dentrock

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I think there is still a fair weight advantage to a dome with the 16-25 lens. Some weights (kitchen scales): Nauticam 180 dome 1183g. N 140 dome 668g. N100-120 35 adap 313g. N100-120 25 adap 183g. N120 35 ext II 267g. I have tested the lens with both domes: 140 + 25 adap + 35 ext = 1118g. 180 + 35 adap + 35 ext = 1763g. Surprisingly, there is no discernible difference in central IQ between both domes, with f11 giving good sharpness into the corners (sharp across a 30mm circle, viewed at 100%).

Thanks heaps for the reference! I'm digesting it... while I enjoy reading about other systems, it's how to get the best from domes that interests me most, since I already own them and mine are smaller and lighter than the fascinating Seacam optics.

The 90 or 100 may be better for pure macro, but they certainly are not better as general purpose lenses. As a fish nerd I confirm the 50 is better for that, plus it is macro capable. That is the point! It is also the only macro option with AF in this focal length for Sony. I am happy to trade some AF issues for the incredible sharpness and detail I get right across the frame, in my particular application with the dome. It is also light weight and good for the survey work I do, which requires you to use a clip board and quickly take photos of any mobile invert or fish you can't immediately identify, for ID later on. Another advantage of this setup is I can exchange the 50 for any of: Tamron 35, Sigma 24 and 17, with no need to change the port or extension. I don't use it with a flat port, and the dome rules out water contact optics. It is of no interest to me whether anyone else takes the same approach, but I suggest if anyone is interested, there are plenty of used examples out there (although new is cheap when on special), so it's easy to try out, and move on if you don't like the results. And many members will have enough ports and accessories to do this without further expense. Anyway, enough of this. To be blunt, if you can't get some good results with this lens, it is not the lens' fault!

Very interesting clip. But at approx 4.40 he says 'we increase the depth of field enormously'... 'so you can focus on the glass'. I would love to see some hard data on this DoF increase.

That's your opinion. I don't share any of it, just as you don't share mine. And FYI, no need to mis-quote me. I didn't say the 50 struggles with ALL small subjects. I said some, eg. thin ones. With other small subjects it is usually bang on, straight away, esp with a focus light in dark conditions. No different to other macro lenses in that regard. Best if we agree to disagree. Still on semantics? First camera Nikonos I (actually it wasn't called a "I", just Nikonos...). I still have it. My Nikonos III came much later...

I doubt you have been shooting longer! But let's not get into semantics. The options you mention are not available for Sony. The Sony 50 is the only macro of approx that focal length with AF, available for Sony FF. A 105 (or 90) is irrelevant to the discussion. I never said the 50 was perfect - it isn't, so I spelt out some issues I have experienced. But at the price, small size, and sharp optics it's a good option for Sony users for a lightweight rig capable of handling subjects from about 20mm up to about 1.5m in good viz. I should add that my tests with the dome are all worst case scenario (without a focus light, including in the rather dim Lembeh Straits). Adding a focus light will improve the AF! I post my results to correct misinformation or perhaps help others with less experience form their opinions. This lens is a dog - for you maybe, but not for me!

Update for US buyers: I had someone from the US enquire, so I did a bit more research. I found: Good news: if it's over USD 800, buyer pays the tariff (not me) (tariff applies) Very bad news: when sending the item, I have to fill out a customs declaration form which goes to US Customs. On that I have to enter a product code. The closest is 'optical goods', but guess what, they are a prohibited import (no doubt to protect the US' huge camera industry)! I can't risk entering another code and having US Customs reject and return the item. So dear US buyers, if there's somewhere outside the US I can ship to for you, that might work; but otherwise... can't do.

It isn't. And I have, let's see, + 30 years underwater experience with Nikon's 60 micro (and before that the 55 micro) for comparison. Each to their own, but sounds like a user issue here.

