Fixed focus for 15mm FE

jhaaja · 9th November 2007, 10:13

I am planning to test taking pictures with a preset fixed focus with my 15mm FE lens under 6" Ikelite dome.

Would be very helpfull if someone could give me good succestions on the focusing distance I should choose. I think it is something quite near, 0,5m...

I mostly take pictures in caves so light for AF is allways a problem...

JH

Johnny Christensen · 9th November 2007, 18:11

Depends on the viz, but I would go for about 1m.
In the good old days of Nikonos V shooting that's what I used 80% of the time.
Fisheye lenses have great depth of field, so it'll fit many situations.

When trying to autofocus with the camera, do you use all focuspoints or just one?

If you use just one, it becomes easier to use your divelight to assist as focuslight.

dlh · 9th November 2007, 22:33

This is the Sigma 15FE? This is a really fast and easy lens to auto focus, so with just a small focus light you should have no problems. While I have not done any cave diving I have used this setup (Nikon d70 w/Sigma 15FE) on many a night dive with great success.

Dave

Ryan · 10th November 2007, 00:57

Focus, then Lock Focus on your fin. That should hold 3' to Infinite at most f-stops.

jhaaja · 10th November 2007, 15:15

Thanks! I tested today with roughly 0,3m. Seemed to work quite OK. The AF is really hard to catch inside a cave. It helps to use just one AF-point put still it is a PITA.

Here is one sample shot.

Andy Barker APS · 10th November 2007, 19:08

HI,
A focus light would help to lock the AF. I had the same problem when
I used the D70. But I still use a focus light with my D200 to help lock
on in low light. I would also say that this lens sould focus down to about
100mm or so.

Andy

Jonathan · 10th November 2007, 23:27

Hi JH,

Looks like that worked well(!!!),
can I ask what camer, housing & flash you're using?

- hoping to photo in caves also (though vis isn't nearley as nice).

Cheers,

J.

RBailey · 11th November 2007, 05:38

Nice use of the strobe and slave sensor by the diver.

jhaaja · 11th November 2007, 13:12

Quote: (Originally Posted by Jonathan)

Hi JH,

Looks like that worked well(!!!),
can I ask what camer, housing & flash you're using?

- hoping to photo in caves also (though vis isn't nearley as nice).

Cheers,

J.

The camera is EOS350D in Ikelite housing and two Ikelite DS-125 flashes.

Thanks everyone for help and comments, might post some more shots if I end up getting any good ones

JH

Jonathan · 11th November 2007, 14:37

Thanks JH,

Have fun with it.

J.

9th November 2007, 10:13	#1 (permalink)
jhaaja Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 884	Fixed focus for 15mm FE I am planning to test taking pictures with a preset fixed focus with my 15mm FE lens under 6" Ikelite dome. Would be very helpfull if someone could give me good succestions on the focusing distance I should choose. I think it is something quite near, 0,5m... I mostly take pictures in caves so light for AF is allways a problem... JH
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9th November 2007, 18:11	#2 (permalink)
Johnny Christensen Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 298	Re: Fixed focus for 15mm FE Depends on the viz, but I would go for about 1m. In the good old days of Nikonos V shooting that's what I used 80% of the time. Fisheye lenses have great depth of field, so it'll fit many situations. When trying to autofocus with the camera, do you use all focuspoints or just one? If you use just one, it becomes easier to use your divelight to assist as focuslight. __________________ www.johnnychristensen.com Wreckphotography from the cold north
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9th November 2007, 22:33	#3 (permalink)
dlh New Member Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 11	Re: Fixed focus for 15mm FE This is the Sigma 15FE? This is a really fast and easy lens to auto focus, so with just a small focus light you should have no problems. While I have not done any cave diving I have used this setup (Nikon d70 w/Sigma 15FE) on many a night dive with great success. Dave
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10th November 2007, 00:57	#4 (permalink)
Ryan New Member Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Pelagian Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Classic Kiss rEvo Pelagian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: On the edge of the gulf stream! Posts: 73	Re: Fixed focus for 15mm FE Focus, then Lock Focus on your fin. That should hold 3' to Infinite at most f-stops. __________________ www.ReefPhoto.com 877-453-8927 954-537-0644
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10th November 2007, 19:08	#6 (permalink)
Andy Barker APS New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bury St Edmunds Suffolk UK Posts: 28	Re: Fixed focus for 15mm FE HI, A focus light would help to lock the AF. I had the same problem when I used the D70. But I still use a focus light with my D200 to help lock on in low light. I would also say that this lens sould focus down to about 100mm or so. Andy
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10th November 2007, 23:27	#7 (permalink)
Jonathan New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 30	Re: Fixed focus for 15mm FE Hi JH, Looks like that worked well(!!!), can I ask what camer, housing & flash you're using? - hoping to photo in caves also (though vis isn't nearley as nice). Cheers, J.
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11th November 2007, 05:38	#8 (permalink)
RBailey New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 9	Fixed focus for 15mm FE Nice use of the strobe and slave sensor by the diver. __________________ Dive Planning = Jump in, swim around a bit and come back up again.
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11th November 2007, 13:12	#9 (permalink)
jhaaja Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 884	Re: Fixed focus for 15mm FE Quote: (Originally Posted by Jonathan) Hi JH, Looks like that worked well(!!!), can I ask what camer, housing & flash you're using? - hoping to photo in caves also (though vis isn't nearley as nice). Cheers, J. The camera is EOS350D in Ikelite housing and two Ikelite DS-125 flashes. Thanks everyone for help and comments, might post some more shots if I end up getting any good ones JH
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11th November 2007, 14:37	#10 (permalink)
Jonathan New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 30	Re: Fixed focus for 15mm FE Thanks JH, Have fun with it. J.
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