1 hour ago, jlaity said:

A few more MFO-1 A/B tests. Nothing special, just tried to find a subject where you can see center to corner sharpness. 24, 26, and 28.jpg in full resolution from a Canon R5 mk1, Canon RF 100mm macro, Nauticam housing/port. Let me know if you can tell which have the filter on or off.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ttmq2ki1uv07p6lttdgz0/20250628_pv_0024.jpg?rlkey=wqk2ndpe901w2r1pzvynztbvy&st=o6ih8ko0&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7jug2ftd2hp8oukirgj1s/20250628_pv_0026.jpg?rlkey=xwaywsaboern5h48gneq85u4z&st=o55cybn6&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/holfbdj9jej0raifpfgho/20250628_pv_0028.jpg?rlkey=hzhg54nq8j7nikff7j8egwhv1&st=ndk47qwz&dl=0

Please include photos, not links.

Scaled to 1600 px wide

Unfortunately the forum software reduces these images to 1200px wide - even if you donwload the image it's 1200 px wide. The best way to compare views seems to be as follows:

• Open link in dropbox

• go to top RH corner and choose magnification I picked 50% gives you a better sense of image sharpness I think

• Scroll around in top LH corner of each image to bring up a polyp that appears to be in focus.

• swap between tabs to compare.

Here's a small crop snipped from each of 24 and 26 images side by side. I just picked an area with polyps that looked in focus. Top LH corner.

To me there's not much to pick between them, maybe an edge to 24, you can make out texture on the polyp arm coming up towards mid frame.. Didn't include 28 as it has a quite different image scale.

To me, 24 (the MFO-1 shot) has a small amount of increased sharpness on the left side, compared to the other two without. But it’s so so slight, it isn’t worth the cost or weight IMO. I plan to go back to my SMC-1 on a flip adapter and possibly sell the MFO-1, if I can. I’m disappointed with this purchase.

9 hours ago, jlaity said:

To me, 24 (the MFO-1 shot) has a small amount of increased sharpness on the left side, compared to the other two without. But it’s so so slight, it isn’t worth the cost or weight IMO. I plan to go back to my SMC-1 on a flip adapter and possibly sell the MFO-1, if I can. I’m disappointed with this purchase.

I think it was explained above that the idea behind it was for a low powered wet lens to give about 1.2x magnification and I expect it is probably a decent improvement over the +3 lenses previously available. Alex Mustard is the one who made this point - saying there are lots of subjects that could benefit from a small increase in magnification. While opportunities to use a 2x + lens are more limited. Of course this could vary depending on where you are diving. The MFO is certainly not an alternative to the SMC-1 lens.

On 7/2/2025 at 5:41 AM, Chris Ross said:

The MFO is certainly not an alternative to the SMC-1 lens.

For sure.
I have booth on a flip.... but for me the MFO-1 is realy a good lens. As I allready wrote the focus stay near and don't go on the background. and that make the difference beetween fighting to take photo from a small goby and only take a photo from a small goby.

How strong would you rate the MFO1?

Since I lost my Saga +5 I am looking for replacement with better quality. Is the MFO a bit compatible in strength?

Seeiing the pictures it looks more like a +2 or +3 at most.

I think I am actually more leaning towards the Kraken +6.

6 hours ago, DuikKees said:

How strong would you rate the MFO1?

Since I lost my Saga +5 I am looking for replacement with better quality. Is the MFO a bit compatible in strength?

Seeiing the pictures it looks more like a +2 or +3 at most.

I think I am actually more leaning towards the Kraken +6.

This is a difficult question to answer exactly as manufacturers use all sorts of different methods to describe their lenses coupled with the fact that most macro lenses reduce in focal length as they focus closer by varying amounts. the closeup lenses then magnify less with the shorter focal length of the lens. If you still had your +5 lens you could measure the magnification achieved to compare with the published magnification data for the MFO-1 which is found in the port charts. The reported magnification is 1.1 to 1.2x for 90/100mm 1:1 macro lenses and the RF-100 increases magnification from 1.4x to 1.6x.

I would expect a +5 to give you 1.3 - 1.5x magnification with a 90/100mm depending on which particular macro lens you use.

On 8/19/2025 at 4:42 AM, DuikKees said:

How strong would you rate the MFO1?

Since I lost my Saga +5 I am looking for replacement with better quality. Is the MFO a bit compatible in strength?

Seeiing the pictures it looks more like a +2 or +3 at most.

I think I am actually more leaning towards the Kraken +6.

I can vouch for the old AOI/Fantasea +6 UCL05 LF
https://simonmustoe.blog/review-of-fantasea-ucl-05lf-6-macro-lens/

The new AOI UCL-05n is virtual the same optically, so really recommend it.
https://www.aoi-uw.com/products/wet-lenses/aoi-ucl-05n.html

The Kraken +6 also looks great, I would have bought that if I hadn't gone a second-hand AOI.

cheers

ben