105 mm or 60 mm??

[h2o]

Hi All,

Can anyone pls advise why I should buy the 105 mm over the 60 mm and vice versa.........

Many thanks.......

[waisj]

Hi h2o,

Well First off, what system are you using, are you using a DSLR or SLR?

I've not really used a DLSR underwater, but to my limited knowledge, with a DSLR, a easier to use lens would be the 60mm if you need a higher magnification, get a woody's diopter.

Inherently i find the 60mm easier and more versatile than the 105, especially with the crop factor, you're getting a 90mm lens.

Though so, i've used the 105 more on the 90X in OZ. With autofocus, it's hard sometimes to achieve the focus point. you may want to half-press to focus and move your camera inwards/outwards to achieve the focus point you desire. I simply love the 105 on the 90x. YMMV

I've spoken to alot of underwater photographers and they advocate the 60mm then the 15mm FE, then the 105.

[kthan]

I'd go along with what Waisj suggested. In fact, I did buy my lens in that sequence.

Unless I am shooting pygmy seahorses, I will always have my 60mm on for macro. I am using a DSLR so that's a 90mm equivalent.

Regards
Eric

[Eric Leong]

h2o,
I might not be totally right. Just some personal views.
1) 60mm-let you get closer to your subject, thus reduce water column = to better colors & less strobe power wastage (TTL). But skittish creatures hard to approach.

2) 105mm-further away, good for camera shy creatures.

There are a lot more pros in this forum that can help you. I am not pro, just a happy shooter.

EL

[waisj]

Originally Posted by Eric Leong h2o, I might not be totally right. Just some personal views. 1) 60mm-let you get closer to your subject, thus reduce water column = to better colors & less strobe power wastage (TTL). But skittish creatures hard to approach. 2) 105mm-further away, good for camera shy creatures. There are a lot more pros in this forum that can help you. I am not pro, just a happy shooter. EL

Alot of us here aspire to shoot like you leh..... oh.. saw your photos in Asian divers Special... .... ....

*koff* Strong current..... feeding......crab......*koff*

[Eric Leong]

*koff* Strong current..... feeding......crab......*koff*

[/quote]

Lucky shot...right place...right time.....got the shot.

[waisj]

Originally Posted by Eric Leong *koff* Strong current..... feeding......crab......*koff*

Lucky shot...right place...right time.....got the shot.[/quote]


you must be real lucky then.... always have lucky shots.

/h2o

Another point that EL brought up was the working distance between the lenses which is good to consider.

With the 60mm lense, my personal experience is that for small creatures, it is a bit harder to light sometimes, coz you are soo close to them.

[h2o]

hi all,

thanks for all your feedback.....

my apologies....i have not revealed that i am still using an slr.......so the crop factor will not affect me......what does affect me is the $$$$ factor....as at the moment i can only afford to buy one lens which i hope will last me for a couple of years before my next investment.....

once again many thanks...

[waisj]

Originally Posted by h2o hi all, thanks for all your feedback..... my apologies....i have not revealed that i am still using an slr.......so the crop factor will not affect me......what does affect me is the $$$$ factor....as at the moment i can only afford to buy one lens which i hope will last me for a couple of years before my next investment..... once again many thanks...

If i'm in your shoes, i'd get a 60mm. I'm partial to the lens for the overall versatility.

then again, it depends on what you like to shoot. Again YMMV,

what say you Eric & Eric?

[Eric Leong]

Originally Posted by waisj If i'm in your shoes, i'd get a 60mm. I'm partial to the lens for the overall versatility. then again, it depends on what you like to shoot. Again YMMV, what say you Eric & Eric?

My 60mm 98% usage
Waisj- 60mm good choice.......h2o - go for it. You can do wonders with just 1 lens.
EL

[h2o]

hi waisj and eric,

thanks for your advice.....i'll take your recommendation and go for the 60.....

ok now have to go and bleed myself for the purchase.......b+ blood for sale anyone???

[lanxx]

yeah, 60mm is better u/w.

if for topside, I prefer the 90mm,105mm and 180mm .

