Use of 12-50 lens

[Ardy]

Like me many of us own and occasionally use the 12-50 but although it is a good lens with some macro ability I rarely use it. I always take it with me on trips but it is habit more than 'I will use the 12-50 for?'.

In a recent thread, I noticed Jim Lyle mentioned the 12-50 and it got me thinking that I might be missing something if I leave it at home in future.

Is its main use as a zoom with the gear ?

 

[jlyle]

The 12-50 is my insurance that I won't see something I can't photograph. The 12-50 zoom gets me semi-wide and fish portraits. The add on gear allows turning on the lens' macro function. I hate opening the housing on the boat. The first boat dive, I use the 12 mm end of the zoom. The second dive, the 50 mm end and/or the macro function. A compromise, I know.

Last August, I was also using the 8 mm fisheye for WA and close focus WA. I also carried my TG6 for macro, just in case.

 

[Ardy]

Thanks jim, I knew you are a long time user and I found it interesting what you use it for. I wondered if you had the zoom gear to make it WA to fish shot?

 

[BoltSnap]

I have been using the 12-50mm since 2012 and it is the most used lens I have out of the three lens I own. It is a general purpose lens that I use when I dive in a place for the first time and not know what there is to shoot. Once I am familiar with the site, I may choose to use the 60mm or the 8mm later for a particular type of marine life or specific/dedicated type of shots but the 12-50mm is the "go to" lens in general. There are 2 - 3 other lenses I want to get but I'll have to have the $$ to buy the OM1 with housing first and then whatever lens I can afford afterwards.

I am thinking of making a post on SB with my most recent photo from Red Sea over the weekend.

 

[jlyle]

I am thinking of making a post on SB with my most recent photo from Red Sea over the weekend.

Please do!

 

[BoltSnap]

Please do!

Over the weekend I hope

 

[d^2b]

I use mine quite often with an AOI zoom ring. For better or worse most of the shots [1] from my most recent trip are take with the setup, with the lens in "normal" (as opposed to macro) mode. I do use a diopter (inon UCL-165) for some closeup stuff.

I have a 30mm macro that I keep intending to use more, but I don't really have the discipline to say "on this dive no turtle or shark photos"

[1]: Itza Resort, Belize, March 2022

 

[BoltSnap]

I don't really have the discipline to say "on this dive no turtle or shark photos"

That is generally the problem for me too. Too greedy to leave anything out

 

[Wisnu]

reminds me of 8 years ago, with 12-50 lens and semi dome port at the Jetty, Padang Bai., Bali.

The Jetty, Padang Bai - in 12-50mm

The jetty, padang bai is one of the best dive site in bali; mainly for macro but great for WA as well. Normaly the 12-50mm is not my prfered lens. For macro I love 60mm macro or 7-14mm for WA. but I chose this lens with semi dome port for this site as I want to get both macro and WA. No zoom...

scubaboard.com

 

[Ardy]

reminds me of 8 years ago, with 12-50 lens and semi dome port at the Jetty, Padang Bai., Bali.

The Jetty, Padang Bai - in 12-50mm

The jetty, padang bai is one of the best dive site in bali; mainly for macro but great for WA as well. Normaly the 12-50mm is not my prfered lens. For macro I love 60mm macro or 7-14mm for WA. but I chose this lens with semi dome port for this site as I want to get both macro and WA. No zoom...

scubaboard.com

Looking at those shots, I am starting to see why you all use it so much. For a basic lens those shots are pretty sharp.
I always take it with me but only use it on sites like the wreck in Tulamben. I've dived the PB Jetty twice but always with the 60mm on.