I’ve been experimenting with the Nauticam WWL-1 on a Seafrogs Sony A7IV NG-housing and the Sony 28-60 kit lens. The WWL-1 with the 28-60 lens has been described as one of the best fisheye solutions for Sony full frame. However, all the recommendations are based on the Nauticam housings and gadgets.

 

Since Seafrogs has a dedicated 28-60 port, I was eager to try the same thing on the Seafrogs housing. Keep in mind that you can only use the original WWL-1 with a 67mm thread in order to get close enough to the port.

 

Some of the photos are rather poor in quality, but they’re just to give a feel for the combo. I really like how the WWL-1 performs, but I wish I didn’t have to zoom in so much to eliminate the vignetting, up to 38mm.

 

I don’t know if this will be my future fisheye solution. But I really like the idea of bringing a WWL-1 and CMC-2 underwater to be able to shoot both wide-angle and macro during the same dive. I’ve also done some trials with the CMC-2, more on that another time

 

40mm

 

38mm

  36 mm, still some vignetting 28mm

38mm

 

 

Edited April 22, 20241 yr by Scubakron

That vignetting is rather odd; I recall users of older SeaFrogs housings (things like M43 with 14-42mm) report normal performance. I use an APS-C 16-50mm with AOI UWL-09F, which targets the same 28mm FL as the WWL-1, and vignetting goes away at 19mm, just as expected. The 28-60mm should not vignette with the WWL-1 at all. Are you using it on bare port, or is there some sort of adapter in the way?

9 minutes ago, Barmaglot said:

That vignetting is rather odd; I recall users of older SeaFrogs housings (things like M43 with 14-42mm) report normal performance. I use an APS-C 16-50mm with AOI UWL-09F, which targets the same 28mm FL as the WWL-1, and vignetting goes away at 19mm, just as expected. The 28-60mm should not vignette with the WWL-1 at all. Are you using it on bare port, or is there some sort of adapter in the way?

I'm shooting with a Sony A7iv which is full frame. If I switch over to aps-c I get rid of the vignette. But I want to use the full sensor in order to get as wide image as possible and use the full frame potential.

6 minutes ago, Scubakron said:

I'm shooting with a Sony A7iv which is full frame. If I switch over to aps-c I get rid of the vignette. But I want to use the full sensor in order to get as wide image as possible and use the full frame potential.

I know; the WWL-1 targets 28mm FF-equivalent lenses - that is to say, it should not vignette at 28mm on FF, 19mm on APS-C, or 14mm on M43. My own wet lens, the AOI UWL-09F, targets the same 28mm FL, and with 16-50mm lens behind it, it loses vignetting at 19mm. The severe vignetting that you experience indicates that either the SeaFrogs 28-60mm port fits badly, leaving too much space between the lens front element and the port glass, or there is some other issue with the lens placement, such as a wet mate adapter (flip/swing/etc).

23 minutes ago, Barmaglot said:

I know; the WWL-1 targets 28mm FF-equivalent lenses - that is to say, it should not vignette at 28mm on FF, 19mm on APS-C, or 14mm on M43. My own wet lens, the AOI UWL-09F, targets the same 28mm FL, and with 16-50mm lens behind it, it loses vignetting at 19mm. The severe vignetting that you experience indicates that either the SeaFrogs 28-60mm port fits badly, leaving too much space between the lens front element and the port glass, or there is some other issue with the lens placement, such as a wet mate adapter (flip/swing/etc).

 

Ah, now i understand better. 

Yes the Seafrog port leaves to much space even though it's supposed to be dedicated for the 28-60 lens. 

And that's what I wanted to point out with my post. I should have been clearer about that. 

The port is made for the first Seafrog A7iv-housing, I have the next generation (NG). I don't know how well it fits the first generation. 

The WWL-1 is screwed in to the port, no adapters or anything. 

This is the port in question, right? https://seafrogs.com.hk/collections/flat-macro-ports-for-sea-frogs-housings/products/flat-short-port-for-sony-fe-28-60mm-f4-5-6-lens-autofocus-only-zoom-gear-included

 

As I recall, it was initially released with the A7C housing, but the camera positioning with regard to port opening should be the same between different housings. On the other hand, this is SeaFrogs, so it's not a given.

 

Have you tried contacting their support about the poor fit of the port/lens combination?

1 hour ago, Barmaglot said:

This is the port in question, right? https://seafrogs.com.hk/collections/flat-macro-ports-for-sea-frogs-housings/products/flat-short-port-for-sony-fe-28-60mm-f4-5-6-lens-autofocus-only-zoom-gear-included

 

As I recall, it was initially released with the A7C housing, but the camera positioning with regard to port opening should be the same between different housings. On the other hand, this is SeaFrogs, so it's not a given.

 

Have you tried contacting their support about the poor fit of the port/lens combination?

 Yes, that's the port. I will do some measurements and contact them.

Edited April 22, 20241 yr by Scubakron