Panasonic/Leica 45mm Macro in the Olympus PT-EP01/03 Housing for Oly E-PL1/2

[orlando_xxx 0]

Hi

 

I am wondering if somebody uses the Panasonic/Leica 45mm Macro in the Olympus Housing for the E-PL1/E-PL-2 (PT-EP01 or PT-EP03) with standard flat port.

 

Does this lens suits in the housing/port and work properly or do you recommend to buy an Athena Macro Port for it? I've read somewhere that the distance between lens and Port Glas is a bit too wide and that it could cause e.g. misfocussing on the port glas.

 

Many thanx for hints.

 

best regards

 

orlando

[Phil Rudin 428]

I used the 45 macro E-PL1 combo in the Olympus housing with the stock port and it does not work well because the lens focuses inside the housing on the glass and is difficult to get focused. The best choice for this lens is the ZEN Underwater 45 macro port designed for this lens. http://reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=p...2fa28e49d0d309f

 

This is the most well designed and cost effective way to use the 45 macro lens.

 

Phil Rudin

Edited February 25, 2011 by Phil Rudin

[JackConnick 75]

Either the Zen Macro Port or the Athena will work. Athena also has an adapter for the Oly E-series ports.

 

10Bar will also have an adapter for their ports to work on the stock Olympus housings as well. The combo of 20mm port + 45mm extension works well with the 45mm macro lens.

 

Jack

[derway 2]

$400 for a flat port with no controls hardly is what I would call 'cost effective'.

[derway 2]

Jack,

 

I see the 10 bar solution is quite reasonably priced. But can't find the prices for the oly adapters..

 

Using an extension ring, do you recommend to take it apart, and redo the o-rings every day? Or every time you change from macro to WA?

 

Thanks!

[JackConnick 75]

Jack,

 

I see the 10 bar solution is quite reasonably priced. But can't find the prices for the oly adapters..

 

Using an extension ring, do you recommend to take it apart, and redo the o-rings every day? Or every time you change from macro to WA?

 

Thanks!

 

He mentioned the adapter, but I haven't seen it produced. Servicing orings is sort of by experience. If you are diving in sandy conditions or it looks like the orings have gunk on them, then they should be serviced.

 

We also now have the new Nauticam E-PL2 housing with dedicated ports for most lenses including the 45mm macro.

 

Jack

[Phil Rudin 428]

Hello Derway,

 

I am not saying that $399.00 for a macro port with 67mm thread-built in and coated optical glass is cheep but it is the best option for the Olympus housing and the $800.00 Panasonic 45 mm macro lens which is also not cheep. The point is that if you are going to buy a quality lens then you should have a quality port to take full advantage of that lens. In looking at other macro ports with optical glass and the built-in 67mm thread $400.00 is about the going rate. I would not want to pay $1700.00 for a Nikon 14 mm lens for a full frame D-700/other and then use it with a 6 inch plastic dome because it is more "cost effective", I would want a 230mm Zen dome for $1899.00 to take full advantage of the lens. If the dome cost was not in my budget then I would be better off to just buy a Bower 14mm f/2.8 for $420.00 and use the six inch dome.

 

Most photographers will stick with a system and upgrade cameras and housings but keep lenses and ports, which to me makes the Zen macro port a good choice. An adapter for the ZEN ports to the new Nautican offerings for Olympus and Panasonic would also make a lot of sence for those wishing to upgrade.

 

Phil Rudin

Edited July 17, 2011 by Phil Rudin

[derway 2]

That's all true Phil.

 

If you are making your living off this, fine, spend whatever you want, and write it all off all your multiple systems at tax time.

 

For me, as a hobbyist, occasional diver and photog, it just makes it all cost too much, compared with a canon t2i or t3i, and a vast selection of macro lenses from many companies, and ikelite housings. Including used lenses.

 

The leica macro lens even focuses slowly, for all the high price, not a VALUE at all.

 

The ikelite coated glass ports are running $150 to $200 brand new for instance.

 

If ikelite were in the EVIL market, the prices from others would come down too. Only lack of competition allows them to stay where they are, for an anodized aluminum tube, some glass and and o-rings, with a bit of machining.

 

The 10bar port is $245m Plus adapter. A bit more reasonable.

Edited July 17, 2011 by derway

[Phil Rudin 428]

Again the original question was does the stock Olympus housing port for the PEN cameras work well with the Panasonic 45 mm macro lens. Answer, no it does not. Solutions for using the 45 macro with the Olympus housings, #1 Zen macro port $399.00 at reefphoto.com or Optical Ocean Sales.com also from the listed dealers option #2 Athena adapter $275.00 and Athena macro port $425.00 appox. prices.

 

Best overall value given the above question the ZEN dome.

 

If Iklite ever enters the mirrorless camera housing race they might make a cheaper overall package but it does not look like that is going to happen, at least not any time soon.

 

10Bar (from Jack) & the Nautican E-PL2 housings (from Reef and from Jack) both have a cheeper port for the 45 macro but a more expensive housing.

 

The Iklite housing for the Canon t2/3 i cameras is $1400.00 alone without any ports, more than the Olympus E-PL1,2,3 housings with the camera and the 14-42 kit lens. If you want to get excellent macro down to about 1:2.2 you can add the macro adapter to the stock housing, around $49.00 and a +5 to +10 close-up lens from around $159.00 to $180.00 if the cost of the 45 macro puts you off and still be in the area of the Iklite housing alone.

 

Phil Rudib

Edited July 17, 2011 by Phil Rudin

[Ropeboy 0]

I find the standard port OK with the 45 macro. The lens is not great at focusing at the best of times but I had no problem using it last week along with a focusing light. Its free to give it a go!

[chris_l 6]

Phil,

I know this is an old thread, but I have a question about macro with the epl2.

Does it make sense to use a diopter on the 14-42 to get more magnification?

I have the epl2 with the 9-18 and associated Zen port. I also use the 14-42 behind that port.

Could I use a diopter on the 14-42 behind that port for macro?

 

I'm kind of new to macro, usually do more WA stuff, but would like to be able to shoot macro.

I don't plan on investing in another lense at this time, I have enough. And I'm happy with the 14-42, just would like a little more reach at times for small stuff.

 

thanks

[sgietler 1]

For macro with the E-PL2 I'd use the Olympus flat port, the Olympus macro adapter, and a good macro lens like the Subsee +5, Dyron +7, or Subsee +10. I've tested all 3 with the E-Pl2 and have gotten great results. - Scott