Which lenses for the S95?

[DivingScotsman]

I am about to purchase the S95 with either the FIX or recsea housing. Which lenses and adapters would you recommend for wide angle and macro? I would like a dome as well as the wide angle lens.

This is to replace a panasonic tz7 and will be used with 2 inon s2000 strobes.

 

[Nemrod]

Recsea:

WIDE --- Dyron 16mm (comes with needed adapter installed) or Fisheye UWL-04 (you will need a F52mm to M44mm adapter)

MACRO --- Either the 67mm Dyron (Recsea/former FIX) adapter with the Inon UCL165-67mm or the Fisheye adapter kit for 67mm lenses.

OR --- go bayonet and get the Fisheye AD port conversion kit (for the former FIX90) and the Inon UFL165AD lens and the Inon UCL165AD lens or the above mentioned Dyron 67mm adapter with a 10Bar AD to 67mm adapter for those same AD lenses.


FIX:

WIDE --- Fisheye UWL-04

MACRO --- dunno, beats me. Maybe the Fisheye F52mm to M44mm adapter stacked with a M52mm to F67mm adapter and then an Inon UCL165-67mm.

N

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

For Recsea you could also go with a Dryon AD Mount, UCL-165 AD(s), UWL-105 AD and UFL-165 AD.

 

[DivingScotsman]

So assuming I go for the recsea housing, which of those lens combinations is the best?

 

[ripseven]

So assuming I go for the recsea housing, which of those lens combinations is the best?

Ultra wide angle : Dyron 16 mm (as Nemrod mentionned). I myself have the Fix UWL04 with an adaptor because the Dyron didn't exist when I bought my Recsea housing.

Macro : Dyron UCL 77 (the new model that replaced the UCL 67 mm Nemrod mentionned).

I tried both macro lenses and I think the UCL 77 is better (less peripherical distortion).
I will confirm my impressions during real dives (not in a pool) in a few weeks, and by the way I will be able to shot with two stacked UCL77 !!

 

[DivingScotsman]

How do the dyron, fisheye and inon lenses compare in terms of build quality? I've just called the uk dyron dealer and they have decided to stop selling the dyron lenses in favour of inon.

 

[DivingScotsman]

Is this accurate?

UWdigitalcamera.com :: Conversion lens :: Others :: Conversion lens adapter for FIX S90, Recsea S95

 

[Nemrod]

Is this accurate?

UWdigitalcamera.com :: Conversion lens :: Others :: Conversion lens adapter for FIX S90, Recsea S95

I realize there is confusion in that most do not understand the last year model FIX90 is the SAME as the current Recsea95 model but really, any amount of research should turn up these threads which answer your question and the answer to your question is essentially no, it is only partly accurate:

View topic - The Great Summer 2010 Wet Lens Shoot Out!|Underwater Photography Guide

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/canon-corner/317325-fisheye-fix-s90.html

Everything in the above threads applies to the Recsea95 housing. Yes, the threads do not address the Dyron lenses or several of their new adapters because until Bluewater Photo came to town as a Dyron dealer as none of this was available in the USA until now. The Dyron 16mm lens is somewhat similar to the Fisheye UWL-04 lens in terms of how it works on the housing/camera.

You ask which is "best" and this question always kills me, best at what? There is strictly speaking no single best. You have to factor in cost, availability, size, weight, tendency to ghost/flare, your exact needs and style of photography and of course the need for a bayonet mount if so desired.

Personally I prefer the Inon UFL165AD and Inon UCL165AD because they are small, light, sharp, easy bayonet mount. There are several ways to mount these lenses on the older FIX and new Recsea housings including the methods I use and the new Dyron adapter that Halemano uses with equal success.

The widest lens is the Fisheye UWL-04, I do not have the Dyron 16mm to test and will not be buying one as it is not enough different to warrant buying yet another ultra wide angle wet lens but if I were doing it all again I would look it over seriously.

N

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

I have only used Epoque, Ikelite and Inon 100's(W-20's); INON is best among them.

I have a Type 2 UWL-100 and Dome, which is likely superior glass to the UWL-105 AD and/or UFL-165 AD, but; the UWL-100 is bigger/heavier than the UWL-105 AD, the UWL-100 w/ Dome is significantly bigger/heavier than the UFL-165 AD and you can not change between the UWL-100 and Dome underwater.

If I had not scored a full set of INON AD lenses for a great price (here off SB classifieds) I would have probably gone with the 67 mm adapter, because I don't shoot fish eye very much (or macro). Now having the option(s) in my BC pocket (or on strobe arm) I may shoot more fish eye (& macro). After nearly a decade of 67 mm threads, I am ecstatic about the bayonet mount!

 

[BluewaterPhoto]

How do the dyron, fisheye and inon lenses compare in terms of build quality? I've just called the uk dyron dealer and they have decided to stop selling the dyron lenses in favour of inon.

Running a camera store is a tough business. Decisions like this are usually made based on profit margin and supply more than quality.

we sell Dyron and feel the quality is fantastic based upon our own tests. I will say that based upon my own testing, all of these companies have some products that are better than others and it is hard to generalize, you really must talk about a specific product.