Looking to use a WET wide angle lens with your G-series Canon camera? In all housings, the port is too long to make effective use of wet wide angle lenses. If you’re using the Ikelite housing, however, you now have access to wet lenses via their wide angle port.

Wide angle port with Inon H100 Type 2 lens.

By swapping the existing flat port with the shorter, flat, wide-angle port you gain access to a number of wet wide angle lenses, such as the Inon H100 Type 2. The shorter port means the wet lenses are placed closer to the camera lens when fully zoomed out, limiting or completely removing vignetting depending on the wet lens used. However, shortening of the port also limits the zoom some, but you can still zoom out to 85mm without issue, just over 3/4 of the full zoom range.

Wide angle port with no additional lens from the same viewpoint.

It is important to use care when zooming with the short port, as going past 85mm will cause the lens on the camera to hit the port glass, creating a lens error that will shut down the camera. However with practice, or by customizing the rear dial for “step zoom” (see page 168 in the Canon user manual) you can control the zoom with ease. The step zoom function is fantastic as it allows you to step the zoom up to specific focal lengths, so you never have to worry about going too far. We found during tests that using a diopter at 85mm gives you just a little less magnification as using the diopter at full zoom in the standard port, so you don’t sacrifice much in terms of macro when using this wide angle port.

All in all the Ikelite Wide Angle Port with 67mm threads for the Canon G15 looks to be a great solution for being able to use great WET wide angle lenses and allows for more versatility underwater with your Ikelite housing and Canon G15.

Note: Keep in mind that these examples are all from top-side tests and that underwater images will have added magnification due to refraction causing the image to be slightly less wide.  To get identical results would require the addition of a dome port, like the Dome Unit for the Inon H100 lens.

The post Ikelite Wide Angle Port Grants Access to Wet Lenses for the Canon G-15 first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

A large dome port secure in a cake carrier.

Usually when I say “dome” I’m referring to my bald head.  But today, I’m referring to a port. Specifically, a large dome port.  Having a larger dome port (e.g. >8″) is a great tool to have in your bag.   But when it’s not attached to your housing, how are you keeping it protected?

I recently purchased a large dome port from Bluewater Photo, with the intent of taking it with me on the 2-day charter for the SoCal Shootout.    So, how was I going to pack this thing?  I turned to the internet in search of some ideas.  The prominent solution for travel, packing, and overall protection of large dome ports when not in use seemed to be tupperware-type cake holders.  That’s right, cake holders.

So, off to Target I went.  Within 5 minutes (I’m no stranger to Target) I found one that fit perfectly, and, as an added bonus, included a handle.  All for $7.50.  Not a bad investment for a $700.00 dome.  Those of you with a large glass dome port would appreciate that even more.  This will work great when packing it in luggage, and on a liveaboard when swapping ports.  Slap your name and a few stickers on it, and viola!  Your customized dome port protector is ready to rock.

Bringing my 8″ dome port helped enable me to get this shot.

The post Protect Your Dome first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.