Phil Rudin

I think the Tamron 12-20mm will be well suited to U/W work simply because at 12mm if will focus to 18cm. With the proper extension it should work well behind domes in the 200mm and larger range. This is not the case with lenses like the Nikon Z 14-24mm F/2.8 and Sony FE 12-24mm F/2.8 GM that only focus to 28cm. Another excellent very wide lens is the Laowa 12mm F/2.8 AF for FE & Z. This lens will focus to 14cm and is usable behind a 140mm dome with proper extension. This lens is much less expensive than the 12-20 at $699.00. If you want a less expensive fisheye that natively mounts on Nikon Z checkout the 7Artisans 10mm f/2.5 AF MAX Fisheye Lens (Nikon Z).

The OP specifically ask about the Laowa 15mm for CFWA. If you are not aware this is a full frame lens. Nikonos lenses were also mentioned and they are full frame lenses. In addition for Nikonos lenses you need an adapter only made by Nauticam for sony full frame cameras. cameras. The images were taken with the AstrHori in a Marelux 140mm dome port which is simply a fact, this is a port that can also be used on Nauticam and several brands. If you would like to start a thread regarding unsupported M4/3 lenses I would be happy to help with that. Housing brand has little to do with camera/lens combos as most work in many different housings with proper extensions.

I have tried a verity of manual focus lenses behind a verity of dome and flat ports, including the Laowa 15mm 1:2 macro. I found the Laowa not to be worth the effort. Wide lenses like the 110 degree AOV 15 Laowa need to be to close to get to 1:2 inside a dome port. With wide primes you have the cost of the lens + the custom focus gear and in the case of the 15mm Laowa you would still only be able to get to about 1:4/5 behind a 200mm dome or larger dome. You would be able to do the same or better with the 112 degree 14mm F/4 Viltrox which has a more achievable 1:4.35 magnification at a minimum focus distance of 13cm. The lens retails for $199.00 in the US, got mine on sale for $159.00 on sale and works with Sony FE and Nikon Z. I have also used the Sony 14mm F/1.8, Sigma 14mm, Sanyang/Rokinon 14mm AF lenses and the cheap Viltrox is every bit as good in a dome because of its close minimum focus. Same/same with the Rokinon 14-24mm F/2.8 which has a minimum focus of 18cm, all the other 14-24mm lenses and 12-24mm"s focus to 28cm which is a disadvantage behind a port. The Rokinon is also the only lens that can be used with 77mm front filters. I used the AstrHori 6mm F/2.8 220 degree circular Fisheye, a manual lens in Bali last year pre-setting the lens at F/11 and just shy of infinity on the focus ring. This gave me around 8 inches to infinity in a 140mm dome. This lens can be had for Sony FE, Nikon Z, Canon RF and L mount systems for a retail of $299.00 US. If you are looking for cheap options to expensive lenses like a Canon or Nikon 8-15mm or 7-14mm for circular Fisheye this is a fun alternative. I have tried a lot more to numerous to list. Images from AstrHori in 140 Marelux dome.

Both the Nauticam and Marelux lenses have a 0.9X max magnification and on full frame are generally assumed to be suitable for 90mm, 100mm and 105mm macro lenses. So AOV's of 27 degrees, 24 degrees and 23 degrees. With the MFO-3 and MV-60 in place the result is an AOV of around 47 degrees+/-, 40 degrees and 38 degrees. Nauticam states it was tested with the Nikon Z 105mm macro and has a working distance of 0-1500mm or 59 inches. The Marelux MV-60 was tested using a 100mm macro so 24 degrees and 40 degrees with a working distance of 0-infinity, spec's from each websites. I am sure many will say that shooting beyond 59 inches/1500mm is a waist of time however what shooting to infinity points out is the large difference in lens design between these two lenses. My guess is that having a flat front element allows the MV-60 to focus to infinity while the curved front element of the MFO-3 restricts working distance. This may also explain a difference in AF speed although this is purely speculative. Different camera systems have a wide verity of AF choices and to have a relevant comparison you would need to be using the same system with the same AF setting I would think.

I can answer some of these questions about the Marelux MV-60 V. Nauticam MFO-3. Weight, NA is 602g and 120g negative in water. MX is 535g and 35g negative in water. NA has a curved front glass and MX has flat front glass. The Marelux front lens appears slightly larger in diameter and because the front optic is flat it allows 77mm threads on the front of the lens so you can direct mount filters and a lens cap without need for an adapter. Regarding cost the Nauticam MFO-3 retails for $730.00US and the M82 filter holder is $57.00. The Marelux MV-60 retails for $599.00. The MV-60 ships with a neoprene storage bag, front and rear caps and a spacer for direct mount to a 67mm flat macro port. I have never seen the MFO-3 but assume it includes the same items. Both work on flip adapters and can be interchanged between NA or MX adapters depending on which flip you own. Regarding the IQ and AF performance I have no opinion because I have never used the MFO-3. The second photo is the new Marelux housing for Sony A7R VI with the new MX double flip adapter. You can see it works with both MX-macroview and NA-closeup lenses.

This a combination I borrowed from Nauticam and tested several years ago. When I did my first NA-WWL-1 review(issue #114 at uwpmag.com) this is the lens I used with Sony full frame. At the time the Sony 28-60 did not exist and this was by far the best lens for overall IQ well exceeding the 14-42 lenses I tested on M4/3 cameras. The big problem with this combo is first cost, new the 28mm F/2 lens is $498.00 and the 16mm fisheye converter is $348.00. Today you have options new that will give better results and about the same price or less total price. Second is minimum focus distance, the lens focuses to 29cm and with the converter it goes to 22cm. By today's standards this is not ideal when most newer fisheyes and fisheye zooms focus in the 15/16cm range. This may not seem like a big difference but it can cause focus issues behind small ports and as you have experienced vignetting. The F/2 number also changes to F/3.5 much like using a tele converter. Bottom line is if you already own the gear you can make it work but I would never recommend this combo or the or the 21mm W/A converter that only auto focuses to 24cm.

