13 hours ago, StanS said:

If your friend wants to be able to use RC mode it may only work with an Oly/OM lens. Manuals for the Backscatter strobes state that an Oly/OM lens is required and while I didn't see the AOI manual address this you may want to find this out if you are considering the Panasonic lens. If they plan to only shoot in manual then obviously not a consideration.

Interesting, I suppose that RC mode only has the relevance with camera body, seems I need try the lens before making the order. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have been shooting the 30 for blackwater and out of laziness I left the 45 on. WAY WAY more PITA with a lot fewer keepers. To keep it simplest, the AOI with the 30 macro lens and the Kraken add on wide angle lens on a flip adapter. To shoot really tiny things, add the extension ring and shoot the 60 with a CMC or similar. But to be really simple just the 30 and one Kraken/AOI wet wide angle.

Bill

with the 30 last night

Bill

10 hours ago, flowdesign said:

Honestly, I can’t even imagine trying to chase blackwater critters with a 90mm — that thing would make it impossible.😆

Yes, it was an immediate regret 🤣 Never again...

The Panasonic 30mm lens is very underrated, fundamentally because it reaches its maximum magnification practically on the port glass. But actually, for many situations, in my opinion, it is excellent. All reports say that its AF is snappier compared to its 45mm and 90mm macro cousins. If you then need greater magnification, you can always compensate with a light diopter.

Pardon my ignorance but doesn't a diopter just shorten focal length and so not really offer anything for a lens which can focus on the glass anyway?

1 hour ago, Grantmac said:

Pardon my ignorance but doesn't a diopter just shorten focal length and so not really offer anything for a lens which can focus on the glass anyway?

Yes, sorry, you are right, I said something stupid. I was thinking about my 45mm. It doesn't make sense on this lens; in fact, I think it's practically impossible to mount a diopter. My only doubt is what would happen if I mounted an MFO-3.

I edited my post.

Okay thanks, was worried I was missing something. The MFO-3 or MWL-1 on the 45mm would be an interesting experiment.

I have both the Panasonic and Olympus 30s and I really can't tell them apart, the Oly supposedly has a bit more native magnification but at the port more or less. The real reason for me to use the Oly is that it allows RC mode and the Panasonic doesnt

Bill

52 minutes ago, Davide DB said:

Yes, sorry, you are right, I said something stupid. I was thinking about my 45mm. It doesn't make sense on this lens; in fact, I think it's practically impossible to mount a diopter. My only doubt is what would happen if I mounted an MFO-3.

I edited my post.

I'd expect the similar result as using Sony FF body+90mm macro, larger FOV, zero to almost infinity focal, and slightly negative magnification. And maybe faster AF?

I would like to try the MFO-3 with the Oly 90 lens but it apparently is not a good fit for that lens. Chris Ross uses it with the 60, I might try it with the 60 for black water but my experience with the MFO-1 (it was useless) makes me a bit wary.

Bill