Zen Underwater DP 100 port review (for Panasonic 8mm fisheye)

[PHIL RUDIN]

My review for the new ZEN Underwater DP 100 optical glass dome port is now out at, UwP = Your free Underwater Photography Magazine | Home page this is a free PDF download for the next two months. Also checkout my review on diving in the Philippines.

Phil Rduin

 

[dhaas]

Wonderful pics Phil!!!!!

David Haas
www.haasimages.com

 

[SwedTekDiver]

Hi Phil.

And thanks for an exellent articel and photos.

I have a question for you:
You write in the articel that you also use the Olympus 12mm F/2 lens with good results (and also show a good exampel of that!), now I dont own the Zen DP-100 dome but the acrylic Precision dome for the Olympus original housing, and wondering if you have tested the same 12mm lens in that one? (dome+ Oly housing).

Or if you think that that combination would produce the same or simular results?
It seems like a smashing lens and would love to get it if it works for my dome/housing options!

Cheers!

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

I have never used the Precision dome port with any lens. I have used the 12mm with the Nauticam 4.33 inch port on a Nauticam Mini housing and it works with that port as well. The 12mm works best with the Zen Underwater 170mm n120 port mounted direct to the housing, great for over/under work.

Image is the 12mm with the ZEN 170mm dome, I see little difference between this lens at 12mm and the 12-40 at 12mm for the same task. Two different Zen 170mm ports involved. The 12-40 needs the Zen 170mm n85 port which has 25mm of extension for longer lenses like the 12-40, 12-35, 7-14, 9-18, 12-50 zooms

 

[SwedTekDiver]

Thanks for your answer Phil.

I see no other solution than to buy the lens and try it out in the Precision dome.
If it dont work I still think I will be happy using the lens for OW photos.

Please keep writing your exellent articels and post your great photos!

Cheers

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

I think this port will work well with the smaller lenses like the Olympus 12 and 17mm as well as the Panasonic pancake type lenses. The 12mm is a great above water lens as well, use it a lot as a travel lens when I want to go light, very close focus.

 

[leesea]

Which port would you suggest for Oly 9-18 other than the 170m dome? I am assuming that a Wide Angle perhaps the 4.33 would provide good results?

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

What camera and what housing.

 

[Hoag]

I think this port will work well with the smaller lenses like the Olympus 12 and 17mm as well as the Panasonic pancake type lenses. The 12mm is a great above water lens as well, use it a lot as a travel lens when I want to go light, very close focus.

Phil,

You are right. This port works well with other lenses too. I had it on the housing for an Olympus Pen M4/3. Here is a shot of two Indigo Hamlets I took with the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 (f1.8???) pancake lens.

 

[RVBldr]

Resurrecting this old thread, I'm looking to add wider capability (above the 130 deg I have) to a A7C and probably an A7CR in the future. I've read differing thoughts, but if using a Canon 8-15/MC-11 for FE, the DP-100 mini-dome seems like a great alternative to the Nauticam 140mm dome, at almost half the cost. I know the corners might be a little less-sharp with the Zen, but other thoughts?