Nauticam Compact Macro Converter 1

New Nauticam CMC-1 Wet Diopter Specifically Designed for Compact & Mirrorless Cameras
By UWPG News

Nauticam previewed their Compact Macro Converter 1 (CMC-1) at DEMA this past November (2014), and the new diopter is now available. This macro wet diopter is optimized for use with compact and mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, providing the magnification needed to shoot the smallest critters on your dive trips.

The CMC-1 provides more magnification than the SMC with all compatible compact camera systems for which it was designed.

This lens will be a great addition to the kit of all compact and mirroless shooters and is now available at Bluewater Photo.

 

CMC-1 Availability:  Limited Quantities Available Now

Model #:  81301

MSRP:  $320 USD

 

-> Order your CMC-1 through Bluewater Photo

-> View CMC Camera / Lens compatability Charts

-> Skip down to sample photos

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

Announcing Compact Macro Converter 1

A Newly Engineered Macro Accessory lens for Compact, Mirrorless, and More!

 

Nauticam is pleased to officially unveil the second installment of a growing family of optical products, CMC-1.  The CMC is an extremely powerful super macro accessory lens optimized for use with both fixed lens compact and mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras.

 

Smaller, Lighter, Stronger

While the Nauticam Super Macro Converter (SMC) design inspired the development of the Compact Macro Converter, the new lens is actually more powerful.  The CMC provides more magnification than SMC with all compatible compact camera systems for which it was designed.  

As expected, the CMC  provides more magnification than any compact camera tested can achieve on its own, and does so with improved working distance.  This combination makes CMC ideal for tiny, skittish subjects.  Using the popular RX100 Mk III as an example, CMC-1 results in a magnification of 2.3X the smallest subject the camera is capable of photographing with no accessory lens (34.5mm v 80mm), and it does so with 1.4X the working distance (56mm v 80mm).  Results with the new Canon G7X are even more stunning, providing 3.0X magnification at approximately 2.4X the working distance. To achieve the same image sizes with sealed magnifying lenses +15 Diopter or stronger would be required, but no +15 Diopter lens can match the overall image quality of CMC-1. All while maintaining the smallest size and weight possible; a real plus for photographers in and out of the water.

 

Breakthrough Lens Design

Prior to the development of the Nauticam accessory macro conversion lenses, achieving “super macro” underwater meant using tools that were designed for in air use. These tools simply do not take into account the physics of shooting in water. Thanks to Edward Lai, Managing Director of Nauticam, the CMC takes a radically different approach: hundreds of engineering hours utilizing computer software to model a lens that complements an entire system - camera, lens, port, air, and water – as a whole. This accounts for the critical air-water interfaces in a conversion lens design to achieve the best image quality possible. The improvements are stunning, measurable and a new standard in underwater macro imaging has been established with the Macro Converter family.

 

Uncompromised Optical Quality

The Compact Macro Converter is constructed from lenses precision crafted of specially formulated low dispersion optical grade glass, ground to the most demanding standards. This means greater sharpness and contrast on every shot and extraordinary resolution rivaling a macro lens used in air. Broadband anti-refective coatings effectively reduce common optical issues such as chromatic aberrations, coma, spherical aberration, and field deformation associated with underwater macro photography using traditional magnifying lenses. This means superior light transmission, accurate color and no distortion and vignetting in the most demanding situations.  These exceptional optics are assembled in a rugged hard anodized aluminum housing, and nitrogen purged during assembly to eliminate fogging.

 

“Very impressive sharpness throughout the usable range on both the G7X and RX100 Mk III that I used it with. Impressively strong magnification in a compact unit.”

-Dr Alex Tattersall

 

Stunning Magnification

The CMC is compatible with a variety of camera systems, but the most impressive increase in magnification comes when paired with the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens for Micro Four Thirds Systems.  This combination achieves a 2:1 reproduction ratio.  This translates into an image 8.5mm X 6.3MM, and one of the most powerful macro imaging systems available in the market today.

 

“Clarity of IQ speaks for itself. The perfect high quality complement to the high quality sensors in today’s compact cameras."

-Dr. Alex Tattersall

 

Optimized for Autofocus

By utilizing a specially developed algorithm in the optimization process, the CMC renders superior image quality over the full focusing range of the camera lens.  This, combined with the high brightness and contrast of the image, allows the autofocus system of the camera to work well - often better than less powerful close focus lenses. Just as important are the out-of-focus (Bokeh) portions of the image that exhibit the same creamy smooth quality that photographers appreciate when shooting macro in air - all without color fringing common to traditional magnifying lenses.

 

Avoiding Diffraction

Due to the overall superior optical performance and precision focus of the CMC it is possible to shoot larger apertures with excellent image quality.   This avoids reaching the diffraction limit of high resolution sensors, and allows selective focus effects with narrow depth of field in super macro images.

