The transition of full frame mirrorless cameras from SLR has reduced the number of lens options available to photographers, and given the tiny number of those using them underwater, there are some gaps in appropriate lenses for using with them. Alex and Adam discuss some of the older lenses, including Nikonos, and how some of these may work with the new cameras, while others currently will not.
Soap bubble bokeh lovers rejoice! Meyer Optic Görlitz has announced that the venerable Trioplan 100 f/2.8 II is now available with Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts. Previously available mount options include Sony E mount, along with Leica L, Canon EF and Nikon F mounts. As per the other mounts, the lens is manual focus with a minimum focus distance of 0.9m (requiring the use of a close-up lens).
Fstoppers has published a useful summary of ultra wide angle (weitwinkel) lenses for Sony cameras. They discuss the Sony FE 14mm G Master, FE 24mm G Master, FE 20mm G, Sigma 20mm DG HSM Art, Tamron SP 20mm Di III OSD, and Venus Optics 15mm FE Zero-D. All, apart from the last, are autofocus lenses. Inevitably, the summary does not discuss their performance behind a dome port.
Nikon has released a new roadmap of the development of Z mount lenses. Of particular note is the addition of both 60 mm and 105 mm micro (macro) lenses. The road map shows 105 mm as being an S-line lens, although the speculation is that these will both be f/2.8 lenses. They will provide alternatives to the current 60 and 105 mm lenses with the FTZ combination, which seems to give sub-par AF performance.
TH Swiss has announced the Irix lens family. The first product is a manual focusing 15mm f2.4 lens. It is available in Nikon F, Canon EF and Pentax K mounts and in two models: Irix Blackstone, which is fully featured and has a Al-Mg body and the Irix Firefly which is lighter. The lens offers an 110° FOV and focuses at 0.28m (0.92ft).
Olympus has announced the release of two new micro 4/3’s lenses. The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO has a minimum focus distance (MFD) of 7.5cm (3”) while the M.ZUIKO Digital ED 8mm Fisheye PRO has an MFD of just 2.5cm (1”). This should make both these lenses significant for underwater imaging. Olympus has also announced a lens port for the fisheye for use with the OM-D E-M5 or OM-D E-M1 underwater housings.
Sony has announced a series of new lenses and converters. For underwater use, these include the FE 90mm f2.8 macro, the FE 28mm f2 wide-angle, two new wide-angle converters and two fisheye converters.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia and University of Siegen have developed a computational model that allows some startling results from a simple single element lens.