Griff

Turn the camera on before you put it in the housing and set the camera to Sleep after 5 minutes of inactivity. To wake it up all you have to do is press the shutter. I used to have a Canon 700D in a Nauticam 600D housing and had to use this as the on off switch was different on the camera.

The 12-50 in macro mode gives half life size compared to 1:1 from the 60mm macro not full frame. With the Nauticam CMC on the 12-50 at 50mm gives about 0.7 to 0.8 life size in the macro 65 port.

You dont need the expensive Nauticam port for the 12-50, I wrote this in another OMD thread. The 12-50 works with the electric zoom so dont need a zoom gear just assign a button on the camera. I use the 12-50 in the Nauticam 65 macro port which is the same as the Oly 60mm macro port and fit the Nauticam CMC which gives you 0.8 life size macro at 50mm. The 12-50 with the expensive Nauticam port only gives you 0.5 life size macro at the 43mm macro position. Both these pictures were taken at Exmouth, Western Australia with an OMD EM1 in a Nauticam housing with the 12-50, using electric zoom, in the Macro 65 port and the nudi using the Nauticam CMC. The CMC turns the average 12-50 to a sharp lens but it is tricky to focus. Attached Images E088B263-17E1-495D-8F72-6FF0883E8BE6.jpeg E9CF3F3E-00B8-4910-80D1-6422F2064BE9.jpeg

This picture was taken with the EM1, 12-50 with electric zoom, in the macro 65 port.

The 12-50 works with the electric zoom so dont need a zoom gear just assign a button on the camera. I use the 12-50 in the Nauticam 65 macro port which is the same as the Oly 60mm macro port and fit the Nauticam CMC which gives you 0.8 life size macro at 50mm. The 12-50 with the expensive Nauticam port only gives you 0.5 life size macro at the 43mm macro position. Both these pictures were taken at Exmouth, Western Australia with an OMD EM1 in a Nauticam housing with the 12-50, using electric zoom, in the Macro 65 port and the nudi using the Nauticam CMC. The CMC turns the average 12-50 to a sharp lens but it is tricky to focus.

All taken with EM1 and 12-50 zoom.

I have used the 12-50 with my EM1 in normal zoom mode, electric zoom from the body in the Macro 65 port, for rhinopias in Bali and I had a macro diopter on too (Nauticam CMC) which gives 0.8 magnification at 50mm in case you see something interesting that is small.

Good quality strobes such as Sea and Sea or Inon are most used underwater. First I would learn land based photography especially in manual mode so you know shutter, aperture and ISO and how they relate to each other. Also know your camera inside out, how to get into the menus and navigate them before you try and find a setting underwater! How long have you been diving? Make sure your diving skills are up to scratch as taking pictures can be very distracting. Most of all enjoy and learn from any photographers you know as well as diving photographers.

No problem.

I think you will see a difference in IQ and sharpness from the better focusing, WB etc but not in the dynamic range or with ISO at 100 as we use flash underwater anyway to get best results. I think you will be very pleased with the results. I have a original 6D and 7D Mk2 for land based photos and the focusing from the 6D is way behind the 7D. Underwater focusing speed and accuracy is far more important.

The Oly 60mm in the Macro 65 port is so close to the glass you have to remove the UV filter if one is fitted. As the Macro 45 port is not made for the 30mm macro lenses and is far away enough from the glass as to negate the extra magnification I believe. Never had a Ikelite housing but is was an idea as you are trying to save weight for travel. If you still want M43 then I would definitely get the latest EM1 mk 2 for the battery life issue, I have had quite a few dives whilst traveling where the battery has given up during the third dive and I never had any Canon battery give up. My wife and I still use Canon DSLRs and M43 cameras above water but only the Olympus underwater. The trigger on the EM1 housing is a pistol type where the EM10 is a push down lever, I think it is still the same now but most new Nauticam housing come with a trigger converter when you fit the optional handles (higher end housings come with handles).

Why dont you look at a Canon 200D in an Ikelite housing? Very small and compact and can use your existing Tokina and Canon macro lens or get the very good Canon 60mm macro. I used to use a Canon 700D in a Nauticam but switched to an Olympus EM1 and a EM10 for my wife. Both are great and controls underwater are nearly the same but the EM1 has a better trigger. Never used a finder and always use the EVF and again the bigger EVF in the EM1 has the advantage. The Oly 60mm can be used on its own or with a macro diopter for even greater super macro. I have the Nauticam CMC and while tricky to use gives you 2:1 magnification. You cant use the CMC with the 30mm macro lenses as they are too far from the port glass. The 60mm is made for the Macro 60 port. I also have the Oly 8mm FE and the Pany 7-14 behind the Nauticam acrylic ports but the Oly 8mm is the one Id recommend. So why do I suggest the 200D ikelite combo? The main drawbacks of the Olympus are battery life, about 2.5 dives on a 3 dive boat trip so you end up taking less pictures to conserve battery or run the risk of opening the housing and swapping the battery. The EM1 mk2 has much better battery life and so does the Pany GH4 or GH5. Also the Oly EM1 in Nauticam with macro lens and port is only 1.5kg lighter than the 700D in Nauticam with lens and port (but also less bulky). But the strobes, arms, focus lights, GoPro etc etc weigh the same so you end up with a 5 to 6kg system as opposed to a 6.5 to 7.5kg system. The Canon 200D Ikelite is the same size and weight as their Olympus and Panasonic housings but you dont have to buy new lenses. Hope this helps.

Same here

Here are some low res (for Online viewing) of my trip to Ningaloo WA taken with OMD EM1 with Olympus 8mm f1.8 in Nauticam housing. No flash as you are not allowed to use them photographing the whale sharks. Also some astrophotography pics as this lens has very low coma distortion.