79 replies to this topic

[guyharrisonphoto]

Here is the proof: 24x35 reproduction. Full-on 1:1 in 35mmm format. Just AMAZING.

Hey Ryan, your crew at REEF is the best! I could not be happier with the system and the time they took (hours) to put it all together for me in the store.

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[Numbat]

I just did a quick test with the 12-50mm and my Subsee and found I got LESS macro magnification with the lens's macro mode i.e. 43mm (example a, below) then I did without access to the macro mode, but with the lens zoomed to 50mm and my Subsee in front (example b, below).

That is quite interesting Alex. It also confirms what Guy found. I can't understand how the Olympus got the specs wrong.

May I ask what was the distance between front glass to subject with 12-50mm zoomed at 50mm with the diopter on. Though I have an Inon 6x so my get different distance)

[Deep6]

This post refers to a commercial post that has now been deleted-Admin

Thanks for the link Manfred. I got bogged down trying to estimate the least cost shipping to Colorado in the USA. Do you have a rough guess for the cost? Does a non EU buyer pay the tax (VAT)?
Regards,
Bob

[derway]

This post refers to a commercial post that has now been deleted-Admin

I would plunk down for the nauticam gear, if it supported manual zoom. But it is only motorized zoom.

Does the new gear support manual zoom? For sure?

What ports does it work in?

What ports support the 12-50 in full wide angle mode, and full tele mode?

Good news I hope.

[guyharrisonphoto]

For 12-50 wide, the only port that will support 12mm is the dedicated 12-50 port, or maybe a long semi-dome such as the port for the Oly 9-18 zoom (have not tested that, though). A 67mm flat port will vignette. Any port that supports the wide angle should support the tele so that is no issue.

I would buy the 12-50 port, but not the gear if you can't handle the power zoom and don't want access to the macro feature. However, please see my post above. To get the manual zoom gear, a diopter, and flip adapter (all of which are needed to have the versatility of the lens with the dedicated port/gear package), you are going to be paying more than the 12-50 port and gear package.

Still, if you start with the port only, you can also use the 60mm macro, and you can always add the gear later (or not) if you wish.

[Alex_Mustard]

I ordered one of the gears from Austria. I'll report on how it works when it arrives. And assuming it is here in time, be able to try it in Cayman next week.

Alex

[derway]

Which ports and lenses will you be using Alex?

[Karl]

Oliver,

Here are a couple of photos from the dives on the weekend with the 60mm lens in the Nauticam housing.

The Seahorse is the one we saw on the ropes at the Rockingham Wreck Trail:



The second one is from the Ammo Jetty from yesterday's dive:



For both dives the vis was about 3m with lots of silt and floaty bits in the water - so I think the camera and lens did okay under the circumstances.

Karl

[guyharrisonphoto]

Here are a couple with the pany 45mm in a nauti port. This was the very first (and only) dive I have had the chance to make. All of these were shot at the Blue Heron Bridge and all the subjects were about 1" to 3" in size. There is a garden eel, mantis shrimp, seaweed blenny, and hermit crab.

Glad to be finally contributing some shots!

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[Jock]

If you have a look at the recent posts and views in this forum, the Oly OM-D is really HOTTER THAN HOT! What a shame that there are only two housings on the market... At the Photokina I asked Rolf Sempert from Subal if they have a housing in the pipeline, the answer was no. Of course there are soooo many new cameras every 6 months or so, and no manufacturer can hold up, but it seems that many of them miss a big opportunity.

Back to the topic: Mumbat, at the Photokina I held the Olympus and the Nauticam housing physically in my hands. There is a saying that you get what you pay for, but here it is wrong: With the Nauticam you get more and with the Oly you get much (!!) less than what you pay for!

If you cannot afford the Nauticam right now, save some more money and wait - you will not not regret it.

