Basic Dome Kit — Optical-Glass Dome + Pro Housing System

Outex Basic Dome Kit — Optical-Glass Dome + Pro Housing System

The Outex Basic Dome Kit combines the patented Outex Pro Cover, rear glass, and your choice of 120mm or 180mm optical-glass dome port with the appropriate adaptor or clamp for underwater and split-level (half-over, half-under) photography. The correctly fitted and fully sealed system is waterproof to 10 metres / 33 feet.

Like your camera, Outex is a system of interchangeable, compatible, modular parts that work together. Covers and ports can be configured as your needs evolve. Select the cover, lens fitting, dome size, and accessory openings appropriate to your equipment rather than assuming every setup uses identical parts.

Select your cover size, dome size, and strap preference using the product options before adding the kit to your cart. To leave sizing questions or special instructions, add the kit to your cart and enter them in the cart’s order-note field before checkout. You can always contact our support team if you have questions. Include your camera body, exact lens model, chosen dome size, and intended use so we can help confirm the configuration.

What’s Included

1. Outex Pro Cover — patented, malleable, tactile-rich outer housing
2. Rear glass with universal tripod mount attachment
3. Optical-glass dome of the size you specify (120mm or 180mm diameter)
4. The appropriate dome adaptor or clamp for your lens and chosen dome size

Unlike the Pro Dome Kit, the Basic Dome Kit does not include a flat front port. Straps are included only when you select the “With Straps” option; they are not included with “No Straps.” Additional components can be purchased separately from our Parts collection.

Camera Pro Kit Features

• Configurations for virtually all camera brands and body types
• Front dome and rear optical-glass ports
• Tactile access to camera and lens controls through the cover
• Viewfinder and LCD viewing through the rear glass port
• Upgradeable with appropriate Outex add-ons for tripods, lighting, triggers, tethering, and more
• Waterproof to 10 metres / 33 feet when correctly fitted and sealed
• A modular system used by photographers and filmmakers worldwide since 2010

Dome Adaptors & Clamps — Fit Your Exact Lens

Threaded dome adaptors match a lens’s accessible filter-thread diameter, not its focal length. Dome clamps attach around the lens barrel when front threads are unavailable or unsuitable. A clamp can also be useful on a threaded lens whose front thread is occupied by a filter. Confirm the exact lens design, barrel dimensions, and clearance rather than assuming all fisheye, hooded, or curved-front lenses use the same fitting.

You can purchase additional dome adaptors and/or clamps from Parts as your kit grows. Retain the optical-glass dome and change the less-expensive lens-specific fitting when needed. The fitting anchors and positions the dome around the lens. The 120mm and 180mm domes use different attachment systems, so confirm compatibility with both your exact lens and dome size. For zoom lenses, allow for movement throughout your intended range.

Discover Outex

Choose cover size using the complete camera and lens dimensions, including any zoom extension or battery grip. Focal length alone does not determine physical fit. Ask support if you are unsure which option to select.

Facts About Dome Ports

• Made using optical glass — not plastic or acrylic
• Work with prime and zoom lenses using the appropriate adaptors or clamps
• Available in 120mm and 180mm dome diameters; these numbers describe the dome, not lens focal length

A lens with usable front filter threads can use a dome with an appropriate adaptor; domes are not reserved for unthreaded lenses. Where a curved front element or an obstructive, nonremovable hood prevents flat-port attachment, confirm the suitable dome-clamp configuration with support.

Dome vs. Flat Ports — Which Is Right for Your Shot?

Domes are particularly useful for wide-angle underwater scenes and split-level compositions, helping preserve the underwater field of view compared with a flat port. The focal length shown in the comparison identifies the example photographs, not a recommended focal-length limit. All Outex ports, including domes, are made of optical glass.

Compatibility and Gradually Diminishing Optical Benefit

Outex domes work with any lens using the appropriate dome adaptors or clamps and do not introduce distortion at any focal length. Their curved shape is designed to complement the broad field of view of wide-angle lenses, which derive the greatest optical benefit from the dome.

As focal length increases and the field of view narrows, the lens looks through a smaller area near the center of the dome, gaining less benefit from its curved surface. The benefit therefore diminishes gradually as focal length increases. There is no recommended focal-length number or cutoff, and diminishing benefit does not mean added distortion.

Water clarity, lighting, shooting distance, and the lens’s own optical characteristics can affect the image. These factors should not be confused with distortion introduced by the port being used. Focus and fitting clearance also matter; fisheye rendering and vignetting caused by an obstruction are separate from dome-introduced distortion.

Does an Outex dome introduce distortion with longer-focal-length lenses?

No. Outex domes do not introduce distortion at any focal length. Wide-angle lenses gain the greatest optical benefit; that benefit gradually diminishes as focal length increases because the lens looks primarily through the center of the dome.

Outex dome ports come pre-packaged in a neoprene protective case. The system is modular — use a dome or an appropriately matched flat port according to your shot and configuration. A longer focal length does not require switching to a flat port to prevent dome-introduced distortion. Learn more in our Questions/FAQ pages, including this entry on dome advantages.