 

Also Compatible with Nikon AF-S 60mm Macro

While designed with compact cameras in mind, compatibility with larger formats has proven to be possible in some cases.  Nikon AF-S 60mm Macro (not compatible with the earlier SMC-1) provides 1.5 : 1 Reproduction Ratio when with combined CMC-1.  Image quality is excellent, even when used with full frame systems. This combination is extremely versatile, covering fish portraits, 1:1 macro, and now 1.5:1 super macro on the same dive!

 

Mounting, and Using the CMC

The Compact Macro Converter ships with the common 67mm threaded lens mount.  CMC-1 is has a protruding rear lens element, designed to place the  accessory optic as close to the camera lens port as is possible, providing the best overall image quality when used with flip lens adapters.  A flush mount adapter ring is used when attaching CMC-1 directly to an underwater housing, and is included with the lens.

Flip lens holders, available to suit most Nauticam housings and lens ports, provide the fastest and most convenient lens mount possible.  The lens is always threaded in place, and available to be “flipped” down as needed.

Recommended Compact Cameras

 

Native Lens

with CMC

Camera

Min Focus Dist.

Image Width (W)

Min Focus Dist. (T)

Image Width (T)

Magnification

Working Distance Increase

Sony RX100M2

40 mm

75 mm

65 mm

27 mm

2.8 X

1.6 X

Sony RX100M3

40 mm

80 mm

56 mm

35 mm

2.3 X

1.4 X

Canon S120

16 mm

48 mm

52 mm

20 mm

2.5 X

3.3 X

Canon G16

10 mm

30 mm

59 mm

19 mm

1.6 X

5.9 X

Canon G7X

23 mm

68 mm

56 mm

23 mm

3.0 X

2.4 X

Panasonic LX7

16 mm

52 mm

52 mm

27 mm

1.9 X

3.3 X

Panasonic LX100

16 mm

74 mm

74 mm

32 mm

2.3 X

4.6 X

Recommended Interchangeable Lens Systems

 

Native

with CMC

Micro Four Thirds

Format Width

Image Width

Working Distance

Image Width

Reproduction Ratio

Working Distance

Olympus

M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 EZ power zoom (43mm Macro Mode)

17 mm

34 mm

73 mm

20 mm

0.9 : 1

14 mm

Olympus

M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 EZ power zoom (50mm)

17 mm

83 mm

286 mm

21 mm

0.8 : 1

48 mm

Olympus

M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Lens

17 mm

62 mm

197 mm

21 mm

0.8 : 1

41 mm

Olympus

M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Ver. II R (42mm)

17 mm

70 mm

211 mm

22 mm

0.8 : 1

41 mm

Olympus

M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens

17 mm

17 mm

98 mm

9 mm

2.0 : 1

22 mm

Panasonic

Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. Lens

17 mm

17 mm

71 mm

11 mm

1.6 : 1

17 mm

Panasonic

Lumix G Micro 4/3 LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm / F2.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. Lens

17 mm

17 mm

71 mm

11 mm

1.6 : 1

17 mm

Panasonic

Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 (42mm)

17 mm

98 mm

307 mm

24 mm

0.7 : 1

49 mm

 

Sony E Mount

Sony

E 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS E-Mount Zoom Lens

24 mm

75 mm

175 mm

27 mm

0.9 : 1

37 mm

Sony

E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS E-mount Power Zoom Lens

24 mm

92 mm

256 mm

26 mm

0.9 : 1

46 mm

Sony

FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Full-frame E-mount Zoom Lens

36 mm

>150 mm

>350 mm

30 mm

1.2 : 1

54 mm

Zeiss

Touit 50mm Macro

24 mm

23 mm

54 mm

16 mm

1.5 : 1

10 mm

 

Nikon F Mount

Nikon

Micro-Nikkor AF-S 60mm f/2.8G ED

36 mm

36 mm

47 mm

24 mm

1.5 : 1

10 mm

 

 

Recommended Accessories


Nauticam 

p/n

Item

25101

Flip Lens Holder for M67 Macro Ports

25103

Flip Lens Holder for M77 Macro Ports

25104

Flip Lens Holder for Nauticam Flat Port 72

25105

Flip Lens Holder for Nauticam 4" Wide Angle Port

25107

Flip Lens Holder for NA-LX100 Standard Port

25511

67mm Lens Holder: For mounting a 67mm threaded accessory lens on a Nauticam strobe arm

25513

67mm Double Lens Holder: For mounting two 67mm threaded accessory lenses on a Nauticam strobe arm

Details and Specifications

  • Depth Rating:  60m
  • Weight: .26 kg
  • Dimensions: Diameter 70mm x Length 34mm

Model Number: 81301
USA Retail Price: $320
Available Now in Limited Quantities

 

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More Sample Photos Shot with the CMC-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to check out the Nauticam CMC-1 Compact Macro Converter on Bluewater Photo.

 

Further Reading

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