10.5mm Lens and Housing compatibility

Has anyone used the 10.5mm DX fisheye in the L&M Titan housing? I already have the 16mm adapter ring, and the dimensions of the 2 lenses looks very close, but L&M says they don't know how the optics would match up.....so wondering if anyone has tried it?

I also have the 12-24mm ring and lens but seems like the images are crisper with the 16mm...

Thanks!

E

Hi E (?),

I have ben using the L&M Titan with the 10.5mm and a Subal adaptor ring with no problems. I am not sure what you mean by the 16mm adaptor ring, but you do not need any port extensions with this lens - it will vignette if you use one. I use home engineered small perspex domes but the lens would work fine with either of the standard Subal glass domes, although I have found these flare more than my perspex domes. The 10.5mm is a great lens, very sharp and will focus right down to the dome, but I think it flares more than my old 16mm on film did when pointed at the sun.

Hope that helps!

Mark

www.photec.co.uk

Thanks!

I have the glass dome from L&M, which has an adapter ring for the 16mm and a different one for the 12-24mm lens...didn't ask questions, just came that way so I assume I need it?

I, of course, bought the 16mm lens just before the 10.5mm came out and now I am just thinking trading up to the 10.5mm....but want to make sure the 10.5mm will work with the system I have. I don't see why it wouldn't but L&M seems to be suggesting that there might be "optics" issues??

Appreciate your input!

Echo (aka "E")

Hi Echo,

Unless L&M have produced a new dome recently for the 10.5mm I think that the problem may be that the shade on the existing dome will vignette - best to check this with Dan Baldocchi at L&M. Take the housing an port to your camera shop and give it a try.

Still can't quite see why you need an ext ring for the 16mm (it should focus on the 8" dome without problem and is 'cropped' to a '20mm' picture area) but I am sure Dan can explain this too.

Mark

www.photec.co.uk

Hi Echo,

I have used the 10.5 with the Titan and an Aquatica 8" dome port. I didn't use any extension (what you are calling adapter) ring with that port and I got some fabulous shots. Not that my shot is fabulous, but here's an example:

I would follow Mark's advice and ask LMI if you need the extension. If you need it for the 16mm, you will probably need it for the 10.5 as well, but the DX lenses sometimes are different. (for example, the 12-24 needs a much shorter extension that I expected.)

Cheers

James

Not sure about the L&M dome but I've used the 10.5 with the Aquatica 8" dome with no optical problems. I use the same dome and shade as with the 16mm and it works great; very sharp, good contrast, and no vignetteing.

Larry

Hi Mermaid-

I shot the 10.5 in a L&M dome on my last trip.

It mildly vignettes -- you can actually see the inside of the port (black aluminum, not glass) in the corners. I can look for a sample image to show you how it looks. If you use the fisheye correction in Nikon Capture, the vignettes are all outside the frame, so this isn't a bad way to go...

I'll get samples up for you later today.

-Erik

Hi Mermaid-

Ok, here is an example of the vignetted image -- you can see the inside of the port on the left and right sides.

Here is the same image after the "Fisheye" correction option is selected in Nikon Capture 4.

Of course, the images are resized here. You can't see how much sharpness is lost in the corners, but that is a problem with using the Fisheye Correction option in Capture 4. The geometry is corrected, but you end up losing a lot of detail in the corners. Not always a problem, especially with these big blue backgrounds.

Hope this helps.

-Erik

Thank you for all the terrific responses!!!

I think I will just keep playing with my L&M and 16mm fisheye for a while....still on a steep learning curve but having way too much fun : )

Happy diving!

TaTa,

E

The L&M Titan does not have a port that directly supports the 10.5 lens. L&M has adapter rings for Sea&Sea, Aquatica, & Subal Ports. Any of those with a true wide angle dome will work with a 10.5

I use a Sea&Sea adapter and the Sea&Sea wide angle dome for the 10.5

I use the Titan Dome with the 12-24 extension for the 12-24 and I use the Titan dome with the 16mm extension for the 16 fisheye.

When you buy the 12-24 extension L&M supplies a set of Hoya diopters and suggest use of the #2 diopter for best results.