Nicool

Hi folks,

 

There seems to be two main lens options for rectilinear ultra-wide (weitwinkel) angle (so no fisheye) in the micro four-thirds galaxy: Panasonic 7-14mm and Olympus 9-18mm.

 

Which one is best?

 

In case the answers are "it dependsish", I would look at the following scenario:

Camera = Olympus OM-D EM5.

Things that matter (for me):

-Sharpness

-Image quality in general (I read on DPreview that the 7-14 Pana's cromatic aberrations were discarded by in-camera software on Pana cameras, but not on Oly ones, is that an issue underwater?)

-Good for Close Focus Wide Angle.

-Fast AF

 

thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts & experience :-)

 

Nicolas

Hello Wetpixel!

I thought I would post a dedicated thread for this discussion, rather than getting it lost in existing OM-D threads.
In those threads I've read that image quality was good when using wet dioptres (Subsee) on top of the Olympus 12-50mm lens underwater (as the nauticam 60mm port has a 67mm thread).
This brings a lot of versatility on this 12-50mm setup, and I was wondering why wouldn't size-conscious photographers use wide angle wet lenses on top of this setup?
I must say I've never used any wet lens, so I may miss something, that's why I'm asking.
I think it was Dr Mustard who said optical quality remained good with a wet complement like Subsee diopters, what about the wide angle complements?

thanks for your advice,
cheers
Nicolas

Hello Wetpixel,
I'm hearing more and more DSLR shooters that are getting an EVIL camera for underwater use, and I'm myself considering it now.
I currently own a fully equipped Hugyfor gear for my Nikon D7000, and I'm very happy with the quality and ergonomy.
Still, I like to dive as light as possible in any occasion, but I'm also getting several occasions to go abroad for short business trips, in places with good diving potential. I'd love to dive in those places and bring back some pictures, but I really can't affort to carry my 1620 Pelican case with all the DSLR gear...

Like most DSLR shooters (I presume), I'm concerned about the loss in image quality (although I believe some Sony NEX cameras are at par with my D7000), and by slower autofocus, but I've never tried any of these EVIL cameras underwater.

I say Alex Mustard's article which raised my interest on the Olympus OM-D, but what about the NEX family, the tiny Pentax, etc?
So for those of you who investigated the matter in more detail, which EVIL camera do you think is best for underwater photography, and why?

Hi there,

I might be lucky enough to relocate in Bangkok, and of course I'm thinking about the diving opportunities over there.
I'm writing to seek for recommendations of the closest dive spots to Bangkok, meaning the ones on which you can go just for a week-end (or even a day trip), without taking a plane (with a plane I definetely know where to go ). I'm wondering whether I could get good 'regular/cheap' diving there.

So I've heard that Pattaya and Koh Samet would be close.
1/ Are there other places you would recommend?

I've also heard that Pattaya/Koh Samet were "not that nice" for diving, and I'd like to understand what it means, what's the quality of the diving there. For me good dive sites are those with lots of fauna (and diversity of fauna), as well as health of reefs.
I imagine that Pattaya/Koh Samet are less good that Phuket, Sipadan & other diving meccas...
2/ but what do you get there? What sort of animals? How does it compare to, let's say, the french/italian Mediterranean cost (for those who have practiced them), or with the Red Sea?
If some of you have pictures/videos taken in Pattaya/Koh Samet I'd be very interested in viewing those.

Thanks in advance for your advise!!
cheers
Nicolas