Wet lenses enhance underwater photography by providing either macro or wide-angle capabilities that can be swapped out underwater. Most wet lenses are designed for compact camera users, although a few macro close-up models are compatible with interchangeable lens systems as well. These lenses attach externally to the housing in several ways, most commonly via a 67mm screw mount, a quick snap-on mechanism, or a bayonet-style system that rotates and locks in place. The screw mount offers a secure fit but requires more time to attach or remove. In contrast, the bayonet and quick-adapt mounts allow for faster lens changes during a dive, making them more popular among divers. To make wet lens use even more convenient, flip adapters are widely available. These adapters either screw into the 67mm thread or slide over the port and hold the lens in place, allowing the diver to flip the lens on or off with minimal effort. Underwater photographers also utilize lens holders or caddies that attach to their rigs or even wear the lenses on a lanyard for quick access. As underwater photography continues to evolve, wet lenses offer compact camera users more versatility without needing to invest in bulkier gear.
Types of Wet Lenses
Wet lenses are generally divided into two primary types: close-up lenses (macro or supermacro diopters) and wide-angle lenses. Close-up wet lenses decrease the focusing distance between the subject and the camera. This enables the photographer to fill the frame with small subjects like nudibranchs or shrimp. These lenses are ideal for those who want to capture extreme detail and emphasize texture, shape, and color in minute marine life. Supermacro lenses push this further, often allowing magnification of tiny features like the eyes or antennae of a nudibranch. They’re commonly used in combination with standard macro lenses, stacked together using flip mounts or front threads, depending on the brand. Wide-angle wet lenses, on the other hand, counteract the narrowing of the field of view caused by underwater refraction when using flat ports. They either restore the native field of view the camera has on land or go even wider—up to 130 or 168 degrees in some cases. These lenses are typically designed to work with a specific focal length, most commonly 28mm, and are not universally compatible across all camera models. Photographers must check their camera's focal length before purchasing a wide-angle wet lens to avoid compatibility issues. In general, compact and mirrorless systems benefit greatly from wet lenses, although DSLR users typically prefer dry domes or dedicated ports due to better image quality and control.
Mounting and Compatibility
Before purchasing a wet lens, it’s crucial to understand how it will mount to your housing. If your housing supports 67mm threads, your options are numerous. However, if your setup uses a different mount, you may need an adapter or step-up ring. Bayonet mounts, like the LD or 28LD systems used by Inon, allow the lens to twist and click into place, making them convenient for quick lens changes underwater. Screw mounts, while more universal, are less efficient in fast-paced environments. Flip mounts are highly recommended for macro users who switch frequently between lenses mid-dive. Not all housings are compatible with wet lenses, and the resulting image quality will differ depending on your specific camera and housing combination. High-quality lenses from brands like Nauticam, Inon, and Kraken typically provide excellent edge-to-edge sharpness and minimal distortion, but only when paired correctly with a suitable housing and port. Be sure to confirm compatibility with your setup by checking with an underwater camera specialist. Many stores offer configuration charts and guides to help you match the right wet lens to your housing and camera model. Improper pairing may result in issues like vignetting, corner softness, or loss of sharpness.
Advantages of Wet Lenses in Underwater Photography
Wet lenses provide a unique flexibility that can transform your underwater photography experience. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to switch lenses underwater, allowing photographers to shoot both macro and wide-angle subjects during a single dive. This is especially useful in environments where a variety of marine life is present—from large pelagics to tiny crustaceans—all within proximity. For compact and mirrorless camera users, wet lenses offer a cost-effective way to expand photographic possibilities without upgrading to a more complex system. Macro wet lenses allow for astonishing levels of detail in small subjects, ideal for capturing the intricate beauty of nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and blennies. Wide-angle wet lenses are indispensable when photographing reefscapes, wrecks, or large animals like mantas and sharks. They allow you to get close to your subject, reducing the amount of water between the camera and the subject, which results in better color, contrast, and sharpness. Using wet lenses also means you don’t need to resurface between dives to change equipment. Instead, a well-organized caddy or flip adapter enables a fast switch, saving precious dive time. With the growing range of high-quality wet lenses available on the market, photographers have never had so much control and creative freedom underwater. From beginner divers using compact cameras to experienced professionals using mirrorless systems, wet lenses are a powerful tool that enhances the ability to capture stunning underwater scenes in vivid detail.
