Diopter Reviews

Detailed diopter reviews for underwater macro photography with compact, mirrorless and DSLR cameras and housings.

The Saga Magic Tube is a very unique tool for creative macro underwater photography - capable of producing beautiful rings of color around your subject.
By Nirupam Nigam

Saga Magic Tube Review

Saga Magic Tube Review
Nirupam Nigam
The Saga Magic Tube is a very unique tool for creative macro underwater photography - capable of producing beautiful rings of color around your subject.

I have to admit, when I started seeing underwater macro photos with strange, colorful circles popping up all over the internet, I didn't know what to make of it. I was a little skeptical at first. I thought perhaps that there was a new editing software that was creating the effect.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

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Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


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Specs, features, underwater video, test images and overview of the new Fantasea UWL-09F wide angle wet lens
By Chino Mendoza

In Review: Fantasea UWL-09F Ultra Wide Angle Wet Lens

Chino Mendoza
Specs, features, underwater video, test images and overview of the new Fantasea UWL-09F wide angle wet lens

We have known Fantasea to be a producer of quality underwater housings, lenses, lights and accessories.  Recently, released their new macro lenses (UCL-05F +6 lens, UCL-06LF +12 lens and UCL-09F +12.5 super macro lens) and now Fantasea has released their new high quality wide angle wet lens, UWL-09F.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chino Mendoza , is an avid diver and underwater photographer and tries to go everytime he can.  He is based in Manila which is a few hours Anilao which is the “critter capital of the Philippines”  He likes to shoot macro and his favorite subjects are nudibranchs and frogfishes.

Get in touch with him via email at lorenzo@bluewaterphotostore.com

View Chino's work:  Facebook     |     Instagram

ALSO BY CHINO MENDOZA

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Specs and comparisons of the Fantasea and AOI high-quality UCL-06 and UCL-09 macro lenses
By Chino Mendoza

Guide to Fantasea AOI Wet Lenses

Chino Mendoza
Specs and comparisons of the Fantasea and AOI high-quality UCL-06 and UCL-09 macro lenses

Fantasea has been known to produce quality underwater housings, lenses, lights and accessories. Recently, they have annuounced that they have colaborated with AOI and will be releasing their new macro lenses.  These lenses are designed to be produce sharp and detailed images which would give the photographer a great experience.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chino Mendoza , is an avid diver and underwater photographer and tries to go everytime he can.  He is based in Manila which is a few hours Anilao which is the “critter capital of the Philippines”  He likes to shoot macro and his favorite subjects are nudibranchs and frogfishes.

Get in touch with him via email at lorenzo@bluewaterphotostore.com

View Chino's work:  Facebook     |     Instagram

ALSO BY CHINO MENDOZA

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Aquatica revamps macro port, extensions, and flip adapter as a complete system to support their +5 and +10 supermacro diopters
By Brent Durand

Aquatica Releases ACU Macro System

Brent Durand
Aquatica revamps macro port, extensions, and flip adapter as a complete system to support their +5 and +10 supermacro diopters

Aquatica has been making moves for macro photographers, and today they announce the Aquatica Close Up System. The ACU system consists of the full Aquatica macro and supermacro system, including recently redesigned elements, grouped together as a complete compenent set.

Reviews: 

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Detailed review and image quality inspection of the Nauticam SMC diopter
By Scott Gietler

Nauticam SMC Review

Scott Gietler
Detailed review and image quality inspection of the Nauticam SMC diopter

The Nauticam SMC (super macro converter) is a very popular wet diopter for magnifying the smallest underwater critters.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Scott Gietler is the owner of Bluewater Photo, Bluewater Travel, and the Underwater Photography Guide. Bluewater Photo, based in Culver City, CA is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious underwater camera stores, serving many thousands of customers each year, where nothing is more important than customer service. The Underwater Photography Guide is the world’s first website to feature free tutorials on underwater photography, and has become the most trafficked resource on underwater photography worldwide. Bluewater Travel is a full-service dive travel wholesaler sending groups and individuals on the world’s best dive vacations. 

Scott is also an avid diver, underwater photographer, and budding marine biologist, having created the online guide to the underwater flora and fauna of Southern California. He is the past vice-president of the Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society, has volunteered extensively at the Santa Monica aquarium, and is the creator of the Ocean Art underwater photo competition, one of the largest underwater international photo competitions ever held in terms of value of prizes. He lives in California with his wife, newborn girl and scuba-diving, photo taking 4 year old son.

Follow Scott on Facebook or Instagram.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Sample Photos Comparing Magnification of both Stacked Diopter Options
By Brent Durand

Nauticam SMC + Multiplier vs. SubSee 10 + 5

Nauticam SMC + Multiplier vs. SubSee 10 + 5 Diopters
Brent Durand
Sample Photos Comparing Magnification of both Stacked Diopter Options

We've just come across some very interesting photos shot by EunJae Im that compare the most popular wet diopter options in macro photography these days. EunJae has compared not just the base diopters, but the stacked combinations as well.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brent Durand is a weekend wanderer and story teller from California.

Brent is an avid diver and adventure photographer, and shoots underwater any time he can get hands on a camera system. He can be reached at brent@uwphotographyguide.com.

Follow Underwater Photography Guide on Facebook or Instagram.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


By Scott Gietler

SubSee Wet Diopter Review

SubSee Adapter and Diopter Review
Scott Gietler

The SubSee diopter, by ReefNet, is a wet diopter used for supermacro underwater photography. The adapter holds the diopter in front of the lens port, very close to the port but not touching it.

 

 

The diopter (aka SubSee Magifier) and adapter can be purchased separately, but they are often purchased together. The company has plans to offer other diopters of less strength that can be used in the same adapter. Some people have made their own adapter for the diopter.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Scott Gietler is the owner of Bluewater Photo, Bluewater Travel, and the Underwater Photography Guide. Bluewater Photo, based in Culver City, CA is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious underwater camera stores, serving many thousands of customers each year, where nothing is more important than customer service. The Underwater Photography Guide is the world’s first website to feature free tutorials on underwater photography, and has become the most trafficked resource on underwater photography worldwide. Bluewater Travel is a full-service dive travel wholesaler sending groups and individuals on the world’s best dive vacations. 

Scott is also an avid diver, underwater photographer, and budding marine biologist, having created the online guide to the underwater flora and fauna of Southern California. He is the past vice-president of the Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society, has volunteered extensively at the Santa Monica aquarium, and is the creator of the Ocean Art underwater photo competition, one of the largest underwater international photo competitions ever held in terms of value of prizes. He lives in California with his wife, newborn girl and scuba-diving, photo taking 4 year old son.

Follow Scott on Facebook or Instagram.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.