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You’d have to move down from the super heavyweight class to middle weight 🙂 Unfortunately DX does not have any great options atm in the z-series for UW inmo. The new z5ii is however inmo a very interesting FF alternative unless you think you must have 45 mp instead of 25. With a Nauticam that thing is seriously small. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t challenge the M4/3 Olympus in a Nauticam for weight and petiteness.

Hey Tomo Great to have you with us. A warm welcome to Waterpixels. Best wishes Tim

Hi everyone, just joined from here in the UK, looking forward to exchanging with you all on here, cheers!

As well as Nauticam X6 replaces lenses. Different distortion so stitching can work out the housing thickness and also mainly much closer focus to be able to have virtual image produced by the housing in focus. It also means that above water nothing except of very very close to housing is somewhat in focus. Now Nauticam replacement lens is built into the housing, into their glass port. With X6 you get separate lenses. The pool samples show that up close Nauticam with X5 is much much sharper. In the distance it may be up to camera sensitivity as X6 shown better contrast and resolution from like 1M on. X6 will not and cannot fit in X5 housing but anyone having X5 housing may have little incentives to jump onto X6 if they have camera mounted on DPV. For me and placement on camera housing lighter X6 package makes more sense.

That’s been my experience, too. One ends up with images that have low contrast. Lightroom’s Dehaze is a real life-saver, but it’s only a work-around. The camera might have lots of dynamic range, but you don’t get the benefit when shooting in haze … and we often have these conditions here in North Carolina.

From what I've read, they provide special lenses for the underwater housing.

There’s a Sony ”screw-on” fisheye that one attach to a 28/f2 mm prime, I saw in the latest UWP show. Turns it into a 16 mm FE lens.

Hi, I also have been a Nikon DSLR user for many years. After starting underwater photography with an Olympus C7070, I moved on to a D300 in a Hugy housing. Next came a D800E in a Seacam housing, and I arrived at the D850 in a Nauticam housing. I was lucky enough to buy a used NA-D850 setup—including the camera body and a 45° viewfinder—for 3,000 euros in 2023. That same year, I also managed to find a new, genuine Nauticam-to-Seacam adapter in Western Australia, allowing me to continue using my Seacam ports. I remain very satisfied with the system and see no compelling reason to switch to mirrorless. I struggle to follow the arguments regarding the weight and size differences between DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Given my age, I would certainly appreciate lighter gear, but I don't quite see the advantage here. I once compared the dimensions of Nauticam housings for Nikon cameras via the German importer: Nikon Z7: 360x200x160mm, 3kg Nikon Z8: 356x204x163mm, 3.4kg; Nikon D850: 360x195x135mm, 3.1kg. Camera weights: D850 1kg, Z7 0.6kg, Z8 0.9kg. I honestly don't understand where the significant difference lies that would justify a switch regarding weight and dimension. Perhaps I am misunderstanding something. Mirrorless cameras certainly offer innovations and various advantages. However, switching systems in underwater photography costs a hell of money. Everyone has to decide for themselves how much it is worth to them and to what extent it will actually result in better photos. The situation regarding weight and dimensions is, of course, different with Micro Four Thirds (M43) systems. But in my opinion, comparing M43 to full-frame is like comparing apples and oranges. Otherwise, we wouldn't need the different formats—or pay the corresponding prices for them. Ultimately, everyone has to decide what works best for them and how much money left on the account.

D850 is when IQ peaked and it had already surpassed what’s usable, unless you shoot for lab tests, inmo. As @TimG I’m also a Nikon shooter DSLR since old. Downsizing was the big advantage for me when I went mirrorless. The electronic viewfinders on new mirrorless can be very good (not all) as well as the AF. So if you’re not bothered by size and weight (travel?) or buying 2:nd hand, there should be super deals on eg Nauticam or Subal 850 housings.

Hi Tino I've just have this printed in China (JLCPCB) but not sure how it works. On my print, the larger ring slips off the smaller retainer ring - did you glue it on? Or maybe I'm mounting it wrong / the material used. thanks! EDIT - after trying multiple combination I managed to make it click on somehow, but not sure if this is the "correct" way, as it looks a little different from your pic:

I'm not 72 yet but I feel every kg these days, while it's certainly tempting to want to take your favourite camera UW, there's lighter options that are every bit as good these days. Not saying don't do it but check out the size and weight of a housed D850 and how you would travel with it before leaping in.

