GEAR TESTS: BACKSCATTER M52 WIDE ANGLE LENS FOR OLYMPUS TG-5

Video Overview

Jim Decker CEO: Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo

The new Backscatter M52 Wide Lens was developed specifically with the TG-5 in mind. It has a max angle of coverage of 120 degrees with sharp corners and no vignetting when the zoom on the camera is at full wide. The camera can be partially zoomed to get a tighter shot without having to remove the lens. As with any thread-on wide-angle lens, the dome shade needs to be lined up after installation. The dome shade has the perfect balance of tension to prevent it from rotating after installation. 

I shot a variety of shots with this new lens. I was able to get closer to wide-angle scenes to get more light from my strobes and increase contrast in wide angle video shots by being closer to my subjects. Since water filters out light, getting closer to your subject will increase the clarity and contrast of the image.

The size of the lens tends to be a bit smaller than some of the other wide-angle lenses on the market for the TG-5 making it easy to pack. With the sharp corners and partial zoom through, the Backscatter M52 Wide Lens makes a perfect companion for the TG-5.

DYLAN SILVER Backscatter Team Member

We've been hunting for a great wide-angle option for the Olympus TG-5 since that camera's release. We've tried several different versions of wet optics, and we couldn't find one that hit the nail on the head. So, we designed our own.

The Backscatter M52 Wide Angle Lens is meant for beginner and intermediate shooters who want to use their TG-5 to shoot large animals and big scenes. It's easy to use and tack sharp. Just thread the 52mm threads onto the front of your housing, spin the shade so it's vertical and start shooting. While other lenses require the user to zoom in or unscrew screws to make adjustments, the M52 is ready to shoot right out of the box. And, it comes with a solid carrying case. 

The M52 essentially doubles the field of view of the Olympus TG-5 camera. With high quality optical glass, it jumps the camera's native lens, which clocks in around 60-degrees underwater, all the way to 120 degrees. For beginner shooters, we've found this is an ideal width for getting close to your subjects. Keep in mind that shooting a wider scene requires more light! We highly recommend using top-level strobes like the Sea & Sea YS-D2s with this lens. 

ROBIN DODD Producer

Our newest Backscatter accessory, the M52 Lens, is a super simple yet hugely impactful optic that pairs well with the most popular underwater compact camera in the world, the Olympus TG-5. This lens is the perfect compliment to any compact camera that uses a 52mm threaded port on its housing, but the Olympus TG-5 is the most common currently produced camera where that will apply. By threading on this lens you can expand the camera's field of view out to 120 degrees. This is not quite fisheye-wide, but it is still wide enough for large subjects and opening up the opportunity for entirely new shooting styles with your camera. For those of you TG-5 shooters who have already mastered macro and are looking for a new challenge, pick up this lens and starting thinking WIDE!

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