Questions for Canon 5D users

[lee3 0]

I've been using the 300D for the past 3 years in an aquatica housing and can finally say that I have outgrown that camera, but it sure took a long time. Today, I was able to dump my 10-22 lens with ease over craigslist ($550 fwiw) and now have just ef lenses, the 17-40L and 100mm macro lens remaing for underwater photos. I am going to buy the 5D this week and since the mrs. is pregnant I'm going to grab the EF 85mm f/1.2L lens along with it for baby photos. Are any of you using this lens underwater and if so, how do you like it? Do you have any advice either way with this particular camera? I'm looking at probably spending another 3 years of learning with this slr and looking forward to the challenge. Since I already own 2 different aquatica ports and have always loved the service I've gotten from Blake and Norma, I will most likely just get the 5D housing that they support but I want to try this camera out topside for a week or two before committing myself to another 3 years of learning. Any other lenses that you think I should seriously consider in addition to the 85 prime lens and the others 2 for underwater shots? Thanks in advance for your help.

[herbko 0]

Sigma 15mm FE.

 

The fisheye takes a little getting use to, but it's now my most used WA lens for underwater.

[Mark Boranyak 0]

I am now using the 5D underwater after many years of shooting Nikon film cameras. The two lenses you already use, the 17-40mm L and the 100mm macro, will be great. I would also pick up a 50mm macro, either the Canon or the Sigma.

 

Mark

[acroporas 0]

I'm with Herb. Sigma 15mm

 

Dont bother trying to get the 85L underwater. Not only is it probably too fat to fit in a port, but it does not focus close enough to be usefull.

[JimG 26]

Personally I would go for the 50mm macro as suggested above - but I am more into invertebrate and fish life than scenics. If you are more into the latter, then a 15mm would make more sense.

If you do go for the 50mm, bear in mind the Canon only goes to 1:2. The Sigma does 1:1 which is why I have one and I can confirm its performance is excellent. My set up is Aquatica also and the downside with the Sigma is that it is too long for the standard Aquatica macro port and you will need a ring to extend it. Their lens chart says it will fit the standard port but believe me, it does not. I told Blake this but that info doesn't seem to have filtered down to whoever produced the chart.

Enjoy the 5D; I have been amazed by the quality of the files it produces.

[Walt Stearns 52]

Been using Canon's 5D underwater for more than a year now.

 

Right now my lens of choice for this camera is as follows:

 

Wide angle: Canon 17-40L

15mm fisheye, most often used with 1.4 teleconverter.

Canon 24L

 

Macro: Sigma's new 70mm (great compremise between a 50 and 100mm Macro.

 

You can also see what I had to say about Subal's housing for the 5D in the first issue of the Underwater Journal, www.underwaterjournal.com

[lee3 0]

Thanks a bunch for all the replies as that is quite useful. Bummer to hear about the prime lens being useless underwater as I thought that might be a fun one. Jim, no problem on the extension ring on the port for a 50-70mm macro as I have been using it for a long time with the 100mm macro lens.

 

In essence, my remaining dilema is which medium macro lens to buy? I was in the Tuamoto's about 1.5 years ago and swapped cameras with another photographer who was using the d100 with nikon's 60mm maco and those were some of the sweetest photos I ever had the pleausre of taking. Everything was in perfect focus and the the background contained some of the softest, most eye-pleasing elements I've ever seen. The 70mm macro sounds interesting because for me in the past 100 can be too difficult to shoot at times and 50 just wasn't enough (and mind you this was with a crop factor of 1.3). Without the crop factor, I've got to think that a 60 or 70mm lens would be just what the doctor ordered for northern california waters which is unforunately where most of my practice comes from. I really wish I could be shooting somewhere that a 15 fisheye as others reccomended would do the trick, but those days are so few and far between around here that the 17-40 should do just fine. So, for those that have tried all the various lenses in the 60 to 70 mm macro range, which lens do you think is the very best? Again, many thanks for the input as it's already been quite helpful.

[Viz'art 24]

Just a quick info, the 85mm F:1,2 would fit in his Aquatica ports, it just wouldn't be a practical lens to bring under, but what a nice chunk of silica byproduct :-)

[craig 0]

Some mechanical details of the Sigma 50 and 70:

 

The 70 is about 30mm longer and has a minimum focus distance 70mm longer, so it only gives 40mm more working distance assuming you have an optimum port for each. If you are using a port sized to handle the Canon 100, you should try to get a shorter one for either of the Sigmas.

