Ricardo V.

CptMax, In essence, what you are mentioning about the use of Voigtländer lenses would be contingent upon 2 things... One: being able to focus it manually underwater and Two: setting an aperture before housing it just letting it stay fixed through your dive. Right?

Can't live without them. Love my 41C. Fortunately, there is an ap for that....

I'm with you. It truly is interesting and often perplexing to see how others see or think things work. For some reason, I can't help but think of RPN calculators, which folks I work with.... including my self, still use today and firmly believe there is nothing better; however, we've be hard pressed to find a Reverse Polish Notation calculator anywhere.... go figure. Back to the topic at hand. This YouTube video put together by a professional photographer helped me a lot. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xWXBS1D5aSk He elaborates, explains benefits and demonstrates how to program or customize specific buttons the A7R2 to essentially perform focus acquiring and locking in keeping with what the end user wants. I'm sharing it here with the group. I found it beneficial and have implemented some of the suggested tips and tricks to better control focus features. Cheers, Ricardo

Paul, I'm just realizing you are a pro in the field of underwater photography. Hats off to you, please don't take my post in any way other than what I'm openly sharing as my true personal experience with the 7D, and now in preparation to soon dive with the Sony. I still think that the suggestions and comments I've offered stand, specially for people like me that are passionate about this hobby and can benefit from learning how to fully control any camera and it's features. Cheers, Ricardo

Paul, I'm very new to this specific camera, and found this YouTube video to be incredibly helpful. It's a bit long, but it reviews critically important controls and setting that A7R2 users need to master, if they want to have full control of it's focus power. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5xr-i8LBb6g I started my underwater photography hobby a little over 12 years ago, and can recall how frustrating it was not being able to control where my Canon 7D was focusing. After some repetition and practice, I was able to understand some of it's focusing features... but it was still guesswork. I then fortuitously bought a video tutorial DVD, and the instructor explained in detail the different focusing features and functions, but more importantly, how to tell the camera exactly where and when to focus on something. This was a watershed moment for me. I did not know you could actually do that. A couple of years later, while taking classes with Marty Snyderman, he took the time to evaluate where I was and set the bar even higher encouraging me to gain full control of ALL camera settings, aperture, shutter speed and ISO, instead of letting the camera decide for me, I would decide. That was an aha moment for me and ever since, I have been telling the camera what I want, instead of letting it guess what I want. It took practice, lots of practice, and time too... but now it's second nature. Hope this helps. I've not dove this camera yet, but it has such a rich offering of focus controls that I think a bit of practice, following the tips offered in the video above, will let you decide. Cheers, Ricardo

John, Thank you for confirming this. Much appreciated. Happy to learn there is a workaround the battery stamina issue and the hot shoe. Ricardo. PS: I could see a combo fix that integrates an external battery, that sits in the hot shoe, and serves as led flash trigger.

John, What battery pack are you referring to? I see one that Backscatter has online that looks like an artisan craft project put together with epoxy. Is that it? http://www.backscatter.com/reviews/post/Nauticam-A7II-UnderwaterExternal-Battery-Pack It does not leave enough space for fiber optic trigger system, so you have a work around with cables. You have them routed through one of the caps for external monitor or vacuum valve right? Thank you, Ricardo

I invested in Ikelite products once, went all out...housing, dome ports... large, medium and compact. Flat ports for macro, pair of strobes-161, focus lights, cables, fiber optic backup system, arms and clamps of all sizes and even a large pelican traveling case to boot. Every time I had an issue, Ikelite would say... send it back, we will look at it, test it and will get back with you. If it's you, we will send you a bill. If it's ikelite, we will address free of charge. I though that was excellent customer service. Time and time again, issue after issue, they always had the same response. Essentially, I would ship it to Chicago, they would supposedly service it, test it, send it back with a bill that said zero charge, and nothing else. No explication on what they did to the system, no comment on what they saw, no logic or follow up to what ever they did to it...or didn't do, and some times, not even fix to the problem. I recall this decisive moment when I experienced a partial flood that thaks to ikelite being clear plastic, I was able to see the water pooling inside the housing and some steam building up inside. Sent housimg in for repairs and service. It took 3 successive back-forth shipping plus dives to test, and it wasn't till I specifically found out while diving with it that if I adjusted the zoom dial- knob it would let drops into the housing and that's how WE found the misterious leak. Ikelite was only able to really fix it after 3 tries. By then, I had enough. Fortunately, I did not loose any photo equipment. Nauticam was just starting to appear, they showed up during a DEMA show, and I decided to invest in a new housing, and to this day, don't regret that one bit. If you are new to this hobby, or just want to dive occasionally with a camera and don't really care about reliability of the equipment, then,Ikelite may be an option. If you are committed to this underwater photography deal as a hobby or semi-pro, and want to have a solid, reliable equpiment that will last many years to come. I would suggest getting something other than ikelite. I know there may be different opinions and I truly respect that. This is just my opinion based on my personal experience and after spending well over $4K in ikelite equipment. Or maybe I should say after throwing four grand away. Hope this helps. Ricardo

