Wide angle for Nikon Z7

Which combination should produce the best quality wide angle image from a  Nikon Z7?

1. Nikon AF S 8-15 fisheye + FTZ.  or

2.  Nikon Z lens (20mm f1.8 S; or 14-24 2.8 S).   or

3.  Nikon AF S 60mm  ED + FTZ  +  Nauticam MWL-1

Please someone answer, even if it is only an educated guess.  Thank you so much.

Hey Divebiddie

I'm using the Nikkor 8-15 on a D500 and it's excellent. I would think it would be good on the D7 with FTZ although you will of course need an EXR to handle the extra length of the FTZ. This might throw up issues for the domeport.

I'm not read of anyone as yet who has housed the Z 20mm or Z 14-28. I suspect it won't be easy!

TimG's reply came in as I was writing this! . The Nikon 8-15 and FTZ with the Z7 in DX crop mode would deliver 20MP files and be a useful zoom akin to the Tokina 10-17, whereas the 8-15 on fullframe has no useful zoom function unless you like gimmicks. I am irritated by this lens simply because Nikon could have built a full frame fisheye zoom like the old Pentax and dominated the market completely.

There's a review of the MWL-1 here :  https://wetpixel.com/articles/review-nauticam-mwl-1-conversion-lens-by-jack-connick

and you can download full res image to look at.  It's using a D850 but really should not make much difference as they are both 45 MP sensors and the adapter as I understand it has no optics.  The MWL needs to stop down to f14-16 so that may be a consideration.  You can download sample images from the review but need to signup for photoshelter account so you can download them, though it doesn't seem to be working for me.

I don't know anything about the 14-28 lens but you'd need a 230mm dome to make the best of it.   It takes 112mm filters so using the S&S corrector lens would be out.  Plus you don't need the f2.8 aperture underwater.  The 20mm would probably be OK in a smaller dome. 

the 14-30 f4 lens might be a better option, you'd still need the big dome and you could add the 82mm S&S correction lens to improve the corners.

I think it is important to compare apples and apples, rather than apples to oranges...

Nikon 8-15mm is very much a fisheye lens and has a great deal of barrel distortion, as does the MWL-1.

The Nikkor Z 20mm or 14-24 are rectilinear lenses.

Practically, the 8-15mm can deal with a smaller dome, whereas the rectilinear will need much bigger ports and even then, may not offer very good optical performance. As far as I am aware, no one has done much testing with these lenses yet.

My experience is that the MWL-1 is not optically as good as the 8-15mm. 

Not on you list (but should be) is the WACP-1 with either the Nikkor Z 35mm f1.8 S or Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S. The latter offers superb optics, and a great zoom range from super wide reef scenes through to pelagic. 

Adam

I would not overlook the Nikon Z 14-30mm F/4.5 if you like the rectilinear look. It is $1100.00 cheaper than the 14-24 F/2.8 and I don't think you will see an upside v the extra cost underwater. Above water the 14-24 F/2.8 has advantages for several types of photography.

A large port like the Nauticam/ZEN 230mm or acrylic 8.5 inch works best and as stated above the S&S correction lens (add $400.00) works natively as does the lens14-30mm on the Z 6/7. 

I have included images taken with the Nikon Z6 with an Ikelite housing and eight inch compact port. Results with a larger port should improve corner sharpness and be on par with any of the super wide rectilinear for U/W use. 

Regarding the Nikon 8-15mm circular fisheye lens I have used it with the Z6 and it is also an excellent lens. It is basically two lenses in one, a full frame 15mm fisheye and an 8mm circular fisheye. If you shoot this lens cropped to APS-C at 20mp you loose the circular fisheye end it becomes a variable fisheye that fills the entire frame. If you are not interested in the circular end and many do not you may as well go with an APS-c camera like the D500 and the Tokina lens because you loose all of the upsides of full frame. The 8-15 fisheye also works very well with 230mm ports for splits and non close focus W/A situations. Keep in mind that any port used for the 8-15mm needs a removable shade or blades to use the circular end of the lens. 

Regarding the WACP-1 with the Nikon Z FF cameras both lenses Adam mentioned are excellent but limited in zoom range. the 35mm has a 97 degree AOV and the 24-70 is limited to28-32 degrees or 130-121 degree AOV. The other problem is that if you zoom beyond 32 towards 70mm you risk bumping the lens into the backside glass on the WACP-1 Ouch did that testing the Tamron 28-75mm with WACP. 

At this time the only lens on the Nauticam Z port chart that zooms all the way through from 28 to 70mm with an AOV of 130 to 59 degrees is the Sony FE 28-70mm full frame with theTechart  auto focus adapter.

UWPMAG.com review of the Z 6 includes more shots with 8-15 and 14-30, back issue #113.

Image #1 shot at 14mm, the rest are at 17mm with the Ikelite compact port. 

Thank you folks that replied.  I will study them intently.