Nikon 10-24mm lens review

Using the Nikon 10-24mm F3.5/4.5 lens in underwater photography

By Scott Gietler

By friend Wilfried Niedermayr just returned from a trip using the Nikon 10-24mm wide-angle lens.  As expected, the lens performed well.

This lens has the same focal length as a Tokina 10-17mm fisheye at 10mm, and the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye, without the distortion or ultra-wide angle of view that a fisheye lens gives.

Which means compared to an equivalent fisheye lens

• It will be easier to light that a fisheye lens

• The size of objects in the middle will be the same

• Straight lines will be preserved

• The additional zoom to 24mm means this lens will be better for skittish sharks & pelagics than a fisheye lens

Wilfried says, "What I like about the Nikkor 10-24mm lens is that it is a wide angle lens with which I can zoom a little. I use it when I dive and I am not sure if I will get as close to a object / fish as I would like to get. So I still have the ability to zoom the object a little closer, but I am still able to do wide angle shots which are my favoured way of taking pictures. But my most favoured lens is the Nikkor 10.5mm Fisheye."

The Tokina 12-24mm lens is also a good choice for underwater, but the Nikon 10-24mm goes wider, and has a closer focus distance, two big pluses.

A quick look at my nikon underwater lens chart shows that it has an excellent close-focus distance of 24cm, just like the Sigma 10-20mm lens. Max magnification ratio is 1:5. This lens is for cropped-sensor cameras like the Nikon D90 or D300s. Largest aperture is F3.5 at 10mm, F4.5 at 24mm.

Here is the topside review from Photozone. If want to shoot wide-angle topside with a DX lens, I highly recommend a lens that is 10mm at the widest point. I own the Sigma 10-20mm lens. The lens is $800 USD on Amazon.com

I will continue to use my Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens for reefs and schools of fish, but some people will definitely prefer the Nikon 10-24mm lens for certain types of shots.

Nikon 10-24mm underwater photos

Taken with a Seacam 9-inch glass superdome, 30mm extension ring, no diopter. Most domes will work best with a 30-40mm extension ring when using this lens, and maybe a +2 diopter, although one is not needed with Seacam's 9 inch port.

Photos by Wilfried Niedermayr

Humpback Whale in Silver Bank, Dominican Republic. F11, 1/125th, ISO 200 

Further Reading

• Fisheye lens versus wide-angle rectilinear lens

• Nikon underwater lens chart

• Lens reviews for underwater photographers

• Best locations for diving with whales

• Review: Canon 8-15 mm Fisheye Lens

• Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens

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