Nikon D850

[AZTinman]

Regarding your question about packing your gear, I use a Pelican case to carry-on the majority of my underwater camera system when flying. This said, the Pelican case I use isn't the typical heavy, hard Pelican case. I've got a couple of Pelican cases that the company doesn't appear to make any more. The cases are a soft, rigid roller type similar to those available from Think Tank and Lowe Pro. An advantage my Pelican cases have is a removable top bag that can be used as my personal bag (under the seat). Most of my rig fits in the larger roller bag that goes in the overhead. The smaller bag has room for ports and a computer. Pelicans like mine show-up from time-on-time on e-Bay.

When I'm packing my assembled rig to and from a dive boat, I use a soft cooler bag. It travels rolled-up with in my dive bag.

BTW... I just took delivery on a D850. I won't house it until I shoot it above water for a while. There's lots to learn with this camera. The first lens I plan to use underwater will be a 16-35mm Nikkor.

-AZTinman

 

[Squalo305]

Skip getting set-up for your 16-35mm... you're joking right? Based on my experience and preferences for pursuing underwater photographs, I would go with the 16-35mm before spending money on a 8-15mm set-up.

I seldom use my fisheye lens. I don't like the field curvature for most subjects and only use it when I'm pursuing photographs of big critters like mantas and whale sharks. Personally, I prefer renticular wide angle lenses over fisheyes.

The 16-35mm is an incredible wide angle lens. You'll find the reach is something you appreciate.

-AZTinman

I think you read it wrong or maybe I wrote it wrong. The only lens I own is the 16-35. What I am saying is that Iam between the sigma 15mm with the big dome or the 8-15mm buying the extra smaller dome.

 

[Squalo305]

Regarding your question about packing your gear, I use a Pelican case to carry-on the majority of my underwater camera system when flying. This said, the Pelican case I use isn't the typical heavy, hard Pelican case. I've got a couple of Pelican cases that the company doesn't appear to make any more. The cases are a soft, rigid roller type similar to those available from Think Tank and Lowe Pro. An advantage my Pelican cases have is a removable top bag that can be used as my personal bag (under the seat). Most of my rig fits in the larger roller bag that goes in the overhead. The smaller bag has room for ports and a computer. Pelicans like mine show-up from time-on-time on e-Bay.

When I'm packing my assembled rig to and from a dive boat, I use a soft cooler bag. It travels rolled-up with in my dive bag.

BTW... I just took delivery on a D850. I won't house it until I shoot it above water for a while. There's lots to learn with this camera. The first lens I plan to use underwater will be a 16-35mm Nikkor.

-AZTinman

Congrats on your new camera!
Great advice for that cooler bag! I love that idea to roll it in the dive gear bag and it helps to carry the whole setup.
Do you habe an opinion in wether the 8-15 or the sigma 15 is a better option?
Thanks

 

[Dr Simon Mitchell]

Hi I just bought a Nikon D850 and I need some help with my equipment choices. I currently use with my old DSLR camera an Ikelite housing and strobes, but for this new camera i was looking into Nauticam. I got a full equipment setup with nauticam and just wanted someone to help check if everything is OK or there might be some items that are not that usefull. I have three lenses in mind for underwater use 8-15mm, 16-35mm and 105mm. this is the underwater equipment.



nauticam housing

macro port 87 for 105mm

2 nauticam 200mm ball arm

2 nauticam 70x250 aluminum float arm

zen DP-100 glass dome port for 8-15mm

zen 230mm glass dome for 16-35mm

45 degree viewfinder

2 inon z330 strobes with optical fiber cable (or is sync cords better?)



so is this setup a good choice? do I need both domes? and i need help to figure out how to travel with this (please recommend a case) I use a pelican case now with my Ikelite housing but a lot of friend divers told me that the attract to much attention, that is heavy and that there might be a way to pack everything on a carry on bag.



I really appreciate all of your help in advance, I know how much this things cost and making the best decision is important to get it right from the start.

Thank you.

Hello,

That is virtually an identical set up to what I have. The only thing I am not certain about it is the size of the glass dome for the 8-15 lens - mine is not the largest, but it is not the smallest either. I am overseas so cannot check.

I am thrilled with the camera. The last time I changed from a D300 to a D800 I actually went backwards for a while, but this time (D800 - D850) I seem to be taking good or better photos right out of the box. Not sure why; I think it might be superior focusing.

I had a Subal housing for the D800 and it was superb. Took it deeper than 300' many times. Bulletproof, beautifully engineered and finished to the highest quality. I would have brought one again without hesitation, BUT I wanted to use the new 8-15 lens straight away and on the Subal site there was no mention of the lens or when they would have a zoom ring system for it. In contrast, (and very impressively only 2 months after Nikon released the lens Nauticam had a zoom ring and port recommendation. That's why I went with them and I have to say their housing is great. My sense is that the finish is not quite as high quality as Subal, but I have just had 2 weeks in Fiji scuba air diving and gave it a very solid workout. I tried to attach a couple of photos but even though they are smallish jpegs the site says they are too big. Anyway, no complaints whatsoever and would not hesitate to recommend it.

I did not bother with the TTL system for strobe activation because I shoot manual all the time with adjustment of output on Inon Z240 strobes. I did go for the vacuum system which seems very good.

