Will Nauticam support NEX-5N or NEX-7 or both?

[A.Y. 15]

I want to get a NEX-5N for scuba because it has everything I want: APS-C sensor, great high ISO image quality, 1080 60p HD, RAW, low cost ($600 body only), compact size, video silent lenses, in-camera chromatic aberration correction, video autofocus, touch-screen autofocus, auto panorama, & auto HDR (when I don't want to deal with stitching too many photos together or processing too many vacation RAW files). I want to get a Nauticam housing because I really like the one for NEX-5.

 

NEX-5N's ISO6400 image quality is amazing and it's from such a tiny camera! To my eyes, looking at the imaging-resources samples' wine labels side-by-side, the $600 NEX-5N ISO6400 image quality is better than the $1200 Nikon D7000 ISO6400 with Sony sensor, FAR better than the $1700 Canon 7D ISO6400, and comes very close to the $2500 5D2 ISO6400 - the 5D2 captures "slightly" more details, but the NEX-5 has less noise.

 

So, I need to know if Nauticam will make a housing for the NEX-5N. NEX-7 costs more than twice as much so it'll be much harder for a non pro to justify the expense.

[Deep6 7]

I want to get a NEX-5N for scuba because it has everything I want: APS-C sensor, great high ISO image quality, 1080 60p HD, RAW, low cost ($600 body only), compact size, video silent lenses, in-camera chromatic aberration correction, video autofocus, touch-screen autofocus, auto panorama, & auto HDR (when I don't want to deal with stitching too many photos together or processing too many vacation RAW files). I want to get a Nauticam housing because I really like the one for NEX-5.

 

NEX-5N's ISO6400 image quality is amazing and it's from such a tiny camera! To my eyes, looking at the imaging-resources samples' wine labels side-by-side, the $600 NEX-5N ISO6400 image quality is better than the $1200 Nikon D7000 ISO6400 with Sony sensor, FAR better than the $1700 Canon 7D ISO6400, and comes very close to the $2500 5D2 ISO6400 - the 5D2 captures "slightly" more details, but the NEX-5 has less noise.

 

So, I need to know if Nauticam will make a housing for the NEX-5N. NEX-7 costs more than twice as much so it'll be much harder for a non pro to justify the expense.

Why not check with Chris over at Nauticam USA?

Bob

Contact Nauticam USA

[Cp 29]

So, I need to know if Nauticam will make a housing for the NEX-5N. NEX-7 costs more than twice as much so it'll be much harder for a non pro to justify the expense.

 

Why not check with Chris over at Nauticam USA?

Bob

 

We definitely have an eye (or two) on the Sony announcement. From what I have seen so far, it seems possible that our existing NA-NEX5 housing might work with the NEX-5N. Possible that it will take a minor modification or insert.

 

Stand by for more info...

 

Cheers,

Cp

[A.Y. 15]

Thanks for the quick reply! Can't wait!

 

The NEX-5 video was excellent, explaining the features of the housing very clearly!

[Cp 29]

Thanks for the quick reply! Can't wait!

 

The NEX-5 video was excellent, explaining the features of the housing very clearly!

 

Thank you!

 

Cheers,

Cp

[A.Y. 15]

This

claims "0.02 sec release time lag the world's fastest", I wonder how close that is to reality. Regardless, I have a few questions for the current NEX-5/Nauticam owners:

 

1. Can the 16mm pancake be used inside the lens port for the 18-55mm kit lens?

 

2. If not, can the 16mm be used inside the 4" dome port by itself without the fisheye converter?

 

3. I'm hoping to use the NEX-5N/Nauticam setup also for kayaking and white-water rafting since I feel the traditional dSLR housings will be way too bulky and heavy for this type of water sports! Is it possible to hold the Nauticam housing with just one hand since I need the other hand to hold onto the raft?

Edited August 26, 2011 by A.Y.

[Phil Rudin 485]

A.Y.

 

That is a yes for sure to holding with one hand. Also because of the excellent port locking system any port you use will stay in place even if it gets bumped around. AF should also work very well for rafting. The 16 mm with the wide adapter would be my choice over the fisheye, but that is just me. The new X lenses for this camera also look quite nice.

 

Now we need to wait and see if Nautican will do somthing with the NEX-7 or the A77.

