Where do you get the bayonet style mount? I have a new DC2000 camera and have yet to get the wide angle lens. Great videos and would love to see more techniques and guides for us compact camera users such as the Sealife products.
Hi James - SeaLife sells the pop-on adapter for the lenses (note it's not bayonet mount). Should be able to find it on their website. On that note, check out SeaLife's UA-cam channel - there are some great tutorials there about their gear.... but I hear you.... more tutorials for compact shooters to come!
you are my go to guy - great tutorial as usual! Question for you - I just purchased the tg-6 with a kraken wet wide angle dome. (Had a larger olympus set up before) and I've attached my two ysd2 strobes. Am I incorrect in thinking that I can do macro with that dome port? If so, I've tried using the camera's super macro setting and also the microscope setting and cannot get focus - zooms in and out a couple of times and won't focus Any advice?
Hi Kerry, thanks so much! You're correct - macro is best done with the flat port on the housing... with the wet wide angle lens removed. For close focus wide-angle you'll also need to back a bit farther from the subject or try zooming in just a touch to see if you can focus through the dome at the close distance. I hope this helps!
Hi Brent, love to watch and learn from you! Do you have something on ideal camera settings for the dc 2000 with the 0,75 lens? Maybe that‘s already out there I just did not find it? Cheers, Sandra
Hi Sandra - Glad you're enjoying the videos! Unfortunately, I don't have a video with DC2000 settings (with the 0.75 lens). Happy to answer some specific questions if you have them. In the meantime, be sure to watch these videos: Composition: ua-cam.com/video/duzg3LagR5Y/v-deo.html Lighting: ua-cam.com/video/zRfoZAhJ_n8/v-deo.html
Hey Brent awesome video. Big fan here from Kenya 🇰🇪🌴. Please make a video on WB, red filters on compact cameras and also WB using video lights. Thanks alot
Hi Azym - thanks for the kind words. This is a big topic and one I've moved to the top of my list. In the meantime, have you watched the videos below? These all have bits and pieces of relevant info: Light Positioning: ua-cam.com/video/YEcbVIgUanY/v-deo.html Why you Need Lighting: ua-cam.com/video/zRfoZAhJ_n8/v-deo.html All About Constant Light: ua-cam.com/video/2JyjlyU2zqE/v-deo.html I hope to film the video soon. Let me know if you have any specific questions! -Brent
@@azymasger9088 I really appreciate the support! I plan to shoot this one and a few Shorts - hopefully within the next few weeks (work, babies and my own diving make it tough to find time quickly!).
Hi! I was wondering does the macro lens fit on the sealife micro 3… and also can you just change it in the water while diving. Cus sometimes I would like to shoot wide angle and sometimes I want macro, depending on what I see.
It depends which SeaLife macro lens, but yes, it can be used and is easy to pop on and off underwater. The SeaLife website specifies camera compatibility in each diopter.
Could you please do a video explaining the differance between a wet lens and a non wet lens system. Also, is there any benefit to investing in the 52 vs 67mm lens systems? I currently have the kraken smart phone housing for diving but I also have a full frame mirrorless DSLR that I plan to eventually use for diving. Is my thinking of starting with the 67mm lens systems for the DSLR camera the right idea?
Great idea for a video, Daniel. There are traditional wet lenses, the new zoom through wet optics on mirrorless/DSLRs and traditional lenses/ports for interchangeable lens cameras. It's confusing! If you already have a full frame mirrorless then I would invest in 67mm lens systems. A macro diopter is a great investment. For wide-angle there are pros and cons to wet optics vs. traditional lens/port combo for the system that require some thought based on what you plan to shoot, how you plan to use the system, etc.
