My review for the Sony A7C II and A7CR cameras has posted today in uwpmag.com issue #146. This is article #123 for me since beginning to write for UWP over ten years ago. These are great little full frame cameras with a verity of housing choices and price points.

Cushion Starfish, Blue Heron Bridge, Palm Beach, Florida, USA, Sony A7CR, Sony 28-60 Zoom at 28mm, Marelux housing and flat port 32, Aquista 120 W/A wet lens, two Marelux Apollo S strobes. ISO-320, F/20, 1/160th sec.

Glassy Snapper, Palm Beach, Florida, USA, Sony A7CR, Sony 28-60 Zoom at 60mm, Marelux housing and flat port 32, Aquista 120 W/A wet lens, Marelux Apollo S strobes, ISO-400, F/11, 1/125th sec.

Edited September 1Sep 1 by Phil Rudin

How is your experience, when you compare to the full size models (A74/A7R5) that are not so big when one regards the entire setup. Do'nt you miss anything , e.g. the customization buttons?

Wolfgang

As I reported in the review several manufactures are selling housings for these cameras. The Marelux MX-A7CII/R housing that I used for the review has access to all the same buttons and features as the Sony A1 housing. I am using the same custom function buttons as with A1, A7R 4&5 with slight differences in placement.

Thanks, I did not know that the A7Rc has four separate customization buttons (C1 - C4). Thought they were abandoned to make the camera smaller...

2 hours ago, Architeuthis said:

Thanks, I did not know that the A7Rc has four separate customization buttons (C1 - C4). Thought they were abandoned to make the camera smaller...

Compare to the bigger body's like the A7IV, there are two customize buttons on the A7C Series. In my opinion, the A7CII/A7CR cameras are just as customizable. I switched from the A7III to the A7CII in March 2024 and haven't missed anything in terms of usability.
Of course, the A7C lacks the Yostick for the AF point, but the better tracking, etc., makes up for a lot in my opinion, and I can move the AF point quickly even without the Yostick.

One thing that annoys me about the more compact A7C series is the lack of a micro-USB or multi-connector. While I don't need it underwater, it unfortunately prevents me from using a cable release for my above-water photography.

Tino

Back of A7IV, C2 is on the top

Back of A7CII

3 hours ago, Tino Dietsche said:

Compare to the bigger body's like the A7IV, there are two customize buttons on the A7C Series. In my opinion, the A7CII/A7CR cameras are just as customizable. I switched from the A7III to the A7CII in March 2024 and haven't missed anything in terms of usability.
Of course, the A7C lacks the Yostick for the AF point, but the better tracking, etc., makes up for a lot in my opinion, and I can move the AF point quickly even without the Yostick.

One thing that annoys me about the more compact A7C series is the lack of a micro-USB or multi-connector. While I don't need it underwater, it unfortunately prevents me from using a cable release for my above-water photography.

Tino

When I see it right there are two customization buttons less in A7Rc (2) compared to A7R5 (4) and the joystick is missing. In addition there is the semi-mechanical shutter in A7Rc, that makes bad bokeh with fast lenses when combined with very high shutter speed and brings 1/160s flash sync. (vs. 1/250s in A7R5). EVF in A7Rc is not as good as A7R5 (with my eyesight, I would not see much difference, whatsoever)..

This is some difference for UW photography, but it seems small to me...

Compactness and weight of the pure camera is better with the compact versions, but I guess the difference of comparable complete setups (A7Rc vs. A7R5 and A7cII vs. A7R4) is small in real life (just pure camera plus pure housing is different, the rest remains the same)?

Really interesting article @Phil Rudin . Within it, I noticed that you were using the Aquista Wet Mate lens, and I haven't read or seen any reviews of that lens, including how it compares to the WWL-1(b). Can you comment or would you be willing to start a thread with your thoughts on it?

The Marelux Aquista 120 wet lens that I have been using is a prototype and lacks any flotation. When I first tested the Nauticam WWL-1 prototype (one of several) about a year and a half before its release that lens did not have any flotation either. When Aquista 120 (130 degree AOV) And Aquista 100 (110 degree AOV) arrive they should both have an aluminum float collar. Both the Aquista 120 & 100 are designed to work with a 28mm full frame equivalent lens at the wide end. As a Sony user I have found no better choice than the Sony FE 28 to 60mm which has been my goto lens for most of the wet wide lenses I have tested. These include (with Sony 28-60) Nauticam WWL-1, WWL-1B, WACP-C, WACP-1 and Marelux Aquista 120. I would say the prototype A-120 I.Q. is most similar to WACP-C.

Photos of the Aquista 120 mounted on A7CR housing with some foam blocks which tend to vignette and without any flotation. The bayonet mount on the flat port 32 used for the lens on Sony housings. The prototype lens and the final product concept.

Any clue how cost will compare with the WWL-C?

Not apples to apples at all. WWL-C is for 24mm at wide end and more designed for compact cameras. The Aquista 120 is currently listed at $1660.00 and it is designed for full frame at 28mm.

10 hours ago, Phil Rudin said:

I would say the prototype A-120 I.Q. is most similar to WACP-C.

Photos of the Aquista 120 mounted on A7CR housing with some foam blocks which tend to vignette and without any flotation.

I really appreciate this information! Just wanted to clarity that the flotation would lead to some vignette? Or that the lens itself would vignette images.

Secondly, did you find that you could shoot at a lower (wider) aperture and still get the images you were after? One of the compelling components of wet lenses (or WACP) is ability to capture more light while keeping acceptable corner sharpness and would appreciate your take on whether this allows a stop or 2 more light to be harnessed.

I want to make it clear that in the top photo I used blocks of foam flotation zip tied to the lens and that any vignetting is from the foam and not the lens. The bottom photo is what the lens will look like with the float collar in the final product, so no vignetting.

Regarding wider apertures, for full frame rectilinear lenses in the 16mm to 10mm range the common rule of thumb is to start at F/13 or smaller. Wide Wet lenses at the 28mm end are reported to allow one to two 2.5 extra stops with like corner sharpness.

I have attached two photos both taken at F/8 and close but not exactly the same distance to subject. The first photo is the Aquista 120 using the Sony 28-60mm at 28mm with the A7RV, the second is the WACP-C same lens at 28mm on Sony A1, both images are full frame. To my eye the 120 appears to render a slightly wider field of view and a flatter image, I.E. less center bulge associated with fisheye. You can be the judge regarding corners.