Is there anything you can’t do with your D850 that you think you might be able to do with, say, a Nikon Z? I doubt that focussing or underwater image quality will be significantly better with mirrorless. I’ve been a long-time D500 user (and like you D100, 200, 300 and 800) and hankered about going mirrorless. But the only real advantage I could think of was in-viewfinder review. A very nice feature, especially for macro, but at huge cost: new body, new housing. As Dave suggests, you can probably pick up a used D850 housing in great condition for an excellent price. Two have been advertised recently on our Marketplace.

The quality and focus abilities of the D850 are at least 90% as good as anything else on the market. Certainly the lenses are as well, often its the same lenses. There are clearly advantages to mirrorless models, which is why i upgraded to the Z8. However, i kept my D850 and housing as a backup. You would be very happy with that system and can get years of use out of it.

Honestly from what I've read the D850 can do still images with all but the newest mirrorless. Plus I'm betting you can find a housing for a decent price if you keep your eyes open. Many people are still using adapted lenses from that era.

I am a Nikon shooter from way back in Nikonos days. have gone through many Nikon DSLRs and housed D200 and D300 with aquatica housings and Ike 125's then 160s. Had a long hiatus as my veterinary practice grew too fast. Now I find myself wanting back in the water at 72 but still capable with my favorite DSLR ever the D850. I could make the jump to mirrorless but the D850 is so much more capable than anything I've used I say why not make my underwater last run with my favorite camera? Just need a used housing , I have all the rest. Or does it make sense to jump to mirrorless for the focus improvement. new housing and new camera. but also new lenses. would appreciate some opinions and wisdom. Thanks. Wally

Particulate greatly reduces how much light you can throw at the subject and the distance you can throw it from before all you are illuminating is the water.

I’d concur that CoCoView is a solid 3-4 star dive resort and I can’t wait to get back. They may have trouble accommodating 30-40 people, though.

Not Roatan but Utila. Whaleshark. Very elegant and enthusiastic free diver , a good friend. It's a bucket list dive. Special day. Wally AKA Tiger

I've been to Coco View many times and have great friends there for years. It's very relaxing diving and a very social way of doing things so you make good friends on the boat. I have wonderful memories - on one trip I was fortunate to be there the same week as Stan Waterman . Still diving and telling so many stories from the past. Any of you that don't know Stan's story its worth a read. He was a pioneer , film maker but most of all a storyteller. Sadly Stan passed away - he was a true renaissance man. Diving the West End while you're on Roatan is worth it. A little Bohemian village. It's worth a day off the resort property. I spent the day there at West End after I'd been doing a veterinary spay surgery clinic on that end of the island with a great group of people. After the vet clinic work , we went zip lining and just walked around . I got the very best grouper photo ever that I had canvas printed but sadly lost the file somehow. Wally aka Tiger

Greetings Alexey from the wonderful inspiring country of Ukraine. I am from North Carolina the home to many shipwrecks and sharks that patrol them . We get divers from all over the world anxious to be surrounded by sharks. Borrowed my handle from our friends the affable sand tigers that are like dogs. They appear out of the vis limit or out of the bait ball and hang out with us.

I have published the design for the updated Reduction Ring Set & Diffusers on MakerWorld: https://makerworld.com/en/models/3206771-retra-reduction-ring-set-with-diffusing-filters#profileId-3629441 I've dove them a few times and filters worked out very well. No issues in the water and they light looks great. The diffusers only lose about 1/2 stop of light. The yellow filter is very close to 4500k filters from Retra and Backscatter. This set is 100% printed, including the diffusers, which is an improvement on my earlier design that used non-printed parts for the filters. You can now make an entire set with just a few types of filament.

Thanks all who helped or "only" try to help... ;) If I found time tomorow I'll make a new topic with what I wanted to make at the begining. Good night, morning evening afternoon depending of your location.. Hugues