Exploring Macro Wet Lenses: Close-Up Precision Underwater
Macro wet lenses are essential tools for capturing the hidden miniature world beneath the sea. They enable the photographer to drastically shorten the minimum focusing distance between the camera lens and the subject, allowing extremely small creatures to fill the frame in crisp, intricate detail. These lenses are especially popular with compact and mirrorless camera users, but certain versions are also made for use with DSLR systems. The result of attaching a macro wet lens is the ability to explore the underwater universe of nudibranchs, shrimp, tiny gobies, and the detailed textures of coral and sponges. Because of the density of water and its ability to distort scale and distance, standard camera lenses are often limited in how close they can get to the subject while retaining sharp focus. A macro wet lens counteracts this limitation by narrowing the camera’s field of view and magnifying the image optically, not digitally. This leads to a sharper, clearer photo with truer color and detail when compared to cropping the image afterward.
The market offers a wide range of macro wet lenses in varying diopter strengths. A higher diopter value equates to greater magnification but often results in a narrower depth of field, meaning that only a thin slice of the image remains in focus. This requires steady control, careful lighting, and precise composition. For example, a +5 diopter lens will increase magnification modestly and offer more working room, while a +15 or higher will allow for intense close-up detail but at the cost of more challenging focus. Some underwater photographers use multiple macro lenses stacked together for even more extreme magnification. Inon’s UCL-165 M67 and UCL-330 are frequently paired in this way to achieve supermacro results. With macro photography, the goal is to reveal the beauty of the small—photographing tiny marine creatures with dramatic clarity that highlights their unique shapes, patterns, and behavior. Using macro wet lenses requires a strong understanding of how light interacts with your subject. As you get closer, the need for directional lighting becomes critical to avoid harsh shadows or overexposure. Positioning your strobes at an angle, rather than head-on, helps create depth and contrast while avoiding reflection from shiny or translucent surfaces. For compact cameras, macro wet lenses provide an easy way to dramatically expand creative possibilities without investing in a more complex or expensive setup.
Wide Angle Wet Lenses: Capturing Expansive Underwater Scenes
Wide-angle wet lenses are indispensable for underwater photographers looking to shoot large subjects or expansive environments. These lenses correct the magnification effect caused by shooting through a flat port underwater, which often narrows the natural field of view. Instead of only being able to fit a small portion of a reef or animal into the frame, wide-angle wet lenses allow the photographer to capture the full scale of the scene. This is particularly useful when photographing coral reefs, schools of fish, wrecks, and larger marine life like sharks, dolphins, or manta rays. The greatest advantage of wide-angle wet lenses is their ability to allow the photographer to get physically closer to the subject while still fitting everything into the frame. This proximity reduces the amount of water between the camera and the subject, leading to brighter colors, sharper details, and reduced backscatter. The closer you are to the subject, the less particulate matter there is to interfere with the shot.
Wide-angle wet lenses are available in several configurations, with some offering a restored 100-degree field of view and others expanding that field up to 130 or even 168 degrees, depending on the lens and camera pairing. Dome ports are often used in conjunction with these lenses to maintain sharpness across the entire image, including the corners. Nauticam’s WWL-1, Kraken’s KRL series, and Fantasea’s UWL-09F are examples of popular wide-angle options. Each is typically tailored to a specific focal length, most often 28mm, so compatibility with your camera’s lens is critical. Before investing in a wide-angle wet lens, check the focal length at which your camera starts zooming out, and make sure that the lens you choose is designed to work effectively at that setting. Using a wide-angle wet lens on a camera with incompatible focal length settings can result in vignetting, distortion, or soft edges. In many cases, a buoyancy collar or float arms are necessary to offset the additional weight of a dome or glass-heavy wide-angle lens.
When composing wide-angle images underwater, keep in mind the need for strong foreground elements. Shooting slightly upward toward the surface allows natural light to illuminate the background and adds visual interest. Positioning your subject off-center or including leading lines like reef contours or fish schools helps guide the viewer’s eye through the image. Color filters or post-processing can be used to balance the often overwhelming blue or green tint of the water. Wide-angle wet lenses transform your ability to tell a story beneath the sea, presenting a grand, immersive perspective that draws the viewer directly into the scene.
