Changing from C-7070 to E-330: What lenses?

[AbyssalPlains]

Hi Daniel
The pics I posted were both taken with the 50mm macro lens, the nudi was just the 50mm lens, the pygmy seahorse was taken with the 50mm and add-on wet lens.
I would go the Sigma 100mm lens for topside macro, the extra magnification will be excellent.
I always figure two strobes are better than one, but you can still get excellent shots with one strobe. It will certainly make you think a little more about correct strobe placement, than when you have two strobes.

Jef - Thank you so much for your reply! I would like to get the Sigma 105 and use it both topside and underwater, because money is an issue. I got second thoughts, though, because I'm not sure whether the Sigma might be too much magnification to be versatile underwater and too far of a working distance (too much water between object and lens)? I dive frequently in waters where the viz is ok, but not excellent (30 feet, sometimes much less because of a lot of particles)

Your thoughts?

 

[jlyle]

Not Jeff, but I have the Sigma 105. Yes, the lens may be more magnification than you want, but don't worry about the working distance. One of the advantages of the lens is the ability to take macro shots from 6" to a foot away from skittish fish. Plenty of room to get the strobes in close, too.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

Hmm... In the Sigma specs they say minimum distance is 12 inches? (Confused...)

 

[jlyle]

Hmm... In the Sigma specs they say minimum distance is 12 inches? (Confused...)

That's from the focal plane, not from the end of the lens!

I just tried to see how close (from the end of the extened lens) I could achieve focus with my Sigma 105. Result = 4.5 inches. Obviously, u/w things are a little different, but not much.

Here are some more with the E-330 & 105:

 

[AbyssalPlains]

jyle: Thank you for solving a long-standing mystery! I appreciate you actually sat down and tried it out. Awesome shots, too. I'm so getting the Sigma!

 

[jlyle]

Pteranodon,

If you get the Sigma-105, do not set the lens to manual focus (there's a little AF/MF switch on the lens) when the camera is set to "reset lens." Under those settings, you will grind the lens motor when you turn the camera off! You won't find this in the manual.

Without "reset lens" on the E-330, you can use the MF on the lens with no problems.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

Jlyle,
Thank you for the tip. I'm afraid I don't understand what "reset lens" means. Is this just something to be aware of or does it mean I can use the Sigma only in MF, but not AF on the E-330?

 

[jlyle]

Jlyle,
Thank you for the tip. I'm afraid I don't understand what "reset lens" means. Is this just something to be aware of or does it mean I can use the Sigma only in MF, but not AF on the E-330?

On the E-330, go to the main menu, then select tool-1 (the little wrench-1), down a ways is "RESET LENS" - you can choose ON or OFF. When ON, the lens will retract when the camera is turned off; when OFF, the lens will stay where it was when the camera is turned off.

The Sigma can be used in AF or MF. You just need to be careful when using MF not to have the camera set to RESET LENS - ON.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

On the E-330, go to the main menu, then select tool-1 (the little wrench-1), down a ways is "RESET LENS" - you can choose ON or OFF. When ON, the lens will retract when the camera is turned off; when OFF, the lens will stay where it was when the camera is turned off.

The Sigma can be used in AF or MF. You just need to be careful when using MF not to have the camera set to RESET LENS - ON.

Oh - ok! That makes sense (I guess it doesn't help that I don't yet have the camera, but I'm about to order it today or tomorrow). Is this "Reset-lens" thing something to be aware of with ANY lense or just the Sigma?

Thank you so much for your patience in answering all those rookie questions...
;-))

 

[jlyle]

Oh - ok! That makes sense (I guess it doesn't help that I don't yet have the camera, but I'm about to order it today or tomorrow). Is this "Reset-lens" thing something to be aware of with ANY lense or just the Sigma?

Thank you so much for your patience in answering all those rookie questions...
;-))

AFAIK, it's only the Sigma. It's the only lens I have with an MF/AF switch. The others are controled by the camera.