 

The 70 weighs 205g more than the 50mm. If you use the same port your rig will be noticably more negative.

[herbko 0]

I have the Sigma 50mm. The lens extends quite a bit when focused to 1:1. Also, the front element is recessed ~1/2 inch from the front of the lens, a built in hood. The net result is that on my Aquatica setup, I have to add the same extension I use for the Canon 100mm to make it fit. That plus the large diameter of the Aquatica macro port makes it not practical to shoot at 1:1. I can never light a subject properly when focused that close with that lens.

 

I find that I seldom use that lens with the 5D. The very few times I have, I've set the focus limit switch to 2:1 which allows a shorter port extension and increases autofocus speed.

[james 0]

I did what Herb did when using the 50mm. When shooting that lens at 1:1 you practically have to be touching the subject w/ your port - which isn't very nice.

 

Cheers

James

[aprest 0]

I have been using the 100mm Macro in a Seacam 5D housing and it is fantastic. I had originally been using a 60mm Macro on a Nikon N90 film camera and then on a Fuji S2 and always had problems getting close enough to fill the frame even with the 1.3 factor with the Fuji S2. It took me several dives to get use to the 100mm on the Canon 5D. I had to get adjusted to the longer working distance to fill the frame and the difference in the exposure settings on my two Inon strobes.

[hoovermd 0]

Just a quick info, the 85mm F:1,2 would fit in his Aquatica ports, it just wouldn't be a practical lens to bring under, but what a nice chunk of silica byproduct :-)

 

Not altogether practical but not a total loss either given the right conditions:

 

[lee3 0]

Mark, thanks for posting those photos, very interesting. My gut was telling me that given the right circumstances the 85 prime lens would work underwater. Were you using that with a 5D or another camera? Underwater photography is such a long learning curve and the 100mm macro was one of the worst for me to learn just to use adequately underwater. At least I know I could try the prime 85L in different situations and just see what comes up. I sincerely appreciate everyone's input. the 5D should arrive before noon and I can't wait to start practicing.

[Viz'art 24]

Good shots Mark, indeed I stand corrected there seem to be a place and condition to that fine jewel underwater also.

[hoovermd 0]

Mark, thanks for posting those photos, very interesting. My gut was telling me that given the right circumstances the 85 prime lens would work underwater. Were you using that with a 5D or another camera? Underwater photography is such a long learning curve and the 100mm macro was one of the worst for me to learn just to use adequately underwater. At least I know I could try the prime 85L in different situations and just see what comes up. I sincerely appreciate everyone's input. the 5D should arrive before noon and I can't wait to start practicing.

 

These were shot w/ a 5D.

The way this came about was simply a set of circumstances...

 

1) The 85mm is my wife's favorite lens topside. She never travels without it.

2) The UK-Germany port diameter is HUGE (so is the lens diameter BTW)

3) I shoot WA mostly

4) There wasn't much WA that day.

 

Everyone on the boat thought I was nuts. After all, the min focus distance is around 3 feet.

I shot both with and w/o a single handheld old school Ike SS200 and I think I had more fun that had I taken the WA setup that day due to the lack of scenery.

 

Here is another shot.

ISO 160

F8

1/125 shutter

Manual flash

 

 

[herbko 0]

Mark, thanks for posting those photos, very interesting. My gut was telling me that given the right circumstances the 85 prime lens would work underwater. Were you using that with a 5D or another camera? Underwater photography is such a long learning curve and the 100mm macro was one of the worst for me to learn just to use adequately underwater. At least I know I could try the prime 85L in different situations and just see what comes up. I sincerely appreciate everyone's input. the 5D should arrive before noon and I can't wait to start practicing.

 

The 100mm macro will be very different on the 5D vs the 300D. The FF sensor will give a 1.6x greater field of view and it'll be like using a 60mm on the 300D.

[hoovermd 0]

The 100mm macro will be very different on the 5D vs the 300D. The FF sensor will give a 1.6x greater field of view and it'll be like using a 60mm on the 300D.

Here is a goby shot by my wife w/ the Canon 100mm macro on the 5D

(slightly cropped)

Edited April 13, 2007 by hoovermd