@@BrentDurand Looking to get a kit together for diving videos and so far we've got a panasonic GH5 and this is exactly my next question! The GH5 is so expensive that i don't want to spend another fortune on lens systems and would like to know the difference and which is truly worth it. We were thinking of getting the sea frog housing for it and need advice on lens systems! Plan on shooting mostly in the waters of southeast Asia if that helps at all
@@spandananallapati4140 Hi Spandana. The GH5 is an excellent camera for underwater video. I don't have any experience with the Sea Frogs housing, but it does have various dome port options. Exact lenses and ports will really depend on what you want to shoot - macro, wide-angle, both, etc. There are a number of manufacturers that make wet lenses that would work with that housing (macro diopters and wide-angle wet lenses), so you have versatility there. If you step up to the next price point for housings, the port optics will be even better. One other thing to consider is that lighting will make a huge difference in underwater video, especially for subjects within 1 meter, so be sure to save some budget for arms, clamps and lights! - Brent
Good question Apache. The answer here is tricky and simple at the same time. The magnification of a diopter will vary depending on the lens and camera sensor, so the +X numbers are a system that helps compare diopter strength more directly. The higher the number, the stronger the diopter. Image quality will vary for each and every diopter, and between different cameras, lenses and housings (and doesn't relate to magnification). I have a new Comparison of the Best Diopters for 2021 here: tutorials.brentdurand.com/best-macro-diopters/
As usual, great video Brent. Thank you. Am curious. How do you attach a lanyard to a macro lens? For the wide angle, one can drill a hole on the lens hood to attach a lanyard.
Good question - it really depends on the lens. Most of the wide-angle lenses I've seen have a loop, so you don't even need to drill a hold through the hood. These are also the lenses you have to worry about most, since smaller profile macro diopters are hard to knock off. SeaLife's DC adaptor (to pop the macro lens on/off) has a hole for a lanyard, but the diopter alone (and most other diopters) doesn't have a loop. Generally I'm comfortable using diopters without a lanyard.
Yes sir, no need for a wide-angle wet lens since you have a wide-angle or fisheye lens in the dome port. A macro diopter can still be used with your macro lens and port :- )
Hi Wesley, you can absolutely use wet lenses with this system. For macro, you can use any 67mm diopter. For wide-angle you will either want to use a fisheye lens or wide-angle lens inside a dome port, OR a medium field of view lens in a flat port and add a zoom-through wide-angle lens to that (e.g. Nauticam). Feel free to email me via the link below with your lenses and ports - I can share a few good lens choices: tutorials.brentdurand.com/underwater-camera-questions/
Hi Dewalt - The TG-6 has a fantastic macro mode built it, so I'd master that before spending more money on macro diopters. Backscatter has some great tutorials if you scroll down on this page: www.backscatter.com/Olympus-Tough-TG-6-Waterproof-Compact-Camera?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM=
Hi David, you can focus close to the subject with wide angle lenses like this, but a small subject will appear small in the frame due to the wide angle of view. This might be fine for a "large" macro subject, but if you really want to fill the frame with a macro subject you should shoot with the regular lens or a macro diopter. Here are a few diopters and flip adapters I recommend: tutorials.brentdurand.com/best-macro-diopters/
Thanks, Brent. Any ideas for float collar or something else to offset the negative buoyancy of my Inon UW-H100 wide angle wet lens? It's 345 grams/12.2 ounces negative. That really makes the camera nose heavy. (The Stix buoyancy collar for macro ports is too big and won't fit.)
Hi Oren - I'm not sure of that off the top of my head, but I believe you can pull the floats off the Stix collar, cut them down (for less lift) and reassemble. That's probably my first recommendation. Alternatively, there are a few other options you could explore here: www.backscatter.com/search?keywords=float%20collar?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM=
@@BrentDurand Thanks. I'm mulling over the design, procurement and construction hassles involved with making my own. I'm somewhat surprised that these aren't standard accessories for massive wet lenses.
@@OrenNoah Yea, I guess Stix and others just haven't found it worthwhile to create a few more float collar versions for all the new wet lenses out there the past few years. Hopefully soon!
