Questions about G12 FIX housing with FIX UWL-04

[Dagon]

Hi,
I'm searching for a housing for my G12 and I've found out, that FIX will release a housing which supports the front dial. The support of a front dial is a must have for me. As far as I know there is no opportunity to add a wide angle wet lenses to this housing. because oh the length of the standard port. FIX has a bayonet mount port called FIX "UWL-04 Fisheye Conversion" for the G10/G11 which I think could also be used for the coming G12 housing. Does this lens vignette at the 28 mm setting? Can you tell me how far the camera is able to zoom in with this lens? To loose the opportunity for attaching wet lenses isn't hard for me, if I could zoom in in and get quite close to the subject.

I know that ZEN has a specific wet lens with 105° fov for the patima housing but patima doesn't support the front dial.

 

[Nemrod]

FIX website:

Google Translate

What their page says about the lens used with the G11:
________________________________________________________________________________
"Page 1
Fisheye Co.,Ltd Fisheye Co., Ltd
TEL +81-3-5996-5637 FAX +81-3-5996-7202 Email info@fisheye-jp.com TEL +81-3-5996-5637 FAX +81-3-5996-7202 Email info@fisheye-jp.com
When using the FIX G10 fish eye lens port for the FIXG11 housing, there might be When using the FIX G10 fish eye lens port for the FIXG11 housing, there might be
slight corner vignetting in the image. In this case, push the zoom lever towards [ ] slight corner vignetting in the image. In this case, push the zoom lever towards []
one time. This will cause the vignette to disappear. In addition, the Canon PowerShot one time. This will cause the vignette to disappear. In addition, the Canon PowerShot
G11 also allows you to register the zoom position. To set up the FIXG11, follow the G11 also allows you to register the zoom position. To set up the FIXG11, follow the
steps described below: steps described below:
1) Turn on the Canon PowerShot G11. 1) Turn on the Canon PowerShot G11.
2) Push the zoom lever towards [ 2) Push the zoom lever towards [
] one time to adjust the zoom position. Make sure not ] One time to adjust the zoom position. Make sure not
to continually push the zoom lever. to continually push the zoom lever.
3) Register C1 as the setting. 3) Register C1 as the setting.
(Setting Method) Refer to the section “Registering the shooting settings” in the Canon PowerShot (Setting Method) Refer to the section "Registering the shooting settings" in the Canon PowerShot
G11 user manual. G11 user manual.
1) Enter the shooting mode you want to register, and then specify the settings. 1) Enter the shooting mode you want to register, and then specify the settings.
2) Select [Save settings]. 2) Select [Save settings].
3) Register C1 as the setting. 3) Register C1 as the setting.
* You can switch to your registered setting by simply turning the mode dial to C1. Select [Save set- * You can switch to your registered setting by simply turning the mode dial to C1. Select [Save set-
tings] to register the shooting mode. tings] to register the shooting mode.
(Refer to the PowerShotG11 user manual.) (Refer to the PowerShotG11 user manual.)
4) Turn off the Canon PowerShot G11. 4) Turn off the Canon PowerShot G11.
5) Turn on the Canon PowerShot G11 again, and then set the mode dial to C1 to confirm 5) Turn on the Canon PowerShot G11 again, and then set the mode dial to C1 to confirm
that the position has been registered correctly. that the position has been registered correctly.
Registering the zoom position Registering the zoom position
1. Turn the zoom lock dial clockwise and then lock the zoom lever. Put the CanonÅ@Power- 1. Turn the zoom lock dial clockwise and then lock the zoom lever. Put the CanonÅ @ Power-
Shot G11 into the housing and then close the rear case. Shot G11 into the housing and then close the rear case.
2. Turn on the camera. 2. Turn on the camera.
3. Set the mode dial to C1. (Zoom position is set.) 3. Set the mode dial to C1. (Zoom position is set.)
4. Set the mode dial to the mode you wish to use, and then begin shooting. 4. Set the mode dial to the mode you wish to use, and then begin shooting.
*Repeat operations operations 3 and 4 the next time you turn on the camera. * Repeat operations operations 3 and 4 the next time you turn on the camera.
Using the FIXG11 housing to operate the camera Using the FIXG11 housing to operate the camera
Precautions when using the FIX G11 Precautions when using the FIX G11
! !
CAUTION CAUTION
Do not use the FIXG11 zoom lever to perform zoom operations. Doing so Do not use the FIXG11 zoom lever to perform zoom operations. Doing so
can cause the camera lens to hit against the port lens. If this problem can cause the camera lens to hit against the port lens. If this problem
occurs, the message [Lens error] appears, and the port lens will stop occurs, the message [Lens error] appears, and the port lens will stop
working. To fix this problem, turn off the camera and then turn it on again. working. To fix this problem, turn off the camera and then turn it on again."
_________________________________________________________________________________
Google Translate.

