S-95 with Ikelite housing ?WA lenses

[jdfmail]

I've decided against the xz-1 due to the negative reports on ability to use WA lenses.

I actually have a UWL-100 67mm with dome and would like to use it on a newer camera and housing. I would prefer not to spend $800+ on a housing, so my question is, Would that lens work well or pretty well with the Ikelite housing for the S-95?

If not I could sell it and get another lens or go with a different camera and/or housing to be able to use this lens. Any recommendations?

 

[Nemrod]

I've decided against the xz-1 due to the negative reports on ability to use WA lenses.

I actually have a UWL-100 67mm with dome and would like to use it on a newer camera and housing. I would prefer not to spend $800+ on a housing, so my question is, Would that lens work well or pretty well with the Ikelite housing for the S-95?

If not I could sell it and get another lens or go with a different camera and/or housing to be able to use this lens. Any recommendations?

I know people are using the proposed combination but IMO it suffers from the same issue the XZ1 does, just not as badly, the lens port is too long thus holding the accessory lens too far away and soft, blurred corners can result.

You know, even with the FIX90 with the WAL100 there will be some softness in the corners and still for the same reason (artifact of having to zoom the lens and the S90 lens actually backing away initially when zoomed) but it is hardly noticeable unless real close and at wider apertures it seems. The dome helps a bunch here and would help also with the other mentioned outfits but it is not a cure. Some of the softness in the corners with the WAL100 is simply distortion since it is a very wide lens behind essentially a flat port and it is made worse when the lens is out of optimal position with the camera lens, too far forward.

N

 

[jdfmail]

I'm a bit confused after reading about this in several places. If the softness occurs because we are zooming a little.

Why don't we just not zoom and then crop the photos when processing?

 

[Nemrod]

I'm a bit confused after reading about this in several places. If the softness occurs because we are zooming a little.

Why don't we just not zoom and then crop the photos when processing?

Well, because you are cropping a sensor that is already too small. In doing so the 1/1.7 sensor of the S series is reduced to the size of the A series 1/2.5, well, maybe not that much, but ---.

It is not just the zooming, the Ikelite housing has the lens about 5mm+ too far out of position and about 3mm+ further than with the FIX/Recsea housings. You think that is not much, in this case it is a big difference. This is why the WAL lens on the former FIX90 or current Recsea95 housing performs better, less distortion, corner softness than the same lens on the Ikelite housing.

N

 

[jdfmail]

THanks N

I don't think I'll ever be able to upgrade. So frustrating. What should I do with my UWL-100? What would you do if you had that lens and a smallish budget?

 

[Nemrod]

The old Inon WAL100 is a great lens but the times move on and with more and more cameras starting at 28mm or even 24mm it is becoming seriously dated. I am sure this is why Inon has introduced a new lens this year, the LD series.

But, I suspect you would be satisfied with the Ikelite with your lens since you don't want to spend the money to get a far superior Recsea95 housing which does work well with that lens. Yes, it is frustrating and no clear answers for those on a tight budget who want wide angle.

N

 

[jdfmail]

Nemrod

Thanks very much for your advice. I was wondering, if I got the s95 with either the OEM or Ikelite housing. WOuld you recommend either one with one of the WA Dyron lenses? I could sell my UWL-100+dome and get a new lens with one of those housings...still pretty affordable.

Thanks

Jon

 

[Nemrod]

Nemrod

Thanks very much for your advice. I was wondering, if I got the s95 with either the OEM or Ikelite housing. WOuld you recommend either one with one of the WA Dyron lenses? I could sell my UWL-100+dome and get a new lens with one of those housings...still pretty affordable.

Thanks

Jon

I cannot tell you if the Dyron or slightly similar Fisheye UWL-04 will work with the Ikelite, I have been told mixed reports, conflicting reports.

On the OEM Canon housing, no question, sorry all, the Inon WAL100LD plus Dome II kit.

N

 

[BluewaterPhoto]

I tested the Dyron 15mm lens yesterday with the Ikelite S95 housing in the pool. There was no vignetting (I was actually surprised), and I thought the results were great. This is clearly an excellent lens for the Ikelite s90 or S95 housings, or the Canon OEM s90/s95 housings. The lens is also fairly small and light.

There are some sample photos on the Dyron 15mm page.

Scott

 

[Indigo Scuba Africa]

Hi Scott

Thanks for submitting these two shots.

With the Dyron WA lense, did you zoom in / zoom out have the camera on macro? Please let me know what you did to get such a great wide angle? I am seriously considering this lense at the moment.

Thanks!