Sony a7Siii + WWL1B for video

**EDIT: I have realised I put this in the photo section, not the video section. Apologies, if a mod gets to move it, that would be great.**

Hello WetPixel! This is my first post as I take a bit of a dive into the pointy end of underwater camera gear so please be gentle.

I am moving from a GoPro mounted to the front of my DPV which I have been using to shoot video on deep wrecks over the past few years. After a number of expeditions with some questionable footage, I thought that investing in to a decent camera would yield some better results.

I'm looking at an a7Siii in with the WWl-1B but I'm wanting to know more about the lens and what it will offer me if I go for the fixed 28mm or the 28-60mm option. I have read many of @Phil Rudin's posts which have been very helpful in clearing up an concerns I have over going this way due to quality, and also his references in terms of understanding what these wet lens' actually do.

So I suppose my question is, 28mm fixed or go for the zoom for more options, even if that is going to be more useful getting footage on the surface.

I may well have completely missed some other important point, but like I said, I'm very new to this level of kit.

Cheers,
Dave

If it helps, this is a link to my most recent video I put together after a dive. I'm basically looking to do a similar thing, but with a better camera. I did have a light fail before the dive on this one, so on the bottom it is dark and I'm really under gunned on the light.

Moved to Video forum

I would think it's no contest, the quality of the 28-60 is reported to be great so why not go with the flexibility of the zoom lens.  I very much doubt you'll see any difference in quality.  between the lenses.  It could be argued the 28mm f2 is faster for low light work, but with the A7SIII, bumping up the ISO a little should not be a problem.

We'll see what the video specialists say.

8 hours ago, ChrisRoss said:

Moved to Video forum

I would think it's no contest, the quality of the 28-60 is reported to be great so why not go with the flexibility of the zoom lens.  I very much doubt you'll see any difference in quality.  between the lenses.  It could be argued the 28mm f2 is faster for low light work, but with the A7SIII, bumping up the ISO a little should not be a problem.

We'll see what the video specialists say.

Thanks Chris,

Those were my thoughts exactly. But as I'm new to all this, and it's a bit hard to imagine what the end product will be, I thought you guys would be the best people to ask!

2 hours ago, tiptopperoo said:

Thanks Chris,

Those were my thoughts exactly. But as I'm new to all this, and it's a bit hard to imagine what the end product will be, I thought you guys would be the best people to ask!

No problem, the 28-60 is very new and I think few people other than Phil Rudin have used it much.

4 hours ago, ChrisRoss said:

No problem, the 28-60 is very new and I think few people other than Phil Rudin have used it much.

 

Dave,

I have shot with the a7s3 and WWL-1 last fall. I used a 35mm prime. My goals are different than yours in that I shoot fish portraits and coral.  Glad to know there is an option with the Sony kit lens (28-60)  I did a quick scan of the lens features and the one that requires additional investigation is the word “Retraction” That may require close evaluation of the flat port you use that a WWL can attach to and give you the zoom range. I have a Nauticam solution.

Another thought is the speed and accuracy of the kit lens, These new Sony Mirrorless focus systems are amazing and a big help me locking on to a moving target.

I moved away from the WWL-1 solution because wide angle shots are not my preference but a point worthy of consideration is the WWL can throw off the buoyancy/balance of your kit. Its heavy and the buoyancy collar was ok but not perfect. Maybe the WWL-1B collar is better, don’t know. Again I have become a big fan of a balanced rig and I went to a dome solution for the 16mm-35mm lens and added air for buoyancy. I think the travel weight difference is negligible when you add in the port extensions and adaptors.

That being said, a housing with the small lens and WWL is way more compact in the water than a dome solution.

Good Luck.

I am not a video guy but I can tell you that the FE 28mm F/2 being an older lens tracks up to 15 FPS while the 28-60 being a newer lens with  the newer faster linear motor will track up to 30 FPS. This means faster and more accurate AF particularly with newer cameras like the Sony A7s III, A7C, A7R IV and A1which can do 30 FPS with electronic shutter. All of the newer Sony FE lenses going forward have this 30 FPS ability from budget to high end like the new 14mm F1.8. I have used both lenses for 1000's of images and I can assure you that the 28-60 will not disappoint paired with WWL-1B. 

You can also do 28mm with WWL-1B and 60mm without WWL-1b on the same dive and get these very different looks.

Thanks for the info Whip and Phil,

The buoyancy when on the scooter shouldn't be an issue as I have an extra 2.5kg lift in the scooter. I am wary of using the camera when not mounted to the scooter however for the reasons you mentioned. It's almost like this endeavour lends itself to buying lots of expensive options...

Phil that is great info again thanks! I will definitely go with the newer faster lens!