Mounting Methods and Adapter Systems
Choosing the right mounting system for your wet lens is just as important as selecting the lens itself. Mounts come in three main varieties: 67mm threaded screw mounts, bayonet mounts, and quick-snap systems. The 67mm screw mount is the most common and versatile. It’s widely supported by housing manufacturers and lens brands and provides a secure attachment that is less likely to loosen accidentally during a dive. However, screwing and unscrewing a lens underwater can be slow, and sometimes requires two hands, which can be inconvenient or impractical in strong current or limited visibility. Bayonet mounts offer a faster alternative. These mounts allow the lens to be pushed into place and then twisted a quarter turn to lock it. Bayonet mounts are favored by macro shooters who frequently switch between different lenses mid-dive. They also reduce the risk of dropping the lens while changing it. The Inon LD and 28LD mounts are examples of this system and are known for their ease of use. They are, however, more specific and may require custom mounting bases on your housing to ensure proper alignment.
Quick-adapt systems, which resemble the magnetic or pressure-fit types, are less common but are appreciated for their simplicity. They usually involve a press-fit design or a latch system that locks the lens into place with a snapping mechanism. These are sometimes used on compact setups and are great for divers who prioritize efficiency and minimal handling time. To further improve usability, many divers add flip adapters or swing arms to their systems. These attachments hold the wet lens in position above or beside the port and allow the user to flip the lens in front of the camera lens when needed. This eliminates the need to remove and store the lens between shots and is particularly useful for macro photography. For photographers carrying multiple wet lenses on a dive, a lens caddy or arm-mounted lens holder is often used. These caddies securely hold additional lenses and keep them within easy reach, making it practical to switch between macro and wide-angle compositions throughout the dive.
Using adapters and step-up or step-down rings can also open up more possibilities. If your camera or housing doesn’t have a 67mm thread, these inexpensive accessories allow you to use standard lenses on non-standard ports. However, care should be taken to ensure the alignment is correct and the lens sits flush with the port. Misalignment can cause vignetting or blurry images. Regardless of the mounting method, always rinse your lenses in fresh water after each dive, and inspect all threads and seals to ensure they are free from sand, salt, or debris.
Top Wet Lens Brands and Key Features
Several brands dominate the underwater photography market when it comes to wet lenses, each offering unique features, build quality, and performance advantages. Among the most respected names is Nauticam, known for its premium construction and optical clarity. Their SMC-1, SMC-2, CMC-1, and CMC-2 macro lenses are built with high-grade glass and minimal chromatic aberration. The Super Macro Converter (SMC) series is specifically designed for DSLR and mirrorless users who demand extreme magnification and edge-to-edge sharpness. One standout feature of Nauticam macro lenses is the positioning of the threading away from the lens edge, allowing the lens to sit closer to the port and improve focus range and image sharpness. The Nauticam WWL-1 wet wide lens is equally renowned and offers zoom-through capability, full compatibility with compact and mirrorless systems, and outstanding image quality.
Inon is another leading name, particularly known for its optical-grade glass and variety of mount options. Their UCL and UWL series lenses are widely used by both amateur and professional photographers. The UCL-165 and UCL-330 macro lenses are stackable and versatile, while the UWL-H100 wide lens, especially when combined with a dome unit, offers superior wide-angle coverage. Inon also provides dual mount versions with both M67 and LD bayonet options, giving users flexibility depending on their system. Kraken Sports is known for both performance and affordability, offering a range of wet lenses like the +12 and +23 macro lenses and wide-angle options such as the KRL-01 and KRL-07. Kraken’s lenses often feature anti-reflective coatings, strong build quality, and compatibility with a wide variety of housings. Their KRL-07 is specifically tailored for use with smartphone housings, making it ideal for new photographers.
Fantasea and AOI offer wet lenses that strike a balance between cost and quality. Fantasea’s UCL and UWL series lenses provide high magnification and expansive fields of view, including lenses like the UWL-400F and UCL-09LF with diopter strengths ranging from +6 to +15. Their wide-angle lenses are often paired with dome ports for dramatic perspective shots. Aquatica’s ACU series includes high-end macro lenses made with achromatic dual-element glass, offering extremely low distortion and superb sharpness. The ACU+10 is popular among DSLR macro shooters. Other brands such as Ikelite, Sea & Sea, Saga, Subsee, and even SeaLife and Olympus also contribute valuable lens options to the market. Ikelite’s W-30 and WD-4 lenses are designed to work seamlessly with their housings and offer good image quality at a moderate price. Saga’s Magic Ball and Magic Tube lenses allow photographers to experiment with creative effects and abstract visuals. Subsee’s +5 and +10 macro lenses are popular with DSLR users for their sharpness and compatibility with flip adapters.
