NIkon D70s and lenses....

[outback]

So I finally upgraded from compact to DSLR. I'm wondering where to go with lenses from this point on....

I have

Nikon 18-70 kit lens plus the 55-200 kit lens.

I bought the Tokina 12-24 lens (nice)

I have an Ikelite housing with ports for the Tokina and the 18-70 mm lens (with +2 diopter).

Any thought on what's next? A port for the 55-200? A teleconverter for the 18-55 for macro?

 

[fisheyeview]

So I finally upgraded from compact to DSLR. I'm wondering where to go with lenses from this point on....

I have

Nikon 18-70 kit lens plus the 55-200 kit lens.

I bought the Tokina 12-24 lens (nice)

I have an Ikelite housing with ports for the Tokina and the 18-70 mm lens (with +2 diopter).

Any thought on what's next? A port for the 55-200? A teleconverter for the 18-55 for macro?

105mm VR

 

[mike_s]

Any thought on what's next? A port for the 55-200? A teleconverter for the 18-55 for macro?

port for the 55-200mm??? What water is clear enough to use 200mm worth of zoom?

105mm VR

the 18-200mm VR is sweet, but the price is not.

 

[OceanObsessed]

How about a 60mm with a woody diopter for really small stuff.

 

[philmayer]

Ikelite doesn't make a port for the 55-200 and even if they did, you'd probably never use it.

The 18-70 is a good all-around lens. The 12-24 is a good WA.

What you need now is a good macro lens. The Nikon 60mm and 105VR are both GREAT macro lenses. I use both on my D200 in the 105VR port.

What do you have for strobes? You gotta get good strobes!

 

[outback]

Ikelite doesn't make a port for the 55-200 and even if they did, you'd probably never use it.

The 18-70 is a good all-around lens. The 12-24 is a good WA.

What you need now is a good macro lens. The Nikon 60mm and 105VR are both GREAT macro lenses. I use both on my D200 in the 105VR port.

What do you have for strobes? You gotta get good strobes!

I've been looking at the 105VR - I want to do some good macro.

Using the DS-125 as the single strobe for the moment, planning on adding another as funds permit.

What's the most adaptable option? Use the 105mm or go with the 60mm and use an extension tube or teleconverter to double it up?

One thought behind using the 55-200mm was that I could slap a close focus diopter on it for close focus and use it as a variable macro lens. Would that work? (ok so Ike don't make a port specifically, but might be one generic that would fit.

Flat port vs dome for macro? Any thoughts?

 

[fisheyeview]

I've been looking at the 105VR - I want to do some good macro.

Using the DS-125 as the single strobe for the moment, planning on adding another as funds permit.

What's the most adaptable option? Use the 105mm or go with the 60mm and use an extension tube or teleconverter to double it up?

One thought behind using the 55-200mm was that I could slap a close focus diopter on it for close focus and use it as a variable macro lens. Would that work? (ok so Ike don't make a port specifically, but might be one generic that would fit.

Flat port vs dome for macro? Any thoughts?

The 105 VR is a great lens. I love mine. The 60mm with a wet diopter would give you more versatility.

For macro go with a flat port. The thing about dome ports is this. You are not really taking a picture of reef/fish with the lens. You are taking a picture of the vertual image that is on the dome.

 

[philmayer]

Always use a flat port for macro.

Just starting out, I would get the 60mm for macro. I love my 105VR, but it's also a huge PITA sometimes. The 60 is much easier to use and is the lens I use most for macro.

I wouldn't bother with trying to use the 55-200 with a diopter and finding a port to fit. You'll never get it to focus as closely or be as sharp as the 60.

 

[jarhed]

How about a 60mm with a woody diopter for really small stuff.

A diopter will nly allow a lens to focus closer, so you can acheive greater magnification by getting closer. However, the Nikon 60mm focuses so close anyway, that it can probably focus very close to just outside your port, so you will not get much from useing a diopter on that lens.

However, with the 105mm a diopter will allow closer focusing so greater than 1:1 magnification can be acheived.

Second the reccomendation for a good macro lens though. Most start with the 60mm then decide to get a 105 too. they are not redundant lenses, I tend to use both about equally for different shooting opertuities. Reccomend starting with the 60mm, it's much easier, is super sharp and will produce lots of keeper pictures on your first try.

 

[AUTiger]

A diopter will nly allow a lens to focus closer, so you can acheive greater magnification by getting closer. However, the Nikon 60mm focuses so close anyway, that it can probably focus very close to just outside your port, so you will not get much from useing a diopter on that lens.

The Woody diopter is still useful with the 60mm. You can get even closer than with the lens alone. Its around $100 or less. I found it to be a good value. The image below is with a 60mm/Woody and has almost no cropping. I probably could have gotten closer. The photobucket low res upload doesn't even begin to do justice to the level of detail. I usually leave the Woody off (hanging from the port by its strap) until I want that last bit of magnification.

David