MarkRD

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Hi Terry. Yes, still available, Mark

Following up on my earlier posts, I was able meet up with @Alex_Mustard yesterday and do some further testing. Sadly, the Monster LA-FE2 adapter performed no better with either the AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8 G ED or the Nikkor AF-S Fisheye 8-15mm f3.5-4.5E ED on Alex's Sony A!. Both of these lenses are listed by Monster as compatible. It is of course possible that the adapter I have purchased is faulty but either way, I'm not encouraged to explore this further at present. Of much greater interest to me was trying Alex''s @Isaac Szabo converted RS13mm Fisheye lens (converted to Sony mount) on my Nikon Z8 together with the slim Megadap ETZ21 Pro Sony to Nikon Z adapter. Within the limitations of the dive show environment where we met up, the RS13 autofocus and aperture control both performed very well. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that an RS13 has been used with autofocus and aperture control on a Nikon Z system camera. The Megadap adapter sells for just over £200 in the Uk and about $250 in the US. Now we just need a N120 mount for the RS13mm front element from Isaac and Z system users will have a route to using their old RS13s on their new Nikon mirrorless systems. Watch this space! Mark

The mediocre to poor performance of the Monster LA-FE2 on my Sony may relate at least in part to the age of my A6500 testbed. That camera was brought out 7 years ago and has a different autofocus system from the newest Sonys, but it is explicitly listed by Monster as being compatible with the new adapter. I hope to have the opportunity of testing the new adapter with Alex M on his A1 within the next couple of days. I am optimistic that it will perform better there, but how much better ....? I'll report back. Hoping that stacked Monster/Megadap adapters would work on the Zs was always a long shot, but at least I have shut that down in my mind and for others. I have confirmed that it more or less works physically with N120 housings but that's no help if the combination doesn't do the job.

I had the older Techart TZE-01 adapter that used to work OK with the Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS on my Z7 camera but then after a period of disuse it became non-functional. Like you, I now have the Megadap ETZ-21 Pro and it works well with the Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS and other Sony lenses on my Z8 with both original and 2.0 firmware. I fancy it is a bit quicker and more sure-footed than the old Techart one was before it apparently broke. I plan to have the option of using either the native Nikon Z 24-50 f4-6.3 with 28-50 limiter ring (to avoid image vignetting below 28mm) or the Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS should extra reach be helpful. Although the newer Sony FE 28-60mm F/4-5.6 is not listed on Nauticam's WACP-1 port chart, I imagine it would also work in this application and possibly have slightly better image quality. I would expect the most modern native Z option to deliver the best image quality of these options behind the WACP-1 but the IQ differences may not be great. The old DSLR favourite Nikon AF 28-70 f3.5-4.5D is a screw-drive lens that won't autofocus on Nikon Z cameras. As far as I know, none of the Nikon Z/WACP-1 options allow a greater field of view greater than 130 degrees (28mm lens) so it is just extra reach that one of the Sony zoom lens options would offer.