Each of these brands addresses specific needs, and choosing the right lens often depends on your existing gear, shooting style, and subject matter. Image quality, mount compatibility, ease of use, and price all play crucial roles in selecting the best wet lens for your underwater photography journey. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each brand and model helps build a flexible, high-performing underwater imaging system.
Here is Part 3 (3000 words) of the article on Wet Lenses for Underwater Photography.
Choosing the Right Wet Lens for Your Underwater Needs
Wet lenses are not one-size-fits-all. Choosing the right lens for your particular underwater photography style, subject, and setup can significantly affect your results. This section explores the considerations, lens types, compatibility, and brand choices that will help you make informed decisions.
Understanding Your Camera Setup
Before selecting a wet lens, it is critical to understand the limitations and strengths of your current camera setup. Compact cameras, mirrorless systems, and DSLRs all have varying degrees of compatibility with wet lenses.
Compact cameras, especially those in underwater housings with flat ports, benefit greatly from wide-angle and macro wet lenses because their built-in lenses often struggle to deliver the necessary magnification or field of view underwater. Mirrorless systems often use dome ports and interchangeable lenses, but can still benefit from wet lenses for added versatility without having to exit the water to swap optics.
For DSLR users, wet lenses are less commonly used because dome ports and dedicated macro lenses usually provide optimal results. However, for snorkeling, shallow dives, or travel-light scenarios, even DSLR shooters occasionally utilize high-quality wet optics.
Macro Versus Wide-Angle: The Primary Choice
The most important decision is whether you want a macro or a wide-angle wet lens. This depends entirely on the type of underwater subjects you plan to shoot.
Macro Wet Lenses are ideal for:
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Nudibranchs
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Shrimp
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Seahorses
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Frogfish
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Textures like coral polyps or anemone tentacles
Wide-Angle Wet Lenses are suitable for:
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Coral reefscapes
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Shipwrecks
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Schools of fish
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Large marine animals like sharks, turtles, and manta rays
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Close-focus wide-angle shots (CFWA)
If you plan to shoot both macro and wide-angle subjects during a single dive, having a wet lens allows you to switch styles without returning to the surface—a massive advantage in dynamic marine environments.
Magnification and Field of View
The technical specifications of a wet lens matter greatly. For macro lenses, this is usually expressed as a magnification ratio or diopter strength. Higher diopter values (e.g., +10 to +20) offer more magnification but typically reduce working distance and depth of field.
For wide-angle lenses, the field of view (FOV) is critical. A 165-degree lens gives you a very broad and immersive angle, perfect for massive seascapes, while a 100-degree lens might be more appropriate for close-range reef shots or behavior-focused work. Be aware that extremely wide lenses may produce distortion or vignetting if not paired correctly with the camera lens and housing.
Considerations for Underwater Use
Water behaves differently from air when it comes to optics. It refracts light, reduces contrast, and narrows the field of view of your camera lens. This makes underwater-specific lens design crucial. Wet lenses must compensate for these challenges, which is why general-purpose optical add-ons are rarely suitable.
Important underwater-specific considerations include:
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Dome curvature: Wide-angle lenses often use dome shapes to restore the wide field of view and reduce distortion.
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Coating: Anti-reflective and hydrophobic coatings help minimize flare and water droplet adhesion.
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Edge sharpness: Cheaper wet lenses may appear sharp in the center but blur significantly at the edges, especially underwater.
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Neutral buoyancy: Some wet lenses are neutrally buoyant or come with float rings to reduce wrist fatigue.
Compatibility with Housings
Not every wet lens is compatible with every housing or camera. Compatibility is determined by:
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Thread size: Common sizes include 52mm, 67mm, and bayonet mounts.
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Lens positioning: The lens must sit close enough to the camera's port to avoid vignetting or corner softness.
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Zoom range: On some compact cameras, zooming while using a wet lens can introduce aberrations or reduce clarity.