Mostly disagree with negative comments about Sony 50 macro, at least with newer cams. I use it with a 140 dome (aka "curved port") plus 25mm ext with A7CR and A7RV and results are exceptionally sharp right across the frame. AF is reasonable, with some mis-focusing on small targets, especially thin ones. Robust ghost pipefish can be a problem, and for some reason it hates focusing on the heads of ribbon eels!! (Took many trys to get a decent pic). But for everything else, no problem. I don't know how the AF with A7CII compares to A7CR? Also, for what it's worth, in practice I don't notice a difference with the smaller viewfinder with my A7CR (compared to VF of A7RV). I keep trying to see that difference... but I can't. Both are fine without external viewfinders, although if you are only shooting macro, a 45 degree VF might be a good idea. Which is why I have my A7RV housing up for sale! (buying both was a silly idea)

Doesn't sound travel friendly if those weights are correct...

I have adjusted the price as follows: For Australian buyers, or anyone who can visit to inspect and pickup: AUD 4500, and I will include postage within Australia and Paypal fees if applicable (housing is in Geelong, Victoria). For overseas buyers (excluding US), have to check, but I think I can throw in shipping by air (is that airing?), plus insurance, plus Paypal fees for AUD $5000. If there are any duties you have to pay at your end, that would be your responsibility. For US buyers, I can't keep up with what taxes you now have to pay. For AUD 5000 I can throw in shipping by air, insurance and Paypal fees, but if I have to pay your taxes as the sender, as was suggested a few months ago, that would have to be extra. Same applies to anything else you pay at your end. A good deal at the above, given the low value of the AUD against other currencies.

Done approx. 30-35 dives. No scratches because I fitted a simple tray to protect the back (see photo). Always carefully rinsed and water blown off after each dive. I can throw in the tray…! M14 Vacuum Valve (fitted) and Sony manual LED flash trigger included, along with original bag, tools, pump, body cap, O ring and grease etc. See photos. Reason for selling: I upgraded from Sony APS-C to FF and bought an A7CR and housing, which I was quite happy with. I wanted a 2nd camera so I bought the A7RV, and then thought I might as well get a 2nd housing for it. But for me, weight is really important, and I found myself nearly always choosing the A7CR rig, which is 1.1 kg lighter than the A7RV rig. So although the A7RV + housing are demonstrably better designed / have more features, the fact is I don’t notice any appreciable shooting difference underwater. So while I don’t have to sell the A7RV housing, I don’t need it either. Prices: at the time of placing this ad, Backscatter and Nauticam websites list the housing at USD 4800, flash trigger USD 330, vac valve USD 240; total USD 5370. I am asking AUD 5000 total, which is USD 3300 at 0.66. Other items which will be for sale if anyone is interested: my A7RV body (VGC with low shutter count) – I would keep it but it makes more sense to buy a 2nd A7CR body; Nauticam N120 8.5” dome in good condition.

Admin dudes: any chance of pinning this topic? I'm finding it super useful. I haven't printed anything for over 10 years and have forgotten whatever I learnt about colour management. And my spider is sure to be useless now. But I'm feeling a renewed printing urge coming on! While we are at it, could the printing gurus suggest a user-friendly Mac compatible spider, which works with all types of displays, please? Might as well get some thoughts on underwater photo-friendly displays too! Say, mid-range prices? Many thanks in advance...!

Doubles the focal length of the attached lens with a 2 stop light loss. Operability is retained. Compatible with a range of full frame and APS-C lenses. Weight: 207g. Includes original paperwork, box, caps and pouch as shown. Price: AUD 525 ono.

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I use my 90 with 25 adapter (N100-N120) + 20mm ext + 60mm macro port, which is spot on. For the 100 I could add 20 by using 35mm adapter + 30mm ext... (All Nauticam stuff). Does anyone know if it is internal focusing?

As a comparison to Chris photo, here is a pic of possibly the same fish, taken at the same site (Tandurusa) about a week earlier, using Sony 50 macro with 140 dome (A7RV) - similar field of view. No cropping, in fact no adjustments at all (yet) although I will process it slightly when I get around to it.

