Nauticam NEX-5 housing

[Jongwon Woo 0]

I have no doubt there'll be ports for Tokina and other common UW glasses sooner or later.

 

However, for who want upgrade from compact cameras w/ wet mount lens, it would be very nice if those wet mount lenses are also availabe for NEX-5. Buying a new lens and a dome port will cost much more than buying an adaptor, I guess. I just hope Inon or Fisheye will test their wet mount lenses and provide adoptors. :-)

 

BTW, thank you very much for kind offer, Mr. Chae. Will PM you later.

[oskar 6]

Yes, of course this is a gimmick, but it is a very cool one. And this doesn't take away from the fact the NEX looks a great UW, just probably not with Nikonos lenses.

 

The 15mm is not wide enough (considering Stephen says it is a 20mm equivalent and then you have to consider the crop factor, that is not wide at all). However, when there is a FF sensor NEX, this solution might start getting very interesting.

 

Alex

 

 

Sony has upgraded the user interface after the criticisms (http://www.dpreview.com/news/1010/10101405nexfirmwareavailable.asp)

 

So what do you experienced DSLR UW photographers see as the pros and cons for NEX5 as the basis for a UW system.

 

I'm a bit into the Canon system already with a 500D and some lenses for surface use, but this system seems appealing with it's compactness. Is it worth a system-switch?

 

Cheers

/O

[shchae 3]

Sony has upgraded the user interface after the criticisms (http://www.dpreview.com/news/1010/10101405nexfirmwareavailable.asp)

 

So what do you experienced DSLR UW photographers see as the pros and cons for NEX5 as the basis for a UW system.

 

I'm a bit into the Canon system already with a 500D and some lenses for surface use, but this system seems appealing with it's compactness. Is it worth a system-switch?

 

Cheers

/O

 

I just got housing delivered & is very very impressive housing. It is compact (is just little bigger than

Nikonos V & same size as Canon G10 p&s housing) & has all controls & built with quality.I am going

to test it with various lenses in UW,this week & post the result here.

 

Sam

Edited October 15, 2010 by shchae

[yupaso 0]

I just got housing delivered & is very very impressive housing. It is compact (is just little bigger than

Nikonos V & same size as Canon G10 p&s housing) & has all controls & built with quality.I am going

to test it with various lenses in UW,this week & post the result here.

 

Sam

 

 

I`m really looking forward to see your results

Especially from Nikkor lens + adapter,

since one of NEX system`s strongest side is ability to use most lens available via adapter.

[BrendanS 0]

I thought this camera system was the upgrade I had been waiting out for, but with a flash sync speed of only 1/160, it is not for me.

[oskar 6]

What are the limitations in the controlls (button, dials and menues) of the NEX5 as compared with "ordinary" DSLS of the entry or mid segments?

 

There has been comments about the NEX that they are more advanced compacts that system cameras with that respect, how would that influence usability for UW usage?

 

 

Cheers

/O

[shchae 3]

What are the limitations in the controlls (button, dials and menues) of the NEX5 as compared with "ordinary" DSLS of the entry or mid segments?

 

There has been comments about the NEX that they are more advanced compacts that system cameras with that respect, how would that influence usability for UW usage?

 

 

Cheers

/O

 

I am diving in philippine this week & find everything is working as advertised. I will post few sample pics from Nikonos lenses

later today.

 

Re limitations, I cannot think of anything is not there when it compare with dslrs. O.K. View finder is not there. but, has very clear/wide

LCD finder. Has all controls I can think of. Re controls on housing, Nauticam has all controls including lens release & internal flash up/down.

 

I have one comment for battery though. Battery is small due to small size of camera & fully charged battery allowed me 330 pics + 2 min. video

which was good enough for 2 dives & I run out of battery in 3rd diving. Spare battery is strongly recommanded on dive boat.

 

Sam

[shchae 3]

I am diving in philippine this week & find everything is working as advertised. I will post few sample pics from Nikonos lenses

later today.

 

Re limitations, I cannot think of anything is not there when it compare with dslrs. O.K. View finder is not there. but, has very clear/wide

LCD finder. Has all controls I can think of. Re controls on housing, Nauticam has all controls including lens release & internal flash up/down.