 

Phil

Edited August 26, 2011 by Phil Rudin

[A.Y. 15]

The 16 mm with the wide adapter would be my choice over the fisheye, but that is just me.

 

Phil

 

Thanks Phil for the answer! The wide adapter you mentioned is made by Nauticam or another company?

[Deep6 7]

Thanks Phil for the answer! The wide adapter you mentioned is made by Nauticam or another company?

A.Y.,

You may want to follow the other NEX thread:

NEX-7

 

Sony makes the FE 16mm APS-C =15mm & the W/A 16mm APC = 18mm (35 mm FF) adapters.

Bob

[Phil Rudin 485]

The E-mount 16 mm is more like a 24mm (in 35mm equv.) Both a fisheye and wide angle adapter are made by Sony for that 16mm lens NEX camera lens.

 

Phil

Edited August 26, 2011 by Phil Rudin

[A.Y. 15]

Thanks Deep6 and Phil!

The NEX Wide Angle converter turns the 16mm (24mm equivalent) pancake into a 12mm (18mm equivalent) ultra WA.

The NEX Fisheye converter turns the 16mm (24mm equivalent) pancake into a 10mm (15mm equivalent) fisheye.

Edited August 27, 2011 by A.Y.

[oskar 7]

Thanks Deep6 and Phil!

The NEX Wide Angle converter turns the 16mm (24mm equivalent) pancake into a 12mm (18mm equivalent) ultra WA.

The NEX Fisheye converter turns the 16mm (24mm equivalent) pancake into a 10mm (15mm equivalent) fisheye.

 

 

Right, but what housing options are there to dive with the 12mm UWA lens?

 

Looking at Nauticams product description of the NEX-5 housing this is not an option. There is only the option with the fisheye + 4,33" dome

See Nauticam's acessories here: http://www.nauticam.com/product-list-cs.asp?id=12&sid=11

 

Is there any other housing option for the UWA ?

 

/O

[Drew 0]

What is the quality of these adapters? It can't be great to have that many elements. It's 24mp. That will make a lot of lenses look bad.

[Jock 14]

I want to get a NEX-5N for scuba because it has everything I want: ...

 

A.Y.,

 

you may want to have a look at my short review, or should I say first glimpse, of the NEX 5 - same criticism will apply to the NEX 5n. So IMHO the NEX 7 might be a better choice for UW. Topside, I think, I would prefer the NEX 5N because it is more compact and the specs are "good enough". http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...42809&st=24

 

@ Drew:

... make a lot of lenses look bad

Where? On a computer screen with, say 1900*1000 px? Not so sure... Of course, if you want to crop a tiny little area from the edges and want to blow it up, you are right. Otherwise, post-processing in Photoshop et al could do the job if you really feel you need it - Says Advocatus Diaboli.

 

@ Cp:

 

Chris, I know that with a constant flow of new cameras every couple of months it is almost impossible to provide a housing for each new model, but if the in-field results of the NEX 7 meet the expectations which arise if you read through the specs: Please consider to make a housing for the NEX 7. From the comments in the internet this seems to be the camera that most "SLR Downgraders" have been waiting for (although nobody has had it in his/her hands physically yet). So there MIGHT be a relatively big market for it.

 

Jock

[Alex_Tattersall 90]

I'd say that a Nauticam housing for the NEX7 is a likely possibility Jock.

[MJvC 9]

What is the quality of these adapters? It can't be great to have that many elements. It's 24mp. That will make a lot of lenses look bad.

 

What do these adapters do to the depth of field? If you add a fisheye adapter to a 16mm lens is the equivalent depth of field that of a 16mm fisheye lens?

If so this seems to defeat a lot of the benefits of a cropped sensor i.e. greater depth of field from the W/A and fisheye lenses being 10mm-12mm not 16mm -18mm.

The macro 4/3 system has some great W/A and fisheye lenses. I wish Sony would bring out some equivalent NEX lenses.

[Cp 29]

@ Cp:

 

Chris, I know that with a constant flow of new cameras every couple of months it is almost impossible to provide a housing for each new model, but if the in-field results of the NEX 7 meet the expectations which arise if you read through the specs: Please consider to make a housing for the NEX 7. From the comments in the internet this seems to be the camera that most "SLR Downgraders" have been waiting for (although nobody has had it in his/her hands physically yet). So there MIGHT be a relatively big market for it.

