Nikon D500 vs Z6 (or 7) for UW photography?

[Interceptor121 765]

Hey
Weirdly I've had both. I had the version with the petal bullt-in hood for my D300 and now have the petal-less version with my D500. There's who difference in lens quality or build - other than the missing bit in the petal-less version.
I don't recall the built-in one vignetting at all or a problem fitting in either a 100mm or 8" dome. Ditto the petal-less one.
Either works fine. If I had to chose, I'd probably go petal-less just that the hood makes no appreciable difference and not having it means you are probably never going to come up against vignetting issues.
One thing I would say though - actually two things - about the Tokina 10-17, it's brilliant underwater with a DX camera. But I thought it was horrible topside. Weird contrasts and colouration. And it is a bit fragile. I think lots of WP users have found bits of the lens body falls off. It doesn't effect the lens in use in a housing but this is not a robust, roughly-toughty lens.
 

The version without petals is for full frame to allow less vignette


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[PeteAtkinson 53]

I have used one Seacam (D200) and two Nauticam housings, (D7000 and D800). My next housing will likely be Nauticam which seem excellent in every respect. I have never had a housing serviced. I am considering a Nikon Z50 with the 16-50 DX and the WWL-1 for wide rectilinear. The Nauticam housing is about half a kilo lighter than the SLR housings. As mentioned, the Tokina 10-17 won't work with an FTZ adapter so I think for fisheye I will need the 8-15mm on FTZ. With possibly the Athena 170 dome with which I can shoot over/under almost.  I no longer shoot macro and need lighter gear because I am falling apart. This should be roughly 2.5kg lighter than my current gear. This approach may suit you. There is plenty of expertise on this thread to correct any errors of thinking on my part. Feedback welcome!

[Draq 118]

On 8/27/2020 at 7:30 PM, TimG said:

And it is a bit fragile. I think lots of WP users have found bits of the lens body falls off. It doesn't effect the lens in use in a housing but this is not a robust, roughly-toughty lens.

 

I have not had anything fall off my 10-17 so far, but I know I have read this about them somewhere before.  So, out of curiosity, which bits are likely to fall off?

 

[adamhanlon 0]

The most common issue with the 10-17mm is that the lens is actually made up of  2 halves that are led together by a strip of (very robust) tape under the zoom rubber.

Some zoom gears require the removal of this rubber ring, which exposed the tape and it then tends to fail...when it happens, they can normally be gently put back together and re-taped. If your zoom gear requires you to remove the rubber from this lens, a few wraps of electric tape when you remove the rubber ring will generally solve the issue and prevent the lens from coming apart.

[Draq 118]

18 hours ago, adamhanlon said:

The most common issue with the 10-17mm is that the lens is actually made up of  2 halves that are led together by a strip of (very robust) tape under the zoom rubber.

Some zoom gears require the removal of this rubber ring, which exposed the tape and it then tends to fail...when it happens, they can normally be gently put back together and re-taped. If your zoom gear requires you to remove the rubber from this lens, a few wraps of electric tape when you remove the rubber ring will generally solve the issue and prevent the lens from coming apart.

Adam:

I see.  Yes, I had to remove the rubber ring but have not had any problem with the tape failing (yet).  The rubber ring stays off since the lens is only used underwater.  Based on your comments, I put a strip of gaffer tape over the existing tape.  It fit quite well and should keep things together.  Thank you for explaining.

Edited September 1, 2020 by Draq

[trimix125 73]

My only problem was the rubber ring of the zoom.
It came of, without splitting the lens.
A german underwater fotographer fixed it for me.
Regards,
Wolfgang

[TimG 62]

1 hour ago, trimix125 said:

My only problem was the rubber ring of the zoom.
It came of, without splitting the lens.
A german underwater fotographer fixed it for me.
Regards,
Wolfgang

I had the same thing on my earlier Tokina. I managed just to sort of jam it back together and leave the zoom ring on it. I never used anyway for topside shots.

[noelguevara 2]

Hi, I did a complete review of the Z7 here. I came from D850 / D500. Now I have the Z7 / Z6 (for video) / D500 combo.