Hi C - There are many sides to this question. On compact cameras and smartphone housings a wet lens is the only choice. On interchangeable lens cameras there are pros and cons to both setups. A dry dome and wide-angle lens may be lighter and more streamlined, better for split-shots, but require you to also carry a macro lens and port. A wide angle conversion lens attaches to a lens in a plat port, allowing you to switch between that and a macro diopter underwater. Some of these have exceptional optics, but it really depends which camera, housing, and wet lens vs dome port combo you're comparing.
@@cwilliams6884 Dry domes are used with interchangeable lens cameras. Compact cameras have a lens built in, so the housing port is also fixed on the housing.
Hi Brent , i am purchasing a housing for my Panasonic lx10 which i intend to use to learn underwater photography . However i am not sure which one to buy for the housing ( domeport/ wide angle wet lense ) ,this is the housing package i am purchasing www.aditech-uw.com/en/shop/3643-nauticam-na-lx10-pro-package-for-dmc-lx10lx15.html I kindly request you to give suggestions and probably links , already the budget is tight so do u think i can start off learnig photography with the current package i am purchasing and later keep adding when required the wideangle or macro ? Or should i purchase a wide angle one to start
I agree - two lens caddies (or flip adapter on larger camera) are ideal. I have, however, placed diopters in sand (carefully without any damage) on hundreds of macro dives 😎✌️
Vote!: What is your favorite wet lens?
Inon UWL-H100.
@@otsoni03 That's a very nice lens, Pekka - Very cool!
Where do you get the bayonet style mount? I have a new DC2000 camera and have yet to get the wide angle lens. Great videos and would love to see more techniques and guides for us compact camera users such as the Sealife products.
Hi James - SeaLife sells the pop-on adapter for the lenses (note it's not bayonet mount). Should be able to find it on their website. On that note, check out SeaLife's UA-cam channel - there are some great tutorials there about their gear.... but I hear you.... more tutorials for compact shooters to come!
you are my go to guy - great tutorial as usual! Question for you - I just purchased the tg-6 with a kraken wet wide angle dome. (Had a larger olympus set up before) and I've attached my two ysd2 strobes. Am I incorrect in thinking that I can do macro with that dome port? If so, I've tried using the camera's super macro setting and also the microscope setting and cannot get focus - zooms in and out a couple of times and won't focus Any advice?
Hi Kerry, thanks so much! You're correct - macro is best done with the flat port on the housing... with the wet wide angle lens removed. For close focus wide-angle you'll also need to back a bit farther from the subject or try zooming in just a touch to see if you can focus through the dome at the close distance. I hope this helps!
Hi Brent, love to watch and learn from you! Do you have something on ideal camera settings for the dc 2000 with the 0,75 lens? Maybe that‘s already out there I just did not find it? Cheers, Sandra
Hi Sandra - Glad you're enjoying the videos! Unfortunately, I don't have a video with DC2000 settings (with the 0.75 lens). Happy to answer some specific questions if you have them.
In the meantime, be sure to watch these videos:
Composition: ua-cam.com/video/duzg3LagR5Y/v-deo.html
Lighting: ua-cam.com/video/zRfoZAhJ_n8/v-deo.html
Hey Brent awesome video. Big fan here from Kenya 🇰🇪🌴. Please make a video on WB, red filters on compact cameras and also WB using video lights. Thanks alot
Hi Azym - thanks for the kind words. This is a big topic and one I've moved to the top of my list. In the meantime, have you watched the videos below? These all have bits and pieces of relevant info:
Light Positioning: ua-cam.com/video/YEcbVIgUanY/v-deo.html
Why you Need Lighting: ua-cam.com/video/zRfoZAhJ_n8/v-deo.html
All About Constant Light: ua-cam.com/video/2JyjlyU2zqE/v-deo.html
I hope to film the video soon. Let me know if you have any specific questions! -Brent
@@BrentDurand really looking forward to the video. Iv been a subscriber for more than 1 year so I have watched all videos ✌️🤿🤙
@@azymasger9088 I really appreciate the support! I plan to shoot this one and a few Shorts - hopefully within the next few weeks (work, babies and my own diving make it tough to find time quickly!).
