Architeuthis

When comparing the working distances between Sony 90mm and 100mm macro lenses it is required to compare working distances at comparable magnifications (e.g. 1:1) in order to compare the effect of close focussing on focal length. As you write, the working distance of the 100mm lens is shorter compared to the 90mm lens, but this is at magnification 1.4:1 instead of 1:1. Only when the working distance of the 100mm lens at 1:1 is shorter compared to the 90mm lens, focal length of the 100mm lens is in fact smaller at 1:1 magnification... It seems that in practice the way to increase magnification beyond 1.4x with the new macro lens is to use the TCs rather than diopters (Moreover, the working distances at high magnifications become sweet as sugar with TCs 😋)...

I am another fully satisfied HF-1 owner, but I cannot compare to the other strobes you mention (Retra, Subtronic). When I cokpare to the strobes I was using previously (Z330, YS-D2), the HF-1s are a big upgrade (power and also the 4500K diffusers).. HF-1 works very well also for macro (a special optical snoot is under development as Backscatter confirmed recently). It is, however, big and one may wish to have smaller strobes for macro... On my last trip in September, where it was possible to transport all gear by car, I had two MF-1 plus two MF-2 (one with snoot) with me. The MF-2s for macro. After few dives I switched to MF-1s, even for macro, as the MF-2s were too weak for my tase... On my next trip that starts November 12nd and is "lugagge-sensitive", I will take with me two HF-1 plus one MF-2 with snoot (probably the last trip with MF-2; when the HF-1 snoot will come out, I probably will also use HF-1 for snooting; another option is purchasing a Retra LSD for one of our five Z330s and then take the Z330 as a spare and for macro)... Wolfgang P.S.: I am using A7R5 in Nauticam housing, 90mm macro lens +/- SMC1, Canon8-15mm fisheye +/- 2x TC, WACP-C with 28-60mm and Sony 20-70mm behind Zen DP170.

I am another fully satisfied HF-1 owner, but I cannot compare to the other strobes you mention (Retra, Subtronic). When I cokpare to the strobes I was using previously (Z330, YS-D2), the HF-1s are a big upgrade (power and also the 4500K diffusers).. HF-1 works very well also for macro (a special optical snoot is under development as Backscatter confirmed recently). It is, however, big and one may wish to have smaller strobes for macro. On my last trip, where it was possible to transport all gear by car, I had two MF-1 plus two MF-2 (one with snoot) with me. The MF-2s for macro. After few dives I switched to MF-1s, even for macro, as the MF-2s were too weak for my tase... On my next trip that starts November 12nd, I will take with me two HF-1 plus one MF-2 with snoot (when the HF-1 snoot will come out I probably will also use HF-1 for snooting)... Wolfgang P.S.: I am using A7R5 in Nauticam housing, 90mm macro lens +/- SMC1, Canon8-15mm fisheye +/- 2x TC, WACP-C with 28-60mm and Sony 20-70mm behind Zen DP170.

I jumped to Apple (14", M1Pro, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD) when I retired almost 3 years ago and these M processors became available (In my profession I needed some programs that exclusively ran with Windows PC, no chance for Apple). It was a leap forward when working with LR and PS, I never looked back (although the reliability/stability of MacOS in general, reminds me at the earlier stages of windows 🫤)... I am using this laptop during travelling and also at home (at home I have a second calibrated monitor for photo processing). The laptop is still perfect for me for travelling - no complaints for standard procedures... At home I frequently use the new AI functions of LR and PS (e.g.: denoise in LR and also the backscatter removal by Erin Quingley in PS). Then the M1 chip comes to its limitations (amost 1' for AI denoising in LR or backscatter removal in PS; 61 Mpixel raw files). I read that the new M5 chip is the first of this series that has special hardware, that accelerates AI functions. I guess the time ripens to upgrade (the bottleneck is AI, all other performance is totally o.k.), but no hurry, I easily can wait for M5Pro or M6Pro... Just for travelling, for me, any Mx laptop would do it (small 14" for better fit into the backback), but I like the "Pro" because it has multiple slots, including a card reader (the "Air" versions are quite spartanic with just a single USB-C slot and I would nee dto carry an adapter with me (also o.k. but better "Pro")). When buying new, however, I would not go for an older model, the newest hardware is the most futureproof and will serve the longest time (buy cheap, buy twice...)... Wolfgang

