Walt Stearns

This extension ring is Nauticam’s newest model with the locking mechanism on the outside for easier removal of the front port while still attached to the housing. Nauticam has recently introduced a new user installable Focus Knob (SKU: # na-22151) purposely designed to fit this extension. This extension ring has only been used once as a demo so it comes in basically new condition with no cosmetic wear. Functions completely as intended. Includes rear cap and spare O-ring. Selling price ($550.00 USD) which covers shipping in the USA. Buyers outside the of the US will need to cover postage cost.

Having a look at Seacam’s new Optical Precision Port (OPP) at DEMA, the size and weight of the show’s sample model (built for Nikon’s F mount AF-S 16-35mm) overall is much lighter than Nauticam’s WACP and FCP ports. The flat front on its own has a similar weight range as one of Seacam’s macro ports. The extension port is made of Delrin which is lighter than aluminum. The internal optical that screws in the filter thread (72mm, 77mm & 82mm will be the three primary thread sizes available) of your wide-angle prime or wide-angle zoom in the 16-35mm range weighs about the same as a Nuaticam SMC super macro lens. The extension ring for the front port will be provided in different lengths based on the wide-angle lens you are using with the OPP’s internal correction lens. For example, if your wide-angle happens to be something like Sony’s E-mount FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G Lens or FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G Lens, the OPP’s overall assembled weight and size will be less than that of a 180mm to 230mm domeport with an extension.

Since I will be attending the DEMA Show in Orlando Florida this week I will be sure to swing by the Seacam booth to have a look (provided they bring one) at this new lens to see what it is all about.

You still have it?

I have a Kraken Sports Macro Pro Series KRL-05S +6 M67 Diopter that has been used only a few times (see photos). The KRL-05S +6 (designed to fit M67 size port threads) provides a high magnification of +13 with an overall image quality on par with similar lenses like the Nauticam and AOI. Underwater Achromatic Close-up Lens Construction: 4 Elements 3 Groups Compatible Camera (Up to): Sensor size 36mmx24mm (135mm Full Frame) Camera Lens: 60mm-105mm Diopter (Underwater Focal Length): +6 (166.67mm) $135 USD with free shipping in the USA.

I would be over the moon if Nikon would make a Z series 15-24mm Fisheye zoom. But, that's just a dream since they don't seem interested in making any kind of fisheye lens.

I have made attempts at using the Nikon Z 1.4 Teleconverter with the Megadap Canon EF to Z Adapter with a Canon 8-15 Fisheye on my Nikon Z8. I went even as far as removing the filth lug the receiving end of the Nikon Z 1.4 Teleconverter so that anything with Z mount would properly fit it. The reasoning for Megadap’s EF to Z adapter was that the inside was large enough out of the box to accommodate the protruding element on the Z 1.4 Teleconverter. The end result, I could not make it happen. Every time I turned on the camera, I would get a message that this was an unacceptable lens with a blacked viewfinder and rear LCD. My guess is that there is something in the electronics that prevents it from being compatible outside of a select group of Nikon lenses.

This combo - Canon EF f/2.8 15mm fisheye / Kenko TELEPLUS HD pro 1.4x DGX Teleconverter for Canon EF / Fringer EF-NZ II adapter – does work on a Nikon Z8 but don’t expect the Canon 15mm fisheye to be super responsive as the lens motor not a silent wave type like the Canon and Nikon 8-15mm fisheyes.

From personal experience, I too have a converted Nikonos R-UW 13mm. When I made the switch to the Nikon Z8, I found that the options to use any teleconverters went out the window. Even Kenko’s TELEPLUS HD pro 1.4x DGX Teleconverter for Nikon F lens, which features the screw drive older F series lenses did not provide auto focus support with any F to Z model lens adapter currently on the market. To get my 13mm to work fully on my Z8’s I had to have the lens modified once more by Isaac Szabo to a Sony E mount, then mating it with a Megadap ETZ21 Pro Sony E-Mount Lens to Nikon Z-Mount Autofocus Adapter to get everything to work as it should. Even after doing that, the option of employing a teleconverter of any make or model is still off the table.

Yes, Monster Adapter now has the LA-FE2 - Nikon F-mount lenses to Sony E-mount cameras adapter with AF motor built-in for Sony users, and they do have a Nikon F to Z mount coming. The one thing I see as a potential problem is where the motor to drive these older lenses as at the bottom that could prevent it being used in some underwater housings.

Switching over to full frame mirrorless, the one thing that becomes apparent is that neither Canon, Nikon nor Sony have yet to produce a dedicated fisheye lens for their line. And, unless you are fine with manual functioning lenses, third party manufactures have nothing really to cheer about. If you’re a Nikon shooter using any the Z model bodies, you might think your only option is Nikon’s F mount AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED lens with the Nikon FTZ II F to Z lens adapter. In case you are not aware, Nikon’s AF 16mm Fisheye relies on the screw mount auto focus to drive to drive the lens, which renders it as a manual focus lens with the FTZ II F to Z lens adapter, or anybody’s F to Z adapter for that matter. This brings me to the Canon option. Canon, like Nikon has EF f/4 8-15mm fisheye lens with an equally beautiful set of options. And just like Nikon, their lens was originally made for their EOS line DSLR bodies with the EF mount. The reason I am addressing this lens is that they appear to be more readily available on both the new and preowned market than Nikon’s 8-15. Should the price tag be too rich for you, I suggest looking into a secondhand Canon EF f/2.8 15mm fisheye, which unlike Nikon’s 16mm fisheye, the auto focus motor is built into the lens. Whether you go Canon 8-15 f/4 or the 15 f/2.8 15mm fisheye, there is several Canon EF Lens to Nikon Z-Mount adapter with auto focus support to choose from. The two most promising is the Fringer EF-NZ II adapter followed by the Megadap EFTZ21. Having a Canon EF f/2.8 15mm fisheye on hand, both appeared to allow the lens to work as close as you can get natively with full auto focus and aperture support on my Z8. To make thinks a little more interesting, both the lens and adapter combos appear to work just as well when I included a Kenko TELEPLUS HD pro 1.4x DGX Teleconverter for Canon EF with a slightly better nod going to the Fringer model. How this Canon EF f/2.8 15mm fisheye / Kenko TELEPLUS HD pro 1.4x DGX Teleconverter / Fringer EF-NZ II adapter performs optically behind a dome port underwater is something I look forward to doing in the very near future.

My personal website waltstearns.com is up along with a completely revamped Wakatobi Blog site - Wakatobi Flow - https://blog.wakatobi.com which I am currently reloading revised content on to.

Jordi, to answer your question, the Megadap ETZ21 Pro adapter works well enough for the job with Sony E mount lenses. I I recently had some auto focus lag on my Z8 but after updating the Megadap firmware that problem went away.

In regard to using Sony E mount lenses on a Nikon Z8 body, I having been using a Megadap ETZ21 Pro Sony E-Mount Adapter for my recently converted F mount Nikonos RS 13mm to a Sony E mount. Even with the latest Firmware update to 2.01 this setup has continued to work very well with no errors on my two Nikon Z8 bodies. Back when I made this change, I found that Neewer model NW-ETZ Pro Autofocus Adapter for FE/E-Mount Lens to Nikon Z-Mount Cameras to functioned well enough for consideration as a second option. As for Viltrox’s latest AF Adapter for E-Mount lenses on Nikon Z mount bodies, I would hold off unless you are willing to play crash test dummy. Looking at reviews on other Viltrox Lens Adapters, their ratings have been less than stellar.

Here is one of mine – www.underwaterjournal.com I am currently finishing up my photo website which I expect to release Dec 1st, 2024