Brands like Nauticam, Fantasea, Kraken, and Inon produce a variety of wet lenses tailored for different mounts and systems. Make sure you consult both the camera and housing manufacturer's guidelines before purchasing.
Image Quality and Optical Design
Optical quality is paramount in underwater photography. The ocean is already working against you in terms of clarity, color loss, and contrast. A poorly made wet lens can exacerbate these problems by introducing chromatic aberration, soft focus, or ghosting.
High-end wet lenses use multi-element glass designs with precision tolerances. For example, the Nauticam SMC-1 and SMC-2 macro lenses deliver exceptional corner-to-corner sharpness and minimal distortion. Similarly, the Inon UWL-H100 offers impressive wide-angle sharpness, especially when paired with its dome conversion lens.
While cheaper acrylic lenses may suffice for casual or beginner use, serious photographers often invest in glass-element lenses with meticulous engineering to maximize optical performance.
Travel and Portability
Another key benefit of wet lenses is portability. For traveling underwater photographers, bringing multiple ports, strobes, and lenses is often impractical due to airline baggage restrictions. A compact camera with a housing and two or three wet lenses provides an extraordinarily flexible kit that fits into a carry-on.
Magnifiers like the AOI UCL-900F or the Kraken KRL-02 macro lens weigh very little but dramatically enhance shooting range. Dome-style wide-angle wet lenses may be bulkier, but some come with padded pouches or float rings to make transport and in-water handling easier.
Additionally, since wet lenses are removable, they offer built-in redundancy. If one lens fogs, floods, or is dropped, you can still use the base camera or switch to another lens type without jeopardizing the dive or shoot.
Budget and Value Considerations
Wet lenses range widely in price, from $150 entry-level models to $1,200+ for high-end optics. While more expensive lenses generally offer better build quality and image results, it’s important to balance price against need.
For those new to underwater photography, a mid-tier wet lens with decent optical performance may be a better starting point than jumping straight to premium models. Investing in lens adapters and mounting systems first ensures future compatibility and makes it easier to upgrade later.
Renting wet lenses is also an option, especially for dive trips. Trying out a few different models helps determine what suits your style best before committing to a purchase.
Practical Tips for Selecting a Wet Lens
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Define your primary subject matter—macro critters vs reefscapes.
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Evaluate your existing camera setup—sensor size, zoom range, housing type.
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Determine your preferred mounting style—threaded vs bayonet.
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Consider your dive environment—muck diving, wrecks, strong currents.
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Set a budget and research thoroughly—read user reviews, watch sample videos.
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Plan for future expandability—choose versatile lenses that grow with your skills.
Some wet lenses offer dual-purpose designs, such as wide-angle models that also work for CFWA (close focus wide angle) when paired with a short macro subject. These hybrid uses can expand creative possibilities for photographers who learn how to exploit them.
Real-World Examples of Lens Choices
Let’s look at some common combinations for different underwater scenarios:
For a compact camera shooter:
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Camera: Sony RX100 VII
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Housing: Fantasea or Nauticam
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Macro Lens: Fantasea UCL-09F or Nauticam CMC-1
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Wide-Angle Lens: Inon UWL-H100 with dome
For a mirrorless shooter:
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Camera: Olympus E-M5 Mark III
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Housing: Nauticam
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Macro Lens: AOI UCL-09 PRO
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Wide-Angle Lens: AOI UWL-09 with dome adapter
For a DSLR traveler:
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Camera: Canon 90D
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Lens: 18-55mm kit lens
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Housing: Ikelite with flat port
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Wet Lens: Kraken KRL-01 wide-angle for reef shots
These configurations give you flexibility, outstanding image potential, and quick underwater adaptability.
Avoiding Buyer’s Remorse
The underwater photography market is filled with glowing product descriptions and beautifully shot promotional images. However, reality can be different. Always ask these questions before buying:
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Will this lens physically fit my housing?
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Can I remove and attach it underwater?
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Will it vignette or blur the corners with my Zoom settings?
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Are there real-world photo samples taken with my same camera model?
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What do trusted photographers and communities say about this lens?
Read blogs, watch unedited YouTube dive footage, and visit forums like Wetpixel or ScubaBoard to get honest opinions. If possible, try before you buy—ask dive shops or photography friends to loan you a model for one dive.