I'm looking through some options for a wide-angle options for Canon R6 Mk II in Marelux housing. As EF 8-15 Fisheye is quite hard to find, I'm looking for some alternative.

Gear I currently have

• EF 16-35 F2.8 III L

• WWL-1B (was using this with Nauticam R50)

At this point, I’m unsure whether I should:

• Use the EF 16–35mm with a dome port, or

• Try to build a setup that works with the WWL-1B on a Marelux housing

Getting a new lens is also an option if it makes more sense overall.

Also, have anyone tried Marelux Aquista 120? From the port chart, it seems like it works with EF 16-35 but I cannot find any review or sample images.

Any suggestions, experiences, or sample images would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

AN 8-15 fisheye is an excellent lens and IMO a 16-35 is not a replacement for it as it doesn't focus particularly close so is likely to need a large 230mm dome port to do its best.

You could consider a sigma fisheye but that's unfortunately also discontinued. A quick look shows quite a few 8-15 lenses on sale from second hand camera stores in Japan which might be a good option, they are advertised on Ebay.

In rectilinear lenses, the 15-30 STM lens and 14-35 focus much closer and work better in domes including smaller domes like the 180mm, sample images are found here, where you can compare performance of the lenses:

Your problem with the WWL is that the Nauticam port chart does not have any recommendations for full frame and the WWL-1B, they list the WWL-C with the 24-50, however the 24-50 doesn't receive good reviews. The WWL is only slightly wider than the the 16-35 lens in the horizontal axis.

What's best probably really depends on what you shoot, for reef scenics and CFWA, the fisheye is king, anything needing some reach like pekagics maybe the rectilinear or look into the 8-15 plus 1.4x.

If going with a housed lens (versus a wet lens) I'd recommend only two choices.

FYI - I'm an APS-C shooter having never pulled the $$$$$ trigger for Full Frame......Just not worth it to me and I print some big prints occasionally that look fine at viewable distances.

Buy a Canon 8-15mm F4L Fisheye (plenty of clean used ones are out there for good prices) or the get newest Canon RF 15-30mm IS STM lens, also a bargain if you prefer rectilinear or like me want lenses to use above water.

Either choice with a correctly specified dome port will make great images.......

Only corner pixel peepers who insist on shooting nothing less that f11-22 may find "deficiencies". You will drive yourself crazy overanalyzing differences never visible in your final photos......

I've shot Sigma 15mm Fisheye on Nikon and Canon bodies, the oldest Canon 15mm Fisheye and a friend's borrowed Canon 8-15mm L F4 Fisheye. They all can deliver great images.

The newest rectilinear WA choices (Canon 15-30mm for Full Frame and RF-S 10-18m IS STM for APS-C) are also great and will serve as great surface photography lenses.

I apologize if this sounds dismissive but I've never understood how the insane corner sharpness issue has been discussed to death for awhile now.....Especially considering some of the high megapixel cameras people shoot with !!!!!

Just crop it a bit if you find anything objectionable for your final image! You'll still have a big enough file for any printing, publication use, etc.

Good luck with your Marelux housed Canon R6 II !

David Haas

Canon EF 8-15mm L F4 Fisheye shots from long ago.....I used my lowly APS-C Canon T4i in an Ikelite housing and small 6" dome port.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by dhaas