Shooting Nauticam's Forthcoming MFO-3: A Field Review in the Red Sea

As underwater photographers, we're always on the lookout for that one piece of gear that can elevate our work, and every once in a while, something truly special comes along. In a recent episode of The Underwater Photography Show, Alex Mustard and co-host Matthew Sullivan discuss Alex’s recent experience with Nauticam's latest innovation: the Midrange Focus Optimizer, or MFO-3. This isn't just another lens; it's a creative tool that fundamentally changes how you can approach macro photography.

The MFO-3: A New Way to See Macro

The MFO-3 is a wet lens that attaches to the front of your macro lens underwater. Its most compelling feature is its ability to transform a traditional long macro lens (think a 90mm, 100mm or 105mm) into roughly a 50mm equivalent. This is particularly relevant for full-frame mirrorless cameras, where shorter macro lenses are often not available. This lens allows you to get incredibly close to your subject while maintaining a broader field of view, giving you the best of both worlds. The result is wide-angle macro shots with a sense of place and context that a typical macro lens simply can't achieve [1:50].

First Impressions and Practical Tips

My time shooting with the MFO-3 in the Red Sea was eye-opening, discovering that this lens gives you the flexibility of effectively having two macro lenses with different focus lengths on the same dive [5:05]. I lent the lens around to several people on my workshop and everyone got along with it straight away with no learning curve. The lens’s optical quality is top-notch, delivering razor-sharp images even at the edges.

An initial concern when first seeing the lens was its substantial size. However, we show in the video, the weight distribution is excellent. All the weight sits at the back of the lens, with a large air space toward the front element. This makes it nearly neutral underwater and surprisingly comfortable to handle.

Image Quality

The big question: how does it compare to dedicated shorter macro lenses? Corner sharpness tests show impressive results. The MFO-3 performs significantly better than shorter macro lenses behind flat ports and approaches the quality of those same lenses behind curved ports – which is the current gold standard for corner sharpness.

Comparisons With and Without the MFO-3

In the video, we show several images taken both with and without the MFO-3 in position. The side-by-side comparisons really tell the story. The difference isn't marginal – it's a complete transformation of the image. You're getting genuinely different photographic opportunities with the same subject, not just a slightly wider view.

Lighting Advantages

One of the most compelling aspects of using a wider macro lens is the lighting flexibility it provides. As demonstrated with these stonefish and moray shots, being able to get closer to subjects while maintaining a wider field of view allows for much more creative lighting approaches, including dramatic inward lighting that makes subjects pop from their backgrounds.

Limitations to Consider

The MFO-3 isn't perfect. There are focus limitations when shooting subjects at greater distances – like a green turtle that was too far away for the lens to achieve focus. This is inherent to the macro focus optimization, but it's worth noting for situations where you might encounter larger subjects during macro dives.

There's also a slight exposure shift of about two-thirds of a stop brighter when using the lens, though this is easily manageable with aperture adjustments.

Who Should Consider the MFO-3?

If you're a Canon, Sony, or Nikon shooter with only one macro lens, the MFO-3 offers excellent value compared to purchasing a second macro lens, new port, and associated gear. Even for photographers who already own multiple macro lenses, the convenience of having both focal lengths available on every dive is compelling.

Final Thoughts

After extensive testing, the verdict is clear: this is a lens I (Alex) won't dive without anymore. Even if used for just one shot per dive, it's worth bringing along. The MFO-3 successfully addresses the long-standing desire for a macro zoom lens underwater, giving us the flexibility to shoot big subjects wide and small subjects tight without changing gear.

While my testing was primarily on Red Sea reefs (where the 90mm was often preferred), I’m particularly excited to test the MFO-3 in muck diving environments and blackwater photography – the applications that originally inspired me to request this lens from Nauticam.

The MFO-3 represents a genuine innovation in underwater macro photography. For the first time, we have a practical solution to the macro zoom question that's been debated for years. It's not just an alternative lens – it's a game-changing tool that expands creative possibilities on every macro dive.

Want to see all of Alex's test shots and hear more details about the MFO-3's performance? Watch our full discussion at the episode below.