Architeuthis

Maybe you should not let stress yourself by this single trip. It seems that up to now you were happily making photos with your A7R3 (If I had an A7R3, I also would consider an upgrade)? If no good bargain shows up, why not wait and make the next trip with the camera you already have and upgrade afterwards? Within the next half year, prices for new A7R6 will drop considerably, as well as Nauticam housings for A7R5 will appear on the second hand market...

I have A7R5 in Nauticam housing. I am very happy with the camera and have no urge to upgrade now. Both A7R5 and (for sure) A7R6 are very capable UW cameras. Even better AF and more DR of A7R6 is certainly tempting.. If buying new, I would go for A7R6, just because of the longer usable span from now (more futureproof). A budget friendly, and also very good, option is to look for a second hand Nauticam housing for R5, maybe together with camera. I guess several people will upgrade now and want so sell (I would not go for a new A7R5 housing now, the price is the same as for R6)... Wolfgang P.S.: I do not have a backup camera at present(sooner or later I will have to acquire a second body, since my over water photography is now restricted to the arrival and the last day before departure of a trip, during the rest of the time the camera is integrated into the setup; having one housing that fits both cameras is certainly an advantage )

PetaPixelThe Sony a7R VI Has the Best Dynamic Range of Any Full-Fr...The Sony a7R VI enters medium-format territory.

Just out of curiosity: in case one would switch from Nauticam (e.g. A7R5) to Marelux A75(R6) housing, would it be possible to mount a single adapter to the Marelux housing and continue to use all Nauticam ports/extensions (and adjust the regular Nauticam extensions for an easy to achieve distance (e.g. +/- 10mm) to compensate for the difference in sensor<->port mount distance)? Which one?

I forgot to mention that Seacam said "This is not possible with a simple adapter", concerning my situation with Nauticam housing for Sony A7R5. I did not measure distances and compare to Seacam ( distance from housing mount to the sensor), but the information from Seacam suggests that the Seacam port, designed for Seacam housing, is too long for adapting to a Nauticam housing for Sony FF... I have no idea about Canon, but probably they will tell you when you ask them...

Just out of curiosity I asked Seacam whether they have tested more lenses/systems for use with OPP, especially Sony FF (I am just curious and not planning to acquire OPP in the near future). I was told that Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GMII works perfect with OPP... They say that the right extension is critical, but they do not support use of their products on other parties housings (I have Nauticam). It should, however, not be a big problem to find out the right extension for an adapter, in case one wants to go rectilinear...

I can highly recommend a mask with glued in optical lenses (not just reading glasses in the lower area. E.g. I have a multifocal, near- sightedness and astigmatism corrected mask and I completely forget UW that my vision is impaired (the 700 Euros for such a mask is worth every cent; I have invested more money in some gear that I do not need/use)... Besides this, any of the optical stores (as e.g. recommended above) that produce such masks will glue you in reading lenses in a mask. You can buy masks with premounted reading glasses, e.g. here: https://www.uwfun24.de/polaris-maske-plus-tauchermaske-schnorchelmaske-mit-nahlesebereich-175-schwarz?etcc_med=SEA&etcc_par=Google&etcc_cmp=PerformanceMax&etcc_grp=&etcc_bky=&etcc_mty=&etcc_plc=&etcc_ctv=&etcc_bde=c&etcc_var=CjwKCAjwrNrQBhBjEiwAoR4VO-JI2bhFrJAjgnr3Czm1TjN7tJcH0QoRjfi5W0SoiVOOKTQ4v0QxXBoC0ZoQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20743095818&gclid=CjwKCAjwrNrQBhBjEiwAoR4VO-JI2bhFrJAjgnr3Czm1TjN7tJcH0QoRjfi5W0SoiVOOKTQ4v0QxXBoC0ZoQAvD_BwE or you can glue in the reading glasses by yourself, such as e.g. here: https://www.tauchversand.com/leseeinsaetze-fuer-jede-tauchmaske-1-75?srsltid=AfmBOooh5axfdLgnt5lieVMdEvn4vJGLUqmJH39IKZekxTNv5EvwAUmaR60 Wolfgang

I fear even the Kenko TC is not possible with native Sony FE lenses. As far as I know, the Kenko TCs are produced only for Nikon and Canon EF, see e.g here: https://kenkoglobal.com/product/teleplus_hd_pro_1_4x_dgx/#specifications

There are several factors: #1.: the prodruding element(s) of the Sony TC(s): the mechanical exception, i.e. TCs that work with almost any lens, are the Kenko TCs, that do not have such protruding elements. Native TCs (Sony, Canon EF, Canon RF, e.g.) have protruding elements that make it impossible to mount the TCs on most lenses, except the lenses for that the TCs have been designed for... #2.: The electronic communication of Sony TCs is often blocked by the firmware, even when the native TC fits mechanically, unless it is a lens that is approved by Sony to work with the native TCs... #3.: An exception is the arrangement Canon EF 8-15mm/Metabones V (Canon-EF to Sony FE)/Sony TC (1.4x or 2x), where the glassless adapter provides the space for the protruding element of the native TC(s) and the camera is communicating without problems with the TC/adapter/lens arrangement (It must be said, however, that this communication could potentially stop to work with any firmware update of the camera)... => It would be great in case it is possible to use the new AF fisheye lens with native Sony TCs, but it would be a very pleasant surprise for me in case it is possible (even if it is possible mechanically and electronically, there remains to be seen how the optical IQ is)... Wolfgang

This is interesting... You say the Sony 2x TC will fit into the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens? In case it fits mechanically and electronically it will be very interesting to see photois made with Sony 1.4x and 2x TCs...