Jock

[deepbluemd]

Like Alex, I'm thinking about ordering a D&D 12-50 Oly zoom gear for the Nauti housing as well. My rationale is that while I'm predominantly a dedicated WA (Pan 8mm) or Macro shooter (oly 60mm), there may be times I'll be interested in trying the 12-50, and yet I'm not really intrigued enough to drop $800 on the complex Nauti port. I've watched the video that accompanies the assembly, and all the screws and complexity of it made me even less inclined to go that route. On the other hand, a digi dive 12-50 zoom gear, that would fit inside my 60 mm macro port, and let me shoot the 12-50, seems both economical while at the same time offering flexibility. Given that the 12-50 is fun to shoot topside, there wouldn't be as much hassle getting it in and out of a zoom port, and I actually like how fast it autofocuses. Plus I've seen some nice shots taken with it, and it could be fun to take down when you have absolutely no idea what you're gonna see. For others similarly interested, the price is 79 Euros at unterwasser kamera (no sales tax for shipping stateside), but 30 Euros for shipping. With current conversion rates, thats about 142 bucks. Not bad for being able to house that lens.....provided that it works.

[Deep6]

Like Alex, I'm thinking about ordering a D&D 12-50 Oly zoom gear for the Nauti housing as well. My rationale is that while I'm predominantly a dedicated WA (Pan 8mm) or Macro shooter (oly 60mm), there may be times I'll be interested in trying the 12-50, and yet I'm not really intrigued enough to drop $800 on the complex Nauti port. I've watched the video that accompanies the assembly, and all the screws and complexity of it made me even less inclined to go that route. On the other hand, a digi dive 12-50 zoom gear, that would fit inside my 60 mm macro port, and let me shoot the 12-50, seems both economical while at the same time offering flexibility. Given that the 12-50 is fun to shoot topside, there wouldn't be as much hassle getting it in and out of a zoom port, and I actually like how fast it autofocuses. Plus I've seen some nice shots taken with it, and it could be fun to take down when you have absolutely no idea what you're gonna see. For others similarly interested, the price is 79 Euros at unterwasser kamera (no sales tax for shipping stateside), but 30 Euros for shipping. With current conversion rates, thats about 142 bucks. Not bad for being able to house that lens.....provided that it works.

I believe Dr. Mustard is the guinea pig

Bob

[Numbat]

Oliver,

Here are a couple of photos from the dives on the weekend with the 60mm lens in the Nauticam housing.

The Seahorse is the one we saw on the ropes at the Rockingham Wreck Trail:

Karl

Cheers Karl. Looking great. Can't wait to get mine. I ordered the OM-D Panasonic 45mm and two new strobes (Sea & Sea YS-01) with the TTL and focus lights. This Saturday after the dive I'll get the Nauticam housing and port. Also new tray and arms. Big credit card dent for sure......

It should be a huge improvement over the G12, and the crappy stiff Fantasea arms.

[Numbat]

Here are a couple with the pany 45mm in a nauti port.

How did you find focusing? Unlike the Olympus 60mm it doesn't have a focus limiter to macro only and am worried it will hunt a bit in close ups.

[Alex_Mustard]

the Oly OM-D is really HOTTER THAN HOT! What a shame that there are only two housings on the market... At the Photokina I asked Rolf Sempert from Subal if they have a housing in the pipeline, the answer was no.
There is a saying that you get what you pay for, but here it is wrong: With the Nauticam you get more and with the Oly you get much (!!) less than what you pay for!

My understanding is that Subal would have loved to make a housing for the OM-D. They already make some housings for the Panasonic M43 cameras. But since the OM-D was released after the D800, D4 and 5DM3, Subal were busy with them and knew that the wouldn't get a OM-D housing to market until early 2013 (especially as 2012 was also a transition year for Subal, the first under a new boss).
But I think when Olympus makes a second OM-D camera, remember the EM-5 is just the first in this new line, like the first PEN a few years ago, I think Subal will consider it very seriously.
I too definitely prefer the Nauticam housing to the Olympus housing. It feels super solid and has many really neat features.

Like Alex, I'm thinking about ordering a D&D 12-50 Oly zoom gear for the Nauti housing as well. My rationale is that while I'm predominantly a dedicated WA (Pan 8mm) or Macro shooter (oly 60mm), there may be times I'll be interested in trying the 12-50, and yet I'm not really intrigued enough to drop $800 on the complex Nauti port.

This is exactly my rationale too. I will get a chance to test the zoom gear when I am in Grand Cayman during the next couple of weeks. I'll share the results on the forum and try and write up something formally too.