 

I have one comment for battery though. Battery is small due to small size of camera & fully charged battery allowed me 330 pics + 2 min. video

which was good enough for 2 dives & I run out of battery in 3rd diving. Spare battery is strongly recommanded on dive boat.

 

Sam

 

Sample pics posted here;

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...mp;#entry264791

[yupaso 0]

Good to see first NEX underwater photo in real life use.

 

Thank you for providing good pictures.

 

Did you test Nikkor 10.5mm/2.8 Fisheye with adapter as well? I am hunger to see more picture with NEX

 

And wonder RAW image quality is any good or bad compared to other cropped sensor camera.

 

Cheers.

Edited October 31, 2010 by yupaso

[shchae 3]

Good to see first NEX underwater photo in real life use.

 

Thank you for providing good pictures.

 

Did you test Nikkor 10.5mm/2.8 Fisheye with adapter as well? I am hunger to see more picture with NEX

 

And wonder RAW image quality is any good or bad compared to other cropped sensor camera.

 

Cheers.

Hi,

 

Due to limited time I had, I could not test any other lenses. All my pictures were taken in jpg as I was not

sure I can convert Sony RAW file yet. I will do more test in 1-2 weeks.

 

Sam

[Phil Rudin 462]

My review of Nautican NA-NEX-5 housing has now been posted in the Nov/Dec issue of Underwater Photography magazine, enjoy.

 

Phil Rudin

 

http://www.uwpmag.com/subscribe/download_issue.php?issue=57

[aczyzyk 0]

Thank you for an interesting review Phil.

Could you comment some more on optical quality of that fisheye converter and dome combination?

How does it compare to fisheyes like 10.5mm, tokina 10-17, sigma 15mm?

 

 

Andrzej

[Phil Rudin 462]

Hi Andrze,

 

I would expect any prime lens to be a bit higher in image quality over a cconverter lens be it behind the dome as in this case or a wet lens placed on the outside of the housing. It is a bit like adding a Close-up converter lens on the front of a prime macro lens. You can get great images but image quality is going to fall off a bit. With the Olympus 4/3 8 mm fisheye, Pany m4/3 8 mm fisheye for EVIL cameras and the 10.5, 15 mm, 16 mm fisheyes for 35 and sub 35 mm sensors dome selection will also to a degree determan image quality with those lenses.

 

I thought the Sony 16 mm pancake lens with the fisheye adapter and the 100 mm (4.33 inch) Nauticam dome did a great job for the cost of the equipment involved.

 

Phil Rudin

[oskar 6]

Hi Andrze,

 

I would expect any prime lens to be a bit higher in image quality over a cconverter lens be it behind the dome as in this case or a wet lens placed on the outside of the housing. It is a bit like adding a Close-up converter lens on the front of a prime macro lens. You can get great images but image quality is going to fall off a bit. With the Olympus 4/3 8 mm fisheye, Pany m4/3 8 mm fisheye for EVIL cameras and the 10.5, 15 mm, 16 mm fisheyes for 35 and sub 35 mm sensors dome selection will also to a degree determan image quality with those lenses.

 

I thought the Sony 16 mm pancake lens with the fisheye adapter and the 100 mm (4.33 inch) Nauticam dome did a great job for the cost of the equipment involved.

 

Phil Rudin

 

 

How did you find the sharpness of the rectilinear 20mm equivalent add-on lens? How do you find the control ergonomics of this setup as compared to a traditional DSLR setup?

 

Cheers

[shchae 3]

I like add one more thing here. My 2 regular DSLR setup,d700 & d3, weights 44Kg in Perican 1650 case & I pay over charges

almost every time I travel for diving. NEX-5 set was so small that I put complete housing(w/handle) & 3 nikonos lenses & one

strobe+arms+clamps into my carry-on. I know which one I am going to carry if I am going to dive for just a day or two in the future,

still not sacrificing the quality of picture. Housing was well balanced & has the best handle I ever had.

 

 

Sam

Edited November 3, 2010 by shchae

[aczyzyk 0]

NEX-5 set was so small that I put complete housing(w/handle) & 3 nikonos lenses & one

strobe+arms+clamps in my carry-on.

