D80: Fun with 105VR micro lens/Fantasea FD80

[JackConnick]

A friend lent me his 105VR Micro lens for a couple of weeks as he is off shooting W/A...

I tried it in my Fantasea Line FD80 housing when I had the prototype and had no problem sliding it in. Alas they've added a bracketing control and it rubs on the lens now. No worries, just slide the camera in without the lens and then mount the lens and screw on the standard port and ext ring to fit. No extra port to buy! There almost room for a manual focus cam, but I may have to get creative.

I also decided to try just an SB-800 strobe in my Fantasea FSB-800 housing for it. When I previously tried to shoot both it in I-TTL and an Inon z240 in man., the SB800 underexposed badly. My friend Jean B. from Aquatica told me at the Long Beach show he discovered the same problem; the SB-800 wants either to be by itself or with a second SB-800 in TTL to properly expose. And Jean was correct! Happily enjoyed nearly flawless I-TTL shots yesterday. I did try a bit of warming gel and diffuser filters inside the case with good result, in fact a bit more is warranted.

Anyway went off to dive So. Whidbey island yesterday and had a couple of decent dives on the ferry wreck and another nearby site.

The lens is very fast to focus and I agree with other reviewers, almost too fast to get the wrong focus and release while in AF-S mode. I think AF-A mode may be better. It seemed like I couldn't get close enough without a Woody's on. With the Woody's it was great. I might add a 2x internal diopter as it would be a little sharper I think.

Some results:

Northern Ronquil

Painted Greenling

Rockfish

To sum up, I like it a lot and will save my pennies up for one, but I do think the 60mm seems to focus closer and is easier to control, although harder to light and not as useful farther away.

And a tip of the TTL hat to Jean!

Jack

 

[fisheyeview]

Great shots. I love my 105mm VR. In fact, I just sold my old 105mm today. I will never go back to the old lens now that I have the VR.

 

[jarhed]

With the Woody's it was great. I might add a 2x internal diopter as it would be a little sharper I think.

I use the 105Vr with a Nikon 4T Diopter, it's got the wrong thread size, but with a step up ring, it works fine. These are very sharp duel element diopters, but not being made anymore. I picked up the 4T on e-bay for a heafty price, the 5T & 6T are going even more expensive since they have the 62mm thread that fits the 105VR.

As you probably found using the woody's is that you're depth of focus gets really small, so it's alot of work, especially with any surge, but spectacular results!

just an unsolicitated opinion on diopters...
John

 

[JackConnick]

Thanks guys!

John I'm wondering if a 4T is perhaps a bit strong. I just want a shorter subject to distance. But heck, it'd be nice to take fish tonsil pictures!

Do fish have tonsils? ;-)

Jack

 

[jarhed]

Yea, the 4T is pretty strong, and thus alot harder to use, but for general macro I tend to use the 60mm. So when I strap on the 105VR, I'm usually going for the super macro. Most people i think are happy with the 5T (or 3T if you can't get the 62mm thread size) It's not quite as hard to use. I am keeping an eye out for a deal onebay or elsewhere.

I did alot of searching before deciding I wanted the Nikon diopter, from what I understand, they are much sharper than other single element diopters and complement the super sharp 105mm quite well.

I shyed away from an external diopter because I decided that with the 105VR, I didn't really need the flexability, and for a lesser cost, I could go with the sharper option. If I was shooting in clear blue water and might want the longer working distance of the 105 without the diopter my choice might have been different.

Here's a sample shot with the 4T, I fear that I have more capability than talent, but I like a challege

by the way, very nice pics!

Take care,
John