MFO-1 and focus limiter

[JohnD]

I almost put this into one of the existing MFO threads but then I thought it might deserve its own space.   I am curious and interested in the MFO-1, but oddly, Nauticam has no instructions or manual for this thing on their website.  Pretty much the only information they provide is sales-type stuff.  I realize there are still few of these in the wild, but I am trying to understand its utility.  If using the MFO-1, do we set focus limiters to the "infinity" setting and not suffer the hunting and focus speed issues that setting can cause, or use the reduced focus range setting?  It seems like it would need to use the unlimited setting given the published focusing range, but ???

 

Perhaps I am just being dense, but maybe Edward Lai or someone else with knowledge could post some additional details about using the thing.

[Edward Lai]

Hello John,

 

Please leave the focus limiter to "infinity".

[Dave_Hicks]

I just got my MFO today. Not wet yet, but on the bench I only see about 20cm max focusing distance on a Nikon 105 lens. Is this expected?

[CaolIla]

Hi I try for the first time today my MFO-1 with a Canon RF100  max distance beetween 1 and 2 m... but the first impression ...


Waouh 🥰   Now I go watching the first shoot.

 

[Edward Lai]

17 hours ago, Dave_Hicks said:

I just got my MFO today. Not wet yet, but on the bench I only see about 20cm max focusing distance on a Nikon 105 lens. Is this expected?

 

This is a wet lens.  Please try it in the field, or at least a bath tub or water tank that is big enough.

[Griffer]

Same subject showing close up and at distance     Canon R7 with 60mm .Very impressed  i have tried it with the 100mm in a big swell but very happy with the out come. Subject size 20mm

Edited March 10 by Griffer
missed size

[Dave_Hicks]

2 hours ago, Edward Lai said:

 

This is a wet lens.  Please try it in the field, or at least a bath tub or water tank that is big enough.

Thanks for confirming. I will dive it in a few days!

[CaolIla]

What I noticed is that it is much more easier to take such pictures... before it was complicate to put the focus then it allways go at the bacground. I love that

Edited March 10 by CaolIla

[CaolIla]

Small update of using the MFO-1

Maximun distance is less as what I believe... I estimate now on 1 meter with the RF100.

I probably made 95 % of the pictures with it the last 4 days. 

[Dave_Hicks]

I shot my new MFO-1 last night with a Nikon Z8, 105mm F-mount, and Nauticam housing, dual flip with the MFO-1 and Subsee +5.

 

Quick observations are that the Subsee is likely going on the shelf. The MFO both reduces and extends focus range to over a meter and reduces it beyond what the 105 can do by itself. The Subsee +5 has been my go-to macro accessory as it also reduces the shooting distance while not magnifying too much. However, it has a very limited range of maybe 30cm. I often have it flipped down and then mistakenly try to shoot something larger beyond its range, causing a delay to flip it up. The MFO can get in tight but also provides useful range.

 

The first critter I spotted last night was a pretty large Pacific Ruby Red Octopus, about 12 inches long, This is about as big as they every get. I was able to take full body shots from about 1 meter away no problems. 

 

Here are two sample photos:

f16, 1/200s, iso250

 

f16, 1/200s, iso100

[RVBldr]

@Dave_Hicks Any idea how much closer you're able to get with the MFO-1? 

[Dave_Hicks]

6 hours ago, RVBldr said:

@Dave_Hicks Any idea how much closer you're able to get with the MFO-1? 

 

Not any closer than my +5 Subsea did already, maybe 10cm? Just looked at the Nauticam product page than they report 12cm with my exact 105mm lens setup. But then you can point off to another subject up to 114cm away. This tracks with my experience on this first experience. Without any diopter you can't get much closer than 25-30cm or so with this lens. 

 

I may try some dives with the MFO directly on the port. The MFO-1 in only about 10g less than the Subsee +5, but is a bit shorter. However, the Nauticam dual flip adapter is over 300g. Inexplicably, the MFO can NOT screw directly on the Nauticam flat port as the threads are not deep enough. However, it does come with a minimal spacer / adapter that lets you screw it on the port.

