Olympus OM-D E-M5

[Glasseye Snapper 47]

Has anyone used the cold shoe YS stem adapter to mount a video light directly on top of the Nauticam OMD housing. I'm considering putting an iTorch Pro 4 in that spot for easy access and independence of orientation from repositioning strobes. I just have to know if this is too close to the lens and will give backscatter problems. I mostly dive in good visibility tropical waters and I have seen similar setups (for instance here: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=48310&do=findComment&comment=321711) so hope this is acceptable.

 

In case anyone has tried, what is the minimum distance of a gopro from a video light like the iTorch. With a larger fraction of ambient light I don't know if backscatter is more/less problematic than for stills.

 

Cheers, Bart

[barilhu 0]

You can also use the custom fit leak sentinel from Vividhousing:

http://www.vividhousings.com/leak-sentinel.php

 

I got good email exchanges with the maker, and it's a tiny smart system that provides LED feedback.

Also, he gave me shots of it attached to the Nauticam OM-D housing. All this for only 200 EUR (rated to 60m depth).

 

Question is: will the Nauticam solution bring something much better?

I got the Leak sentinel. The pictures you got from Vividhousing are probably from my rig.

 

I just love seing that little blinking green led. Knowing that my OMD is safe:). Hearing the seal pop when you open the rear door of the housing is also reasuring.

 

I'm going to the olympic stadium pool in Montreal (60' deep) next friday to test everything out. But so far so good.

[Nicool 26]

I got the Leak sentinel. The pictures you got from Vividhousing are probably from my rig.

 

I just love seing that little blinking green led. Knowing that my OMD is safe:). Hearing the seal pop when you open the rear door of the housing is also reasuring.

 

I'm going to the olympic stadium pool in Montreal (60' deep) next friday to test everything out. But so far so good.

errrr... the o-ring of your housing pops when you open it?

Don't you release the pressure before opening the housing?

[EspenB 15]

Has anyone tried the 14mm Panasonic f2.5 lens?

I saw the images from Alex with a 17mm in the 4‘‘ dome in Grand Cayman which were impressive but saw nothing in this thread about the 14mm lens.

Nauticam seems to advise the 3.5 wide angle port for the 14mm.

 

The 4.33" dome also fits a Olympus 12mm/f2.0 which gives a wider angle (84 vs 75 degrees).

[EspenB 15]

there is an extensive post by Alex Mustard on this forum with pics with 3.5" and 4.33". The 3.5" is smaller so you can get closer for better magnification...

 

I have the 3.5 and I am happy with it. You can focus so close almost to the dome surface...

However the 4.33 is more versatile. The longer focusing distance allows it to use with other lenses (especially with extensions) and over under shots may be more easily achieved...

 

How much shorter is the 3,5" dome?

 

The versatility is about the same as far as I can tell;

 

The 4,33" dome fits both the Pana 8 mm fisheye and Olympus 12 mm f2.0 as is.

 

The 3,5 can be used with er 14 mm pancake (which you probaly dont need if you have the Olympus 12 mm f2.0...) and 8 mm fisheye as is and the Olympus 12 mm with a 20 mm extension ring.

 

There is also the issue of buoyancy, I would guess the larger dome is slighly more positive?

Edited April 4, 2013 by EspenB

[tarjan 0]

I've been looking at the photo differences, and trying to figure out which dome to get. From my understanding the 4.33 can better handle above/below photos and gets a wider overall view, 3.5 is better for closer views and is tiny. The picture quality looked pretty similar.

 

I'm leaning towards the 3.5, because I like getting close to things. Anyone want to sell me on that decision or tell me I'm crazy and should go 4.33?

 

(my lenses are panny 14, 8mm, 14-42, 45-150. Only expecting to use the 8mm while diving.)

[Kenr 2]

Has anyone used the cold shoe YS stem adapter to mount a video light directly on top of the Nauticam OMD housing. I'm considering putting an iTorch Pro 4 in that spot for easy access and independence of orientation from repositioning strobes. I just have to know if this is too close to the lens and will give backscatter problems. I mostly dive in good visibility tropical waters and I have seen similar setups (for instance here: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=48310&do=findComment&comment=321711) so hope this is acceptable.

 

In case anyone has tried, what is the minimum distance of a gopro from a video light like the iTorch. With a larger fraction of ambient light I don't know if backscatter is more/less problematic than for stills.

