20d for surf photo

My 20d is about to take the plunge. SPL will be making the housing

and they have asked "which lens will I be using?" They have to make

the specific port for each lens.

 

If anyone out there has any experience in this area, please help me

out. Since I'm shooting mostly beach breaks and my subjects will

not always be in a specific, reproducible area (i.e., shooting at a

point break where I could sit in one spot) I need a lens with a

little reach. SPL suggested the 85mm 1.8. Do you all agree with

this choice?

 

If not, why, and what would you suggest.

 

Thanks,

Storm

Keith, I don't know what kinda beach break you are shooting but a 85mm on a 20D is about equiv of a 135mm on a film camera, way too much for most beach breaks. I have a 24mm and 15mm for shorebreaks/beachbreaks for a film camera and 100mm for reef/point breaks. The joy of shooting in the water for me is getting tube shots which you need to be much too close for a 85mm to work. I would suggest you hang out in the impact zone/best viewpoint at your beach break and estimate the distance between you and where you would like your rider to be and go from there. I bet you change your mind at that point and go with a lens between 15-35mm.

Thanks Neal for the info. I pulled out my 28-135mm today, set it at about 85 and wow, thats pretty close!!! You were right, I'm thinking 28mm max now! So the next question is, is an "L" lens needed? If yes, why? It is quite a bit more expensive so I had to ask the question.

To be honest, I have never used the L series lenses. I use the 24mm 2.8 and it works great in the housing. I would strongly suggest you put both on your camera at a camera store and try both out. Weight and balance can be a big factor in a housing as you will be swimming and getting slammed w/ that camera and lens. My biggest advice to you is when you get your camera in the housing, check all your seals twice, make sure it is sealed w/out any sand in the o-rings, and check for leaks before you get out there. I lost an expensive video camera by not double checking for leaks...got too excited at the large uncrowded surf!

Neal,

You have been a wealth of knowledge. One more question. Do you have any examples of some of your water photos that you have or could post? I would love to see your work.

Thanks, Keith

Keith, glad I could help. Here is an example of the 24mm on a film camera in a pretty heavy shorebreak (much more powerful than it looks). You can see more of my pictures and learn more about shooting sports in a book I contributed photos/advice in called "Digital Sports Photography: Take Winning Shots Every Time" available on Amazon or Barnes and Nobles. You can check out my website for a few more surf pics too. Good luck and let me know if I can be of any other help.<div></div>

Thanks again Neal! I have spent a lot of time body surfing at Sandy's. The place is definitely more powerful than any picture could ever convey.

when i had an spl housing for my 10d, i used: 15mm fish, 24 f2.8 and 85 f1.8. the 24mm fitted (and worked) in both the 15mm and 85mm ports.

 

i've just got a new housing for my 1dii and plan on using the same lenses ;)

 

good luck!

 

dave