diverdoug1
Contributor
I use a D300 and D300S body housed in ikelite housings. My 2 favorite underwater lenses are 1.Wide Angle Zoom - AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED, and 2.Macro - AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
For a third lens I would get the versatile 80-200mm f/2.8 for topside. If you want to stick with U/W applications, I guesss I would get the fisheye or a 60mm macro.
A nice portrait lens is a 50mm f/1.4 or an 85mm f/1.4.
The difference in the 60mm and 105mm is that the 105 is great for tiny macro subjects and closeups of shy subject (like Jawfish). The 60mm is ideal for fish portraits. Both can be used for both applications. I feel that the 105mm is a little better at trying to do both with just one macro lens, but there are a lot of U/W photographers that use the 60mm as their only macro lens. For what you say you want to do, I suggest a 105mm. If you are going to do "super" macro, you will want to use powerful strobes. Underpowered strobes will result in a requirement of unacceptably long exposure times (leading to subject blurring). I use dual DS200 Substrobes (heavy but they do a great job). I do not find the VR function of my 105 useful for underwater applications, but it is great for topside. The older non-VR 105 micro is great for underwater, and cheaper if you can find one (if you are not going to use it for topside). I admire your restraint in sticking with 3 lenses (a lot of my discretionary income ends up screwed on the front of my camera body).
Below are some shots I took with the 105mm (double click on thumbnail, then double click on black screen).
For a third lens I would get the versatile 80-200mm f/2.8 for topside. If you want to stick with U/W applications, I guesss I would get the fisheye or a 60mm macro.
A nice portrait lens is a 50mm f/1.4 or an 85mm f/1.4.
The difference in the 60mm and 105mm is that the 105 is great for tiny macro subjects and closeups of shy subject (like Jawfish). The 60mm is ideal for fish portraits. Both can be used for both applications. I feel that the 105mm is a little better at trying to do both with just one macro lens, but there are a lot of U/W photographers that use the 60mm as their only macro lens. For what you say you want to do, I suggest a 105mm. If you are going to do "super" macro, you will want to use powerful strobes. Underpowered strobes will result in a requirement of unacceptably long exposure times (leading to subject blurring). I use dual DS200 Substrobes (heavy but they do a great job). I do not find the VR function of my 105 useful for underwater applications, but it is great for topside. The older non-VR 105 micro is great for underwater, and cheaper if you can find one (if you are not going to use it for topside). I admire your restraint in sticking with 3 lenses (a lot of my discretionary income ends up screwed on the front of my camera body).
Below are some shots I took with the 105mm (double click on thumbnail, then double click on black screen).Attachments
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