Most likely you cannot zoom and most likely there will be minor vignetting as occurs with the FIX/G11. But then, who knows until somone actually owns one and can say?

N

 

[Dagon]

Thanks for the information. So this is not what I'm looking for. I've sent and email to Patima and they've told me that their housing also supports the frontdial. So I'll go for their housing with the Zen lens.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

Dagon,
i have the Patima G11 housing and i am very happy with it.

I wan't to inform you that i have to zoom slightly in to avoid vignetting using my UWL-100 and i guess that it is the same on the G12 housing.
This problem is related to the 28mm WA of the G11/12 as at 28mm the diameter of the wetlens is too narrow and the camera will photograph the border of the lens (vignetting)
As there is no lens wider than 67mm the only way would be to move the wetlens nearer to the camera lens but it seems that it won't work due to construction issues.
The only solution would be that a manufacturer build a +/- 100mm diameter lens, but this would be a very heavy and expensive lens.
Well, ZEN claims that there will be no Vignetting so maybe they have found a way to overcome this problem,
but i would first try this combination to make shure that is works as promoted.

Anyway, the Patima with the Zen lens is a very good combination, add Inon D-2000 strobe(s) and you will have a very handy and sturdy rig able to shoot very good quality pictures.

Chris

P.S. I personally would go with a UWL-100 and the corresponding Dome unit, providing 131° FoV as 105° is nice,
but 131° is nicer...

 

[Nemrod]

I don't think you can use the zoom control with the Patima housing either.

N

 

[HerraduraDivers]

Nemrod,
i know that i can zoom in that tiny bit so that it is enough to avoid vignetting!
And i uess that it will be the same on the G12 housing.

Chris

 

[Nemrod]

Nemrod,
i know that i can zoom in that tiny bit so that it is enough to avoid vignetting!
And i uess that it will be the same on the G12 housing.

Chris

Yes, I understand (and agree completely with everything you say) but if you read the OPs post it seems he is wanting to be able to zoom full range, perhaps I misunderstood his question.

The FIX90 (and so will the Searec95 and FIX95) will allow full range zooming with the UWL-04. I really don't see the point of doing this but the camera and housing allow for it.

N

 

[HerraduraDivers]

Nemrod,
you might be right as it's not very clear what he want to do....

The Patime G11 and the G12 housing comes with 2 ports:
one NOT treaded universal and zoomable port
one 67mm treaded wide angle port and this is only a little zoomable enough to avoid vignetting

Austrian UW-Photography shop underwasserkamera.at manufactures a slide-over 67mm adapter for the zoom port to allow any 67mm macro lenses to be used, for example ths SubSee 5x or 10x diopter.

The ZEN WWA-105 wetlens he mentioned screws on the Patima WA port and he will be NOT able to zoom more than from 28mm to +/- 32mm as the lens will touch the port.
It may be that this lens need no zooming to avoid vignetting, but i am not sure about that it look very similar to the UWL-100.
Anyway, ZEN claims that it would not vignetting, so let's belive it.

Chris

 

[Dagon]

I'm on a roadtrip and only have my iPhone with me. That's why I only give short answers. I asked about the zoom posibility with the FIX dome because this isn't a wet lens and this means that I couldn't detach it underwater when I want to shoot macro. My idea was to reduce the fov with the zoom for this. With the Patima housing there is no need for this because you can detach the wa lens and shoot macro with 28 mm. Otherwise I can't imagine how I could light the subject (with an external strobe of course) because of the short distance between camera and subject but it's better then nothing.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

Dagon,
the FIX UWL-4 is a wet lens, but mounting is too complicated for doing it reasonable under water.
Look here how it's attached to the FIX S90 housing:Installing a UWL-04 lens onto Fix S90 Housing on Vimeo

You can shoot macro with both cameras at 28mm with or without a wide angle wet lens on,
we call that CFWA "Closed Focus Wide Angle".
Close Focus Wide Angle Underwater Photography|Underwater Photography Guide

The Patima housing works very well with the Inon uwl-100 or the ZEN WWA-105 lens and it will do what you want, except zooming.

Chris

P.S. I'm native German speaking, if you need further informations on the Patima housing you may write me a PM in German.