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New Monster Adapter LA-FE2. Like a few here, my love of a digitally converted Nikonos RS13mm Fisheye on DSLR as a compact high quality and versatile optic has been part of my reason to delay entering the mirrorless world underwater. But time and technology march on. Not wishing to change to a Sony system for reasons partly related to topside shooting I have been thinking about options for deploying the RS13mm on my new Nauticam Z8 system. To work on Z series cameras, firstly an autofocus system is needed that either adapts to the screw-drive focus or replaces it. Secondly, there needs to be camera control of aperture and thirdly there needs to be a mechanical adapter that can connect from the lens to Nauticam’s N120 port system. Isaac Szabo’s conversion of RS13s to work on Sony systems using a donor lens autofocus system and front element separated and mounted on a N100 housing port is reported to work very well for autofocus and aperture control on Sony systems. It is likely that the Megadap ETZ21 PRO adapter would allow Nikon Z cameras similarly to autofocus and control aperture well as the donor lens is listed as compatible with the Megadap adapter. But, as far as I know, Isaac hasn’t yet produced a front element/port that would work on Nauticam’s N120 port system with Z series Nikon cameras. The recently announced Monster Adapter LA-FE2 is the first to contain both aperture and screw-drive autofocus motors and adapts Nikon F mount lenses to Sony cameras. I was therefore interested to explore the performance of this new adapter both on a Sony camera as designed, and stacked with the Megadap adapter on Nikon Zs and I acquired one of the first ones off the production line. First experience of use dry on the bench is not encouraging. I used a Sony A6500 body that is listed as compatible with the Monster adapter and tried five Nikon F-mount lenses familiar to many underwater photographers. · Firstly, the AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8 G ED (internal focus motor) that is listed by Monster as compatible. This did not autofocus at all on the A6500. There was no aperture control and the camera displayed f1.0. · Secondly the AF Nikkor 28-70mm f3.5-4.5D (screw-drive control) that is not on the current Monster compatibility list. This did not autofocus at all on the A6500. There was no aperture control and the camera displayed f1.0 · Thirdly, a Nikon F-mount Tokina 10-17mm f3.5-4.5 DX Fisheye (screw-drive control). This lens is not on Monster’s compatibility list. This did attempt to autofocus using both AFS and AFC, but only occasionally achieved correct focus, generally with close objects. Often the error message “Focus Cancel” was displayed by the A6500. There was no aperture control and the camera reported f1.0. · Fourthly, a Nikkor AF-S Fisheye 8-15mm f3.5-4.5E ED (internal focus motor) that is listed by Monster as compatible. This autofocussed quite well most of the time and the aperture was controllable and reported correctly. However, there were occasions when it all seemed to go wrong and needed to be reset by switching off and back on, sometimes accompanied by remounting the lens. · Finally, the digitally converted Nikkor 13mm RS Fisheye (screw-drive control). This lens did attempt to autofocus in both AFS and AFC. As expected, this water-contact lens was not able to focus on infinity in air but did achieve correct focus on very close objects perhaps half the time. It often moved in small increments and took some time to get to a correct focus point. Aperture control was inconsistent, sometimes working and sometimes not. I then stacked the Monster adapter with the Megadap adapter so producing a unit similar to a Nikon FTZ F-mount to Z-mount adapter but containing a screw-drive autofocus motor. The unit did physically fit within the NA-Z8 housing although the non-removable tripod foot meant that the unit had to be mounted on the camera body before the housing camera saddle was attached. Using my Andrej Bellic made adapter that has bayonets for both for the N120 housing and the RS13mm lens I could mount the lens on my housing and engage with the camera body at the correct distance. However, this arrangement forced the Z8 into manual mode focussing (although there is no manual focus capability on the RS13mm) and there was no aperture control. When removing the RS13mm from the housing I had a period of panic as the housing F-mount release button would not operate and the whole assembly appeared to be seized up. After reflection, I realised that the F-mount release lever on the Monster adapter is in a slightly different position compared with the Nikon FTZ adapter. I was able to get a finger in from the back of the opened housing to depress the lever and release the lens. Panic over. So, at this moment, the Monster adapter is not looking like a good candidate to get the RS13mm underwater on Nikon systems. It is possible that for Sony, better results would have been achieved with one of the more recent full-frame camera bodies but I don’t have access to one to test. I note that Seacam have reported success with their adapted RS13s, the Monster adapter and unspecified Sony cameras – recent full frame ones I suspect. For Nikon I am not surprised that stacked adapters from different manufacturers didn’t work together electronically. It is possible that in future adapter firmware updates will improve compatibility, but I was particularly disappointed that the Sony A6500/Nikon 60mm that are listed by Monster as compatible did not in fact work. I am also concerned that with the lens/adapter combinations that did work there was inconsistency over time as to how well they worked. From my perspective as a Z8 user, hopefully Isaac will come up with an option for adapting the RS13mm for Nikon mirrorless users soon! A screw-drive FTZ adapter from Nikon would be even more welcome but we have waited so many years for such a think from Nikon or a third party that I’m not holding my breath.

Hi Davide, Thanks for the hint!

Lightly used Nauticam housing for Nikon's flagship DSLR. In excellent condition, never flooded and carefully maintained both on and between trips. Exclusively used in warm waters. Everything works as it should. Comes with Nauticam's standard optical trigger and standard viewfinder. Two extra ball mounts installed for additional accessories - focus lights etc.. Comes with Nauticam's push-button vacuum valve installed. Complete in Nauticam's padded carry case. There is minor wear to the anodising on the bottom of the housing. Available in the UK - asking £GB 1950 plus carriage cost. A well-used Nauticam enhanced 45 degree viewfinder may be available separately if needed. This shows some wear to the anodising but is optically excellent and has been recently serviced in the Nauticam factory. A barely used Nauticam enhanced straight viewfinder is available separately. Similarly Nikon D850 body in first class condition may be available separately if needed. IMG_2321.HEIC IMG_2322.HEIC IMG_2323.HEIC IMG_2326.HEIC

Thanks to the new team at Waterpixels who have worked so hard to support our passion

Eric, Wetpixel has helped so many aspiring and established underwater photographers over the years. Hopefully the Wetpixel legacy will live on here at Waterpixels.

Looking forward to seeng this community develop.