ChipBPhoto

Hi Fraser, I was just talking to a buddy that does uw pro video work about lenses, ports, etc. His choice is the WACP-1 zoomed in to around 30mm or more to offset the very slight fisheye effect that could exist at the corners at 28mm. Based on your question, the 16-35 rectilinear with appropriate dome or the 28-60 with WWL zoomed in slightly would be the best match to what he uses. I personally have used the WWL with the 28-60 for almost 4 years. For me, I love the size and quality compared to a 230 dome for the 16-35. Unless you want to do splits, which the WWL cannot do, I think it is a terrific all around solution. It also works quite well for close focus allowing the subject to almost touch the dome. While not as sharp in the corners as the WACP-1, it is based on the same design, just smaller and much less expensive. At f/11-13 I have never had corner issues with the WWL. I often will go to f/9 when corners or DoF are not as much of a factor. If you want a similar dry mount zoom, you can also check out the WACP-C with the 28-60. It is also a smaller, cheaper cousin of the WACP-1, but eliminates the water layer found between the WWL and attached dry port. It may be slightly sharper than the WWL, but nothing to get overly excited about. There are some pre-owned models that may start appearing with the introduction of the FCP. I hope this helps! chip

Exactly what I am also considering. I have an a1 and Sony 90, but want something shorter specifically for BlackWater. Unfortunately the Sony 50 macro is reported as not performing well in the BW conditions. I realize this is an APS-C lens, but in this environment a little vignetting won’t matter.

Hi @Staggs - I moved to the a7rIV in 2020 and used it for 3 years. I then purchased an a7rV last year. Huge difference! a7rV vs a7rIV findings: - The AF is noticeably more accurate and much faster. (I found it even helped the notoriously slow Sony 90 macro focus faster.) - The menu system is much easier to navigate. - Lastly, the white balance is dramatically improved. This is key for both auto WB and video, should you eventually dabble in that realm. (I frequently had back to back AWB images have completely different colors with the rIV) The a7rIV was literally the last body made before the newer improvements began to be incorporated. If you have the ability, the a7rV is definitely worth the investment for both today and longer term use. Hope this helps in your decision process.

Hey John, Alex Mustard did a test of small domes with the 8-15. He found the Zen 100, which I owned with my APS-C, worked well with that format. For FF, however, he found the 140 dome was the smallest dome with acceptable corner sharpness. This would especially be true with the 61MP detail of the a7rV in FF. Hope this helps, Chip

Agreed. Cost and adding the extra mass of a large dome for a wide rectilinear lens just does not offer a commonly desired solution. The biggest benefits of APS-C are lower cost and smaller size. Both would be voided.

Good question. The answer is most like the flexibility of a little zoom range the Tokina offers with clean sharpness that works very well for uw APS-C systems. Appropriate APS-C primes would also be a good choice, if that is a personal preference. There just isn’t as much of a demand.

Hey Tim, Good question. For me, not enough to be consequential, especially now with USB 3.2 SSD drives and USB 3 ports. The key difference is I personally prefer to have annual catalogs rather than one large one for all. I normally use Samsung T7 or SanDisk Extreme drives. The read/write speed of these is around 1000 MB/s, but obviously the cable, port, and bus system play into the equation. The slowest point is the bottle neck. I am familiar with Kelby’s system. It works great and is clearly maximized for speed, especially when there is a single catalog with a main drive system always attached such as a NAS or large single drive for the images. There could theoretically even be multiple catalogs on this system as well. Having individual catalogs on individual drives is the strategy that just happens to fit my personal overall needs best. Fortunately, newer fast technology has made this a viable option.

Absolutely agree with this! Unless doing macro, this setup was my go-to for APS-C as well.

If staying with APS-C, the Zen 100 for the Tokina 10-17 has been a great choice. If using a housing with the N85 size, you will also need the adapter and extension as outlined by Nauticam. If you plan to soon move to FF with the Canon 8-15, the Nauticam 140 dome is a better route. This would also require the N85 to N120 adapter and any other extensions Nauticam suggests.