 

That is primary reason I'm looking at NEX. I think about replacing my D200 with it. I now travel mostly with my kids and dSLR with housing is quite troublesome. Being accustomed to 10.5mm with Sea&Sea NX Fisheye Dome I'm still worried that I might be disappointed with quality of NEX lenses.

I'm worried about that

for the cost of the equipment involved

bit...

 

I know it is a bit subjective, but do you think one would miss a lot compared to nikkor 10.5?

Are there any nex fisheye UW full size samples on the net?

[shchae 3]

Hi,

Sony is selling 16mm f/2.8 E-mount pancake lens and the VCL-ECF1 Fisheye Converter (is add-on lens to 16mm.U$150.-)

& this combo makes a good fisheye lens. You can see some sample (not UW picture though) here;

 

http://sonyalphanex.blogspot.com/

 

Nauticam has a small dome port to use with above combo & I believe they are also, looking at other options

like Tokina 10-17 etc. I was so excited to use Nikonos lenses & did not ordered fisheye converter nor dome port

but, I am thinking about ordering them as I was little tired of doing manual focusing(my eye is getting old...)

& forgot how easy auto focusing is.

 

Sam

Edited November 3, 2010 by shchae

[Phil Rudin 462]

How did you find the sharpness of the rectilinear 20mm equivalent add-on lens? How do you find the control ergonomics of this setup as compared to a traditional DSLR setup?

 

Cheers

 

Hi Oskar,

 

I did not have access to the 20 mm add-on lens so I can't comment on that. Ergonomics on the Nauticam housing are outstanding, the Sony NEX-5 has no command dial or dials like many DSLR cameras so it would be hard to compare with a traditional DSLR housing. Some of the camera settings are a bit harded to change if you had the cameras side by side out of the water, this is part of the trade-off for the smaller size and weight. The controls on this Nauticam housing are everybit as good as they are on other DSLR Nauticam housings if that is your question.

 

Phil Rudin

[shchae 3]

Sample pics posted here;

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...mp;#entry264791

 

More pics with Nikonos 15mm lens posted in above.

[derway 2]

Hi all. And hi Phil. Thanks for the review on uwp!

 

This is sure getting tempting, indeed.

 

How does the autofocus lag and accuracy compare with a real dslr, like a d90?

 

How much are you giving up by being forced to use contast detection AF?

 

In practice, is the sony nex5 AF slower than the gf1/gf2, as reported in most of the review sites, including imaging resources?

 

Giving up a viewfinder, and AF performance, for saving in weight... Hmmm. Might be a good trade off.

 

Thanks!

Don

[shchae 3]

There was 2 impresive NEX-5 accessories in Nauticam booth in DEMA.

 

One was magic filter adapter for Nikonos lenses and the other was

macro port for 30mm alpha macro lens. I place an order for both.

 

There was a worldwide shortage of 18-200mm zoom lens and fisheye

converter and Sony start shipping it & I got mine yesterday.

 

Sam

[Edward Lai 36]

I would like to share a photo shot by our UK distributor showing the details and quality of the 16mm pancake lens with the add-on Sony fisheye converter lens, with the Nex-5 housing and mini dome port.

 

 

I hope Alex wouldn't mind I used his image.

 

Edward

[Alex_Tattersall 90]

No problem, nice to see the photo on here,

 

This is a photo of me taking the above photo with the NEX-5 housing and 2x S2000 strobes. Altogether less than 4 kilos of equipment.

 

Thanks to Nick Watson for the image and my lovely wife/model Kat for her top class modelling skills

 

 

I'll be posting some more shots shortly to demonstrate the capability of this housing/camera setup

[Alex_Tattersall 90]

Here's an Arabian Picasso triggerfish (very probably my favourite fish) with the 18-55mm zoom lens at the 55mm end and the flat port

 

[gobiodon 62]

No problem, nice to see the photo on here,

 

This is a photo of me taking the above photo with the NEX-5 housing and 2x S2000 strobes. Altogether less than 4 kilos of equipment.

 

Thanks to Nick Watson for the image and my lovely wife/model Kat for her top class modelling skills

 

 

I'll be posting some more shots shortly to demonstrate the capability of this housing/camera setup

 

Very nice small rig achieving excellent picture quality! I'm really tempted to buy into the nex system.

Edited November 26, 2010 by gobiodon