Edited March 14 by Dave_Hicks

[JohnD]

3 hours ago, Dave_Hicks said:

 

 Inexplicably, the MFO can NOT screw directly on the Nauticam flat port as the threads are not deep enough. Fortunately, I have a tiny little aluminum adapter (from my Kraken krl-09) than weighs nothing and can make the connection. 

That is disappointing.   I am thinking I want of these for use on a 105, before trips to Philippines and Sulawesi next year.  I guess I need to get the screw on spacer or something else?

[Dave_Hicks]

16 minutes ago, JohnD said:

That is disappointing.   I am thinking I want of these for use on a 105, before trips to Philippines and Sulawesi next year.  I guess I need to get the screw on spacer or something else?

Actually, I just remembered / realized that the MFO-1 comes with such an adapter in the box. So, no worries if you buy the MFO without a flip adapter. I should have realized that earlier. I edited my earlier post to clear up the confusion.

Edited March 14 by Dave_Hicks

[Atanas_Petrov]

What about benefits, if any, on crop APS-C size sensors? For instance, Nikon DX and my favourite 60mm macro lens. Does anyone have a field experience using the MFO-1 and the Nikon/Canon crop sensor cameras?

[Chris Ross]

5 hours ago, Atanas_Petrov said:

What about benefits, if any, on crop APS-C size sensors? For instance, Nikon DX and my favourite 60mm macro lens. Does anyone have a field experience using the MFO-1 and the Nikon/Canon crop sensor cameras?

Possibly a little early as it's newly released. 

 

The port chart shows the details of magnification and focus distance:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FmfFKRmxF8aFsCdF97nBk1QIIAVbjlsI/view

 

 

[Griffer]

12 hours ago, Atanas_Petrov said:

What about benefits, if any, on crop APS-C size sensors? For instance, Nikon DX and my favourite 60mm macro lens. Does anyone have a field experience using the MFO-1 and the Nikon/Canon crop sensor cameras?

I am using mine on the Canon R7 using the 60mm and RF100m works very good on both lens

[ChipBPhoto]

On 3/13/2025 at 9:37 PM, Dave_Hicks said:

The MFO both reduces and extends focus range to over a meter and reduces it beyond what the 105 can do by itself.

Wish I had followed my instincts and bought the MFO instead of the SMC-3.  I realize they are different tools, but the MFO sounds like it would be more advantages to my personal needs at this time.  
 

Thanks for the feedback @Dave_Hicks 

[Dave_Hicks]

I did another few dives with my new Nauticam MFO lens on my Nikon Z8 with the AF-S 105mm macro lens. Based on my earlier experience, I decided to mount the MFO directly on the port and dispense with the Dual Flip adapter and it's 300g weight. To my delight my camera rig was just about perfectly neutral in the water with this setup. (Nauticam Z8 housing, HF-1 and MF-2 snoot strobe, 6 stix jumbo floats on the arms, and my custom-made port float) I let it go in mid-water and it just hung there. :)

 

If I am shooting macro with the MFO I don't see any compelling reason to take it off the port. It can handle all distances from maybe 10cm to 100cm. If anyone can think of a reason to keep the MFO on a flip adapter I'd like to hear about it. I can't think of one right now!

 

Here are a few photos:

 

Cockerell’s Dorid (Laila cockerelli)

Range: 10-15cm

Nikon Z8 w/Nikkor 105mm lens, Nauticam MFO diopter, f16@1/200s iso160 Backscatter MF-2 strobe & snoot + BS HF-1 strobe with beam restrictor

 

 

 

Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus) with egg mass

Range: 60-75cm

Nikon Z8 w/Nikkor 105mm lens, Nauticam MFO diopter, f11@1/200s iso160 Backscatter MF-2 strobe & snoot + BS HF-1 strobe with beam restrictor

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Dave_Hicks

[CaolIla]

1 hour ago, Dave_Hicks said:

If anyone can think of a reason to keep the MFO on a flip adapter I'd like to hear about it. I can't think of one right now!

The only one I see is to put a macro lens 

I have a double flip with the MFO1 and the SMC1 but I agree 95% minimum is with the MFO1 on place