Land based wide angle converter lens underwater?

[mazeingerz]

Can a land based wide angle lens converter be used underwater?

 

[AndyT]

On which camera? Which lens?

 

[mazeingerz]

I have a Canon s230 with the Canon WP-DC600 housing. The housing doesn't have a thread so I plan on installing a lens adapter that mounts to the tripod connection.

Something similar to this.

Uni-Cam Universal Digital Camera Lens Adapter - 37mm Filter Threads

Then I was planning to get a cheapo wide angle lens like this one:

Amazon.com: Ultra Wide Angle 0.45x AF Lens for 37mm Filter Thread with Macro: Electronics

Would this setup be ok?

 

[Deefstes]

My guess is, and this is purely guesswork, that it will work but not to the same degree as above water. How I figure is as follows:

The density of glass is higher than that of air, making refraction possible. That's how the lens works above water. If you take it under water, the density of glass is still higher than water but not as much as with air so the effect of the lens would be diminished but not elliminated.

I'd be curious to know the real answer myself as I've also been considering doing something like this.

 

[AndyT]

Not too sure on the WA lens - you may get water between the elements.

 

[Deefstes]

Not too sure on the WA lens - you may get water between the elements.

Hmm, I didn't consider that. That might mess things up properly.

 

[herman]

There are 2 major problems with doing this. First, the lens are designed to have air between the camera and wa lens. Water has a very different angle of refraction than water so operation of the lens is going to be highly impacted. Not sure what the effect on a wa lens will be but as a compairison, I do know if you use topside macro lens their value is cut to 1/4 of it's original value...a +4 diopter becomes a +1. The second issue and likely the real killer is the fact these lenses are not sealed so once they flood they are ruined. IMO, if you want to try an add-on macro buy the highest power you can and go for it, if you want to waste a good bit of money, try the WA as well. All in all, your best bet is another housing.

 

[bversteegh]

Not a good idea - won't work well for reasons above (index of refraction differences); and the lens will flood, and be ruined. I know they cost more; but several vendors (Inon, Sea & Sea, Ikelite, etc) sell external WA lens - watch for a used one here, wetpixel, or ebay. You'll be much happier with the result.