstand?

I'm looking for a good underwater lens (fish, coral, far and closeup) that can also be useful on land.

 

[Becca_007]

We used a Canon 10-22mm and Canon 100mm macro on our recent trip. Both seemed to work well but with the crop sensor I think a 60mm macro port is in our future.

 

[Codiak]

If I was to buy only once lense it would be the 24-105 L-Series.

However, I dive with the 17-40 L-Series and perfer it landspace photos.

 

[M_Bipartitus]

If you are using an Ikelite case, yes the 16-35 F2.8L is too big, but you didn't previously indicate that you were using an Ikelite. I regularly use the 17-40 F4L with Ikelite's 6" dome and have never had a problem. I have never had need for an accessory filter underwater. The only accessory filters I ever use are neutral density or polarizers and these are of little use underwater. All the colored filters are easily replaced by post-processing RAW files. Moreover, the 8" modular dome system is a better option for wide angle lenses.

I suspect you will have a hard time finding a single lens that will cover all you want to do. I do like the 24-105 F4L Codiak mentions. It is a good multi-purpose lens. By underwater standards, 24mm on a cropped sensor camera is not wide angle, however.

Edit: it looks like the 14-105 F4L is also too big for Ikelite ports.

According to Ikelite:

The Canon 16-35 F2.8L "Lens diameter is too large to operate in port system"
So looks like this option is off the table.

The Canon 17-40 F4L "5503.51 is not long enough to add accessory diopters or filters"

So looks like these options are off the table, or do I misunderstand?

I'm looking for a good underwater lens (fish, coral, far and closeup) that can also be useful on land.

 

[photodiver88]

I checked with Ikelite lens table for the 24-105 L,
it says "Lens diameter is too large to operate in port system"

 

[Codiak]

I use the 8" dome with the 17-40... haven't tried the 24-105 but will tomorrow when the camera comes back from cleaning. I don't recall an issue with it in the ike housing regardless of documentation. will check though

 

[photodiver88]

Here is the list of candidates that I'm looking at.
I sorted them in priority order.
I gave priority to wider angle.
Does anyone have any criticisms on the order I chose?

Canon 10-22 F3.5
Sigma 10-20 F4
Tokina 10-17 F3.5
Tokina 11-16 F2.8
Tokina 12-24 F4
Canon 17-40 F4

 

[scottfiji]

congrats on your new camera

Is this for topside and underwater, or just underwater?

What subjects are you looking to photograph underwater? Every lens has a different purpose, this will help you select the best lens for your needs. And I'm curious why you didn't place the tokina 10-17mm first (not saying you should have).

scott