RDX-550D Standard Port Wide Options

[bmorescuba]

My approach to uw photography has been to try and not let my expenditures outpace my skill. So, I've bought all used equipment and kind of scrapped things together. A while ago, I made the leap to SLR. At the moment, I have a Canon 550D, Sea & Sea RDX-550D, Standard RDX port, 60mm Macro lens, 18-55 kit lens, and one strobe. I'd like to try some more wide angle with something other than the kit lens.

Trying to make sense of the port chart from Sea & Sea, it seems like my only option might be the Sigma 10-20mm. Has anyone shot this lens in the standard port? Besides the obvious gain form 18mm to 10mm, is there a significant quality gain? Are there any other viable options for wide shooting with the standard port?

Eventually, I will probably get a dome port and the required adapters. For now, I'd like to continue doing things piecemeal if I can.

Thanks for any input.

I attached a shot with the 60mm macro from Blue Heron Bridge last weekend. Just because I felt like it

 

[Onewolf]

I don't think you will be happy with any wide angle lens behind a flat port. I would recommend saving up $ for a tokina 10-17 FE and a dome port.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[bvanant]

As my chemistry professor once told me when I asked him about exceptions to a particular rule "There are none" and this applies to wide angle options behind a flat port. You can do it but it will be kind of lame and not worth the time and energy. Buy a used dome port and the Tokina 10-17 and you will be good to go.
Bill

 

[LowVizWiz]

A 10-20mm lens behind a flat port would be like driving mini cooper behind a big semi-truck! You sure can do it but you're not going to like it.

The whole point behind a wide angle lens is getting wide which the flat port will not let you do. A lot of people who have done this far longer than I have agree that the Tokina 10-17mm is the best underwater fish eye lens.



I shot these with the 650d Nauticam housing with a tokina 10-17 and a 8" dome port. I'm still learning!

 

[Doubler]

My understanding is that with a wide angle you are actually taking a image of the reflection of the subject from the dome not the actual subject. You can't do that with a flat port. I shot the same camera in an Ikelite housing using a Tokina 10-17 and 8 inch dome.

 

[bmorescuba]

Thanks for all the input. One more question - how am I gonna have time to shoot underwater when I need a second job to pay for DSLR gear ?

 

[schnerl]

Heyyy, I know this is a few years late, but do you happen to remember if you used the same focus gear for the 60mm lens as the kit lens?
Thanks!