Hey everyone, I’m upgrading my Sony A1 II rig for RAW recording and have the Nauticam HDMI 2.0 cable assembly on order.

Has anyone used it with a USB-C cable connected to the camera at the same time? Does the HDMI connector obstruct the USB-C port directly above it? My current HDMI 1.4 connection leaves the USBC port clear.

The reason I'm asking is because I’m working on a custom USB-C charging/data bulkhead installed through the Nauticam vacuum valve offset connector. The goal is to charge and offload files without opening the housing or releasing the vacuum.

I’d appreciate any firsthand experience or photos showing the clearance with both cables installed.

Thanks!

I say you are out of luck. Not using HDMI 2.0 but HDMI 1.4 for my Shinobi. From what I know the 2.0 cable has - must have - the same philosophy which is to go from top through zoom ring to the bottom and then up and so the HDMI right angle connector will obscure the USB-C port underneath. With 1.4 solution you might be able to do some woodoo as 1.4 cable is separate from the rest and so you may try some ribbons etc but 2.0 cable is all in one piece if I am not mistaken so no woodoos there I am afraid...

You've probably made your orders and I know I am stretching it but for the price of Ninja solution and then some you may have some internal RAW recording solution from elsewhere... Like Ninja total cost will be like housing for FX5... just saying...

For hybrid shooting with Slog3/HDR preview I did not have the best experience with Shinobi - excellent image in one of two scenarios but cant really switch between noLUT for stills and HDR processing for movie underwater and I think it is going to be the same for Ninja. That touch screen interface and Nauticam solution for it dont cut it for changing setting underwater. Good luck though.

Hi RomiK, Thanks for getting back to me!

Nauticam confirmed that the cable exits from the underside, leaving the USB-C port above it unobstructed. See the attached picture.

I've also got a custom USB-C bulkhead on order that uses the Nauticam M14 offset adapter, allowing both the vacuum valve and USB-C connection to share the same M14 port. Fingers crossed it all works out!

I typically don't monitor with a LUT, relying instead on scopes to judge exposure. RAW S-Log3 certainly isn't the prettiest thing to look at, but as long as my framing is right, exposure is correct, and white balance is reasonably close, I'm happy to make that compromise and handle the rest in post.

Your point about the FX5 is valid, and I actually have one on order. That said, I really enjoy the flexibility of switching between stills and video during a dive without having to commit to one or the other beforehand.

Thanks again!

Peter

Ahh! I did not realize that A1II has different port layout than A1mkI ! I certainly could not use this on my camera as my USB-C port has been made absolutely inaccessible by that L Hdmi... good luck then! 👍 (btw the picture you shown is that of A1Mk1. Your HDMI will be lower and that cable will get bent hell of lot more so beware (!!))

When I was using Shinobi (still have it but now switched to WED5Pro) I found the LOG-HDR conversion indispensable in highly lit low contrast shots (imagine closer to surface shooting with surface in shot or like milky kind of environment like I was filming galapagos sharks at Malpelo at the surf brake zone and overcasted). That environment combined with overexposing slog3 produced white screen so even though I would know where I was with exposure with waveform I would have no idea what am I shooting :-). Even if I had view assist in camera ON. Obviously you cant use it as it would get recorded like that. While with Shinobi HDR tone mapping it really was WYSIWYG without affecting underlying footage.

But I was able to make do with Shinobi as I left it on HDR tone mapping and just got used to the fact that my stills were a bit brighter in colors on a monitor preview 🤣. Or I shot stills with Slog3 and called it a day 🤣.

Having said that even though I have now option to switch log conversion on and off with wed5pro I found myself that for me I should simply choose a dive being either video or photo as the mindset is just completely different but I guess I am getting old 🤣

Making a decision on FX5 myself :-) OCN1/2 looking so tempting but as always caveats what is available and where and how re:framerates and also no reports on CWB yet. Good luck!

I've run into the same white screen issues when overexposing S-Log3.. My other setup uses the older NA502, which makes switching between stills and video settings pretty easy. I already had the Ninja Ultra for topside use and wanted to start shooting RAW underwater, so I figured I'd give it a shot.

I also know exactly what you mean about the original A1 housing. I have one of those too, with the HDMI 1.4 bulkhead nd given the location of the M14 port I don't think this USB-C solution would work.

I get your point about dedicating a dive to either stills or video. They're definitely different mindsets, although I still like having the flexibility to do both. In fact, I've been working with ULCS to fabricate a solution for mounting video lights, strobes, action cams, and a monitor to a UW cage system so I can bring all of my toys into the deep. 🤣

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the FX5. The RAW options look promising, hopefully they don't disappoint!