Maybe I give my wife to the guide, but never my camera...😄

I totally agree what regards viewing the photos on a calibrated monitor that has wider gamut than sRGB (BenQ SW270c in my case). aRGB gives better colors... When it comes to send the photos to a service for printing out, it depends on the service (most have just sRGB or similar and do not not provide a color profile; high end publishers have better printing devices and provide color profiles - aRGB is preferable in such a case). When I process and view my photos in aRGB and use such a simple service, the end results are less predictable and deviate more from the photo I see in aRGB on the monitor, compared to processing and sending in sRGB. Therefore I prefer to process and send in sRGB, the end result is just more close to what I see on the monitor... => Anyway the greatest step for me was switching to a calibrated monitor. Before using a calibrated monitor the end results were pretty unpredictable...

I want to say that there is no need to use domes other than made for Nauticam. Acryl ports are cheaper and optical glass ports are heavier and more expensive, but more durable and have better resistance to flare. Both are offered for Nauticam system as well at similar pricing compared to S&S (no adapter needed)... In addition to what Chris is writing, there is the option to use fisheye lenses (you write that WWL is often not wide enough). They offer widest angle and work with small and light ports (Zen 100mm or Nauticam 140mm), but they are not recommended for rectilinear lenses as e.g. your 12-50mm (I read repeatedly, however, that some people are using these hemispherical fisheye ports also for rectilinear WA lenses; My guess would be that e.g. your 12-50mm, at 12mm, works better behind 100mm domeport compared to planport in case the extension is the right length (at 50mm there should be no IQ difference compared to planport, but 50mm remains 50mm instead of getting longer because of "diving-mask" effect that the planport has)). Either native 8mm, as Zuiko, or Canon 8-15mm adapted work very well behind Zen 100 domeport for MFT cameras. (The Canon version is not the cheapest, but offers widest fisheye AND practically replaces the need for WWL since offering zoom out capability as well; this combo is clearly smaller and probably also lighter compared to WWL)... Wolfgang

I guess it is one of the custom made ones, see here: https://sagadive.com/en/trabajos-a-medida/#

For people that already use the Sony 90mm macro lens a reasonable alternative will be to continue to use the old 105 macroport and use the Saga N100 20mm (maybe even the 18mm) extension that Alex was mentioning (105+20=125). For the 1.4x TC the available N100 35mm extension will probably be perfect...

Thank you for this very interesting report Luko (and, of course, also Caolla and RomiK). Very helpful, since I am planning a stay in April 2026 in Sali Bay (great forum here)... Can it be that the traveling time was not perfect and bad visibility and other shortcomings from there (I read that optimum time for Halmahera is October to April)? I have mixed feelings now after reading, but taken together Sali Bay still looks o.k. (?) ... (Are there suggestions for similar, but "better", diving experience in April?) Thanks, Wolfgang

Thank you for the valuable information. At least a 20mm N100 extension from Saga is available. Together with the 35mm N100 extension from Nauticam this should be perfect for people like me, who already have a N100 105 macroport and want to use the 100mm lens as it is and with the 1.4xTC. MAYBE even your 16mm N100 extension may work with the 105 macroport for housing the pure lens (17,4mm is required for the 1.4xTC, but maybe the additional 1.4mm are covered by the 105 macroport?)? Can you please check this, when you have the lens? Wolfgang

I hope Nauticam will bring the N100 20mm extension, that Alex writes to exist already, to the market (would give exactly the same 125mm extension together with the 105 macroport for the Sony 90mm). Together with the already available 35mm N100 extension the 105 macroport will be perfect for the 100mm macro & 1.4xTC as well (140mm and 2x magnification (! 😋) - I guess the 1.4xTC may well become my standard config since it comes close to the bare Zuiko 60mm that I liked a lot during my MFT days)... P.S.: I, personally have still time to wait and see what happens. Next scuba holiday to Tansania will start on November, 12nd, and hence is too early for the new lens and the next will only be in early 2026...😊 (I hope Alex will get the lens in time for his next workshop and I am very curious what he will report)

New Nauticam macroport? Is it for the Sony 100mm lens? I do not see it on the Nauticam (USA) homepage (and also not the 20mm N100 extensions)...

PetaPixelSony 100mm f/2.8 Macro G Master Review: Close to PerfectSony has finally revamped its main macro lens, and the feature-rich new 100mm lens is worth a much closer look.

Right, thank you, 89 is a typo (cannot correct anymore) - diameter of the 90mm is 79mm...