Olympus OM-D E-M5

[Timccr 11]

Just as I had about decided that the OMD or perhaps the soon to be announced new PEN were what I needed I found out that there is now a 10-18mm zoom for the NEX and soon there will be a 50mm macro. So perhaps a NEX is interesting after all. Hunting around on the net I found a story from some poor guy who had flooded and trashed his NEX7. He said he surfaced with about a cupful of water in the housing. So now I am wondering if a weatherproof m43 camera might have survived that. Any opinions would be gratefully received.

[Phil Rudin 454]

Having owned both the NEX-7 and now the E-M5 in Nauticam housings I feel that the shortcoming of the NEX system still remains the limited number of quality lenses suited to U/W photography. The Sony 10-18 zoom with the new Nauticam 7 inch dome seems a step in the right direction for wide angle subjects but as a system the E-M5 is still the better choice.

 

Phil Rudin

Edited February 7, 2013 by Phil Rudin

[Timccr 11]

Well, yes I take the point. Except for me personally the most important lens would be wide for wrecks. After that I would like a macro and underwater at least that would be enough for quite a while I think.

[Phil Rudin 454]

My point exactly, the E-M5 system already has pro quality lenses like the Panasonic 7-14 zoom and 8mm fisheye while Olympus has the 12mm F/2. For macro Panasonic 45mm and Olympus 60mm macros which both go to 1:1 and the 12-50 kit zoom with macro about 1:2. These lenses are all well tested and have excellent image quality.

 

Phil Rudin

[Deep6 7]

New firmware update. Who will be first? Phil? Also screw may cause screen crack.

http://www.43rumors.com/new-e-m5-firmware-now-officially-released/

 

Bob

[Tc202 0]

I am going on a trip and need the nauticam housing and 12-50 port for ten days. I am having a hard time finding anyone who will rent this. Since I can't really find one to rent this housing and port I was going to buy one and then sell it after the trip. Do you guys know what the housing and the port will sell for used so I can see how much money I will lose. If you know anywhere that will rent this let me know. Thanks

[Scuba_SI 39]

I rent the OM-D in a Nauticam housing here in Lembeh, not sure if that is much use to you though! Where are you headed?

[Tc202 0]

I am going to the grand cayman. I live in tampa florida.

Edited February 22, 2013 by Tc202

[Heliox 0]

Hi,

 

My new OMD Nauticam housing flooded on my fourth dive. I was using the housing with the dome port and 8mm fisheye lens.

 

Fortunately, because I surfaced immediately after the alarm went off and the camera is splash proof, it was fine. I replaced the housing o-ring and the dome port o-ring with the spares provided and made sure there was no dust anywhere. I took the housing for another dive without the camera, just the empty housing. At 20meters (60 feet), while I was pressing and playing with the various buttons, the leak alarm went off again. When I surfaced, the housing was not completely flooded but had quite a bit of water inside.

 

My dealer confirmed that the housing has a leak, but after 1 month still has not been able to detect the exact source. He suspects that the leak may be from one of the o-ring buttons, not the main o-ring oder dome port o-ring.

 

Has anyone experienced any similar problems with their OMD housing? I am really disappointed that my brand new housing already has a leak issue.

 

Thanks

Andy

[tarjan 0]

Ugh, that's not good. I just got my omd and have been considering that exact configuration, Nauticam + 8mm port and I would rather it not flood. I love the 8mm underwater with my old gf2.

[Karl 7]

Just thought I would post up a couple of images taken with my 12 - 50mm lens in the Nauticam Macro 65 Port which is designed for the 60mm macro lens. There was some discussion about using this lens in this Port earlier and I have finally got around to doing a dive with this lens in the Port and the custome gears from the guys in Austria.

 

The lens works well in this Port with this zoom gear; however, I had a small issue with the zoom ring clicking back to manual zoom from electronic zoom setting so I solved this issue by putting an 'O' ring behind the zoom ring which locks it in the electronic zoom setting - which is perfect for use with the zoom gears.

 

You can't use the macro function of this lens but by adding a wet lens (dioptre) to the front of the housing this will give you macro capability.

 

There is no vignetting at all with this lens in this port from 12 to 50mm zoom range; however, there is vignetting when you attach a wet lens (dioptre) to the front at the wider ends (about 12 - 20mm) - unfortunately I didn't get a chance to use a wet lens on today's dive.

 

Anyway here are two images - one @ 12mm and one @ 39mm - taken at their closest focusing point.

 

12mm

 

39mm

 

I can - IMHO - see this as being a very viable back up lens to my macro 60mm lens for those dives when I know there will be larger subjects. Most of my diving is macro due to the poor visability conditions (1 - 4m on average) so there is no real need for me to spend a lot of money on a wide angle set up, but on those occasions when I know I will need it this set up will work for me.

