Nauticam WWL (Wet Wide Lens)

Manufacturer: Nauticam Type: wet-mount wide-angle conversion lens Designer: Edward Lai (Nauticam founder) Products: WWL-1 (2015), WWL-C (2020), WWL-1B (2021) Price range: $1,035 (WWL-C) to $1,465 (WWL-1B) Field of view: ~130 degrees with compatible lenses

Overview

The Nauticam WWL (Wet Wide Lens) is a family of water contact wide-angle conversion lenses designed to be attached and removed underwater. Unlike the larger, dry-mount WACP (Wide Angle Corrector Port), the WWL is wet-mountable — photographers can add or remove it during a dive, switching between wide-angle and close-up/macro shooting without surfacing. This makes the WWL particularly popular with travel photographers who need a compact, versatile wide-angle solution that fits in a BCD pocket.

The WWL uses computer-aided lens design software to create an underwater-specific corrective optic that accounts for water contact, minimizing the optical errors inherent in traditional dome ports. The result is approximately 130 degrees field of view with full zoom-through capability — photographers can go from reef scenic to fish portrait without removing the lens ([1]).

The WWL family sits below the WACP in Nauticam’s optical hierarchy: smaller, lighter, less expensive, and easier to travel with, but with slightly less optical correction (the WACP provides 4 f-stops of corner sharpness improvement over dome ports; the WWL provides less). The trade-off is portability and flexibility versus absolute optical performance.

Products

WWL-1 (2015)

The WWL-1 was Nauticam’s first commercial water contact optic, introduced at DEMA 2015. Nauticam’s Chris Parsons described it as “a breakthrough lens” — an underwater optic designed from the ground up with water contact to minimize errors seen in all underwater lenses ([2]).

Key specifications:

The WWL-1 worked with compact cameras, Micro Four Thirds (with Panasonic or Olympus 14-42mm power zoom lenses), APS-C mirrorless, and full-frame mirrorless systems. On the Sony a7R with Sony 28mm lens, it provided a semi-fisheye view with what Nauticam considered the best close-focus wide-angle performance available ([3]).

A critical requirement: the behind-lens must be at 28mm equivalent or narrower. At 24mm (the widest setting of most compact cameras), the WWL-1 vignettes — users must zoom in slightly to 28mm before attaching the lens ([4]).

WWL-C (Wet Wide Lens Compact) — 2020

Announced at DEMA 2019 and shipping in July 2020, the WWL-C solved the vignetting limitation of the WWL-1 on compact cameras. Designed specifically for cameras with 24mm-equivalent lenses, the WWL-C works at 24mm without needing to zoom in, making more of the camera’s zoom range available ([5]).

Key specifications:

The WWL-C was the most affordable entry point to Nauticam’s water contact optics. It was smaller and lighter than the WWL-1 while maintaining the same 130-degree field of view and zoom-through capability ([6]).

Compatible systems included:

([7])

WWL-1B — 2021

The WWL-1B was the next generation of the WWL-1, featuring the same optics but with practical improvements for underwater use. Shipping in January 2021, it included an integrated aluminum buoyancy collar to make it nearly neutral in water, a hard front cover, and used the updated Bayonet Mount II system ([8]).

Key specifications:

Nauticam described the WWL-1 and WWL-1B as “the highest quality wet-changeable underwater wide-angle conversion optics ever made, featuring unmatched contrast, overall sharpness, corner sharpness, and clarity” ([9]).

The WWL-1B was frequently paired with Sony’s compact FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 lens, particularly on the Sony a7C, creating a compact travel-friendly wide-angle system. This combination became one of the most popular travel setups in the Wetpixel community ([10]).

How It Works

Versus Dome Ports

Traditional wide-angle underwater photography uses a dome port — a curved glass or acrylic hemisphere that creates a virtual image the camera lens then photographs. Dome ports introduce several compromises: corner blur (especially on full-frame sensors with rectilinear lenses), the need for very small apertures (f/14 or higher) for acceptable edge sharpness, and limits on minimum focus distance. As Alex Mustard explained, the bottleneck to underwater image quality is “not the water itself, but the barrier between the air inside the housing and the water beyond” ([11]).