Dome Port Benefits Summary

• Wide-angle and split-level compositions: dome curvature offers its greatest optical benefit with broad fields of view.
• Choose dome size for your setup: compare composition, split-level waterline handling, lens focusing requirements, fitting, weight, and portability. The 180mm offers a larger dome surface; the 120mm is more compact. Neither size is automatically the best choice for every lens or image.
• No focal-length cutoff: benefit diminishes gradually as focal length increases, without added distortion. Choose your lens for the desired composition and account for water clarity, lighting, and subject distance.
• Optical glass: all Outex ports and domes use American or European-made optical glass. Consider port design, fitting, care, and handling alongside material when evaluating results.
• Reuse your dome: add the appropriate lens-specific adaptor or clamp as your kit grows, matching both the lens and dome size.
• Practical port choice: flat ports can be smaller and lighter for rain, mist, or above-water shooting. Outex flat ports have an oleophobic and hydrophobic coating to help manage water adhesion. Learn more in our water-droplet guide.

More detail is available in the Questions section of our website.

10 Reasons Photographers and Cinematographers Choose Outex

The patented Outex system has been used by photographers, filmmakers, production professionals, and outdoor creators since 2010. Its modular approach lets you configure the system around your equipment and intended use.

1. Optical-Glass Ports and Domes

Outex uses optical-glass ports and domes rather than acrylic, with tactile access to camera and lens controls through the cover. Image sharpness, color, and field-of-view coverage also depend on the lens, focus, water conditions, and correctly selected fittings; glass alone does not eliminate every source of aberration or vignetting.

Big-wave surfing photograph by @Fred Pompermayer in Hawaii.

2. Camera Compatibility: Film, DSLR, Mirrorless & Cinema

Outex supports virtually all camera brands and body types with an appropriate configuration — DSLR, mirrorless, medium format, cinema, and film. Examples include Canon, Sony, Nikon, Leica, RED, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, and Lumix, with lenses from these and other makers such as Tamron and Sigma. Confirm the parts for your complete setup.

Adventure photographer @Paul Toma — split-level jellyfish photo near Maldives.

Professional commercial photographer @Damon Loble on set in Los Angeles, CA.

3. Waterproof to 10 Metres

The correctly fitted and sealed system is rated to 10 metres / 33 feet. It can also protect equipment from rain, spray, sand, and dirt during above-water activities. Configure accessory openings and seals for your intended use. It is not a rigid impact-protection case. Learn more about the depth rating.

Commercial photographer @Sarah Lee exploring the coral reef in Hawaii.

4. Ergonomic and Tactile

Operate buttons, dials, and switches through the flexible cover, with viewing through the rear glass. Touchscreen operation depends on the device and technique; ask support about your camera’s requirements. Outex’s patented approach keeps controls in their familiar positions rather than relocating them to external housing levers.

Award-winning photography team Ric Lewis and designer Kayla Douglas — underwater portrait photoshoot.

5. Modularity and Accessory Support

Configure your system for flash, strobes, remote triggers, domes, monitors, filters, or underwater tethering with the appropriate accessories. Accessories shown in examples are not necessarily included in this kit. Visit Accessories to explore kits and bundles.

6. A Community of Working Professionals

Explore real-world use, stories, and advice on our Blog, News, Reviews, Questions, and Ambassador pages.

7. Lightweight and Portable

The flexible cover and modular components pack compactly for travel, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, and other outdoor shoots. Protect optical-glass components in their cases during transport and account for the weight and size of your complete configuration.

8. Long-Term Value Through Reuse

Modularity lets you retain useful components as your equipment changes, adding covers, fittings, or accessories as needed rather than automatically replacing the whole housing system. Compare the complete setup and current prices for your intended use.

The comparison graphic contains historical pricing and generalized comparisons, not a current quote. Refer to current product options for pricing. The Outex depth rating is 10 metres / 33 feet; the graphic’s 35-foot conversion is incorrect.

9. Creative Flexibility

Choose ports, fittings, and accessories around the images you want to make, with tactile control and viewing through the rear glass. Confirm the complete configuration and operating limits before use.

10. A Supportive Global Community

Photographers, filmmakers, adventurers, and creators share tutorials, reviews, and inspiration. Browse the FAQs, the blog, or the Ambassador pages. You can always reach out to our support team with questions about fitting, setup, or use.

Ready to Configure Your Kit?

Select your cover size, dome diameter, and strap preference above. Confirm the fitting for your exact lens, and add the kit to your cart when ready. For sizing questions or special instructions, use the cart’s order-note field before checkout, or contact our support team.

Shipping Information

• Shipping worldwide since 2010
• Automated checkout calculates shipping costs based on your cart, destination, and selected service
• Order confirmation email sent immediately after purchase
• Tracking number emailed when your order ships
• We usually ship within 48 hours

We do not profit from courier services — shipping costs are dynamically calculated based on weight, destination, and service selection.

Questions before you buy? Contact us — we’re happy to help. Not satisfied with your purchase? Review our return policy for full details.