I believe Dr. Mustard is the guinea pig

Undeniable.

Alex

[guyharrisonphoto]

How did you find focusing? Unlike the Olympus 60mm it doesn't have a focus limiter to macro only and am worried it will hunt a bit in close ups.

Focusing of the 45 was very fast compared to my old E-PL2. Remember, focusing speed is pretty much a function of the camera as opposed to the lens (so long as the mechanics in the lens are similar, such as USM high-speed motors, which both the 45 and 60 have). EM-5 has much faster focus algorithims and it really shows.

There is some hunting at ultra-close ranges, but I don't think the 60mm (or any other lens) really hunts much less. Hunting is just somethign to live with and work around at ultra-close range. You can see that the lens delivers very well.

Also, on my 60mm, I NEVER engage the macro limiter as you are stuck with that range during the dive. What if some nice fish or other larger subject swims by? I always keep things on full range. The only thing I miss is not being able to use the "instant 1:1" button which would be VERY handy for macro shooting, but you can't have everything. Maybe Nauti will make some high-tech port that will allow it . . . .

[deepbluemd]

Focusing of the 45 was very fast compared to my old E-PL2. Remember, focusing speed is pretty much a function of the camera as opposed to the lens (so long as the mechanics in the lens are similar, such as USM high-speed motors, which both the 45 and 60 have). EM-5 has much faster focus algorithims and it really shows.. . . .

On the dpreview guide to the EM-5, the photogs say that their testing shows that faster autofocusing by the camera can be achieved by changing the frame rate of the viewfinder. This can be found under the Custom section J.

See the guide via the link below for a detailed illustration of how to do this but you basically just change the frame rate from Normal to High. Coroander notes in the UW Settings post that this may diminish the ability of the display to show shadow/highlight info but when shooting moving subjects (eg. little speedy fish) I'm in favor of achieving focus as fast as possible. I haven't done any formal testing but just walking around shooting household stuff with the Oly 60mm macro lens, it does seem to focus quicker.
http://www.dpreview....s-e-m5/2/#Func3

And I'm with GHP on the limiter switch, unless you are specifically planning on shooting nudis or something small and predictable, I'd prefer not to engage the macro limiter. It seems very frustrating to wait for the lens hunt all the way in and out, only to fail to focus because the subject is outside the range limits.

[troporobo]

. . . faster autofocusing by the camera can be achieved by changing the frame rate of the viewfinder.

Interesting, I will have to try this. One question: would this apply only when using the EVF, or also when using the LCD screen? It seems a dumb question, but then, I can't quite understand how the EVF frame rate would affect AF

I ask because the EVF through the Nauticam housing does not seem compatible with my prescription mask, presenting a view that is way too tiny to be useful. Still trying to figure out what to do about that (short of adding the replacement window and external viewfinder, which is a $1000+ upgrade)

[Numbat]

So.... Got the housing, port and 45mm Leica. OM-D will be here in a couple of days.

I can't find a decent tray that I like. The Fantasea I had doesn't fit. The Nauticam flexitray is over engineered, too many bolts and pieces, and feels too flexible, not rigid.

I bought an iDas tray which doesn't fit either. Right way up won't fit because of the lip, and upside down I can't fit the extensions.

I want one that can adjust the tray extensions downwards with a spacers like the UCLS one, but both sides, not right hand side only. I like it to be symmetrical.

I won't be needing ball joints as I'll be using a pair of loc-line arms with the tray.

[Nicool]

Interesting, I will have to try this. One question: would this apply only when using the EVF, or also when using the LCD screen? It seems a dumb question, but then, I can't quite understand how the EVF frame rate would affect AF

I ask because the EVF through the Nauticam housing does not seem compatible with my prescription mask, presenting a view that is way too tiny to be useful. Still trying to figure out what to do about that (short of adding the replacement window and external viewfinder, which is a $1000+ upgrade)

By the way, I don't understand why people seem to prefer shooting the OM-D via the viewfinder underwater.
The ability to use a large (tiltable!) screen, that is visible from a distance, to take pictures looks quite appealing to me, at least it's something I've envied to compact photographers quite often.
Can someone enlighten me?