Absolutely agree with @Robin.snapshots ! Yes, the Canon 8-15 is a terrific lens, especially for FF, but there’s a reason the Tokina 10-17 is considered the go-to for APS-C systems. I have used both extensively and still can appreciate the quality of the Tokina images with my APS-C rig. When paired with a 100mm dome such as the Zen mini dome it makes for a very desirable small, easy to use kit. If you go with the Canon 8-15 with the plan of upgrading to a FF rig in the near future, you may want to consider the 140mm dome. The 100 mini dome is great for APS-C, but the 140 works better for FF.

I spent several days with Roberta’s Scuba Shack in June 2023. Roberta, an American from Chicago, has lived in Cozumel for over 20 years and owned the operation about 18 years, if I remember correctly. It is small, safe, well run, and very friendly. They have several small fast boats and a great team. The large locked storage area has room to hang wetsuits as well as your own individual locked storage bin for smaller gear. I really liked this feature! They have tanks on property, including nitrox if desired, and rental equipment if needed. About 80% of their business is repeat, with some of their clients simply leaving their gear in the storage area year around. They handled my camera well both on the boat and before/after. There were several other photogs on all my dives. They are located near the Intl cruise pier which makes it central to reach all the popular dive sites in a short time. I also found their communication before I arrived in Coz to be terrific. That’s the main reason I initially booked with them. She also owns a small hotel on-site, if interested. They are now my go-to operation! https://scubashackcoz.com

Great question! I used a Tokina 10-17 fisheye on an APS-C system for many years. I loved it! I do mostly wreck and CFWA type images. About 3 years ago I switched to a WWL-1B after hearing about the sharp corners and a 130 degree FoV, all while still having a nice zoom range. I have been extremely happy with the results! The only time I miss my true fisheye is if I am extremely close to a wreck and want a super wide 180 degree image. That is relatively rare for me. Having the zoom aspect and sharp corners, even at f/8 on an APS-C has more than made up for any downside by giving a much more expansive option of images with a single lens. The close focus capability of the WWL is also a huge bonus! Hope this helps!

Terrific choice! Have a great time with your new rig!

Both would be a good choice. Canon colors are the reining champ, while Sony tends to have more lens options. The a6700 seems to potentially have a bit better focus. Fortunately both have the option of either the legendary Tokina 10-17 fisheye or a WWL solution. (The Tokina with a Zen 100 dome is awesome!) I just wish Nauticam had used the N100 port system rather than the N85 for the NA-a6700. (I understand why they didn’t)

Nice job! You definitely made some keepers. Who did you go out with? I still haven't gotten out with them and their season here is almost over.

Hi @Sarthur1 - You're asking the eternal question. Bottom line, it's personal to you based on your own needs, priorities, and of course finances. I have owned and used both the both Sony a7rIV and a7rV. If you are considering the a7rIV, I strongly encourage you to step up to the a7rV. It is literally a giant improvement in functionality, white balance, and focus technology. Yes, the rV is a step up in cost, but keep in mind most of us purchase a system to use for several years. Making the right investment today will payoff, especially between these two cameras. Regarding APS-C vs FF, I have owned and used both formats with success. Again, it depends on your personal needs and priorities. The a6700 is a fine camera for its class. It does offer noticeable upgrades over the previous a6600 in focus. The pluses are it will be a smaller overall system and a lower price tag than FF. A 26MP file is a very respectable size for printing, especially for the size you mentioned. The APS-C files are also much more forgiving for pin-point focus accuracy than a highly detailed 61MP file from the a7rIV or a7rV. The Tokina 10-17 with the Zen 100 dome makes for a highly effective, small, and affordable optic solution. Keep in mind the Sony 90 macro on an APS-C will have the effective equivalent of a 135mm due to the 1.5x crop factor of the APS-C vs FF. This means you will be tighter on the subject at the same distance and slight movements can become more challenging to control. If you chose FF but the budget is simply not there for an a7rV, this may give you some comparisons between the a7rIV and a7IV. Other than the obvious file size, there were some minor improvements in the a7IV as it came out after the rIV. https://mirrorlesscomparison.com/sony-vs-sony/a7-iv-vs-a7r-iv/ No one can tell which to buy; it is very personal to your unique considerations. It is going to be challenging to find used products for which you are considering, but again this is a rare purchase which will pay off over years. Hopefully this gives you some insight in what I have experienced. Others will have their experiences to share as well. Best of luck!