 

Anyway - I love this camera and the set up I have and I look forward to many years of use.

 

Karl

[EspenB 15]

 

Our dome is designed for the Panasonic 8mm. To use the Oly 8mm ED, you'd need to use an 4/3 to m4/3 lens adapter, and I don't think that setup would fit behind our dome.

 

Cheers,

Cp

 

On the nauticam site there is suggestion to use the Olympus 12 mm f2.0 lens in the dome made for the Panasonic 8 mm fisheye lens. Is this a official Nauticam recommendation?

 

I would like to know before I get the 12 mm lens in adition to my fisheye lens.

 

 

http://www.nauticamusa.com/nusa/2012/1/5/nauticam-e-pl3-housing-with-panasonic-8mm-and-12mm-lenses.html

 

"My Nauticam NA-ELP3 housing was equipped with the Nauticam 4.33 inch dome port which I used with the Panasonic 8mm F/3.5 fisheye and the Olympus 12mm F/2.0. I found both lenses to be very sharp behind the dome with little corner softness. Both lenses focuses very close (to the dome) which allowed me to get within inches of the Lionfish."

[Phil Rudin 454]

The quote you have posted is from an article I wrote for UWPMAG.com and not an official Nauticam statement, but an excerpt from my article given to Nauticam with my permission to reprint. Just for your information the copyright laws that apply to photos also apply to print and permission from the author as well as the authors name should be used just as they are with a photo.

 

At the time I tested the Olympus 12mm it was with the 4.33 inch dome and it worked quite well. If you look at the Nauticam port chart for m43 housings you will see that Nauticam has future plans for a 12mm port.

 

Zen Underwater also has options I will be testing for both the Panasonic 8mm, 100mm dome and a soon to be released 170mm dome both optical glass ports.

 

Phil Rudin

[Heliox 0]

Hi,

 

I just want to give an update on my recent post regarding my flooded Nauticam housing.

 

Nauticam has given me a brand new housing and has taken back the leaked housing for examination. I really appreciate Nauticam's great customer service and how fast they handled the issue. I have not heard of any other leaking OMD housings, I was probably just unlucky and Nauticam is looking into the issue.

 

By the way, I also bought the 12mm lens and 8mm lens based on Phil's article and they work fine with the 4.33 inch dome port.

 

Phil, do you have any idea if the olympus 17mm 1.8 lens also works with the 4.33 dome port? I am thinking of buying that lens for topside photography and if I could use that lens underwater with the 4.33 dome port, that would be an added bonus!

 

Thanks,

Andy

[Phil Rudin 454]

I would guess that it would, the older 17mm f/2.8 will focus closer but I again would guess that the newer f/1.8 lens will have better overall image quality.

 

Phil Rudin

[EspenB 15]

The quote you have posted is from an article I wrote for UWPMAG.com and not an official Nauticam statement, but an excerpt from my article given to Nauticam with my permission to reprint. Just for your information the copyright laws that apply to photos also apply to print and permission from the author as well as the authors name should be used just as they are with a photo.

 

At the time I tested the Olympus 12mm it was with the 4.33 inch dome and it worked quite well. If you look at the Nauticam port chart for m43 housings you will see that Nauticam has future plans for a 12mm port.

 

Zen Underwater also has options I will be testing for both the Panasonic 8mm, 100mm dome and a soon to be released 170mm dome both optical glass ports.

 

Phil Rudin

 

Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately the Nauticam USA web page doesn't state anything about a future 12 mm port/dom for the m4/3 system as far as I can see. Do you have a link for reference?

 

I just obtained a used Olympus 12 mm "black edition" lens and allready have the Panasonic 8 mm fisheye lens so I'll get the 4,33 dome port in any case. Just waiting for the Panasonic GH3 housing now. ;-)

[EspenB 15]

By the way, I also bought the 12mm lens and 8mm lens based on Phil's article and they work fine with the 4.33 inch dome port.

 

Sweet!

[Alex_Mustard 0]

I've tested the 17mm Pancake lens with this port and that works well too.

 

Alex

[Phil Rudin 454]

Essen,

 

The port charts are a PDF download, they can be found by going to Nauticam.com. On the home page go to knowledge base at the upper right, then go to the port chart PDF link and download the PDF. Scroll down to the M43 lens chart then to the 12mm lens. You will see that Nauticam recommends one of the 4.33 inch ports or the 3.5 inch port combined with the 20mm port extension. The port extension also works with the Panasonic 45mm macro port for use with the Olympus 60mm macro lens.

 

These charts can also be found within the NauticanUSA.com site but just go to Nautican.com and follow the links.

 

The 17mm pancake is the F/2.8 lens the 17mm f/1.8 is the larger lens and may not work with the same results Alex got because if does not focus as close.

 

Phil Rudin

[glee719 6]

Phil,

 

I am thinking about getting the fisheye dome port too. What's the difference between the 3.5" and the 4.33"? Thanks.

