Macro/Wide Angle Setups: Advice Needed for Ikelite G12

[divinwolf]

Hi all,

I have been diving with my Ikelite G12 with DS125 setup for a while and would like to expand both in the macro area and wide angle area. I have read most of the info on the forums here but still would like to ask a few questions about my various options. I am aware that the ikelite G12 isnt the greatest for wide angle but I would still like you advice on the following sytems.

Macro Lenses:

Option 1:
Stacked Inon UCL-165 M67 Lenses (I assume I would need a convertor for this on the ikelite original dome, right?)

Option 2:
SubSee Magnifier +5 Diopter (or +10 Diopter - not sure which would be better - have read conflicting info). With this I am assuming I would aslo need a converter to mount this as above.

Options 3:
I am also aware that I could use a shorter Dyron port (to mount a Dyron macro lens) but from what I have read this would take away a good portion of my zoom. Or am I mistaken?

Could I even use the Dyron macro lens with a converter on the standard ikelite port?

I guess if all 3 are possible on the standard port then I would like to know which one offers the best quality. I have been told that the SubSee gives the sharpest pictures but to be hoenst havent found much online or here about these macro lenses.

Regarding wide angle shooting I have the following 2 options (both requiring port changes):

Option 1:
Buying the Dyron shorter port and mounting the DY.UAL67 wide angle. This is a cheaper option but not sure if its the better one. Here I would again have the restriction of the zoon due to the shorter Dyson port.

Option 2:
Buying the Digi&Dive Portadapter Athena WZ100 with the Athena Domeport OPD-WZ100 in combination with a fish-eye lens (RAYNOX DCR-FE181pro). This of course would be a more expensive option (although I can get it for a reasonable price) but it seems it would give me better wide angle. I can kind of leaning towards option 2 here due to the good reviews that I have read.

I am looking to either dive shooting macro or wide angle so these are not supposed to be interchangelabe on a dive. If I really need to have a little bit of flexibility I would buy the WD-4 to restore the 28mm although this is not really an option for me.

I would appreciate if you could give me your opinions - thanks in advance for your help.

DivinWolf

 

[charlesml3]

I use the Inon UCL-165 M67 on my Ikelite housing. It does require an adapter from Ikelite. I'm not sure why you're wanting to stack it, though. A single UCL167 will zoom in pretty darned tight. Even at f/8 (maximum for the G12) the DOF is razor thin with that Inon lens. With two of them it's going to be even more shallow and difficult to get sharp images.

IMG_5742.jpg | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[divinwolf]

Would really appreciate it if someone could maybe give me some advice here - I guess the macro part isnt so difficult as there is mabybe not such a huge difference. I will probably go with the Inon I guess.

If someone had some advice on the wide angle ports I would really appreciate it.

Thanks.

Divinwolf

 

[chile7236]

you are pretty limited with WA wet lenses on the ike housing...tbh, i don't know what WA wet lens really works with the ike G12 set up.

 

[divinwolf]

Hi chili7236! I know I am pretty limited but after finding the 2 options above I thought one might offer a solution. Do do know either of the 2 set-ups I mentioned?

 

[charlesml3]

There really isn't a good WA option for the G12. There's the Ikelite dome but that only gets you back to something like 28mm. That's not really "wide angle."

-Charles

 

[divinwolf]

There really isn't a good WA option for the G12. There's the Ikelite dome but that only gets you back to something like 28mm. That's not really "wide angle."

-Charles

Thanks Charles!

Thats why I thought that the Athena lens would be a good option - what do you think? Know anything about it?

 

[charlesml3]

I don't know anything about the Athena setup. With my G12/Ikelite setup I just do "normal" and "macro." I really like the macro stuff so that's where I'm usually looking.

-Charles

 

[Interceptor121]

The G series are really best for macro shots
As Charles says with a dome you get at best your 75 degrees air field of view back
This is adequate for shots of divers and reef in natural light but too small for any decent close wide angle or wrecks

 

[divinwolf]

Thanks for your opinions - much appreciated.

Just the Athena dome with the raynox fisheye should give somewhere between 130° to 170° which would be imense. Of course you are then restricted to diving macro or wide angle. Just wondered if anyone had used the Athena/Raynox combination and if so how it is!