Upgrade from RX100ii to A6X00?

[BFRedrocks]

FWIW, I shoot the a6500 in a Nauticam housing with a pair of INON Z-330s and love it. For macro, I use the Sony 90mm macro lens with the associated ports, and for wide angle I use the 16-50mm lens with the Nauticam WWL-1. It's quite a nice setup and I've had a lot of successful photo shoots with it. If you're really interested in the a6500 and housing, I might be willing to part with it for a pretty good bargain. I have some decent topside lenses for the a6500 as well. DM me if you're interested, but regardless, the a6500 has been a great option for me diving all over the world.

 

[RVBldr]

Just as a datapoint, there's lots of rumors on a forthcoming A6700 release very soon, which looks to be a great ASP-C mirrorless. That assumes that Nauticam would probably be one of the first to release a housing for that new model. Rumors are that it's going to be just slightly bigger than the previous Axxxx model, so about the same as the A7C.

 

[Hoag]

First a bit of a disclaimer for transparency. I have GAS - Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I am always looking for "shiny new toys", and just this week, I ordered a new Nikon Z8 for use above the surface.

Underwater, however, I shoot an A6000 in a Nauticam housing. I am a firm believer in what is "affectionately" referred to as the 95/5 rule of photography, which states that 95% of what makes a great image takes place less than 5 inches behind the viewfinder.

You are getting very good results with your current system. If I were you, I would continue to use it, and add a second strobe, but I don't think that you would benefit dramatically from a new camera housing and ports. The "cost/benefit analysis" may not justify it. Only you will be able to honestly answer that question.

IMHO, new gear or new tech won't make a person a better photographer. What it will do, is to make it a bit easier to get the challenging shots. (But that is nothing more than an opinion, so take it with the proverbial grain of salt.)

 

[AlexMWolff]

FWIW, I shoot the a6500 in a Nauticam housing with a pair of INON Z-330s and love it. For macro, I use the Sony 90mm macro lens with the associated ports, and for wide angle I use the 16-50mm lens with the Nauticam WWL-1. It's quite a nice setup and I've had a lot of successful photo shoots with it. If you're really interested in the a6500 and housing, I might be willing to part with it for a pretty good bargain. I have some decent topside lenses for the a6500 as well. DM me if you're interested, but regardless, the a6500 has been a great option for me diving all over the world.

Hi there,

I shoot the a6500 in nauticam as well. I am wondering if the 90 actually fits in the standard flat port? I have been searching for a macro lens that is not too slow focusing to be usable? I usually buy new but would consider your used. Thanks Alex in NY

 

[Barmaglot]

Hi there,

I shoot the a6500 in nauticam as well. I am wondering if the 90 actually fits in the standard flat port? I have been searching for a macro lens that is not too slow focusing to be usable? I usually buy new but would consider your used. Thanks Alex in NY

A 90mm certainly won't fit in the same port as a 16-50mm (assuming that's what you mean by standard flat port), it is several times longer. Also, if my experience on a6300 is any indication, its autofocus performance is much too slow for any dynamic subject. It's worlds better on a6700, but a6500, as far as I know, has the same AF engine as a6300. For what it's worth, I've been using a Canon 60mm with Metabones adapter for blackwater diving, where quick focusing on small moving subjects is important, which has worked much better for me than 90mm, but it needs lots of light or it will hunt endlessly.

 

[AlexMWolff]

A 90mm certainly won't fit in the same port as a 16-50mm (assuming that's what you mean by standard flat port), it is several times longer. Also, if my experience on a6300 is any indication, its autofocus performance is much too slow for any dynamic subject. It's worlds better on a6700, but a6500, as far as I know, has the same AF engine as a6300. For what it's worth, I've been using a Canon 60mm with Metabones adapter for blackwater diving, where quick focusing on small moving subjects is important, which has worked much better for me than 90mm, but it needs lots of light or it will hunt endlessly.

I like the idea of a 60 much better than a90! And if the Canon and adapter focuses quickly that's a maybe. Yep,.never been happy with the nex7 or 6500 focus. I will.look into the 6700 but if it means a new housing I will upgrade to a nikon z8

 

[Barmaglot]

It certainly means a new housing, but a Z8 is several times more expensive than an a6700 just for the body (and housing is almost double the price as well), to say nothing of the lenses.