Bayonet Systems and Wet Lenses

Over the last year or so at Sea Tech, we've noticed underwater brands like Nauticam and Fantasea are increasingly encouraging people into their bayonet systems. These are by no means a new technology - INON has been offering a bayonet-style lens known as AD or LD alongside its traditional screw lenses for yonks.

At first glance, these bayonet systems seem to offer a little convenience for a lot of money. But as we're increasingly realising, a good bayonet system can actually end up saving you money.

How is a bayonet system better than screws?

1. Ease of Use

We'll begin with the obvious: It's easier to use. Especially underwater. Simply put if, you want to switch out wet lenses underwater (which, let's be honest, is one of the core benefits of wet lenses over dry ones) a bayonet system will make that whole job easier. Converting to a full bayonet system of port, lens and lens holders is the way to go here. Having some bayonet and some screw will ultimately defeat your purpose.

If you've ever struggled with a fiddly screw on land, then under water it will undoubtedly be a harder task. If this describes you, bayonet fittings might just be your solution.

The simplicity of bayonet systems is such an enormous selling point that the other big benefit is actually hardly ever discussed.

2. Save our screws

We talked about how screws can be fiddly, especially underwater. The truth is that accidents happen. That's right, I'm talking about crossing threads. If you accidentally cross a thread once, it's typically something that's going to happen again - and get worse every time you mount that wet lens onto your housing. And while repairs on lenses with crossed threads are possible, it can be expensive, and that's time that you don't have your lens. All for something that is easily prevented.

Bayonets save our screws.

This Nauticam video demonstrates the ease of use of bayonets.

Bayonet systems

1. Nauticam

If you're using a Nauticam housing and lenses then go for the Nauticam Bayonet system.

In most cases, you'll require two adapter parts to get yourself a working system, one that attaches to the wet lens, and one that screws into the housing or port for M52, M67 and M77 (depending on if you're using a compact or interchangeable lens camera). Please double check to see if your Nauticam lens already comes with the bayonet adapter as some do - for example the WWL-1, and the WWL-C is bayonet only.

There are a range of bayonet lens holders available. There are parts that integrate with the INON LD system as well as INON float arms.

Watch this video if you're looking for a demo of installation!

2. Fantasea

If you're not using Nauticam or INON, this is the one we'd probably recommend for most people.

Anyone with a port that's M52 or M67 can use this, especially with macro, and it's more affordable than Nauticam. (The reason we say "especially macro" is that Fantasea have made some specific fittings for some of their wide-angle lenses like 09F and 09Pro, so if you're trying to fit a wide-angle lens, give us a shout and we can make sure we sell you the right adapter that will fit onto your wide-angle lens).

3. INON

The original. While INON does make adapters so you can use their screw lenses with bayonet, the best way to go is the AD/LD lenses themselves. These are attached using a Lens Adapter Base or Mount Base. If you've already got some INON AD/LD lenses, you can mix and match with Nauticam using the Nauticam adapters. If you're all in on INON (that wasn't meant as a pun, I swear) then this is the way to go.

Happy to help.

Need anything? You can find us over at our website! Email or call, we're happy to help!

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