Introduction

If you've ever tried swapping a macro or wide-angle wet lens in the middle of a dive, you'll know the struggle. Wet lenses are either screwed on or completely off — and doing that underwater with gloves on, in surge, while trying not to lose a $400 lens into the blue, is nobody's idea of fun. That's where quick release adapters come in.

Quick release systems let you click a wet lens on and off with one hand — no threading, no fumbling. You drop in at the dive site with your wide-angle lens locked on, pop it off when you find a nudibranch, click the macro on, shoot, then swap back. It takes seconds and works reliably even with thick dive gloves.

One of the most common questions we get at UWA is from Olympus/OM System TG-7 owners — arguably the most popular compact camera in the underwater photography world — who want to add a wide-angle wet lens to their housing setup but still be able to remove it easily between dives or when shooting macro. The TG-7 pairs with several housings (including the OM PT-059, Isotta, and Weefine options), and each has compatible quick-release solutions that make lens swapping simple, in or out of the water. In this guide, we'll walk through the main quick-release options from the leading brands — Weefine, INON, AOI, and Backscatter — so you can find exactly what fits your TG-7 (or compact camera) housing and lenses.

 

How Quick Release Systems Work

A quick release system has two core parts:

The Mount Base (or Adapter)

This attaches to your camera housing or dive case and stays in place for the whole dive. Think of it as the anchor point. These are camera-specific, so you'll need to match the right base to your exact dive housing.

The Lens

Your wet lens (wide angle or macro) has a corresponding bayonet or locking mechanism that clicks straight into the mount base. No threading required.

On compact camera housings, most systems use a standard 52mm or 67mm threaded interface, which means a wider range of lenses can work across different housings.

Weefine Quick Release Adapters

For compact cameras in a housing, the Weefine system also includes M52 & M67 threaded options to fit a range of standard housings. A combination of the following parts turns your housing and lens into a quick-release compatible setup.

M52 Threaded Port Mount 

M67 Threaded Port Mount 

Click on the chart to see more

 

INON Quick Release (ZD Mount System)

For the popular PT-059 housing designed for the OM TG-7 camera and housings using a 67mm port thread, Inon has their XD Mount. The newly developed "XD Mount" enables one-touch lens attachment and removal. By attaching the XD Mount on a housing, you can attach and remove a compatible XD Mount lens easily, securely and quickly. Inon also has a lens holder for the XD Mount in M5, a cold shoe mount and dedicated mounts for the Inon Float arms. 

For the Olympus TG6/7 in the OM PT-059 Housing, Inon suggests the following mount and lens options.

For housings using a 67mm port thread, Inon suggests the following mount and lens options.

Click on the chart to see more

 

AOI / Backscatter & Fantasea Quick Release Adapters For Compact Cameras

AOI: For compact cameras in the OM System TG-7 with PT-059 housing, AOI offers the Wide Angle Air Lens (M52 Mount) and — in combination with the Backscatter and Fantasea systems — further options for wide and dome-port configurations.

Backscatter: On compact cameras using the TG-7 + PT-059 housing, Backscatter teams up with Fantasea and AOI for wider options, including the Fantasea UWL-400Q / AOI UWL-400A Wide Angle Lens. For divers who want quick-release functionality with this lens, the system uses:

Click on the chart to see more

Need Help Choosing?

Not sure which quick release setup suits your camera and housing? Our team has been helping underwater photographers get the right gear for over 20 years. We carry the largest range of wet lenses and accessories in Australia, with stock on hand and free shipping Australia-wide.

Reach us via LiveChat at underwater.com.au, give us a call, or browse our full range of quick release adapters and wet lenses online.