I'm looking to get a new camera for above water and it will eventually replace my Nikonos V. Pretty much settled on the 18-200mm VR DX lens, anybody use these underwater? Ultimately I'll probably also pick up an Ikelite case. Any info is much appreciated
D80 and 18-200mm VR DX
- Thread starter spyder
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It's a good lens for topside, but too long to effectively house. The 18-70 will work, or a 60mm macro, or other wide angle lenses. I also shoot with a 17-70 macro Sigma with a dome port and extension. Lots of choices but the longer lenses don't work well, IMHO.
Jack
Jack
The 18-200 isn't an ideal underwater lens but if that's the lens you are going for - and you've made sure that you can get the right ports and zoom rings to make it work properly - it will allow you to take images. I don't shoot Nikon so don't have that particular lens, but I do have a different 18-200 and I've used it underwater. I use a flat port and sacrifice the wide end past around 24mm. Here are some quick examples:
24mm
162mm
144mm - this is a terrible photo, but it's just for illustration purposes
24mm
It might be the way to go until you decide what you want to concentrate on and/or if you are on a tight budget. There are quite a few lenses that are better suited to UW Photo, imho, but sometimes necessity is the mother of invention You can be a leader!
If you are interested in other lens choices, you can follow the Pink Link (also the Sticky) in my signature and see a quick list with some comments.
24mm
162mm
144mm - this is a terrible photo, but it's just for illustration purposes
24mm
It might be the way to go until you decide what you want to concentrate on and/or if you are on a tight budget. There are quite a few lenses that are better suited to UW Photo, imho, but sometimes necessity is the mother of invention
You can be a leader!If you are interested in other lens choices, you can follow the Pink Link (also the Sticky) in my signature and see a quick list with some comments.
Ikelite doesn't have a port for the 18-200 and they're not going to make one. They said it's too difficult to engineer because of the length difference between 18mm and 200mm.
Subal doesn't either, specifically - but the long port for the 100mm macro lens works. You just lose the wide end.
You will definitely need to check with your chosen housing manufacturer if you are using lenses that aren't regularly used by others, just to make sure they will physically fit and line up with any gears etc.
You will definitely need to check with your chosen housing manufacturer if you are using lenses that aren't regularly used by others, just to make sure they will physically fit and line up with any gears etc.
philmayer:
That is typically the case with zooms that have a fairly wide range of focal lengths. The throw of the lens makes it virtually impossible to have a port to accomodate the full range and you may end up limiting the useful range of the lens to begin with. The 18-200mm zoom is a pretty decent all purpose topside lens (the f/3.5-5.6 I would find limiting) but realistically you'd likely not get much use out of the longer part of the focal range.
Sigh, figures. I did end up purchasing a D80 with the 18-200. So far it works great topside, haven't had a reason to want to change lenses yet. So the slide away from my Nikonos V will continue, suggestions for the next lens purchase with UW as the goal?
60mm macro is an awesome lens to start with. While Alcina got some nice shots, I'd say that is only going to work in very clear water. So it may depend on where you dive and what you like to shoot.
Jack
Jack
jarhed
Contributor
This is a fun topic, I love spending other people's money!
The above recomendations are great, here's the lenses I recomend in the order I would suggest buying them.
IMHO, for the first 2 U/W lenses, most try to cover wide angle and macro ranges. In "good glass" terms, you can cover these pretty cheaply with:
Tokina 10-17mm (the Nikon 16mm and 10.5 are both redundant with this amazing lens)
Nikon 60mm
These are great lenses, you can get both for well under $1000
If you want a mid-range zoom, you cheap option is a Nikon 18-70mm which can yeild decent results with the proper dome/ext ring/diopter combo. I use it often with nice results.
For the more expensive end, as mentioned above the 17-55mm is a very sharp, good lens, much better than the 18-70mm, but 3 to 4 times more expensive.
For a rectilinear wide zoom that will get plenty of use topside, the 12-24mm is a great lens. The Nikon is slightly better than the Tokina, but almost twice as expensive. I love the Tokina which I own.
For more specialized macro, the Nikon 105VR is a great lens, but almost everyone starts with the much easier to use 60mm before adding the 105mm to their kit. If you eventually do buy the 105 you will still find plenty of use for the 60mm, so don't worry about buying a lens that you will outgrow.
If you happen to go with Sea & Sea, I can tell you how to set up each of these lenses for good results.
Happy shopping,
John
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