News
Backscatter has released the M52 Wide Angle Air lens, their newest accessory for the Olympus Tough TG-5. With its 52mm threaded mount, the wet lens works with various housings for the TG-series cameras, including those by Olympus and Isotta.
The “Air” lens is a slimmed down version of Backscatter’s M52 Wide Angle Wet lens released last year, and is built using similar materials: black anodized aluminum alloy for the barrel and hood, polycarbonate for the dome, and optical glass elements with multi-layer anti-reflection coatings. But where the earlier lens extended the TG-5’s field of view from 60 degrees to a full 120 degrees to allow users to capture big wide-angle scenes, the new M52 Wide Angle Air lens provides a more moderate though still much more usable 81 degrees of coverage—essentially restoring the camera’s topside field of view underwater. Backscatter says the attachment produces sharp corners and no vignetting, and also improves image clarity, sharpness and contrast.
According to Backscatter, due to its moderate angle of coverage, the “Air” lens can simply be left on your TG-5 housing all the time whilst diving. This includes macro dives, because of the TG-series cameras’ ability to get very close to small subjects via their unique Microscope mode. Weighing just 0.7oz (20g) underwater and measuring 4.75" x 1.33" (120mm x 34mm), the M52 Wide Angle Air lens is lighter and less bulky than its big brother, the M52 Wide Angle Wet lens.
Shipping now, the new lens is priced at $150. For a detailed look at the M52 Wide Angle Air lens, with side-by-side comparisons with the M52 Wide Angle Wet lens, check out Backscatter’s product overview.
When purchasing underwater photography equipment like the products mentioned in this article, please support DPG by supporting our retail partner—Backscatter.com.
RELATED ARTICLES
LATEST EQUIPMENT
GoPro HERO13 Black | Seacam Housing for Sony a9 III | Nauticam NA-Z6III | Ikelite Housing for Canon EOS R5 II | Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF-1 |