[EspenB 15]

Essen,

 

The port charts are a PDF download, they can be found by going to Nauticam.com. On the home page go to knowledge base at the upper right, then go to the port chart PDF link and download the PDF. Scroll down to the M43 lens chart then to the 12mm lens. You will see that Nauticam recommends one of the 4.33 inch ports or the 3.5 inch port combined with the 20mm port extension. The port extension also works with the Panasonic 45mm macro port for use with the Olympus 60mm macro lens.

 

These charts can also be found within the NauticanUSA.com site but just go to Nautican.com and follow the links.

 

The 17mm pancake is the F/2.8 lens the 17mm f/1.8 is the larger lens and may not work with the same results Alex got because if does not focus as close.

 

Phil Rudin

 

Ah, my mistake for using the Nauticam USA web page which clearly isn't up to date! They have a very basic m4/3 port chart only.

 

The m4/3 port chart direct link is: http://www.nauticam.com/images/catalog/catalog_18.PDF

 

Also it seems like my GH3 kit lens 12-35 mm F2.8 is supported with the same dome as the 7-14 mm (6" wide angle port). Still I think the 12 mm F2.0 is a nice addition.

 

Basically three ports will cover my five underwater lenses (65 mm macro port for the Olympus 60 mm, 4.33" dome for the 8 mm fisheye and 12 mm, and 6 inch dome for the 7-14 mm and 12-35 mm).

[Phil Rudin 454]

The port charts can also be found at Nauticam USA by going to products on the front page and then following the same pages to the PDF for port charts.

 

To further complicate your choice I will suggest you look at the links below.

 

Zen Underwater offers an adapter for Nauticam mirrorless housing that allows you to mount Subal type III ports to your housing. This means that for the 8 fisheye, 12mm, 14mm and 17mm pancake you can use the 100mm optical glass mini port. This is the port used by many APS-C DSLR shooters for their fisheye and Tokina 10-17mm lenses. You could also add the ZEN 200mm or even the 230mm glass ports for wide angle and W/A zooms with extension for better corners and split, over/under shots. The adapter can also be used with DSLR lenses like the Olympus 50mm macro and for NEX the Sony 100mm macro with the DSLR to mirrorless lens adapters.

 

Even more interesting, I am on the waiting list is the ZEN Underwater 170mm mini optical glass port for Nauticam mirrorless housings. This port should work with the Panasonic 8 fisheye, 12mm F/2.0, 12-35, 9-18 and 7-14 lenses with extension just to name a few. Like all things in photography you will have tradeoffs with this port. Being larger it should work a bit better for split shots and is a one size fits all type of port. You will not be able to get as close for CFWA as you would with the 3.5, 100mm or 4.33 domes. I would expect corner sharpness to be about the same v. the Nauticam port for Panasonic 7-14 but with the upsides associated with optical glass ports. I used the Athena 170mm optical glass port for years with the Olympus 43 DSLR systems and it worked very well with many lenses and extensions. This more expensive port with an extension or two may end up being more cost effective than buying several ports to cover different wide and W/A zoom lenses. I think it may also reduce space used during packing v. two or three ports.

 

The ZEN 170mm glass port is also being offered for the Nauticam DSLR housing line as well.

 

Phil Rudin

 

http://reefphoto.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=80_148_149&products_id=6302

 

http://reefphoto.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=80_130_47&products_id=4403

 

http://reefphoto.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=161&products_id=6013

Edited March 6, 2013 by Phil Rudin

[pompeygreg 1]

Has anyone tried alternate batteries to the Olympus BLN-1, specifically the Hahnel HL-ON1?

 

There is a £30 difference, so on a 2 for 1 basis is it worth going for the generic battery?

 

Greg

[Deep6 7]

.

 

Has anyone tried alternate batteries to the Olympus BLN-1, specifically the Hahnel HL-ON1?

 

There is a £30 difference, so on a 2 for 1 basis is it worth going for the generic battery?

 

Greg

 

Has anyone tried alternate batteries to the Olympus BLN-1, specifically the Hahnel HL-ON1?

 

There is a £30 difference, so on a 2 for 1 basis is it worth going for the generic battery?

 

Greg

 

I got some feedback from Phil Rudin when I purchased my Oly. The generics should work; I think you will need a different charger. I went with the Oly BLN-1s for consistency & reliability.

[Fireflys 4]

Hi Greg,

 

I have tried generic battery's from Dot.Foto it was a twin pack and to quote the product description was 'Guaranteed to operate in exactly the same way as the manufacturer original battery' . . . . . . and . . . . . . . . they both failed within a week !

 

I sent them back which they did not like and eventually got a refund, I have since bit the bullet and gone for a genuine Olympus battery.

 

Hope you have better luck than I did.

 

Gary.