Lens Suggestions for NEX-6

So after a trip to South Africa with Andy Murch and a bunch of other serious photographers, I made the initial plunge and have invested in a Sony NEX-6 and a Nauticam housing for it. I would really appreciate everyone's help in selecting the right lens/dome layout. I was thinking the new Sony 10-18 wideangle lens with flat dome port OR the 16mm prime lens w/ fisheye dome port.

I'll be shooting primarily in California, between SD and Monterey. Thanks for your help!

if you go with the 10-18mm you will want a dome, not a flat port. Nauticam make a 7in dome for that lens. For wide angle its either that or the 16mm + fish eye adapter + dome port. I've not seen enough of the 10-18 underwater to judge. but those are your options

For macro....

I've been using a 30mm for macro, but others here are using the 18-55mm kit lens behind a flat port + wet diopter with good results (can't do it now, but have a search in the Digital SLR forum). 30mm is ok, but not really great for anything approaching super macro. think more fish portraits, instead. i've seen more magnification out of the 18-55mm + diopter.

Ah, ok - I couldn't find it on BackScatter's site or on Nauticam's site, but it does appear in their dome selection PDF for the 10-18. Makes the choice easier, as the flat port seemed odd to me.

I have the 10-18 but it needs a larger port and dome... Still scratching my head to decide between 16 mm with adaptor or this lens. It is a better lens. Other alternatives will be the Sigma 19mm and also the newer Zeiss Touit.

As for macro, you can use the 30/3.5 but the newer Sigma 60/2.8 will be better.

Thanks Mark - hopefully Nauticam makes a dome for the Sigma 60/2.8 - since in Monterey most of the cool stuff is little, and vis is typically... not so good.

Any reason why not to use the Sony 20/2.8? Physically it's a hair smaller than the 16/2.8, so should fit the dome ok?

The Sony 30 macro is a true macro that will focus to life size, 1:1.

The Sigma 60 while having better image quality will only focus to about 20 inches, which gives it a 1:7.2 ratio and will be of little use for macro.

Phil rudin

1. Sigma 60mm macro is a true macro

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/06/14/review-sigma-60mm-f2-8-dn-sony/

I believe you can use a ordinary port made for other lenses.

2. Nauticam makes a great port for 10-18

http://nauticam.cn/newsview.aspx?q_aid=1327

3. 20/2.8 turns out to be a so so lens

there is a new wide angle lens of Carl zeiss is coming soon. 12mm. It is wide enough?

The Sigma 60mm for NEX is not even close to being a macro lens, which by definition is a lens that will focus to life size (1:1) or greator. At greater than 1:7 this lens does not qualify.

The Sony/Zeiss 12mm has been released and to work with the Nauticam NEX housings you will need the ZEN Underwater for Sea&Sea ports and at least the ZEN 170mm port in the S&S mount with an extension.

The Sony 10-18 with the Nauticam port and gear is a good choice for W/A using the NEX system.

Phil Rudin

I' m sure your already sorted for an UW setup butthought i would ad myfindings to the mix.

I took the plunge and purchased the Nex-6 and nauticam housing for a holiday to the Turks & Caicos, in August.

I went for the 16mm pancake + converters, FE & wide angle. All behind the 4" nauticam dome. I'm a novice UW photographer so kept things simple to start with.

I did look at the 10-18mm in the store but the cost was what put me off initially, although I'm now looking at it again. I would house this behind the Nauticam 7" dome which has space for the zoom gears (unlike the Zen).

I found the 16 + wide angle converter a bit more flexible than the FE, as at times I wanted to get a bit closer. When stopped down the sharpness was very good, although it does tail off towards the edges. I was pleased with the results.

All we need is a suitable macro and the package will be complete.

If you want, have a look on my Flickr page, johnquinn2011 for some of the images I took with the above combo.

Hope this helps.

John

Dear all. I made a mistake thinking Sigma 60 as a macro lens. Well it is not. I used 30/3.5 plus a Subsee 10+