wobby

Hi all, I am looking at the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC OS HSM as an in-between macro/wide lens for when I want to photograph a range of subjects, both big and small. I have read a variety of reviews, mostly good, but would like to hear from photographers that regularly use this lens. Do you like the lens, is it sharp, how close can you focus, what sort of subjects range is it perfect for? And anything else you can add. Also some sample images, showing the range of the lens on both big and small subjects, would be appreciated. Thanks everyone, Nigel

Hi All, Has anyone used the Ikelite 3 inch dome (5503) with the Tokina 10-17mm lens and what are the results like? I have been using this lens for the last 10 years with a 8 inch dome, to great effect, but there are times that I would like to travel with less weight and less bulk. Is the Ikelite 3 inch dome worth looking at or should I go for a Zen mini dome? Cheers, Nigel

Hi, Planning a trip to the Philippines in November and was hoping to dive the Coron wrecks. Can anyone that has visited this destination recommend a good dive operator/dive resort? Cheers, Nigel

If you want land based and big animals I would recommended Lady Elliot Island, at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. Lovely resort and great diving with turtles, reef sharks, schooling fish, stingrays, eagle rays, leopard sharks, wobbegongs, tawny nurse sharks, sea snakes and one of the best spots for manta rays in the world. This is a link to a gallery of images on my website - http://www.nigelmarshphotography.com/lady-elliot-island.html Cheers, Nigel

Thanks everyone for the comments, have decided to stick with DX and picked up a Nikon D7200 last week. Cheers, Nigel

Mike, Great photos, especially love the goliath gropers. Next time I'm in the USA looks like I need to spend some time at Jupiter! Cheers, Nigel

I didn't test every button, but they assured me that they all aligned and all worked. I believe the D7200 is being released in the USA tomorrow, so hopefully someone will be able to confirm this.

I was at Oztek in Sydney over the weekend and the guys from Nauticam Australia had a D7200 in the D7100 housing and it all seem to fit perfectly.

Jeff, Great image, according to my World Atlas of Marine Fishes it is a juvenile of the quite common coral shrimpfish (Aeoliscus strigatus). How big was it? Cheers, Nigel

Thanks Pete, Really appreciate the honest opinion. Cheers, Nigel

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I hadn't even thought about the increased weight, but they may be a deciding factor. Alex, that is a hell of a lot of lens in that list. Cheers, Nigel

Hi Everyone, I am just about to upgrade my camera and was hoping to get some advise on whether it is the right time to change to FX or stick with a DX system. I am looking at the Nikon D7100 (or the D7200 if it appears shortly as predicted) or the Nikon D750, both sound like great cameras and I have read every review that I can get my hands on. Now those that have changed over are you happy with the decision, or do you miss the DX system, especially the Tokina 10-17? And what are your preferred lens with a FX system? Any comments would be much appreciated. Cheers, Nigel

Hi Bill, Thanks for the reply. I checked all the buttons at the time, each time it happened, but couldn't find an obvious problem. That housing had to be replaced by Ikelite when it developed problems with the flash circuits, it just died one day, so it may have just been a very dud housing. Cheers, Nigel

Hi Guys, I have had several Ikelite housing and have always been happy with them, but had one that wouldn't funcition in depths beyond 35m. I could press the shutter release, but couldn't change any camera settings. This happened each time I went to depth with this housing, and as soon as I got above 35m everything worked fine. I have used my other Ikelite housings down to 50m without an issue, every button and dial worked perfectly. I contacted Ikelite and they told me that they had never heard of this before, but it now sounds like I am not the only one to experience this issue. Cheers, Nigel

Adam, Thanks for the information, we will just have to work with whatever restrictions they put in place, just hope that it benefits the manatees, but it doesn't really sound like it. Cheers, Nigel