511 replies to this topic

[Phil Rudin]

I was able to use that same trick with several of my Olympus cameras like the E-3 but the E-M5 does not have a built in flash so that trick won't work.

Regarding the EVF I have used the NEX-7 with the pickup finder on the Nauticam housing and could see a bit better than many of the APS-C DSLR's because the OLED finder is bigger. I find the sensor on the E-M5 to be about the same because of the 4:3 aspect ratio. The E-M5 sensor looks as tall in the viewfinder it is just not as wide.

Phil Rudin

[Deep6]

I was able to use that same trick with several of my Olympus cameras like the E-3 but the E-M5 does not have a built in flash so that trick won't work.

Phil Rudin

Doh (blush)!

Phil,
Thanks for the feedback.
Bob

[Phil Rudin]

Another thing I like about this housing is what appears to be a new approach to pricing by Nauticam started I believe with the $1200.00 Panasonic NA-GX1 housing and now the $1350.00 NA-EM5 housing. This beings the housing cost more in line with the pricing of the cameras.

Phil Rudin

[dsbierman]

Although I don't know who makes/sells it, I'm pretty sure there's a port adapter for 4/3rds to m4/3rds. Can anyone help me with this? Assuming it exists, would it be compatible with the Nauticam housing, so I could use my 4/3rds glass? Thx, David

[Deep6]

Although I don't know who makes/sells it, I'm pretty sure there's a port adapter for 4/3rds to m4/3rds. Can anyone help me with this? Assuming it exists, would it be compatible with the Nauticam housing, so I could use my 4/3rds glass? Thx, David

There are several [e.g. google 4/3 to m4/3 adapter]. Check with Nauticam before you buy.

Bob

[Phil Rudin]

If you are talking about adapting the 4/3 lenses to the M43 cameras, Olympus has two. Adding Ports designed for housings for the Olympus DSLR's from Olympus, SeaTool and Nexus is a different issue. Over twenty five ports exist for use with 4/3 lenses in DSLR housings. An adapter is made to attach these ports to at least some of the Olympus branded M43 housings and Olympus will have one for their E-M5 housing. Not sure how this issue will be handled for Nauticam housings but it would be worth asking.

P.S. The popping up of the flash has been passed on to Nauticam and a workaround is being considered.

Phil Rudin

Edited by Phil Rudin, 27 June 2012 - 01:45 PM.

[oskar]

Now the penny dropped for me. This is a game changer, isn't it? This means nauticam system camera housings housings are in Ikelite territory. (Albeit mirrorless)

Another thing I like about this housing is what appears to be a new approach to pricing by Nauticam started I believe with the $1200.00 Panasonic NA-GX1 housing and now the $1350.00 NA-EM5 housing. This beings the housing cost more in line with the pricing of the cameras.

Phil Rudin

[Glasseye Snapper]

For me it is a game changer. I have used Ikelite housings so far and think they are great if your diving frequency or budget put traditional aluminum housings out of reach. But now you can have a Nauticam housing at comparable price. Even if it is a few hundred more than the Olympus housing, once you add up the cost of lenses, strobes, focus lights, the extra money is well spend. I'll be waiting for a wetpixel review of this housing but expect that unless an even better system comes along before my next trip this is going to be the upgrade for me.

Bart

[bkkchriss4]

Curious to see this housing next to a 7D or similar housing to see the size difference - I know its smaller of course but with that detachable flash it looks pretty big.

I am still getting one though!

[Akoni]

...But now you can have a Nauticam housing at comparable price....

Depending on whether or not you already have the appropriate ports, it will, more or less, distance itself further price-wise.

[Glasseye Snapper]

It depends on how many ports you need and if they are the more expensive dome ports. There are also adapters to fit ports from your previous system.

I am surprised that the flat port line up has none listed for the 17 - 30mm prime lenses. I had expected at least one for the popular 20mm F1.7 pancake from panasonic which would also fit the Oly 17mm F2.8. There is a very compact port for the Sony NEX housings, would that one also fit on the M43 housings?

