Ultra wide angle circular fisheye lenses are some of our favorites to shoot underwater. This type of photography that is so popular for DSLR and mirrorless cameras has been largely unrepresented in the world of compact cameras. With the Olympus FCON-T02 Fisheye Converter Lens and Dome Port # 64361, the Olympus Tough TG-6 camera turns into a powerful wide angle system capable of spectacular close focus wide angle and over-under (half-in, half-out of the water imaging).
The FCON-T02 is waterproofed to 65.6 ft (20 m) and nitrogen filled to prevent fogging. The fisheye converter threads into the CLA-T01 adapter (included with the lens) which attaches by bayonet to the front of the TG-6 camera. The lens can be used above and below water for a fisheye effect. Using it behind a dome port allows you to take it deeper, and makes over-under photography possible.
The dome port replaces the standard flat port and is waterproofed by o-ring seal to the front of the housing. The dome port can also be used without the FCON-T02 lens attached to the camera. There may be additional reflections when shooting towards bright light (like the sun) but won't adversely affect use of the cameras super macro microscope mode.
Read more: First Look Olympus Tough TG-6 and FCON-T02 Circular Fisheye Lens
All shots were taken using:
- Underwater Housing for Olympus Tough TG-5, TG-6 # 6233.06
- Olympus Tough TG-6 camera
- Olympus FCON-T02 Fisheye Converter Lens with CLA-T01 Adapter
- Dome Port for Olympus FCON-T02 # 64361
- (2) DS160 Strobes # 4060US
- (2) RC1 TTL Receivers # 4412
- (2) Fiber Optic Cords # 4501
- (2) Compact Ball Arm # 4080.05
The next few shots were taken by Caitlin Hale in Bonaire. Caitlin teaches photo courses daily with the Olympus Tough TG-6 camera and underwater housing.
The following shots were taken by Mike Rabideau in Bonaire. Mike has been with us for over 30 years, and recently moved from supervising DSLR housing production to managing customer experiences.
Full wide angle at 25mm equivalent • ISO 100 • f/8 • 1/30
Zoomed to 58mm equivalent • ISO 100 • f/14 • 1/60
Zoomed to 54mm equivalent • ISO 100 • f/13 • 1/50
Zoomed to 54mm equivalent • ISO 100 • f/13 • 1/50
Zoomed to 100mm • ISO 100 • f/6.3 • 1/100
Full wide angle at 25mm • ISO 100 • f/8 • 1/30
These photos were taken in Ambassador Steve Miller's Backyard Underwater Photo Studio and our local dive destination, the Philips Outdoor Center in beautiful Muncie, Indiana. If we can get results like these in the midwest while the algae is in bloom, we know you can get some pretty spectacular images in the better known dive destinations around the world.
Full circular fisheye effect when the camera is set to full wide angle • ISO 100 • f/8 • 1/80 • 4.5mm (24mm in 35mm equivalent)
Over-under shots like this would be almost impossible without the dome port even in very still water • ISO 100 • f/13 • 1/100 • 9.01mm (51mm)
ISO 100 • f/13 • 1/160 • 9.01mm (51mm)
ISO 100 • f/13 • 1/125 • 9.01mm (51mm)
ISO 400 • f/13 • 1/80 • 9.65mm (55mm)
ISO 200 • f/13 • 1/80 • 9.01mm (51mm)
You can see the Snell's Window effect in the surface water indicative of shooting with a fisheye lens • ISO 400 • f/13 • 1/80 • 9.01mm (51mm)
ISO 100 • f/4.5 • 1/250 • 9.65mm (55mm)
ISO 400 • f/13 • 1/80 • 9.01mm (51mm)
Fish portraits and tighter images are still possible when shooting with the lens attached. • ISO 100 • f/3.2 • 1/50 • 9.01mm (51mm)
Products Used
Additional Reading
First Look Olympus Tough TG-6 and FCON-T02 Circular Fisheye Lens
RC1 TTL Receiver for DS Strobes & Olympus TG-5 Camera Review
Olympus Tough TG-5 Underwater Photos
How to Shoot Split Shots (Half-In, Half-Out of the Water)
Close Focus Wide Angle In Depth
Snell's Window: A Wide Angle Photography Effect
