News

In the middle of 2020, while the rest of us were holed up at home, trying to avoid the once-in-a-lifetime viral pandemic, Nauticam quietly rolled out a contraption that looked more like it belonged on a launchpad than mounted to the front of an underwater housing—the Extended Macro Wide Lens. It was long and pointy, it had loads of bits and pieces, and it promised never-before-seen images. The only problem was, we were all holed up at home, trying to avoid the once-in-a-lifetime viral pandemic…

Fast-forward to 2023, the bug is in retreat, and it’s all about Nauticam’s curious bugeye lens, which is finally getting into the hands of underwater photographers. Indeed, some shooters have already managed to claim some satisfying wins with images flaunting the EMWL’s unique distorted perspective. But if you’re still wondering what exactly this newfangled device is, how it works, and how you use it, Backscatter’s latest video review will fill in all the blanks.

After giving the EMWL a thorough workout, Backscatter CEO Jim Decker joins Media Producer Robin Dodd for an engaging chat about the wet lens, breaking down its various parts and discussing the different mounting and lighting options. Jim talks us through a few of the fantastic images he captured and explains exactly how he shot them, as well as showing how the lens gives videographers some inspiring new perspectives to tell their stories. Despite one or two minor downsides (like being just a bit nose-heavy), the EMWL certainly seems to have impressed the Backscatter boys, and there’s little doubt that we’ll be seeing much more of the “out there” perspectives from Nauticam’s futuristic lens. (For one thing, keep an eye out for DPG’s own review of the EMWL in the coming weeks.)

Watch the video below or head over to Backscatter to check out the review and all the various purchasing options.