When used as it is, i.e. circular fisheye and/or 180° diagonal fisheye, it is certainly an advantage (in case optical IQ is o.k.). I see no way to use TCs, therefore still no substitute for Canon 8-15mm & adapter...

A review about the older manual focus version came out: https://opticallimits.com/nikon/laowa-8-15mm-f-2-8-ff-zoom-fisheye-review/

The entire setup (camera with Canon 8-15mm fisheye, rectilinear WA lens plus dome/wetlens or macro lens plus port) will be almost the same, no matter whether you mount a real (MFT) camera or the GoPro with its tiny sensor. I find the GoPro with the fixed WA lens interesting for someone who wants a tiny UW camera, the interchangeable MFT lens version is too weak to use it UW as a system camera...

Interesting review... Did you have a chance to test IQ, when MFO-3 is used with the lens & 1.4x TC?

Yes, please ask... I think there are several interested...

I, personally, am not a compact camera UW photographer... This camera looks to be an alternative to the common Sony and Canon compact cameras used UW? https://www.dpreview.com/articles/9011490317/panasonic-l10-2026-tour-controls-changes DivePhotoGuideNauticam Announces Housing for the Panasonic Lumix L10

Can you please give details about the manufacturer and how to order the floats?

I have two HF-1's almost since they came out. At the first dive I was shocked by the torque that the (UW) heavy strobes produced on the rig (Nauticam/Sony A7R5), but coming from Z-330 I was used to place most floats on the inner arms. Since I place more floats on the outer arms no problem any more, everything is fine, no need to overtigthen the clamps... I never considered TTL, but I find it useful that with the Backscatter trigger for Sony I can switch to HSS just by switching the flash from "Manual" to "HSS", without any further adjustment on the camera...

I can only confirm the posts above how useful a 45° viewfinder in combination with EFV of the camera is. No problem with image review UW. The seldom problem I have is, when I intend to make a photo directly 90° downwards (e.g. for "circular" panning). Then I can use the "C1" custom button on my Sony A7R5 to toggle to the screen, but it is better not to use the 45° viewfinder on the rig in such a case, as it is an obstacle for viewing the screen...

Here is a tread about using the Canon 8-15mm f/4 fisheye with TCs: It seems to me that for a Canon FF camera the Kenko Teleplus HD pro 1.4x DGX TC is the best (Kenko also has the Teleplus HD 1.4x DGX TC, but this one is optically inferior): https://kenkoglobal.com/product/teleplus_hd_pro_1_4x_dgx/

PetaPixelSony a7R VI Review: The High-Resolution Camera to Rule Th...Sony's lead in the high-res camera segment has widened significantly.https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-a7r-vi-review

This looks interesting, I never have dared to set my rig up like this... Are there certain conditions/circumstances were you use the "short" configuration vs. long arms (= are the long arms just superfluos ballast)?

The photo shows a dwarf gobi (Pleurosicya micheli) from Mafia Island/Tansania. It has attached two spirals at its side (I have seen such spirals at these dwarf gobies occasionally aready before). What is it (eggs, parasites)? Thanks, Wolfgang Sony A7R5; Sony 90mm f/2.8 macro lens; 1* Backscatter MF-2 flash with snoot; 1/200s; f/20; ISO100.

Here a written review from Alex Mustard on the OPP: https://www.amustard.com/seacam_opp/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRWpYtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF5VlZybEI5M2VkM3Z6VkRVc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrL_VAnrzLArTrNKHmqNk-rDr0RmjPEwp192aXJj4wLj6gI8B89VBYkxx2KB_aem_JeinsEUaFTq2fWVTuFXrHg (Now the question for me is, whether and how I could use the OPP with my Nauticam Sony A7R5 housing and with wich lens - it seems to be a great alternative to the WACP-C... 🙂)

It is the Sony 20-70mm f/4 G lens. It is not of the highest optical quality (Sony labels such lenses with "GM"), but is regarded a decent performer... Here you can find serious over-water reviews of both Sony 20-70mm and the Canon 8-15mm. The reviews state that both lenses are very sharp (but one cannot directly compare the absolute values in lp/mm, since the Canon values were measured on a completely different camera/sensor): https://www.lenstip.com/643.1-Lens_review-Sony_FE_20-70_mm_f_4_G_Introduction.html https://www.lenstip.com/311.1-Lens_review-Canon_EF_8-15_mm_f_4_L_Fisheye_USM_Introduction.html My "ratings" of the UW performance of different lens/port/water contact optics combinations are based on dozends, sometimes hundreds of dives and are completely subjective. No test carts and/or measurements, motifs and conditions are always different. It is a pity that the companies that develop and sell domeports and water contact optics do not make their measurements/test chart photos, that they certainly have, accessible to the potential customers (I suspect they have reasons)... Here links to some UW photos I made with Sony 20-70mm and some other combinations discussed here: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/threads/sample-photos-from-sony-20-70mm-f-4-and-a7r5-uw.4724115/ https://www.dpreview.com/forums/threads/canon-8-15mm-fisheye-lens-with-sony-2x-tc-on-sony-a7r5-sample-photos-part-1.4779356/ https://www.dpreview.com/forums/threads/canon-8-15mm-fisheye-lens-with-sony-2x-tc-on-sony-a7r5-sample-photos-part-2.4779452/ https://www.dpreview.com/forums/threads/canon-8-15mm-fisheye-lens-with-sony-2x-tc-on-sony-a7r5-sample-photos-part-3.4779455/ No, I never used them. I could spot several WACP-1s at UW photography workshops and immediately was sure that I do not want to deal with such big staff (I find the "compact" WACP-C version already big and heavy enough)...