This seems like a bit of overkill to me unless you are paying $57.00US to actually use an 82mm filters like an ND or other. Just to add a cap to protect the glass can be done easily by adding a neoprene cover like a soda can cozy or like.

It works without the ring on the Marelux flip just as it would on a Nauticam flip. The $299.00 price is attractive as well.

Hi John, I am Marelux Senior Advisor and I can assure you that both Marelux and Nauticam in this case were wrong. I used the NA-flip with MX & NA C/U lenses until it broke on my last trip to Bali. Both NA & MX C/U and MV-60/MFO3 are in fact interchangeable between system flip adapters as well from both manufactures. They have different ways of making the spacers but both with respective spacers can also be direct mounted to ANY 67mm flat port. The newly designed Marelux double flip has the advantage of the Patented hydraulically balanced damping system which flips smoothly without sagging and has an optimized sealed rotating shaft which allows smooth rotation without jamming after thousands of flips. Photos shown are the Marelux Sony A7R VI housing with Sony 100mm macro port and double flip with Nauticam SMC-1 and Marelux MV-60. Also shown is the housing with MV-60 and MV-10 +10 C/U lens and the new double flip with the older style MX-single flip adapter.

Marelux has just introduced the new double flip adapter to complement the Marelux MV line of wet lenses including the MV-60 and MV +5, +10 and +15 closeup lenses. The new Marelux flip adapter has a hydraulically balanced damping system, flips smoothly without sagging and has an optimized sealed rotating shaft which allows smooth rotation without jamming after thousands of flips. This is another Marelux (Patented Design). Additional information on the new Marelux flip adapter and Marelux MV wet lenses can br found in the Product section under Optics at Marelux.co The double flip adapter retails for $299.00 on the US site. Images show the double flip (and older style single flip) on the new Sony A7R VI housing with the MV-60 and MV-10 lenses.

On the Canon RF port chart Marelux has 30mm's of extension recommended with the Canon EF 8-15mm and adapter. They introduced the 140mm dome with the bayonet shade for this lens which must be removed when at the 8mm circular fisheye end. For the new Canon RF 7-14mm I suggested 20mm's because Nauticam RF charts show 20mm for RF and they were also at 30mm for ef 8-15mm. I have ask Marelux to update the RF port charts for 7-14mm but they have not gotten to a zoom gear or extension size yet.

Additional specs on this new lens. Focal length: 10mm Maximum aperture: f/2.5 Lens type/format: Full-frame autofocus fisheye Angle of view: 185° Optical construction: 11 elements in 8 groups (includes 2 ED/extra-low dispersion elements + 1 aspherical element) Aperture blades: 9 (produces 18-point starbursts) Minimum focus distance: 0.15 m Autofocus motor: STM silent stepper motor (fast, quiet, suitable for stills and video) Weight: 510 g Body construction: Full metal Available mounts: Sony E, Nikon Z, Leica L Other notes: AF/MF switch; aperture ring; firmware upgrade support; compact design for a full-frame fisheye

7Artisans 10mm f/2.5 MAX FE autofocus lens is coming on July 28The headline on Sony Rumors is that the 7Artisans will release a new AF fisheye in Sony FE, Nikon Z and L-mount on Tuesday. this is a 10mm, 185 degree FF fisheye. The Manual focus version, under $300.00US has had positive reviews for if's build and image quality. This is an F/2.5 to F/16 lens with an under six inch (15cm) minimum focus distance. I believe the MAX is a new line of higher quality lenses with additional features.

I am sure that Tamron 12-20mm F/2.8 should be an excellent lens for U/W shooters using a 230mm or like port because of the 18cm minimum focus distance V.Sigma 14-24mm F/2.8 Sony 12-24mm F/2.8, Sony FE 12-24mm F/4 and Nikon Z 14-30mm F/4 which have a 28cm minimum focus distance. If I am going to spend $1700.00 my choice would be the Rokinon/Sanyang 14-24mm F/2.8 now $979.00US (on sale now) and the Laowa AF 12mm F/2.8 zero-D at $699.00 or a total of $1678.00. My reasoning is that #1 both lenses take thread in front filters. This allows you to use filters like grad neutral density filters for splits which works very well however you need to commit to landscape or portrait prior to the dive. #2 Both lenses max out at F/22. #3 The 14-24mm has a minimum focus distance of 18cm and the 12mm focuses to 14cm which allows both to be used in ports under 230mm in a pinch when weight is a factor. #4 both lenses could be used with the S&S correction filter but I find it to be less useful with lenses that focus this close. #5 Both lenses have had very positive reviews from land reviewers. I love primes for splits and the Laowa 12mm is the best I have used so far. In the last two years or so we have seen an explosion of third party lenses that are relatively inexpensive V. top camera brand lenses with many having as good or better IQ just without all the extra buttons that can't be used underwater anyway. I reviewed the Rokinon 14-24mm F/2.8 using the Marelux 210mm acrylic dome and the Laowa 10mm F/2.8 using the Marelux 230mm dome for uwpmag.com. I prefer the Laowa 12mm for stills and the Laowa 10mm for video.

I believe Andy Sallmon will have the demo lens first to test on Canon and then it will be shipped to me for testing with Sony lenses. I hope we should have it by the end of the month. Sill no reply as to why the Canon RF 28-70mm F/2.8 is not listed as an option for NA or MX systems.