Bart

[Phil Rudin]

Akoni,

Since the referance was to the cost difference between an Ikelite housing and the Nauticam NA-EM5 housing the cost of the new ports will need to be made since Iklite will not be making a housing for the Olympus E-M5.

Glassseye,

The only port adapters Nauticam makes at this time are for the DSLR housings not the mirrorless housing unless of course you count the adapter for the Nikonos lenses.

Nautican makes a 3.5 inch port for the Panasonic 14mm pancake, since all of the pancakes focus to around 20CM I think they would all work with that port.

All of the Nauticam ports for mirrorless cameras have the same mount and so would be interchangable between camera brands. Like the Sony 30mm macro port which is the same port as the panasonic 45mm macro port.

Phil Rudin

Edited by Phil Rudin, 30 June 2012 - 09:44 AM.

[Glasseye Snapper]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for clearing up my mistake regarding adapters. The Sony 16mm pancake lens is 22.5mm long and has a port for it. The 17mm Oly pancake is 22mm long so may work with that. The Panasonic 20mm is 25.5mm long so not sure if it will still fit. I agree that your dome suggestion would likely work but I rarely shoot WA so hope to make do without any dome ports, at least in the beginning.

Bart

[Phil Rudin]

Regarding the Olympus PT-E08 housing for the Olympus E-M5 camera Olympus Japan has posted the attached system chart for the E-M5 housing, http://www.olympus.c....tem_ptep08.pdf

It includes eight lenses (three are the 14-42 versions) listed to work with the stock PPO-EP01 port which unlike the PEN housings port has only one O-ring. No new gears are listed for the 45 F/1.8, 75mm F/1.8, 12-50 kit zoom or the coming this year 60mm macro. So the answer to will they fit the port is yes, the answer to can they take advantage of all the controls is NO at this time.

The Euro/British Pound based Olympus web sites still have the housing listed for around $1350.00-$1394.00 US.

Phil Rudin

[Conny3479]

Hi,
any news or some reviews about the Nauticam housing??
Can't wait to make photos with this camera underwater :-)

cheers,
Conny

[Alex_Tattersall]

The Nauticam NA-EM5 housing should start shipping this coming weekend.

[jlyle]

The Nauticam NA-EM5 housing should start shipping this coming weekend.

Apparently, not in the US. I got a call, yesterday, not to expect the housing until after the 25th. Unfortunately, I leave for Mexico on the 28th and it's unlikely I'll have the new system to play with.

Edited by jlyle, 12 July 2012 - 05:56 AM.

[Phil Rudin]

Olympus today released a firmware update (v.1.2) for the E-M5 when used in underwater mode with the 12-50 power zoom lens. In the U/W wide angle mode the lens will auto zoom to 12mm and when placed in the U/W macro mode the lens zooms to 50mm. This will allow those using the lens without a gear to get to both ends of the zoom range. It does not appear from the press release that you can get into the macro mode with this update. At 50mm close focus gives you an image area of about 1:4, in a 35mm equivalent V. about 1:1 in the macro mode. Still this will allow the lens to be used in the standard Olympus port or with the Nuaticam housing in both W/A and closeup on the same dive without a gear.

Also it does NOT appear that the standard flat port is included with the PT-E08 housing but is an add-on.

Phil Rudin

Edited by Phil Rudin, 12 July 2012 - 10:55 AM.

[Akoni]

....or with the Nuaticam housing in both W/A and closeup on the same dive without a gear.

Also it does not appear that the standard flat port is NOT included with the PT-E08 housing but is an add-on.

Phil Rudin

Phil,

Which Nauticam port can accommodate the 12-50 or are you referring to the upcoming port?

Tony

[Phil Rudin]

Well if the Olympus port for the 14-42 zoom will fit the 12-50 zoom I would assume that the Nauticam port for the 14-42 zoom would do the same.

A new Nauticam port is being released for the 12-50 which will allow you to push the macro buttom on the lens and also zoom through the complete zoom range with the proper gear.

Phil Rudin

Edited by Phil Rudin, 12 July 2012 - 10:54 AM.