Just proves once again it’s not the camera, it’s the photog that counts! Great pics!

Hey John - what size are they? 50L? 70L? or smaller?

Hey Jon - great to see you over here! Thank you so much for the super kind words!! You were such a terrific person to work with and a top notch gentleman. It made the entire transaction seamless and pleasant.

Hi all, I know I'm late to the party, but I have experimented with various catalog systems over the years and thought I'd jump in. I travel extensively which makes a NAS a challenging solution. At one point I did have a separate catalog for each event or session on various external drives. This would work well if hired to do a certain job or had a specific reason to segregate it away from the normal catalog, but became overly challenging for normal daily use. What I have found to work best for me is: - Use an external SSD drive Catalog and files are stored there This allows extreme portability and flexibility I can literally connect my drive to any computer with LR and use it - I use a new SSD drive for each calendar year Currently I am using 2TB SSDs Allows a manageable total size - I use a 2nd SSD drive as a manual backup Simply copy/replace all and get some lunch Very old school, but it works for me I also am traveling more and more with just my iPad Pro (m1). The external SSD solution also allows all files from the card to be downloaded to the drive via iPadOS and an external hub/card reader. I also import those I particularly like directly to LR Mobile while on the road to share, review, etc. When I return to my machine, I simply do a normal important for all files I have saved on the drive as normal in LR using my standard naming structure. When traveling I do not erase the original memory cards until I am back home. This keeps the files on both the cards and the external SSD as backups. There are a number of different ways to do the same thing. This happens to be the one that works best for me.

Hi Tino - welcome to the “should I buy something new” party. 😂 Regardless of the body/housing choice, I am a huge fan of the water contact lenses such as the WWL. I was originally extremely reluctant to accept something so relatively small could perform so well. In short, it really does! As a bonus, the 28-60 lens is small and inexpensive! It’s just a great overall solution that is also easy for travel. The only downside I have found is splits are not an option with the WWL. That may or may not be a concern. It was not for me. Just remember to “burp” (remove and replace) the WWL after you enter the water to make sure there are no hidden bubbles that could throw off your auto focus. Regarding housings, Nauticam certainly has a price tag associated with it, but you already know their quality. As far as the new body, you’re really going to appreciate both the new menu system and substantially better white balance. There are huge improvements in both. UW video with Sony is now much easier, should you decide to do a bit down the road. Enjoy, and let us know what which way you end up

Hey John - no harm at all in holding off. If you like what you have, keep enjoying it! I used my Canon T2i for 11 years and made many great images with it. I too also really enjoyed the smaller APS-C size. Besides, that just means more money for trips! There will always be something new when you’re ready.

@Ido - great cheetah capture! I agree with all regarding the actual photo benefits of upgrading to the Z8 vs. the cost. I’ll throw out a couple other points to consider. As new camera models and housings are released, unfortunately the value and resale opportunities for our current housings are reduced. The older they become, the less we can get in a sale which leads to a higher net upgrade cost. The frequency of use also plays into the equation. If it is used frequently vs. occasionally, the upgrade can be more easily justified. If used infrequently, upgrading is less justifiable. I used one housing for 11 years. It worked great and I did not want to spend the money to upgrade. Like an older car, I just kept using it because it served my needs. When I sold it, I lost 83% compared to the new price, but that was not bad if considered in terms of annual depreciation. I then sold my Sony a7rIV housing when the a7rV came out 2 years later. The rV was not yet widely available and there was still a market for the rIV. I lost 27% in the sale and I found a lightly used a1 housing. I also dive at least twice a month. All combined it made the net upgrade an easy “yes.” The quest for shiny new gear is never ending. With that said, I’ll always pick a trip if it’s a close choice. 😎

Hi Wolfgang, This is completely un-scientific, but here are some images for comparison. You can see FoV, DoF, and brightness differences between them. The camera body is in the same position for both images. Lens: Sony 28-60 at 28mm (manual, f/8, ISO 1250, 1/10) First image: Behind a WACP-C Second image: Lens only I'll let someone else do the actual math. 😀