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Learning more and more every day!
Fer Of course - it’s fun to put these videos together as free time permits. Glad you’re learning from them and improving your underwater photography 👌
Hi! I was wondering does the macro lens fit on the sealife micro 3… and also can you just change it in the water while diving. Cus sometimes I would like to shoot wide angle and sometimes I want macro, depending on what I see.
It depends which SeaLife macro lens, but yes, it can be used and is easy to pop on and off underwater. The SeaLife website specifies camera compatibility in each diopter.
Could you please do a video explaining the differance between a wet lens and a non wet lens system.
Also, is there any benefit to investing in the 52 vs 67mm lens systems? I currently have the kraken smart phone housing for diving but I also have a full frame mirrorless DSLR that I plan to eventually use for diving. Is my thinking of starting with the 67mm lens systems for the DSLR camera the right idea?
Great idea for a video, Daniel. There are traditional wet lenses, the new zoom through wet optics on mirrorless/DSLRs and traditional lenses/ports for interchangeable lens cameras. It's confusing!
If you already have a full frame mirrorless then I would invest in 67mm lens systems. A macro diopter is a great investment. For wide-angle there are pros and cons to wet optics vs. traditional lens/port combo for the system that require some thought based on what you plan to shoot, how you plan to use the system, etc.
@@BrentDurand Looking to get a kit together for diving videos and so far we've got a panasonic GH5 and this is exactly my next question! The GH5 is so expensive that i don't want to spend another fortune on lens systems and would like to know the difference and which is truly worth it. We were thinking of getting the sea frog housing for it and need advice on lens systems! Plan on shooting mostly in the waters of southeast Asia if that helps at all
@@spandananallapati4140 Hi Spandana. The GH5 is an excellent camera for underwater video. I don't have any experience with the Sea Frogs housing, but it does have various dome port options. Exact lenses and ports will really depend on what you want to shoot - macro, wide-angle, both, etc. There are a number of manufacturers that make wet lenses that would work with that housing (macro diopters and wide-angle wet lenses), so you have versatility there. If you step up to the next price point for housings, the port optics will be even better. One other thing to consider is that lighting will make a huge difference in underwater video, especially for subjects within 1 meter, so be sure to save some budget for arms, clamps and lights!
- Brent
Would have been nice if you had explained what the numbers on wet lenses stand for (+2, +5) and how much distortion they add to the image
Good question Apache. The answer here is tricky and simple at the same time. The magnification of a diopter will vary depending on the lens and camera sensor, so the +X numbers are a system that helps compare diopter strength more directly. The higher the number, the stronger the diopter. Image quality will vary for each and every diopter, and between different cameras, lenses and housings (and doesn't relate to magnification).
I have a new Comparison of the Best Diopters for 2021 here: tutorials.brentdurand.com/best-macro-diopters/
@@BrentDurand Wow, thanks for the reply! And the comparison came out just today, how cool is that.
@@apacheattackhelicopter8185 Yup! Finished it up this morning before work.
As usual, great video Brent. Thank you.
Am curious. How do you attach a lanyard to a macro lens? For the wide angle, one can drill a hole on the lens hood to attach a lanyard.
Good question - it really depends on the lens. Most of the wide-angle lenses I've seen have a loop, so you don't even need to drill a hold through the hood. These are also the lenses you have to worry about most, since smaller profile macro diopters are hard to knock off. SeaLife's DC adaptor (to pop the macro lens on/off) has a hole for a lanyard, but the diopter alone (and most other diopters) doesn't have a loop. Generally I'm comfortable using diopters without a lanyard.
I only have a dome port for my housing so that precludes using any wet lenses right?
Yes sir, no need for a wide-angle wet lens since you have a wide-angle or fisheye lens in the dome port. A macro diopter can still be used with your macro lens and port :- )
awesome video!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks!
I have a sony a7iii with an isotta housing. Do you suggest using wet lenses for this set up? Or do you only use wet lenses for compact cameras?
