ChipBPhoto

Hi @Mark H - congrats on your new rig! I agree with the comments listed above. The WWL is a terrific option for a blend of travel size and image quality. It is on my rig about 90+% of the time. One of the best features is it can focus at almost macro level of closeness to your subject. (See Dave Hicks amazing nudibranch). I have basically gently placed the dome on a starfish leg and it nailed the focus! As far as Nauticam in general, you will love it! I’m on my 3rd Nauticam housing and have found them all to be extremely well made and quite durable. Just remember to articulate the buttons/levers in fresh water after the dive to keep them working well. Blow out the excess water after to keep them clean underneath. Also, be sure to dry off the housing with a soft cloth to keep it from showing hazy water spots on the black body finish. And of course use their grease for their gray o-rings. The main body o-ring needs basically no grease as it doesn’t move. I run it through my fingers after I’m done prepping the others to pick up just a hint of the residue. Enjoy!

Nicely done @Wags , thanks for sharing. Definitely shows potential, especially with color correction.

For what it's worth, I have not noticed any issues with the WWL doing video. I also have a good friend that exclusively does video on a m4/3 and has used the WWL for years with no issues. The only exception is a time she didn't burp the lens after entry and missed some footage due to the camera focusing on a small grain between the flat port and WWL. Oops!

...especially current models!

Yes, I've been told by a6700 users that it is a noticeable improvement over previous "a" series models, especially in focus speed, tracking, and overall lens performance. This does boost the Zeiss 50, and other legacy lens performance. White balance is also noticeably improved. If you decide you want a longer macro, perhaps consider the new Tamron 90. It translates to 135mm in FF terms. The min focus distance is less than the Sony. It does not have the OSS found in the Sony 90, but there is onboard stabilization in the a6700 body. Some still prefer to have OSS built in to the lens, while it is not an issue for others. Personal choice and needs.

Hi @bghazzal, For macro, I have been quite impressed with the Zeiss 50 2.8 macro. I use it with my a1 and have found it to be a fast and accurate focus with very sharp details. This translates to an 75mm in FF lingo, which is not much of a difference than 90. I also tried the Canon EF-S 60 with a Metabones V. For a Sony solution, I prefer the Zeiss 50 in all aspects over the Canon 60. For wide, I’m a big fan of the Nauticam WWL-1B, or WWL-C depending on the lens used. It is super sharp to the corners and allows zooming as needed. The view range is 130 degree FoV down to ~60 degree FoV. It also allows super close focus on standard lenses which is great for a near macro closeness or close focus wide angle work. Curious why you’re not interested in the Canon R7? Canon white balance has traditionally been better, but Sony has made significant improvements. chip

Great info, thanks! And yes, looking cool is the top priority! 😆

I see more and more divers on S Florida boats with rebreathers. There are definite benefits, especially for us photographers. I appreciate how Dave also is clear about the prep and cleaning time required. The investment cost and training required is also important to factor in. If the steps are followed, rebreathers are safe and rewarding.

Yes, the 3rd column M3 Max 16/40c is what I am planning to buy, although not with 128GB / 8TB. It seems Thunderbolt 5 is a next gen advancement, but like clock speed between the M3 and M4, not a huge difference in real world application today.

Both tragic and scary. The only positive is there was no loss of life. As liveaboards continue to grow in popularity, hopefully a solution can be found to further protect them from fire.

Aside from the normal theoretical speed increase, Thunderbolt 5 seems to be the big advance for the M4s. Again, much of that is theoretical unless using dual 8K monitors and perhaps a few other minor options that may eventually become available.

Thanks for the feedback, Wolfgang. Any regrets making the switch to the HF-1s? I’m still not thrilled about the 21700 batteries or the heavier weight, but they seem to be the “best buy” among the strobes on the market today. The video light seems like it could add additional value for the occasional usage.

Congrats Dave!

Hi all, It’s about time to upgrade my computer. I currently have a 2020 16” MacBook Pro i9 that is fairly well loaded. I work primarily in Lightroom and Photoshop, but am considering adding Final Cut for some video. I use external SSDs for fast storage. It works well, but the new M processors are a leap forward, especially now at 3 or 4 generations later. I am considering a 16” MacBook Pro M3 Max (48GB, 14/40 core, 400 Gb/s bus speed) Thanks to the new M4s, the M3s have dropped in price. I’ve also found an Apple refurb Mac Studio M2 Ultra for the same price. No portability, but 800 Gb/s bus and 60 GPU cores vs 40. (More relevant for video) Here’s my question…Does anyone have an hard info on the new M4s compared to the M3 Max? I understand they’re literally only a few days old in the stores. I’ve been digging through YouTube, but all I have found has been pretty general in nature and just the overall specs. I know computers are always updating and we just have to jump on at some point, but as I don’t upgrade often and I’d like to try and get the best option I can. From what I’ve found so far, it doesn’t seem the M4s are noticeably faster in real work applications vs the M3 Max, but I could be missing something. Yes, the M4 does have Thunderbolt 5, vs TB 4 on the M3. And please, I am not interested in switching to a PC. I am bi-lingual in Mac and PC and have owned both. I will stick with Mac for now. Thanks in advance for any feedback you have on the great M3 / M4 question…. chip