Simon M​

 

[Squalo305]

Hello,

That is virtually an identical set up to what I have. The only thing I am not certain about it is the size of the glass dome for the 8-15 lens - mine is not the largest, but it is not the smallest either. I am overseas so cannot check.

I am thrilled with the camera. The last time I changed from a D300 to a D800 I actually went backwards for a while, but this time (D800 - D850) I seem to be taking good or better photos right out of the box. Not sure why; I think it might be superior focusing.

I had a Subal housing for the D800 and it was superb. Took it deeper than 300' many times. Bulletproof, beautifully engineered and finished to the highest quality. I would have brought one again without hesitation, BUT I wanted to use the new 8-15 lens straight away and on the Subal site there was no mention of the lens or when they would have a zoom ring system for it. In contrast, (and very impressively only 2 months after Nikon released the lens Nauticam had a zoom ring and port recommendation. That's why I went with them and I have to say their housing is great. My sense is that the finish is not quite as high quality as Subal, but I have just had 2 weeks in Fiji scuba air diving and gave it a very solid workout. I tried to attach a couple of photos but even though they are smallish jpegs the site says they are too big. Anyway, no complaints whatsoever and would not hesitate to recommend it.

I did not bother with the TTL system for strobe activation because I shoot manual all the time with adjustment of output on Inon Z240 strobes. I did go for the vacuum system which seems very good.

Simon M​

Thabk you very mcuh! Nice to hear that you are happy with your new setup!

 

[AZTinman]

I think you read it wrong or maybe I wrote it wrong. The only lens I own is the 16-35. What I am saying is that Iam between the sigma 15mm with the big dome or the 8-15mm buying the extra smaller dome.

Nope, I didn't read anything wrong at all. My response was actually directed at someone who offered you advice to skip setting up for your 16-35mm. I could quote that advice you received from that other individual if you'd like. Get what you need for your 16-35mm; you'll be glad you did.

I use a 10-24mm Nikkor and an 18-85mm Nikkor on my D7200 rig. It's important fill your viewfinder. The attached photograph was captured with with the 10-24mm. There's very little crop off the horizontal and zero vertical. Had that photograph been captured with a FE it would be a totally different photograph (distorted lines and much smaller shark image). The renticular captured what I saw as the shark rushed me and I moved back into the safety of the cage. Keep in mind wide angle lenses create that 'objects are closer than they appear' thing like your car's rearview mirror.

Regarding your question about the Sigma vs. the Nikkor 8-15mm, I've seen good reviews on both. Given the popularity of the Sigma 15mm, a lot of underwater photographers get good photographs with it. Personally, I like the flexibility of having a zoom and I prefer Nikon glass. The only fixed length I shoot underwater is my Nikkor 60mm Micro. When I set-up to take my D850 underwater, I'll eventually purchase a Nikkor 8-15mm.

A soft cooler bag can also double as your personal after dive camera dunk tank. Just fill it with water and avoid having your expensive dome ports beat-up by Go Pros and housed point & shoot cameras in the boat tank. Often, I don't even fill mine with water. I just put my dome port cover on, set the wet camera rig in it and cover the camera with a towel.

-AZTinman

 

[AZTinman]

Optical Ocean Sales has a new review of the Nikon D850 and Nauticam housing posted. The review addresses some port issues and is a good read. You may want to take a look or give those guys a call and visit with them about your questions.

-AZTinman

 

[Squalo305]

Optical Ocean Sales has a new review of the Nikon D850 and Nauticam housing posted. The review addresses some port issues and is a good read. You may want to take a look or give those guys a call and visit with them about your questions.

-AZTinman

Thank you!!

 

[Hoag]

Nope, I didn't read anything wrong at all. My response was actually directed at someone who offered you advice to skip setting up for your 16-35mm. I could quote that advice you received from that other individual if you'd like. Get what you need for your 16-35mm; you'll be glad you did.

**snip**

-AZTinman

I think that those were my comments that you are talking about. I made them before I realized that the 8-15mm lens was a fisheye. Now that I know this, I would agree that the 16-35mm lens would likely be a very good lens. But if you were being honest, then you already knew that because I also posted it above as well.

 

[AZTinman]

Actually Hoag, my comments were a very honest effort to provide accurate and meaningful information about the 16-35mm to an individual who I felt received some poor advice. My quote that you provided in your recent post was a response to the individual who thought I had read his response wrong. I was simply clarifying where I was coming from.

If you were the individual who originally offered the advice to skip setting up for his 16-35mm wide angle, I applaud your efforts to backtrack. Nikon makes some fine lenses and the 8-15mm FE appears to be one of these.

Nikon actually makes a couple of wide angle zooms that seem to be highly regarded among those who are shooting the Nikon D850 underwater. I've run into underwater photographers who are using both the Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 and the Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8 with very good results. Perspectives vary and many undoubtedly will disagree with me, but I personally believe a lot of underwater photographers will find they get better results if they focus on working with renticular wide angle and macro lenses rather than worrying about purchasing a fisheye when they're getting started with their SLR systems. Of course, this is a forum and when those who disagree offer their perspectives, I'll just have to do my best to have a 'thick skin' and not take comments personally.

-AZTinman