Hi Wesley, you can absolutely use wet lenses with this system. For macro, you can use any 67mm diopter. For wide-angle you will either want to use a fisheye lens or wide-angle lens inside a dome port, OR a medium field of view lens in a flat port and add a zoom-through wide-angle lens to that (e.g. Nauticam).
Feel free to email me via the link below with your lenses and ports - I can share a few good lens choices: tutorials.brentdurand.com/underwater-camera-questions/
@@BrentDurand , sending you an email now!
Is it worth it to add the marco diopter to a tg-6 housing?
Hi Dewalt - The TG-6 has a fantastic macro mode built it, so I'd master that before spending more money on macro diopters. Backscatter has some great tutorials if you scroll down on this page: www.backscatter.com/Olympus-Tough-TG-6-Waterproof-Compact-Camera?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM=
Can you used a wide angle lens to take macro pic? In my case the tg5 with the krl-02 lense and can you recommend a good lense caddy?
Hi David, you can focus close to the subject with wide angle lenses like this, but a small subject will appear small in the frame due to the wide angle of view. This might be fine for a "large" macro subject, but if you really want to fill the frame with a macro subject you should shoot with the regular lens or a macro diopter. Here are a few diopters and flip adapters I recommend:
tutorials.brentdurand.com/best-macro-diopters/
Thanks, Brent. Any ideas for float collar or something else to offset the negative buoyancy of my Inon UW-H100 wide angle wet lens? It's 345 grams/12.2 ounces negative. That really makes the camera nose heavy. (The Stix buoyancy collar for macro ports is too big and won't fit.)
Hi Oren - I'm not sure of that off the top of my head, but I believe you can pull the floats off the Stix collar, cut them down (for less lift) and reassemble. That's probably my first recommendation.
Alternatively, there are a few other options you could explore here: www.backscatter.com/search?keywords=float%20collar?affiliate=U2FsdGVkX1+5HP8BlhLkagWnVwymT4hAXsf4ct8uMAM=
@@BrentDurand Thanks. I'm mulling over the design, procurement and construction hassles involved with making my own.
I'm somewhat surprised that these aren't standard accessories for massive wet lenses.
@@OrenNoah Yea, I guess Stix and others just haven't found it worthwhile to create a few more float collar versions for all the new wet lenses out there the past few years. Hopefully soon!
why use a wet lens vs a dry dome?
Hi C - There are many sides to this question. On compact cameras and smartphone housings a wet lens is the only choice. On interchangeable lens cameras there are pros and cons to both setups. A dry dome and wide-angle lens may be lighter and more streamlined, better for split-shots, but require you to also carry a macro lens and port. A wide angle conversion lens attaches to a lens in a plat port, allowing you to switch between that and a macro diopter underwater. Some of these have exceptional optics, but it really depends which camera, housing, and wet lens vs dome port combo you're comparing.
@@BrentDurand why can't you use a dry dome for a compact camera?
@@cwilliams6884 Dry domes are used with interchangeable lens cameras. Compact cameras have a lens built in, so the housing port is also fixed on the housing.
@@BrentDurand ahh i didn't know that, thanks for the info :D
Hi Brent , i am purchasing a housing for my Panasonic lx10 which i intend to use to learn underwater photography . However i am not sure which one to buy for the housing ( domeport/ wide angle wet lense ) ,this is the housing package i am purchasing www.aditech-uw.com/en/shop/3643-nauticam-na-lx10-pro-package-for-dmc-lx10lx15.html
I kindly request you to give suggestions and probably links , already the budget is tight so do u think i can start off learnig photography with the current package i am purchasing and later keep adding when required the wideangle or macro ? Or should i purchase a wide angle one to start
You need another lens caddy. You cannot place the lens to the bottom of the sea while you change the lenses.
I agree - two lens caddies (or flip adapter on larger camera) are ideal. I have, however, placed diopters in sand (carefully without any damage) on hundreds of macro dives 😎✌️