This is Laowa’s first autofocus (AF) lens, and it’s a beauty, with ultra-wide rectilinear coverage (130 degrees on full frame Sony) and fast, accurate and reliable autofocus. It supports all the latest Sony subject detection and tracking modes. The fastest 10mm full frame lens available. Close focusing to 12cm. 77mm filter thread, compact and light weight. Close to zero distortion (Zero-D). Selling only because I’m not using it as much as I thought I would. So it’s in perfect condition with original box, paperwork, caps etc and would suit a new buyer. New price approximately AUD $1450 in major camera stores. Asking AUD $1000. Will consider sensible offers. Note to US buyers: atm we can't post parcels from Australia. When the dust settles and the postal service resumes, the asking price will not include any pre-paid tariffs that apply (possibly 10% from Australia, but who knows...).

Not sure what you mean by "dome centre" but as a starting point for calculating extensions, the lens entrance pupil (EP) should be aligned with the optical centre of the dome. Almost no domes are full hemispheres, so the optical centre is somewhere behind (camera side of) the port mounting flange. To find exactly where means calculating the actual radius of your dome, if the manufacturer won't tell you. In terms of dome thickness, I don't think it matters much whether you measure the radius from inside or outside the dome... With a properly aligned dome and wide angle rectilinear FF lenses up to say 105 degrees FOV, you should be able to get sharpness across the frame to the far edges of the FF format at f11-13, leaving only a little corner softness. That's with Nauticam 140 and 180 domes. Wider lenses will need larger domes for decent results, OR go fisheye and you can have your small domes with good results. With narrower normal focal length macro lenses behind domes, you can get sharpness right into the extreme corners from f8; something that is impossible with flat ports at any aperture.

Thanks to all for your replies. I will definitely ask the dive guides if I can visit places with rubbish! I will bring 35 and 50 lenses with 140 dome to get close but with background context. And 105 with flat port for the small stuff. I will be at Murex 6-21 Sep, so perhaps we might cross paths, Chris!

I'm heading to Lembeh for two weeks in September, staying with Murex Lembeh. I want to photograph the interactions of the muck dive critters with rubbish, if that's possible (how they live in it, what they do with it etc). Can anyone comment on whether the usual muck dives will showcase critters with rubbish? (OK, unusual question, I know, I know)? The answer will affect what lenses / ports I bring, as I wish to include the rubbish as background in the photos of the critters! Thanks in advance for any comments, and as background, I just returned from a week near Tulamben (Bali). Great muck diving, but no critters in or with rubbish (not much rubbish actually, apart from occasional soft plastics).

Out of curiosity, I compared the mounted dimensions of my 140 "curved port" + 25mm adapter, with as far as I can work out from the photos, the dimensions of the originally suggested N100 4" port #37122, plus the suggested 16mm extension. There is nothing in it, meaning the 140 is just as compact (if not more so) than the 4" rig. Plus the 140 may be slightly easier to light (i.e. getting the strobes correctly positioned) for extreme close-ups, and it doesn't place the lens further from the subject (appears to be slightly closer). So no need to chase the 4" port for normal FOV macro (say, 35 to 60mm).

Not a bad review. Worth mentioning again for Nauticam users that the zoom ring for the 24-50 fits the 16-25 perfectly (I just checked and Nauticam port chart still doesn't include the 16-25). Out of curiosity, did you try this lens with 140 dome? Your review only mentions the 180. I found I got slightly better corners with the 140 cf the 180 Nauticam domes. I don't know why that could be so I will retest to check.

Couple of things: The Zeiss 50mm Touit is a better lens for APS-C than Sony 50 macro. Faster focusing, but you need A6400 or newer to get the best out of it. Make sure you get the updated firmware thru Zeiss (FOC) if you have the original V1. Otherwise it won't work properly with flash. It also has internal focus and is narrower so will easy fit inside N85 accessories, so better in every way. Buy used (too expensive new). Second point: I opened up a 36125 N85 port by approx 0.5mm to fit a Samyang 12mm. I used a cheap rotary sanding attachment in a drill press (has flip up bits of sanding paper, so good for sanding inside a tube). I packed the inside of the dome first with a rag. When finished, wash the dome carefully. Don't wipe with tissues!