Adam, When you mention "no decent fisheye option", are you refering to the Nikon or the Sony? Like the OP, I'm researching this Sony camera and want to learn more about it. I understood that with an adapter, the Sony can shoot Canon lenses and some folks appear to be happy with results. In addition, Rokinon has fisheye lenses that appear to be gaining accolades from underwater photographers. I've read a few posts and articles from really good underwater photographers, including Phil Rubin, who I consider an authority in this field, and If I recall correctly, he seems to comment favorably on the Sony's ability to work with wide angle lenses made by others. What have you seen or observed? Is the focus an issue too? Thank you, Ricardo

Jetor, I have the Nauticam 45 viewfinder. It's been very reliable, I truly enjoy using it, in fact, can't even imagine going without it and can say it's worth every penny. I've had it for 7 years now, and it's got well over 800 dives and it's still working with no problems. It has an adjustable knob on the side to adjust focusing onto the camera's view finder. Once it's set, you just leave it. I focus it to read the numbers ant that's it. The only times I have difficulty with it is when shooting macro subjects during night dives. The fact that it's angled, and that shooting a particular situation may call for upside down buoyancy or some awkward position can make it a bit more challenging to frame the subject, since there are just less points of reference to actually spot the critter. Nevertheless, I've always found a way to overcome that situation and it works out in the end. Of course, a 180 view finder solves that, but then the 45 deg. viewfinder lets you get closer to small critters that are at ground level, whereas the 180 won't. It's all a compromise, as you know.... for wide angle, I've never had a problem. Again, it's only a problem in my case, at night. To overcome this, I shine a red focusing light and try to spot a silhouette, then look for it through the viewfinder and that works for me. My viewfinder has endured lots of use. I take care of it, but then, it's got lots of miles on it and I am very happy with it. I wish that Nauticam had a better way to fit the thing into the housing. It actually stays in place, thanks to a rubber o-ring. It's crazy. In any case, it's never failed me. But then, I still witpsh it had a more robust fastening mechanism. I have not tried any other view finder. Hope this helps. Saludos, Ricardo

Troporobo, Bill and Elmer, Thank you for giving me some great pointers. I see you all have the Olympus. I understand that it has an assortment of features and customizable button functions that help manage focus, as well as user adjustments to control, set and restrict focus hunting ranges. I'm looking to upgrade and will go take a look at the Olympus M1 Mark-II this weekend. My old Canon 7D hunts too; however, with a red Sola focusing light, I've been able to achieve focus and have essentially resolved that challenge. In any case, I'm assuming focus capabilities and low light performance of the M1 Mark-II, must be far superior than the classic 7D, which is considerably older technology too. I like Nauticam and will likely stay with the brand; however, I understand other great housings are available in the market, such as Aquatica, Subal and Olympus too. Thank you, Ricardo

I've been shooting a Canon 7D for almost 9 years now, first 2 years housed in Ikelite, and the balance in Nauticam. I enjoy this equipment tremendously, and shoot macro 80% of the time, and the rest wide angle. I have been luggin this gear through airports across the Caribbean, and still enjoy diving with it. Technology has made great progress and I'm considering moving into a complete different set-up. Something lighter, with excellent focus and that can give me better performance; however, nothing less than could reasonably be expected from something like a Canon 7DMark2, or decent SLR rig. Those of you that have experience with these new mirrorless cameras and that are familiar with the classic Canon 7D, please share your insights and recommendations. I want to continue shooting fiber optic, and want to have full manual access to aperture, shutter speed and ISO like I have today. I can adjust these things while looking at a subject through the view finder. No need to pull the camera away for any reason. I do need help with autofocus and would expect the camera to allow rapid focus point selections... to have a reliable way to quickly select focusing points without having to pull camera away and look at the screen. Today, I can select focus points, and work the focus while looking through the view finder. I would like to be able to use a magnified view finder, instead of the typical LCD display behind cameras. Am also interested in exploring super macro and maybe some video; however, my interest is mainly sharp focus stills, full manual control, nice bokeh when possible, good battery life, magnified viewfinder (separate accessory of course), travel friendly, fiber optic and all manual settings with ease. I understand lens selection is very important too, and welcome your recommendations. Thank you, Ricardo PS: My current system is: Canon 7D Classic. Nauticam housing Zen compact dome port for Tokina 10-17 Nauticam flat port for Canon 60mm macro Sola500 focus lights Inon Z240's -fiber optic Magnified 45 viewfinder

How well does the a6500 handle focus once it's housed? Can the user select focus points without too much trouble?

How well does the a6500 handle focus selection? I understand it's a touch screen, so that's not going to be accessible once it's in the housing. Does it have a quick way to accept focus point selection as deemed appropriate by the underwater photographer? Does it require manual focus?

I'm looking for a Nauticam macro port 87 for my Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM. Thank you, Ricardo