Sorry for what I am sure is a stupid question and I know I have much reading to do to learn this new camera. However need help for this question out of the box. I went through the transition from Film to Digital DX 15 years ago, but now just received my first Z mount camera (Z8) returning to Fullframe. I ordered the FTZII converter and the Nikkor 8-15mm to replace the 10.5 dx used on my D300. If I zoom out more than 12mm the frame is not filled and just a small circular image at 8mm, I popped on my 24-80 lenses also with converter and at 24mm the corners are very slightly rounded off. I thought the camera might be on DX mode but when I found the setting in Menu it appears to be FX 36x24. Any help is appreciated.
New to Z mount Wide Angle Question
- Thread starter Scubalens
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This is by design. At 8mm, this lens is what is called a circular fisheye, projecting a full 180 degree hemisphere onto a circle on the film/sensor, surrounded by black. Some people like this look, many don't. If you don't want it, and would like the ability to zoom in for a tighter shot, you can add a Kenko Teleplus HD Pro teleconverter, either the 1.4x version that will give you approximately 11-15mm accessible zoom range, or the 2x, which will turn the lens into a 16-30mm fisheye. Both will lose some resolution and light.
Sounds like you've got quite the setup there! I'm not super familiar with the Z8, but from what I understand, the circular image at 8mm is normal for that lens. Have you tried playing around with different focal lengths to see where the sweet spot is for your underwater shots?
PatW
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The Z mount has the Z 14-30 and a z 14-28. Of course your housing has to have a zoom gear, port and dome to support it.
Nauticam has a wet lens combined with a 24-50 z lens. And it is effectively very wide like a 12 mm equivalent. That is just my WAG, wide assed guess. It has an advantage of focusing to 12” and the dome is small so you can get right in. You can also shoot the 24-50 without a dome. And you can remove the dome during the dive and redeploy it. This might be your best shot.
Nauticam has a wet lens combined with a 24-50 z lens. And it is effectively very wide like a 12 mm equivalent. That is just my WAG, wide assed guess. It has an advantage of focusing to 12” and the dome is small so you can get right in. You can also shoot the 24-50 without a dome. And you can remove the dome during the dive and redeploy it. This might be your best shot.
A year late to the party and OP has already made up his mind and struck a deal, but yes. The z24-50 paired with Nauticams WWL-1C is a very nimble, high quality WA solution. The wet lens transform the zooms normal range to 130-90ish degrees fov—roughly a 12-24 on a FF. But much sharper than e.g. the Nikon FX14-24 behind a big dome.
I can second this. Phil and the crew at Reef Photo in Ft. Lauderdale got me set up with this combo with my Z7II earlier this year and I’ve been very happy with it so far! Already won a veteran’s photo competition.
Edit — does anyone know why I’ve been unable to access ScubaBoard via my laptop for weeks now? I had to use my phone.
Edit — does anyone know why I’ve been unable to access ScubaBoard via my laptop for weeks now? I had to use my phone.
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