AlexUW26

I followed your advice and bought the A7R VI, the Nauticam housing is arriving this week! There’s also a small chance that the A7 IV will fit the same housing after comparing them side by side, but I’ll have to test it when I get the housing. The next step is choosing the right lens, haha. I’m currently still torn between the WACP-C with the Sony 28–60 kit lens, or going with the larger 230mm dome port. The dome would let me use the 16–35mm f/2.8 GM II that I already own, and it would also work with the Canon 8–15mm fisheye. It’s definitely the more expensive option, but it offers a lot more flexibility underwater, at the cost of a lot of extra weight. Could also use the smaller dome but that's not a good option for the 16-35...

Has your opinion changed after doing this review? I’m about to pick up my new underwater housing setup for my Sony A7R VI and already own the 16–35mm f/2.8 GM II, so I could use that behind a dome port. However, I’ve been leaning more toward the WACP-C with the kit lens. A dome is quite a hassle to travel with, but if the image quality is noticeably better behind a dome, as you suggest in your review, I may reconsider.

For those who have shot both the WACP-C and the WWL-1B, have you noticed any difference in flare resistance or overall image quality? I'm particularly interested in situations with the sun in or near the frame. Does one handle flare and ghosting better than the other, or are they fairly similar in real-world underwater use?

For those shooting the Sony A7R V underwater (or a similar Sony system), have you run into any issues using Lossy/Compressed RAW? In particular, have you noticed banding, lines, posterization, or other artifacts in blue water backgrounds when editing files, especially after significant white balance or exposure adjustments? Or has it been a complete non-issue in real-world underwater use? I'm asking mainly in the context of fast-action subjects such as the sardine run or Magdalena Bay, where shooting in Compressed RAW allows 10 fps, compared to 7 fps with Uncompressed or Lossless Compressed RAW. I'd be interested to hear whether anyone has seen any image quality compromises underwater that would outweigh the benefit of the higher frame rate.

Do you guys know if there’s any difference in image quality between the WWL-1B and the WACP-C, particularly when it comes to flare? Or is it the same?

Great image!

So you'd take a fisheye for whales? I always thought it was better not to go too wide with large pelagics. I photographed orcas and whales in Norway with my 16–35mm, and that worked well. Sure, there were moments when it wasn't quite wide enough, but at the same time the animals were often farther away than expected. I don't really know how close they typically get in French Polynesia, though. I don't have a huge amount of experience shooting whales...

Yeah that's a great point :)

Yeah, the wider field of view is definitely nice, but from what I've seen, the image quality itself doesn't seem dramatically better, maybe better around the corners. For something that costs €3k+, I'd expect a much more noticeable improvement compared to the regular domes. The comparison images I've seen, especially in situations shooting against the sun, don't really convince me that the image quality is significantly better, but maybe I am wrong...

Hey man, thanks for sharing these images. Those flares look pretty nasty. I am seriously considering the WACP-C as an all-round lens, but after seeing this, I might go with the traditional dome port and 16–35mm setup instead. Does this happen every time you shoot toward the sun? I actually enjoy shooting into the sun when using strobes because it creates great sunballs, so I'm wondering how much of an issue this is in practice. Hey man, thanks for sharing these images. Those flares are pretty brutal. I was seriously considering the WACP-C as an all-round lens, but after seeing this, I might go with the traditional dome port and 16–35mm setup instead. Does this happen every time you shoot toward the sun? I actually enjoy shooting into the sun when using strobes because it creates great sunballs, so I'm wondering how much of an issue this is in practice? Hey man, thanks for sharing these images. Those flares look pretty nasty. I am seriously considering the WACP-C as an all-round lens, but after seeing this, I might go with the traditional dome port and 16–35mm setup instead. Does this happen every time you shoot toward the sun? I actually enjoy shooting into the sun when using strobes because it creates great sunballs, so I'm wondering how much of an issue this is in practice. Hey man, thanks for sharing these images. Those flares are pretty brutal. I was seriously considering the WACP-C as an all-round lens, but after seeing this, I might go with the traditional dome port and 16–35mm setup instead. Does this happen every time you shoot toward the sun? I actually enjoy shooting into the sun when using strobes because it creates great sunballs, so I'm wondering how much of an issue this is in practice?

Hey Romik, thanks for the great feedback and great video! I actually have an extra camera that I can use for a top-down shot, so maybe the WACP-C would be the best option after all? :)

Hey Chip, Thanks for the great feedback. It’s good to hear that flare isn’t a major issue. May I ask when you tend to use your dome instead of the WACP-C, and vice versa?

thanks for you response. Why did you get rid of the WACP-C?

Hey Chris, Thanks for the great feedback. I like the fisheye option, but since it's not a native Sony lens and requires adapters, I'm a bit hesitant. I was also thinking that with whales, having the flexibility and extra reach of a 16–35mm could be really useful? So, to summarize: if you were heading to French Polynesia specifically for whale photography, what would your lens choice be? I'll also be going to Fakarava afterwards to dive the Wall of Sharks, so I'm trying to find the best overall setup for the trip.

With my Ikelite large dome, the reflections were quite bad. Even if I covered the text on the lens, I would still get noticeable flare when shooting towards the sun. If the WWL handles flare well, though, wouldn't the WACP-C perform similarly? Or are there some optical differences between them that affect flare resistance? I was under the impression that their image quality was very comparable.