Question Full wide angle photography set up advice

[Phenymo]

After many years of using a GoPro and TG6 (and M4/3 on land...), I feel it's time to invest in a new complete set up.

Currently I do mainly cave/mine/wreck diving in fairly deep cold waters so looking for something that can handle low-light wide angle, is easy to travel with and can take a bit of "abuse". Almost no interest in macro, and only very occasional video work.

After a lot of research, it seems full frame is the way forward. I have reasonable experience with m4/3 on land, but my bodies are pretty old and no housings are available anymore, so thought I'd use this opportunity to switch things up.

I have narrowed down to the Sony A7 IV, with the 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens to start with. Alternatively I was thinking the A7C could be better for travel, but the smaller body and reduced buttons / wheels might make usability a bit frustrating. And according to rumors A7C II might be coming soon (should I wait?!).

1. Is there a big size / functionality difference once in the housing between the A7 IV and A7C? Seems a trade off between usability or smaller size.
2. Is the 28-70mm lens wide enough for cave / wreck wide angle? This, this & this is the kind of photo I would like to capture. According to Nauticam's port chart, with the kit lens I can only use the N77 Flat Port.
   Would this be sufficient for wide angle or should I step up and get wider glass like the 12-24mm f4 or 16-35 f2.8?
   This is a significant increase in price overall and would mean investing in a 180mm or 230mm dome port which sounds like a nightmare to travel with.

Most of my housing research has been on Nauticam - but should I consider other brands? I do occasionally require >60m depth rating so that rules out a few others like Ikelite...

I have a few 10,000+ lumen video lights I use for scene lighting, but am also planning to grab a pair of Inon Z330 strobes.
Unless the extra flash power (and cool factor ) of a pair of Retra Flash Pro X is worth the additional money?

Anything else I have overlooked or should consider?

This is a big investment, so would appreciate any advice / direction.

Thanks a lot!!

 

[tursiops]

Consider the A7C and WWL-1....I don't know of any cave pictures that would not be easier/better with a good, real wide-angle, just because of lighting constraints and space considerations.

 

[Phenymo]

Consider the A7C and WWL-1....I don't know of any cave pictures that would not be easier/better with a good, real wide-angle, just because of lighting constraints and space considerations.

Thanks for the response. I am trying to work out if I can use the WWL-1 with A7 IV 28-70. Looking at the port charts they do not list WWL-1 as an option for any configuration with this camera?

 

[tursiops]

@stuartv @PHIL RUDIN

 

[Barmaglot]

The 28-70mm is not, by any stretch of imagination, a wide-angle lens underwater, not behind a flat port anyway. The photos you have linked appear to have been taken with a fisheye lens - on Sony platform, you'd be looking at Canon 8-15mm f/4 or Sigma 15mm f/2.8 on a Canon EF to Sony E adapter (Metabones, Sigma MC-11). For a more versatile (if not as wide at the extreme) setup, consider the Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6 - it can be used with the Nauticam WWL-1 lens for 130 degrees diagonal angle of view at the wide end and 69 degrees at the narrow end; if you remove the WWL-1 underwater, you get a 75-40 degree AoV range. If you add a CMC-1, you can shoot macro at up to 0.9x magnification with the same lens.

 

[Nemrod]

I know it runs counter to the lemmings going to full frame but the Olympus OM has a better selection of wide angle and fisheye lenses and can also use the WWL-1. And mostly the same for Nikon and Canon APS. Sony APS cameras will need the Metabones adapter for the Tokina fisheye zoom or settle for the WWL-1, which is what I did.

 

[Gene]

I've been using a Nikon D800 in an Aquatica housing with Ikelite strobes for years, but at some point I'll get a Nauticam housing and use it with my Z7 or new Z72. I always use my old, circa 2004 Nikkor 20mm lens. Most all of my u/w images have been made using this set-up or what I had previous. (Older DSLR bodies)