The WWL takes a fundamentally different approach: instead of correcting for the dome-water interface, it uses multi-element glass designed specifically for the water-to-air transition, calculated using computer-aided lens design software with the specific light dispersion properties of water factored in ([12]).

Versus the WACP

The WACP is Nauticam’s flagship water contact optic — a dry-mount sealed lens-port combination that provides approximately 4 f-stops of improved corner sharpness over dome ports. The WWL provides less optical correction but offers key practical advantages:

FeatureWWL-1BWACP-1WACP-C
FOV130°130°130°
Mount typeWet (removable underwater)Dry (sealed port)Dry (sealed port)
Weight in air~1.35 kg~3 kg (7 lbs)Lighter than WACP-1
Price$1,465$3,250$3,283
Corner sharpness gainModerate~4 f-stops~3 f-stops
Split shots (over-under)DifficultNot possible (WACP-1)Not possible
Macro switchingYes (remove underwater)No (fixed port)No (fixed port)

The WWL is the choice for travel photographers, those who want to switch between wide and macro on a single dive, and those with smaller budgets. The WACP is the choice for maximum optical quality, particularly for high-resolution sensors (40+ MP) and video shooters who benefit from shooting at wider apertures ([13], [14]).

Optical Character

The WWL produces a mild barrel distortion — not a true fisheye but noticeable if straight lines are placed in certain parts of the frame. Community member ChrisRoss noted that the 130-degree diagonal FOV corresponds to approximately 107 degrees horizontal and 70 degrees vertical, equivalent to a 13mm rectilinear lens on Micro Four Thirds. The distortion is “nowhere near what you get from a fisheye lens, but still noticeable” ([15]).

A significant limitation compared to dome ports: split shots (over-under/half-and-half) are very difficult with the WWL because the optic must be submerged to function correctly. Users report that over-under coverage is “so-so” and requires being “really quick” ([16]).

Compatible Systems

The WWL requires a specific behind-lens focal length to avoid vignetting:

Full-frame mirrorless (WWL-1B):

Micro Four Thirds (WWL-C or WWL-1B):

Compact cameras (WWL-C):

Third-party housing compatibility: The original WWL-1 with M67 thread mount works with non-Nauticam housings that have M67 threaded ports, including SeaFrogs housings. However, the WWL-1B and WWL-C use Nauticam’s Bayonet Mount II system, which does not fit on most third-party ports ([18]).

Bayonet Mount System

The WWL introduced Nauticam’s bayonet mounting system for wet optics:

Original Bayonet Mount (2015): Featured large holes for venting air between port and lens, attached to M67 threaded ports with a supplied tool. Used by WWL-1, SMC, and CMC ([19]).

Bayonet Mount II (2020): Introduced alongside the WWL-C as the new standard. One-direction backwards compatibility: original bayonet mount optics work with new Bayonet Mount II adapters, but newer optics (WWL-C, WWL-1B) are not compatible with original Bayonet Mount accessories ([20]).

Third-party manufacturers including Saga Dive produced adapters expanding WWL compatibility to non-Nauticam housings ([21]).

Community Reception

Travel Photographers

The WWL became the de facto wide-angle solution for underwater travel photography. Forum user tmxdiver captured the typical use case: “I do a lot of deep diving, wreck penetration, exploration of new sites, etc. so I will take a smaller footprint system (WWL-C, a6400) when I do those types of dives. When I know I’m going to photograph something specific or I want the higher resolution for the ability to crop, etc I’ll take the a7rIV and WWL1-B” ([22]).

WWL-C vs WWL-1B Debate

A recurring community discussion centered on which WWL to choose. The general consensus was “you get what you pay for” — the WWL-1B was optically superior but the difference was difficult to notice in practice for most users. The physical size was a more practical differentiator: the WWL-C paired better with smaller APS-C and compact housings, while the WWL-1B suited full-frame housings. Users upgrading from MFT to full-frame were often advised to buy the WWL-1B upfront as a future-proof investment ([23]).

