Wideangle Setup :: WWL-C vs WWL-1B on Full Frame

Hello,

These days I started wondering what is the better setup for my Nikon Z6 II for Wideangle mostly and possibility for CMC-2 wetlens at the same time.
 

1. Nikon Z 24-50mm + WWL-C (Nauticam has a new Macro 6 adapter for this setup)
2. Sony FE 28-60mm + Medagap adapter + WWL-1B

Which one would you prefer in terms of picture quality and second option use of CMC-2 wetlens ?

Thanks for any advise

Nikon Z 24-50mm used macro port 60 and with the WWL-c it has a zoom trough from 130-81 degrees, not a full zoom through. At the 50mm end of the lens the CMC-1 would be the better choice because of the greater magnification. Also for full frame SMC-1 would be the better choice than CMC-1. If you look at the port chart for Z-FF CAC-1 and SMC-1 are the recommendations.

Sony FE 28-60 needs a port and zoom gear that fit the N120 Nikon Z-housings. I don't believe Nauticam makes that combination for any Sony lens so I think WWL-1 is out for Z-cameras. You can however use the Sony FE 28-70mm with both the WACP-1 and WACP-C on Nikon-Z. The Sony lens is the only lens Nikon or Sony that will give you the full 130 t0 59 degree zoom through. Since WACP-1/C  direct mount to the housing and not a macro port mount the no closeup lens will work. 

As Phil says Nauticam don't list the 28-70 + adapter on their port chart, so don't have a specific port for the lens.  The lens works with Sony & Nikon on the WACP but there is no listing for it working with the WWL-1 for any cameras, so it would be purely experimental trying to find a port combination that would allow you to house. it.

The WWL-C seems the best bet, though from my reading of the port chart it says it zooms from 24-50, the field of view is 130-81° as Phil mentions. you will see that the lens field of view 84-47° on the port chart, 84° is the field of a 24mm lens and 47° is the field of a 50mm lens so it gets full zoom through and the field of view at full zoom is about that of a 25mm lens. 

Regarding changing over to a macro lens it can be done in theory, but you have a 150mm diameter lens you need to put somewhere if you take it off and there is nowhere to attach a lanyard.  The CMC-1 gives up to 0.9x magnification and a working distance of 49-75mm .  The CMC-2 gives about 0.67x magnification with working distance of 70-130mm based on comparing another 50mm zoom lens' data in the port charts.  49mm working distance is small but probably workable for lighting.  I would pick your lens based upon subjects you want to shoot.  All this data can be found in Nauticam's port charts.

Thanks for all the responses!

I already tried at a shop the Sony 28-60mm + Nauticam Macro port 6 + WWL-1B. It is almost perfect, except that the Sony lens should be zoomed at around 32mm so that there is no vignetting from the WWL-1B.

I see I have 2 good options:

1. Nikon Z 24-50mm + WWL-C (I think the max zoom reach is not that important)
2. Sony 28-70mm + WACP-C (full zoom range)

I guess the choise is - which will be optically superior?

Choice number 2 is going to give you the best image quality and zoom coverage. 

Sony zoom with WACP-C

Nauticam Thailand has put up a post comparing performance of various water contact optics including WWL-1 and WACP-C, they don't have your exact combinations however they do have posts that allow the comparison between WWL-1B and WACP-C.  In this case on a Sony camera:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=495996252547046&set=pcb.496001879213150

I think the difference between the WWL-1 and WACP is greater than the difference between the 28-60 and 28-70 and this will give you an idea of what you are getting for the extra $ over the WWL-1.

Thanks a lot for the advises!

@Phil Rudin That's one amazing photo! Much appreciated you posted it.

@ChrisRoss Thanks, Cris. Definitely WACP-C and WACP-1 are next level and any Wetlens just cannot be compared to dome ports in terms of corner sharpness.

Seems that even the Sony FE 28-70mm lens is quite old and kit one combination with WACP-C produces amazing results.

Still on the topic.

I got Sony FE 28-70mm lens and tried it with a Megadap and Nauticam Macro Port 6.

At 28mm (max extended) I need aronud 19-19.5mm more space to fit the lens in the box.

I am wondering if I add Nauticam Extension Port 20 + the Macro Port 6 = it will be 26mm free space, so in theory lens should fit perfectly.

But again - Do you think the Sony FE 28-70mm is compatable with WWL-1 if I can fit it in the port space?

12 minutes ago, Svilen Spasov said:

But again - Do you think the Sony FE 28-70mm is compatable with WWL-1 if I can fit it in the port space?

Highly unlikely. Nauticam port charts don't list it as compatible, and they would have if it were. Prior to the release of 28-60mm, the only full-frame lens on any platform that was listed as compatible with WWL-1 was the Sony 28mm prime - 28-70mm is compatible with WACP-1 but not WWL-1. My best guess is that it's entrance pupil is set deeper inside the lens, causing WWL-1 to vignette even if you get it right by the front element. 

Nauticam does extensive testing of all of the lenses they recommend and of those they don't recommend. They have not recommended the 28-70 on Sony full frame so to expect it to work on a Nikon system won't change the outcome. 

If you want the lens to work with a Z-camera you need to chose the WACP-C with the N120 to N100 15mm port adapter recommended by Nauticam and the only lens with Z-cameras that will allow full zoom through.