Mark H

Hi All As some will have read, I had a housing failure that killed my beloved D500 set up. As a result of good insurance I had money to burn and bought myself a Z8. I'm choosing to go with Nauticam this time as Sea&Sea don't have a housing at the moment (and the housing that failed on me was Sea&Sea). I've used Sea&Sea since 2007 but I know nothing of Nauticam and almost as little about Nikon Z full frame cameras. I'm sorted on macro (that is easy - f mount 60mm and z mount 105mm). What I can't work out is wide angle. There isn't anything that replaces my favorite Tokina fisheye and that won't auto focus on the Z8 (nor is it FF). I have a F mount 14-24 f2.8 that I use above water, and a Nikon 8-15mm which is also f mount. Both are very heavy lenses. I'm guessing that these would give me close to what I had and would need the 230mm glass dome (though there are lots and lots of dome options and I'm hedging at glass but as to size 180mm, 230mm and 250mm, I'm thinking the 180mm is too small and the 250mm is too heavy!)? I could buy the Z mount 24-50mm and put it behind a WWL-1B, WWL-C, WACP-1, WACP-1B, WACP-C but not the FCP-1 as I don't have the money nor want the weight of that. On cost the WACP-2 is also way too expensive and heavy. I will be taking this diving all around the world as well as the UK and weight is a major problem, isn't it? Hoping for some advice before contacting vendors as I prefer to vaguely have an idea before being guided down an expensive route. I know good shops don't really do that but it makes me feel a bit better 😆. I hope someone has already trod this path and can shed some light on the optimum route. Cheers Mark

I'm new to Nauticam having always used Sea&Sea (S&S) before. I'm fine working out what I want to do with the macro lenses but I'm stuck on the wide angle. Previously I used a tokina fisheye which I loved. I don't even know what lens to use now never mind what port to use. And some of the nauticam options are eyewateringly expensive like £5k. So I don't really know what works and what doesn't. As a result I'm just going off the charts at the moment. 😞

Ahh, I see it is a WWL-1 not the WWL-1B. Sorry not what I'm after. From nauticams chart I need the B variant.

How much are you asking for it?

Not a million miles away then! We should meet up 🙂

So Feb and March have the best visibility?

Cool. I'm based in Salisbury so if you ever fancy getting together etc. I dive all around the UK and also try and get a holiday or two in abroad. Sadly my d500 housing flooded in August and I've just got the insurance money so have bought a Z8 and now considering my housing options - although Nauticam looks the favourite. End of my diving season so no real rush but can't wait to get the camera so I can become familiar with it topside before taking it into the water.

Are the temps the same in March as Feb? At 24-26 is my 3mm to 5mm cross over point🤪. Thank you for the really useful info so far. I has been really helpful.

It's funny isn't it. Some people run warm and some cold. In the uk I dive a neoprene drysuit and undersuit thermals from 4°C to 18/19°C (that we get in the hottest parts of the summer), my wife has two different weights of undersuit and a thermal battery powered heater vest for anything below 12°C. In warmer water I still need a 5mm in the 20-25°C range and can get away with a 3mm for 24°C and above. Some of my friends get away with just rash vests and suits at +24°C but my wife is in 7mm in 20°C and 5mm up to at least 27/28°C😂. Always be comfortable, as what business is it of anyone else😂.

Great to see another Brit come out of the woodwork 🤩. Are you a UK diver or do you mostly dive abroad?

Again, more useful information, thanks. I've never done blackwater diving. While we have travelled a fair bit it has typically been on liveaboards or UK diving. I'm hoping that retirement means I can get approval to do more obscure types of diving rather than making the best compromise decisions for a week or two week holiday.

That sounds amazing but our holidays mean that it is going to be sometime after January but before mid March. In 2026 I'm hoping to retire in May so I think I'll have to be working in April and the beginning of May. Thank you so much for the kind offer 💗 as it would have been great to meet up with other waterpixelers. I think we are thinking about Raja Ampt in late 2026 if anyone is doing anything then. Then in 2027 we should both me retired and our plan is 3 months a year in Asia diving at our ease as much as we can afford 🤪. Should be able to meet up with others and chance for me to actually learn to take half decent pictures 😂.

Again, another thank you all - especially @Troporobo for a very detailed set of suggestions. I'm so glad I asked. I knew people would have useful information but was nervous about asking such a noob question. The help is really appreciated. I'm more than ever fixed on going to the Philippines. Great pictures from @jlaity and @Luko. Totally envious guys. I think my attempts won't come close to your lovely photos. My wife is now fixated on a "house reef" with ideally a chance to see Mandarin fish at some stage. I'm more take of leave on that - they are pretty but they aren't my first criteria. How difficult is that going to be to achieve? I could be she just want to see Mandarin fish but any house reef will do as long as we get a decent chance to see these colour fish😂.

This sounds a great idea!

No - I didn't even know this was a thing. We typically do liveaboards or stay in given locations. I'll look into it - sounds interesting.