[lanxx]

Originally Posted by h2o hi waisj and eric, thanks for your advice.....i'll take your recommendation and go for the 60..... ok now have to go and bleed myself for the purchase.......b+ blood for sale anyone???

quite a few sellers here in the B&S thead.
Just have to be patient

[kthan]

since you are using the SLR, why not settle for the 90mm macro from Tamron? Something in between.

But the optics of Nikon AFD 60mm is unparalleled. One thing to note is that the port element determines the quality of the optics more than the lens itself. What I am trying to say is that you should match quality lens with quality port, not quality lens with lousy port.

Eric

[RSU]

Originally Posted by kthan since you are using the SLR, why not settle for the 90mm macro from Tamron? Something in between. But the optics of Nikon AFD 60mm is unparalleled. One thing to note is that the port element determines the quality of the optics more than the lens itself. What I am trying to say is that you should match quality lens with quality port, not quality lens with lousy port. Eric

Whoa, this thread is answering the exact same question that I was going to pose. Thanks for all the great feedback. Looks like there might be a pick-up in demand for 2nd hand 60mm lenses on the B&S forum.

One other question in relation to Eric's reply as above. When you are talking about quality ports, do you advocate only using glass ports or are there any plastic/poly ports out there that are acceptable, in your view?

Thanks.

[kthan]

well, I know glass ports are better quality than "plastic" ports, with mineral glass being the best.

I thought Ikelite ports (which I am using) have a plastic front element but someone told me it's glass. I "guess" all commercial housing and ports should be more than acceptable.

Actually, whatever lens you are using (Nikon, Sigma, Tamron), you are also shooting thru the UV filter (on the lens) and ports. Hence the optics can only be as good as the the worst of these 3. (oh, and I forgot about the water column btw the port and the subject, which is usually the worst)

Hence other than the Nikon 60mm, my 105mm and 15mm FE are all third party lens.

Sorry my last post sounded like I am suggesting u to get the Rolls Royce of everything.....It's just my distorted way of saying no point getting all Nikon lens. By lousy port, I guess I am just referring to that particular plastic bag housing (again someone told me the front element is glass for that also)

Eric

[RSU]

Originally Posted by kthan Sorry my last post sounded like I am suggesting u to get the Rolls Royce of everything.....It's just my distorted way of saying no point getting all Nikon lens. By lousy port, I guess I am just referring to that particular plastic bag housing (again someone told me the front element is glass for that also) Eric

Haha, no worries, and I don't think Subal is making any money off me anytime soon either. Thanks again for the info.

Rohan

[waisj]

Originally Posted by RSU Haha, no worries, and I don't think Subal is making any money off me anytime soon either. Thanks again for the info. Rohan

Ah.... Subal... Fine Austrian Machinery..... Cost both arms and legs and what ever is in between though......

What camera systems are you using may i ask?

[RSU]

Originally Posted by waisj Ah.... Subal... Fine Austrian Machinery..... Cost both arms and legs and what ever is in between though...... What camera systems are you using may i ask?

From the sticky:

Nick : RSU
Camera(s) : Oly C3000Z
U/W Housing Model :PT-010
Strobe(s) :Epoque ES-150 DS slave
Strobe arm(s) : Some brandless L-shaped piece of metal
Lighting : UK Mini Q40
Lens(es) : Nope
Other equipment : Underwater Kinetics dry case, lots of rechargeable batts, cable ties and old bicycle tubes.

Seriously contemplating the Ike housing for D70, plus strobes. Just one arm and one leg, and hopefully I get to keep what's in between....

Rohan

[waisj]

Originally Posted by RSU From the sticky: Nick : RSU Camera(s) : Oly C3000Z U/W Housing Model :PT-010 Strobe(s) :Epoque ES-150 DS slave Strobe arm(s) : Some brandless L-shaped piece of metal Lighting : UK Mini Q40 Lens(es) : Nope Other equipment : Underwater Kinetics dry case, lots of rechargeable batts, cable ties and old bicycle tubes. Seriously contemplating the Ike housing for D70, plus strobes. Just one arm and one leg, and hopefully I get to keep what's in between.... Rohan

Oh.. thought you were getting some subal stuff... since you mentioned subal ports.....