All Activity

thanks for the advice strobe definiely made the images better I'll submit a few more when I have had time to sit down and process in LR

Yes, i use that TC on the Z8. Everything works great.

I do not have the same certainty. Beside the position of side buttons on that form factor, I am skeptical since the competition gave up on the diving with 360 cams. Proposing a diving case would give them a marked advantage but the question is if there is a real demand for it. Personally I was quite enthusiastic when I brought the X4 first time underwater, then I continued with the X5 but honestly now I am not sure if I will keep using a 360 cam when diving. I start to belive that normal cameras are better, especially when not diving in crystal clear, Caribbean style waters.

Thanks mate, appreciated.

Just checked the combination. Yes, it works on a Z6iii with the DG version of the Kenko 1.4 but NOT the DGX version.

I think Insta360 considers third-party manufacturers as competitors. I've just found out that Easydive has also aluminium housing to X3 and X4 (but no support for X5) https://www.easydive.it/en/underwater-housing/360-video-camera I still use my X2 and not yet motivated to upgrade yet.

Does anyone know if continuous autofocus with 3D tracking works on the Z bodies with the 8-15 + FTZ + Kenko TC DG combination?

Insta360 X6: July 2026? Insta360 X5: 22 April 2025 Insta360 X4: 16 April 2024 Of course, with this speed of releasing new models (*) that are always imperfect, I wonder what the incentive is, on one hand to develop a professional housing and on the other hand to spend money on the purchase (now the Nauticam housing is a nice paperweight). Third-party manufacturers are struggling with the fact that it is not just an optical problem but a software one. It is hard to think that it can be fixed without a close collaboration with the Insta project team. But when you see that they did not go very far with their housing either, you wonder if we are such a niche that it is not worth the effort and investment. * Yes, we have seen these launch cycles for other photography products and action cameras too, but they are more mature products that you can easily keep using. In fact, one of the big efforts of camera equipment manufacturers is trying to convince their customers that they need the new updated gadget that just came out. It is more and more difficult in a mature market.

I'm sure they will develop a new dive housing for this camera. It's just a matter of creativity and engineering.

When boat diving (e.g. Hawaii) I giant stride in after having stuffed the EMWL into the pockets of these: https://fourthelement.com/product/technical-shorts/ The pockets could be larger (esp. on larger sized shorts - I have the max size) as the parts stick out a bit. With the 130° I put the objective with hood attached to it into one pocket and the focusing unit plus relay lens unit (straight version) into the other. Carrying the EMWL parts to the dive store (in the case of HI diving), I carried it with EOcean lens caps on the ends and the parts wrapped in a lens wrap. I do the same for local shooting of salmon. See pix attached. Note the bright blue color. Black parts tend to disappear in the dark which it is here for about half the year (same latitude as Oslo).

If you need a charger ping me. I have one you could get pretty cheaply Bill

Would you happen to have the files for 3D printing on these caps? The actual Nauticam rubber versions are painfully expensive... Did you print in PTEG or another filament that is more flexible yet survives UV and saltwater? Otherwise - appreciate all the suggestions. I am bayonet mounting for the EMWL, the EMWL swing looked silly and heavy AND this looks like a lens set up that needs to be the SOLE focus on a dive, not while trying to "do everything".

The Kraken KRL09 provides a 154.8deg FOV. And it focuses right up to zero range.

I too have been intrigued by the MWL but kind of didn’t pursue due to the allegedly poor results unless shooting very stopped down. As @Chris Ross I too couldn’t find a lot of feedback on it. @Dave_Hicks does the Kraken glass give the same FoV (150 degrees IIRC) on the wide end? Am using a WWL now and find myself at either end, never in between, so zooming in between not that useful to me.

The first images of the new Insta360 X6 are coming up: NotebookcheckInsta360 X6 leaks as more compact 8K action cam with 360-...The Insta360 X6 appears to be almost ready for launch, as a major leak has revealed the action camera's more compact design, higher price, and what is likely its most significant upgrade ahead of itsConsidering this new form factor, I am not so sure if there will be a dive case for the X6. A dome of the size of the X5 dive case pro would be incompatible with the X6 side buttons. A smaller dome, allowing buttons access, would result in quite poor image quality. Of course, it would be possible to have buttons mechanisms which allow to locate them on the dive case in a different position, like in the camera housings, but that would very expensive. I would not exclude that Insta360 could drop the dive case for the X6, just like DJI and GoPro. I am very curious to see if the Insta360 engineers will come out with a smart solution for the X6 dive case.

Thank you, yes AF area point presets do help a lot with focusing in low viz with the OM1 I find.

I've been using the EMWL since its release in 2020 mainly with the relay. On the GH5s, I made a small tray at the back of the housing with a bayonet holder to store the full system assembled to enter/exit water. On the Z8, that system was impossible to set. I go to the water with the EMWL fully attached on my on the BCD D-rings. I have printed caps on both ends to protect the lenses Depending on your setup, an alternative solution - especially if you don't use the relay - is to enter/exit the water with focus unit installed and other lens tips stored on the EMWL arm bayonet holder or in small mesh individual mesh bags. In all cases, you have to install/clean all EMWL components underwater. While I haven't used it, I think the EMWL flip system is too complex to be practical in the field (and I must admit, I've never seen anyone using it on trips).

I don't doubt your images in anyway and I have no idea if the MWL-1 is optically similar. The link includes some sample images but unfortunately they are locked away behind a password. The f13 image seems visibly less sharp in the corners, though it's hard to tell at that scale. I seem to recall looking at the linked samples images years ago, but can't access them now.