 

Jock

 

Hi Jock,

 

Indeed. Am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on one. November-ish for NEX-7?

 

Sounds like we'll have an NEX-5N in house to check out tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

Cp

[A.Y. 15]

Right, but what housing options are there to dive with the 12mm UWA lens?

 

Looking at Nauticams product description of the NEX-5 housing this is not an option. There is only the option with the fisheye + 4,33" dome

See Nauticam's acessories here: http://www.nauticam.com/product-list-cs.asp?id=12&sid=11

 

Is there any other housing option for the UWA ?

 

/O

 

Thanks oskar, I didn't know Nauticam makes a port for the NEX 16mm F2.8 pancake! I guess this means the 16mm pancake with the Sony wide angle adapter won't work with the 4.33" fisheye port then

[Drew 0]

@ Drew:

... make a lot of lenses look bad

Where? On a computer screen with, say 1900*1000 px? Not so sure... Of course, if you want to crop a tiny little area from the edges and want to blow it up, you are right. Otherwise, post-processing in Photoshop et al could do the job if you really feel you need it - Says Advocatus Diaboli.

 

Well sure if you keep everything @ 800 lines , everything looks great... even P&S cameras and phone pics. What can I say... I have a big monitor and I can see defects with bad lenses. And no amount of PS work can bring back resolution loss.

[Jock 14]

Indeed. Am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on one. November-ish for NEX-7?

 

Chris,

 

that sounds promising... And if you might think about integrating one or better two NikV (or S6) sockets that would even sound more promising

'Cause I think many "downgraders" still have those TTL cables and would prefer them to fiberoptics with the unnerving recovery time of the internal strobe.

Jock

[oskar 7]

Thanks oskar, I didn't know Nauticam makes a port for the NEX 16mm F2.8 pancake! I guess this means the 16mm pancake with the Sony wide angle adapter won't work with the 4.33" fisheye port then

 

Unfortunately it seems so, it would be good if someone at Nauticam could comment on whether they plan to support this combination in the future, or what the options are.

[Jock 14]

What do these adapters do to the depth of field? If you add a fisheye adapter to a 16mm lens is the equivalent depth of field that of a 16mm fisheye lens?

 

MJvC,

 

1) the depth of field does not change if you add a fisheye lens and RETAIN THE ASPECT RATIO. It only gets bigger or smaller if you change the f-stop.

 

2) The depth of field will be bigger if you use a fisheye converter and RETAIN YOUR SUBJECT DISTANCE (but then all subjects will become smaller. If you want to have the same size as before, you must get closer, and then see 1).

 

Underwater the old rule "Best wide angle lens? - Three steps back!" cannot be applied: You normally will use a wide lens not to get "more landscape", but to get closer and thus have less water between lens and subject.

 

A 100mm lens and a 12mm lens have the same depth of field if you use the same f-stop and the same aspect ratio, but with the 12mm lens you are much closer.

 

Hope this helps.

 

@ Drew

 

Yes of course you are right. I was exaggerating a bit :-) If you ask people, most 8,12,16 or 24MB pics are viewed at their computer screen in a fraction of the 100% view - so a tiny compact camera would indeed be "good enough". My point behind this is that I doubt that the hunt for "THE" lens makes sense for the average amateur user. On the other hand, it is a hobby, and there is nothing like rational thinking involved...

 

Jock

Edited September 1, 2011 by Jock

[A.Y. 15]

Jock is correct!

 

Here's a Depth of Field Calculator: http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Edited September 1, 2011 by A.Y.

[Phil Rudin 485]

Regarding using the 16mm pancake lens in the Nautican housing with the with the 4.33 inch dome port, I have used both the fisheye adapter and the wide angle adapter with equally good results. I have sent images with the wide adapter to Chris P. which he intends to post at some time showing the results.

 

Phil Rudin

[A.Y. 15]

Regarding using the 16mm pancake lens in the Nautican housing with the with the 4.33 inch dome port, I have used both the fisheye adapter and the wide angle adapter with equally good results. I have sent images with the wide adapter to Chris P. which he intends to post at some time showing the results.

 

Phil Rudin

 

Thanks Phil! Nauticam should update the product info for the 4.33 dome port then!