Was hoping to hear more regarding how eliminating the adapter would help overcome some of the barrel distortion associated with the other housing. Not having purchased any lenses yet, I'd still welcome using the newer housing. Is there any differences between the s90 and s95 in the lens department? Other than a few tweaks and HD video, thought they were the same.
The adapters for the FIX housings present or future have nothing to do with "barrel distortion" on these cameras. The barrel distortion in both the S90 and S95 is a consequence of the fast f2.0 lens and optical design issues that were easier (cheaper, lighter, smaller) to address via a software fix than an optical one. The jpeg software in the camera corrects the barrel distortion and the Canon DP software corrects it from the RAW files. Other programs like PS have similar capabilities.
There are essentially two types of lenses, rectilinear which yield straight lines as straight lines and fisheye lenses which yield straight lines as curved. In fact, by definition a fisheye lens such as the UWL-04 or Tokina 10-17 will have barrel distortion.
In a rectilinear lens, barrel distortion is corrected either by optical design or with digi cams, software. In any case, this has nothing to do with the adapters for the FIX housings or any other housing type.
Barrel distortion with fisheye type lens on S90, distance about 18 inches:
Without fisheye type lens, distance about six to eight feet:
Plenty of barrel distortion, shooting here the Inon UFL165AD:
These photos from my lens tests posted in the "Great Summer Wet Lens Shootout" thread.
I do not believe, after actually comparing the two cameras, that there is any significant change to the lens or operation of the lens of the S95 vs the S90. Any changes would be software related.
If the 52mm threaded section is part of the port and cannot be removed this will result in:
1. shadowing using the internal flash that does NOT occur with the FIX90.
2. Inability to use wide angle lenses other than the UWL-04.
N