Vignetting and Troubleshooting

A common user issue was vignetting — dark corners in images. This typically resulted from not zooming to 28mm before use (on WWL-1/1B), or from disabled lens distortion correction revealing the optical edges in post-processing. Community member interceptor121 noted that “the WWL-1 already vignettes with the Sony 28-60mm on the Nauticam housing once you switch distortion correction off” — the setup was at its optical limits ([24]). Forum user insomniac and others consistently reminded newcomers that the WWL-1 required zooming to 28mm first ([25]).

Limitations Acknowledged

Community members noted two primary limitations versus dome ports:

  1. No split shots: Over-under photography is very difficult or impossible because the optic must be submerged to function ([26])
  2. Not truly rectilinear: The barrel distortion means it is “somewhere between a fisheye and super wide rectilinear lens” rather than a pure rectilinear optic ([27])

Timeline

References

Wetpixel Live

Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2015: Wetpixel Reports Live From Dema 2015 ↩
  2. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2015: Wetpixel Reports Live From Dema 2015 ↩
  3. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2015: Wetpixel Reports Live From Dema 2015 ↩
  4. Forum thread: Nauticam Wwl 1 Vignette ↩
  5. Wetpixel article, Jul 2, 2020: Nauticam Ships Wwl C ↩
  6. Wetpixel article, Jul 2, 2020: Nauticam Ships Wwl C ↩
  7. Wetpixel article, Jul 2, 2020: Nauticam Ships Wwl C ↩
  8. Wetpixel article, Jan 24, 2021: Nauticam Ships Wwl 1b ↩
  9. Wetpixel article, Jan 24, 2021: Nauticam Ships Wwl 1b ↩
  10. Wetpixel article, Jan 24, 2021: Nauticam Ships Wwl 1b ↩
  11. Wetpixel article, Sep 28, 2017: Review Nauticam Wide Angle Corrector Port ↩
  12. Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2018: Show Report Adex 2018 By Drew Wong ↩
  13. Wetpixel article, Sep 28, 2017: Review Nauticam Wide Angle Corrector Port ↩
  14. Wetpixel article, Aug 14, 2022: Nauticam Announces Wacp C ↩
  15. Forum thread: Advice Sought On Wwl C And Wwl 1b Options ↩
  16. Forum thread: Best Wide Angle Solution For Sony Ff ↩
  17. Forum thread: Seafrogs Nauticam Wwl Or Something Else ↩
  18. Forum thread: Seafrogs Nauticam Wwl Or Something Else ↩
  19. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2015: Wetpixel Reports Live From Dema 2015 ↩
  20. Wetpixel article, Jul 2, 2020: Nauticam Ships Wwl C ↩
  21. Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2021: Saga Ships New Adaptors ↩
  22. Forum thread: Advice Sought On Wwl C And Wwl 1b Options ↩
  23. Forum thread: Advice Sought On Wwl C And Wwl 1b Options ↩
  24. Forum thread: Seafrogs Nauticam Wwl Or Something Else ↩
  25. Forum thread: Nauticam Wwl 1 Vignette ↩
  26. Forum thread: Best Wide Angle Solution For Sony Ff ↩
  27. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2015: Wetpixel Reports Live From Dema 2015 ↩
  28. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2015: Wetpixel Reports Live From Dema 2015 ↩
  29. Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2019: Report Dema 2019 ↩
  30. Wetpixel article, Jul 2, 2020: Nauticam Ships Wwl C ↩
  31. Wetpixel article, Jan 24, 2021: Nauticam Ships Wwl 1b ↩
  32. Wetpixel reports live from DEMA 2015 (article) ↩
  33. Report: DEMA 2019 (article) ↩
  34. Nauticam ships WWL-C (article) ↩
  35. Nauticam Ships WWL-1B (article) ↩
  36. Review: Nauticam Wide Angle Corrector Port (article) ↩
  37. Show Report: ADEX 2018 by Drew Wong (article) ↩
  38. Saga ships new adaptors (article) ↩
  39. Nauticam Announces WACP-C (article) ↩
  40. Advice sought on WWL-C and WWL-1B options (forum) ↩
  41. Nauticam WWL-1 Vignette (forum) ↩
  42. Seafrogs + Nauticam WWL or something else (forum) ↩
  43. Best Wide Angle solution for Sony FF? (forum) ↩
  44. Wetpixel Live Ep. 156: Wide Angle Macro Tools for Underwater Photographers (unknown) ↩