Zen Underwater
Type: Dome port and optics manufacturer Founded: ~2008 (UK); Ryan Canon (Reef Photo & Video) had “a major hand” in founding Key products: DP-100 mini dome, DP-230 glass dome, DP-170 dome
Overview
Zen Underwater is a manufacturer specializing in high-quality glass dome ports and optical accessories for underwater photography housings. First shown at LIDS (London International Dive Show) March 2008 by Ryan Canon of Reef Photo & Video, featuring dome ports with interchangeable housing adapters. ([1]) The company gained a strong reputation in the Wetpixel community for producing precision dome ports compatible with major housing systems including Nauticam, Olympus, and others.
Zen ports are referenced in numerous Wetpixel gear reviews, particularly for wide-angle and fisheye lens combinations. Their glass domes offered superior optical quality compared to acrylic alternatives, and their compatibility work — especially with the Canon 8-15mm fisheye zoom — was closely followed by the community.
Product timeline
- 2010-07: Releases dome port for Olympus PEN E-PL1 housing — early mirrorless dome solution. ([2])
- 2011-09: Updates dome compatibility information for Canon 8-15mm fisheye zoom — a critical lens for UW wide-angle work. ([3])
- 2012-10: Announces support for Olympus EP08 housing system. ([4])
- 2013-09: DP-100 mini dome featured in Canon EOS 6D + Nauticam NA-6D field review. ([5])
References
Sources
- Forum thread: Lids Informal Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 3, 2010: Zen Release Dome For Olympus Pen E Pl1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Zen Update Dome Compatibility For Canon 8 15mm ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 13, 2012: Zen Underwater To Support Olympus Ep08 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 22, 2013: Field Review Canon Eos 6d Na 6d Housing And Zen Dp 100 Port ↩
- Zen dome for Olympus PEN (article) ↩
- Canon 8-15mm compatibility update (article) ↩
- Olympus EP08 support (article) ↩
- Canon 6D + Zen DP-100 field review (article) ↩