Got a AOI UWL-03 Wide Angle Lens for GoPro

[MB NZ]

Thinking about this again. I used Linear FOV on the clips shown. I was pretty happy with the results for a first attempt. What FOV is everyone else using with the AOI UWL-03?

 

[rosasintheocean]

Here's a short test with the lens on a GoPro Hero 11 plus video lights. 4K/50fps. Linear FOV. Native white balance. I have done very little editing.

Great videos!

 

[Pearlman]

Thinking about this again. I used Linear FOV on the clips shown. I was pretty happy with the results for a first attempt. What FOV is everyone else using with the AOI UWL-03?

My first time in using the UWL-03Pro is going to be this weekend at Bunaken and Bangka. I have custom modes setup in my DJI Action3 with 4:3 format because I like the extra vertical coverage for social media edits. Question is whether 4:3 will show shadow/vignetting in the corners due to the dome lens shades?

I also have custom modes setup for both linear(dewarp) and wide so it will be interesting to quickly switch between the two and compare images …

 

[gstrek]

My first time in using the UWL-03Pro is going to be this weekend at Bunaken and Bangka. I have custom modes setup in my DJI Action3 with 4:3 format because I like the extra vertical coverage for social media edits. Question is whether 4:3 will show shadow/vignetting in the corners due to the dome lens shades?

I also have custom modes setup for both linear(dewarp) and wide so it will be interesting to quickly switch between the two and compare images …

Please post your findings. I just got the Backscatter equivalent for my DJI OA 4 but won't be diving with it until August. I also plan to set up Wide and Dewarp presets but undecided on using 16:9 or 4:3 because of some reports of vignetting in 4:3

 

[Germie]

I have the Backscatter wide angle lens. It is heavy. But a very important thing you can not find online (at least it was not written when I bought it), is that you have to remove the lens from the camera if you want to do filming above water. It makes videos from above water completely unsharp and useless.
This means that if you want to start a dive and film the jump in the water, or after the dive the moment of getting up, you have to remove it first. Very complicated.
Also I have the frame to mount it on the housing and you have to remove that complete frame if you want to make pictures above water. So you have to unscrew everything under water (Including removing it from a tray).
I was very dissapointed with it when I found out this. It means that you need to buy a second gopro and use it with just a protective housing to make it workable.

So yes it works under water, it is heavy (you need to adjust the set again to make it balanced again). If I had known this before, I probably would not have bought it.

I don't know if the AOI has the same problems, but it is something to think about.

 

[gstrek]

I have the Backscatter wide angle lens. It is heavy. But a very important thing you can not find online (at least it was not written when I bought it), is that you have to remove the lens from the camera if you want to do filming above water. It makes videos from above water completely unsharp and useless.
This means that if you want to start a dive and film the jump in the water, or after the dive the moment of getting up, you have to remove it first. Very complicated.
Also I have the frame to mount it on the housing and you have to remove that complete frame if you want to make pictures above water. So you have to unscrew everything under water (Including removing it from a tray).
I was very dissapointed with it when I found out this. It means that you need to buy a second gopro and use it with just a protective housing to make it workable.

So yes it works under water, it is heavy (you need to adjust the set again to make it balanced again). If I had known this before, I probably would not have bought it.

I don't know if the AOI has the same problems, but it is something to think about.

This is all very interesting. My OA4 in the DJI housing on a tray was very negative when I used in last fall. Even more negative with the Backscatter WA lens is not a surprise. I have ordered a set of 4 STIX Adjustable Buoyancy Jumbo floats that slide onto my ULCS arms so hopefully that will help make it much less negative.

I was aware of the WA lens not working above water but I will be testing shooting above water while the frame is mounted but without the lens attached. That would be an unwanted surprise if the frame has to be unmounted. As you say, it would be a big disappointment.

 

[Pearlman]

Also I have the frame to mount it on the housing and you have to remove that complete frame if you want to make pictures above water. So you have to unscrew everything under water (Including removing it from a tray).
I was very dissapointed with it when I found out this. It means that you need to buy a second gopro and use it with just a protective housing to make it workable.

So yes it works under water, it is heavy (you need to adjust the set again to make it balanced again). If I had known this before, I probably would not have bought it.

