AOI UWL-03II Wide Angle Lens for Action Cameras and Smartphones

AOI Underwater Wide Angle Converter Lens 0.73X Mark II for Action Cameras and Smartphones (Black)

Action cameras and camera phones face challenges caused by both humans and nature. For example, underwater housings manufactured for action cameras or camera phones often use a flat port design, which results in image distortion such as curved or soft edges when used underwater.

A typical action camera produces a wide-angle view and can focus on anything that is far enough away. But it is precisely this feature that prevents the camera from getting closer, which is almost a mantra for underwater photos or videos. Similarly, the underwater environment poses a whole range of challenges such as light loss, color loss, diffusion, refraction, and much more.

Water conditions such as turbidity or currents can affect the clarity of the image or video. To overcome or reduce the effects of these challenges, it is often enough to simply get closer to the subject.

With the new UWL-03 Mark II, a typical action camera can get up to four times closer to the subject. Simply attaching the underwater lens to an action camera or camera phone eliminates the distortion caused by the flat connection of an underwater housing. When used with camera phones, functions such as macro or ultra-wide angle can be used underwater. The lens corrects distortion and restores the field of view lost underwater.

Many professional photographers emphasize the importance of being close to the subject, but often require special equipment to do so. Now, water lovers equipped with only an action camera or camera phone can get closer and achieve consistently better results.

There are undoubtedly numerous advantages to getting closer:

• Getting closer reduces the number of particles between the subject and the camera. This improves the clarity of images or videos.
• Getting closer reduces light scattering through water. Colors restored by the use of external light sources become more vivid and saturated.
• Getting closer makes subjects appear larger on the screen. Small subjects are now more clearly visible.
• Getting closer makes the action clearer. There is no need to search for the subject.
• Getting closer increases stability and reduces the likelihood of motion blur.

Getting closer was not the only design criterion. It was equally important to find a way to attach the lens to the many different types of housings for the various devices.

The mounting solution had to be robust yet easy to use. The lens will be equipped with the QRS-02 mounting system. Based on the highly successful AOI Quick Release System, the Q2 uses a bayonet-style mount that is easy to attach underwater and is secured with a locking mechanism. Another advantage of the Q2 is that it is compatible with lenses that use a similar and popular bayonet mechanism. This offers the user more flexibility and choice.

The lens is also lightweight and compact. The aim is to reduce drag and improve hydrodynamics. You should still be able to move freely – attaching an underwater lens should not result in bulky and unwieldy equipment.
 

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Model: AOI UWL-03 Mark II
• Description: 0.73X underwater wide-angle converter lens for action cameras and smartphones
• Lens construction: 4 elements in 4 groups
• Lens coating: Glass lens elements with multi-layer AR coating,
• front lens made of polycarbonate with hard coating
• Field of view: 140° (underwater) / 150° (on land)
• Magnification: 0.73x (underwater)
• Mounting system: With AOI Quick Release System- 02 (QRS-02).
• Lens with pre-installed QR2 mount (compatible with the most common AD mount)
• Optional mounting adapter available in M55, M52, and M46
• Depth rating: 60 meters / 200 feet
• Lens barrel/lens hood material: Aluminum alloy with black hard anodized coating/polycarbonate
• Weight (on land/underwater): 364 g (on land)/164 g (underwater)
• Dimensions: 99 mm (D) x 40.3 mm (H)
• Accessories: Neoprene dome cap (DHC-02), rear lens cap (QRS-02-RC1), lens safety strap, lens pouch