I see both sides of the question. Currently, I am still using AAs for my Z-330s. I do like the idea of additional power standardized, quality Li-ons can produce, especially for more demanding hybrid options like the HF-1. I do have concerns about the number of cheap Li-ons that are not as stable. Yes, there are lower quality versions of everything, but there is a real risk with cheap Li-ons, especially on liveaboards and other dive boats. I’m sure solutions will be made, but it is still a bit of the Wild West for users that don’t invest in the quality, safer batteries. As with all technology, power demands continue to increase and Li-on is the direction at this point. Just my 2 cents…. (or now $14 factoring for inflation)

Nicely done; welcome back!

I'm in a similar situation and agree. If they're holding a solid charge, keep using them.

Wow - that is an incredible point! As a warm water diver, I never would have thought of such an issue. My biggest challenge is keep humidity from fogging up the lens. Just a little different. 😂 Thanks @Brandon Cole for the insight!

Here are some leaked images of the new toys…. https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/first-leaked-images-of-the-new-sony-a1ii-and-28-70mm-f-2-0-lens/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGSSn1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRFF6VYmpNXtawrj65MJmVrux4tVKJVzTJLokN20tG7tNYczz7zYDO5AWQ_aem_zpuwWaN-iDD-l-tlhON84Q

Hi @Floris Bennema, Really good question. Great news that you haven’t had an issue. The WWL is a terrific design. And yes, it is mounted with the bayonet mount. The only thing to watch is because there is a thin layer of water between the flat port and WWL, it is possible to either get tiny air bubbles or even a pice of sand when entering. The camera’s autofocus can lock on to it, rather than the subject. In my experience it is rare, but it has happened. That’s why it’s strongly recommended to burp the lens once you’re stable in the water. This is normally not at all an issue. The only snag is if that rare occurrence happens when you most need it *not* to happen. That’s why some prefer a dry port to eliminate the possibility. With that said, the WWL is a terrific option and one I enjoy using, especially for lightweight travel.

I’ll add in my experience with the WWL vs WACP-C. Short answer, image quality is really the same. The WACP-C is a dry port which eliminates the need to ‘burp’ the lens. This can be critical when doing a quick entries with subjects such as whales or dolphins that require immediate photo engagement. I personally would not use the WWL in this situation. And yes, a dome with a 180 degree FoV fisheye will allow, and require, a closer interaction with a large subject. The 130 degree FoV with the WACP is still pretty impressive. The new FCP, despite its hefty price, would be an ideal tool as it allows zooming from 175 degrees to ~60 degrees and is a dry port. Another option is the Laowa 10mm 2.8 lens. It will work in a 140 or 230 dome and has a 130 FoV. This would give you the f/2.8 and other wide aperture options, if desired. Fortunately quality noise reduction software adds an additional tool to compensate for higher ISOs. Have an amazing time, and share some images!

I agree. While relatively limited, I foresee a greater demand for delivered high quality video. With that said, the cost of entry for this level of video production is higher and requires a greater skill set. And no, that is not at all diminishing the skill, talent, and vision required to produce high quality still images. There is simply ‘more’ of everything required for quality video production.

Interesting that the new a1 will use the a9III body. I do like the a7rV flippy screen design will be included for landscape usage. The new 28-70 looks very interesting for portrait work, especially the lighter weight. Will either of these specifically help in uw work? Possibly the new focus capabilities on the a1 II could be a win, but at a high cost. This new body + a Nauticam housing comes in at around $12,500, plus tax.

Passing on something I learned. If you do go to a Z8, or other high res camera, the focus point becomes extremely critical. Hi res files show incredible detail, which is awesome! They also show if the focus is not exactly right. Low res sensors (~24MP +/- or less) are much more forgiving. It took me a couple of dives to really master this. Just something to file away if you do move in that direction. 😃

BIG PRICE DROP!!!! List of items: Price New Selling Price Sony a6600 Body.....................................$999.................$599 Sony 16-50 f/3.5-5.6 PZ Lens..................$299.................$100 Nauticam NA-a6600 Housing................$2513................$1400 Nauticam Vacuum....................................$220.................$100 Nauticam Zoom Gear NA-36172..............$242.................$150 Nauticam N85 Port 45 w/ Knob...............$619.................$400 Nauticam Manual Flash Trigger...............$308................$200 Totals: $5200 $2949 NEW LOWER Package Price for all Above: $2,045!!! Other items: Price New Selling Price Nauticam CMC-2....................................$387...............$295 Nauticam Bayonet Mount Adapter...........$62................$40 Payment via PayPal F&F; please add 3% for PayPal Goods & Services. USPS Priority shipping to US lower 48 states included. Prefer US sales only to members with activity in community. Please DM me with any questions.