I don't know if the AOI has the same problems, but it is something to think about.

I don’t get the part about the frame - are you talking about the quick release adapter?

A little heavy is good for macro if you let the tray rest on a tripod I guess? Currently I am struggling to find a gorilla pod with a 1/4” screw attachment that is at least 1” long - I hope to attach it to the bottom of the camera tray and screw it from top to give it some legs to stand on… since I only take videos the footage is going to be shaky as compared to a snapshot at 1/250 sec …

 

[landphil]

I have the Backscatter wide angle lens. It is heavy. But a very important thing you can not find online (at least it was not written when I bought it), is that you have to remove the lens from the camera if you want to do filming above water. It makes videos from above water completely unsharp and useless.
This means that if you want to start a dive and film the jump in the water, or after the dive the moment of getting up, you have to remove it first. Very complicated.
Also I have the frame to mount it on the housing and you have to remove that complete frame if you want to make pictures above water. So you have to unscrew everything under water (Including removing it from a tray).
I was very dissapointed with it when I found out this. It means that you need to buy a second gopro and use it with just a protective housing to make it workable.

So yes it works under water, it is heavy (you need to adjust the set again to make it balanced again). If I had known this before, I probably would not have bought it.

I don't know if the AOI has the same problems, but it is something to think about.

The only part that attaches to a GoPro is the AOI bayonet mount for both the AOI and Backscatter kits. You can just press the lock button and unscrew the lens from the bayonet mount. Everything else can stay attached. You are certainly doing something wrong if you are completely removing the bayonet mount to take off the lens on your GoPro.

 

[Germie]

The only part that attaches to a GoPro is the AOI bayonet mount for both the AOI and Backscatter kits. You can just press the lock button and unscrew the lens from the bayonet mount. Everything else can stay attached. You are certainly doing something wrong if you are completely removing the bayonet mount to take off the lens on your GoPro.

No, for sure not. I take the pictures in a square size and that means that you see the mount. This is for sure the case if you take pictures above water. (I took it with the mount on a canyoningtour, as I did not need to remove then the stick where it was attached on).
And it is also for sure that the videos and photos are not sharp above water with the wide angle lens attached.
I find these things dissappointing and want to warn others. Maybe you don't find it a point, but I do. You loose some functionality. I bought it for a holiday, had no time to test it at home, so found out that a video I wanted to make with above and under water shots was not possible. I only could make the video with shots taken under water from the whalesharks.
From the canyoningtour I had to cut the pictures, most times no big deal, but sometimes it was a pity.

 

[landphil]

No, for sure not. I take the pictures in a square size and that means that you see the mount. This is for sure the case if you take pictures above water. (I took it with the mount on a canyoningtour, as I did not need to remove then the stick where it was attached on).
And it is also for sure that the videos and photos are not sharp above water with the wide angle lens attached.
I find these things dissappointing and want to warn others. Maybe you don't find it a point, but I do. You loose some functionality. I bought it for a holiday, had no time to test it at home, so found out that a video I wanted to make with above and under water shots was not possible. I only could make the video with shots taken under water from the whalesharks.
From the canyoningtour I had to cut the pictures, most times no big deal, but sometimes it was a pity.

No, for sure not. I take the pictures in a square size and that means that you see the mount. This is for sure the case if you take pictures above water. (I took it with the mount on a canyoningtour, as I did not need to remove then the stick where it was attached on).
And it is also for sure that the videos and photos are not sharp above water with the wide angle lens attached.
I find these things dissappointing and want to warn others. Maybe you don't find it a point, but I do. You loose some functionality. I bought it for a holiday, had no time to test it at home, so found out that a video I wanted to make with above and under water shots was not possible. I only could make the video with shots taken under water from the whalesharks.
From the canyoningtour I had to cut the pictures, most times no big deal, but sometimes it was a pity.

I see- apologies for accusing you of not knowing what you’re doing! I’m guessing that the space they make for their filters on the Backscatter mount is raising up the bayonet mount enough to catch the edges in your field of view. Take a look at my AOI mount- it’s nearly flush with the case, and even on the widest angle will not get into the field of view. And as a bonus, it has a great handle and converts all of those GoPro mounts to standard camera screws.