Christian K

I was planning to go on a WS in April to Socorro but was put off by this scam tax, replacing it with Maldives ”Sharktastic” in March instrad.

I recently went wet lens too (Nikon z6iii), came from DX (Tokina and 10.5). There are situations I’d want to go full fisheye but I have tried to avoid them, waiting for a z-fisheye to emerge. In vain perhaps 🙂 But the WWL-1B & C are really a super neat, capable and flexible wideangle solution. I have been looking at the Nauticam MWL too, which I think might be better for Canon than for z Nikon, as there’s no z60. Other wise that gives 150 degrees FoV or 60 macro in one package—wet. Nikon FF with z24-50 and WWL 1C (1B as mentioned produce the same FoV with 28- lenses) @24 (130 degrees) @50 (70ish FoV and cropped 20%)

There’s a tiger (and bull, great hammer, spinner, nurse) shark dive since a few years back in Male too called shark tank. Same story, fishermen started to dump fish scraps. I don’t know exactly how productive this dive is for photo as it seem to be a little deeper and water gets seriously silted by 100’s of rays roaming around. Will find out in March when I intend to stay a day extra in Male after a liveaboard and do ”the Tank” 2-3 dives. Question: did you use strobes in Favamullah? Sometimes said it’s prohibited (according to Maldivian law), but I can’t find any info suggesting that? And I’ve used strobes in the Maldives on other sharks and big animals w/o any ”issues”. Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

Went Qatar to Jakarta in September and they didn’t weigh my carry-on (which was 7ish). But you have a carry-on 7kg AND personal item. In my case a largish fanny-pack in which I can cram in a lens, arm segments and some smaller extras.

Yep, the z24-50. It is a kit lens and a bit ”plastic” but it is sharp. So optically very good. Just be careful handling it.

Ok, I’m lazy. How does this strobe position itself to the HF1?

With the risk of sounding like a Nauticam rep 🙂 hammerheads, galapagos sharks, manta rays … 110-130ish FoV is pretty damn perfect… I’m from the South of Sweden originally but live in Stockholm since a long time. Have also spent a few years in New Paltz, NY and NYC as a student and then a couple of years in Minneapolis, MN in the 10’s. Where were you in Sweden?

Welcome @eikenhorst Shot Hugyfot and DX for 20 years. Moved to mirrorless z6iii in a Nauticam earlier this year. The 24-50+wwl-c is a neat combo 70-130 degess of FoV. Sharp allover. A bit more rectilinear than a FE, but you get some distortion/curvature. Semi-fisheye?

Pretty sure I have one of your books in my ”library”! Welcome mr @Paul Kay

UW, perhaps not as much challenge with a big dome as topside. It might create weird twisting forces due to the amount of air you have at the front and the risk of bumping and damaging it pointed out by @Dave_Hicks , but traveling with it, as @TimG mentions … I transitioned from DX dslr with a largish dome to FF mirrorless earlier this year and it is much more travel friendly. A small dome and a FE is a very good choice. If you have or can find an 8–15—solid choice. For rectilinear WA, the Nauticam wwl+24-50 produce better IQ inmo than a big dome. Sharper all over the image and more contrast. The wwl-1C which is the compacter version, is ’just’ 1300ish US$. Housing, camera z6iii, strobes, lens, cables, macroport and extension in a light weight carry-on case. 8 kgs . 👍🏼Not from Bonaire but from Alor in Indonesia earlier this fall. Also a loveable place.

I recently started to use the z24-50 with the wwl and it is a very capable combo. If you value small and light it is a winner. Not large animals, but 130 degrees FoV.

Is it just me or does the demo image look not so impressive?

I have the z24-50 and the WWL-1C, and I like that combo very, very much. But I find myself @ either 24 or 50. Very seldom in between, like never. So the MWL-1 caught my eye. As you say @Dave_Hicks kind of doing the samish thing, but more extreme––150 degrees FoV instead of 130 @24 with the WWL-1C, and 34 degrees with a 60 on FF instead of 70ish @50 withh the WWL (46 with it removed). So not using the zoom range much (at all), two distinct options farther apart is appealing to me. That's how I'm thinking. But only if it delivers IQ on par or better with what I've got. Then there's no z60 (yet) so it might be a bad idea or even impossible to make the MWL-1 work with the F-mount 60 and an adapter. If no one uses it, perhaps a sign of that :) F13 and up sounds a bit limiting.

And the question doesn't stop there. I'm interested in Nauticams MWL-1 and using it on a Z6iii. So first, does anyone use a 60 with adapter on a Z-body in a Nauticam? What port/extension is needed to fit everything? And secondly I hear it (MWL) has to be shot with very small aperture to be sharp? Any experience from it (also outside the Nikon universe)?

Welcome! Tahoe, a skier too I presume?

Cool. 3500 dives… take my hat off. Have a few left …

I’m in the same boat. Two z240:s getting retired during 2026. Now suddenly having pretty good video capabilities, some sort of hybrid might make sense (stills still the absolute priority, and travel friendly). HSS too. Watching this space.

I’ll add (or second) Red Sea Diving Safaris, Marsa Shagra. Unlimited diving from shore on big, healthy house reef. Reef taxi (zodiac+driver) always at your disposal. Morning speedboat to Elphinstone (7:00 and 10:00) for big fish. Good desk in rooms for setting up / handling rig. Big dedicated camera rinse tank in DC. Alor Divers Indonesia (Pantar Island). Bit of a pain to get to, but very good mix of diving. Coral must be one of the healthiest atm to be found. Very photo friendly given circumstances—you’ll have a private rinse tank in your bungalow. Big desk with plenty of electricity and light. Dive as much as you want on house reef, two organized boat dives in the strait every day. Guide Johnnie and guide Rio top people.

Money tends to solve a lot of things, excess luggage being one of them :)

And you travel business or first class, I presume? Or pay heavy extra $$$ for overweight luggage. Four wheels definitely!

For check-in, I personally prefer a regular lightweight hard case. For carry-on I use a Pelican light, which some don’t like because it can draw attention. I have never experienced that during som 25+ years traveling with dive and photo gear—then I have never dived in Mexico 😬 I just like that it can be tossed around and give protection. Otherwise I’d chose a normal carry-on size legal lightweight hard case. Nowadays it’s weight setting limits rather than size if you want to be within the regulations. 23-25 kgs for checked and 7-8 for carry-on are easily exceeded with just essentials. So getting lightweight, travel-friendly gear a must. And don’t forget ”personal item”. I got a Patagonia fannypack (my 23 y/o daughter keeps a distance when I wear it) which can fit some arm segments and a lens and other smaller details, taking some load off my carry-on.

Had a chat with a fellow Swedish photographer who arranges a Socorro WS in late March. His ”trick” has been to enter via Mexico City and then domestic to Cabo.

Cancelling Socorro for a combination of reasons and contemplating to go to the Maldives in March instead, combining a Central LoB (mantas) with staying in Hulhumale and dedicate a whole day 2-3 dives to this spot, hoping for close encounters with tigers, bulls, spinners etc. Have never dived this spot (have been to the Maldives two times before). Has anyone been and is it productive? Compared to Favamulah? Depth for close encounters? Good DC for photo logistics? Any intel appreciated. All the best.

Just can’t stop thinking about all the time and money spent. For what? Is it something we need or want?

”The Pelican Case”