 

Cheers, Bart

My Nauticam housing for my LX5 was made of plastic. Mine cracked on one of its first dives. I wouldn't recommend using the cold shoe unless Nauticam is now making them out of metal. The M10 mounting base is a better option.

 

what are the port options for the 7-14mm?

[Phil Rudin 461]

Did not know that Nauticam made a plastic housing for the LX5 or any other camera for that matter.

 

Nauticam makes a 6 inch port for the Panasonic 7-14 zoom.

[pmooney 6]

My Nauticam housing for my LX5 was made of plastic. Mine cracked on one of its first dives. I wouldn't recommend using the cold shoe unless Nauticam is now making them out of metal. The M10 mounting base is a better option.

 

what are the port options for the 7-14mm?

Sorry to be pedantic.

 

I think what you meant to say is :

 

The cold shoe mount on my housing was made of plastic rather than the housing is made of plastic.

[Kenr 2]

Sorry to be pedantic.

 

I think what you meant to say is :

 

The cold shoe mount on my housing was made of plastic rather than the housing is made of plastic.

Yes, sorry I meant to say the cold shoe mount was made of plastic. I don't think its suitable for mounting a larger light and certainly not if you have an arm or two extending the light. They are very easy to crack. When mine broke Nauticam asked me to wait because they were planning to switch the cold shoe mount to metal. I waited almost a year and finally asked them the status of my replacement and I was sent another plastic mount. I suppose they decided to keep the plastic mounts. It wasn't a big deal because the M10 mount is very sturdy.

[Nicool 26]

Hi folks,

 

I've judt used my Nauticam OM-D housing for the first time yesterday, with 12-50mm and austrian zoom gear, all in the macro port.

I was thinking that I could reach the macro mode's max magnification by zooming at 43mm, but it seems i didn't: couln't get close enough to make them big enough.

 

Question then: does the "macro" mode of the 12-50 lens do anything else than zooming at 43mm? I thought it was just a matter of focal, but maybe I am wrong.

 

Cheers

Nicolas

[Nicool 26]

Hi folks,

I've judt used my Nauticam OM-D housing for the first time yesterday, with 12-50mm and austrian zoom gear, all in the macro port.

I was thinking that I could reach the macro mode's max magnification by zooming at 43mm, but it seems i didn't: couln't get close enough to make them big enough.

Question then: does the "macro" mode of the 12-50 lens do anything else than zooming at 43mm? I thought it was just a matter of focal, but maybe I am wrong.

Cheers

Nicolas

"them" being the numerous nudis :-)

[Jock 14]

Nicolas,

 

yes, you are wrong: 43mm standard has less magnification than 43mm Macro - just check with your lens with the closest possible distance on land!

 

As it was written somwhere here in this endless the Nauticam zoom port is more versatile by itself. The discussion about alternative solutions came up because of the high price of this port. Alex Mustard uses this camera as his backup-system, so he did not want to spend that much on the port. With the Austrian zoom (100$ ?) gear you obviously can zoom, but you will loose the (high magnification) macro mode. If you already own a macro port and an adaptor like the Subsee (225$), you will just have to buy the flip diopter holder (220$) to get access to high magnification (or, if you are brave, carry it in your vest and screw it onto the port everytime you want to use it).

 

But if you start from the scratch it is, IMHO, more advisable to buy the Nauticam macro port, which is what I did and do not regret.

 

Greetings,

Jock

Edited April 15, 2013 by Jock

[Karl 7]

Hi folks,

 

I've judt used my Nauticam OM-D housing for the first time yesterday, with 12-50mm and austrian zoom gear, all in the macro port.

I was thinking that I could reach the macro mode's max magnification by zooming at 43mm, but it seems i didn't: couln't get close enough to make them big enough.

 

Question then: does the "macro" mode of the 12-50 lens do anything else than zooming at 43mm? I thought it was just a matter of focal, but maybe I am wrong.

 

Cheers

Nicolas

 

When you engage 'macro' mode with the 12 - 50mm it locks at 43mm but the 'macro' allows you to get closer to increase the magnification, whereas if you are just at 43mm you can not close focus enough to get that magnification - i.e. the when in macro mode the close focusing distance is shorter than when at 43mm standard.

 

A work around this problem is to attach M67 wet lenses / dioptres to the front of the macro port and with the lens set at 50mm and depending on the strength of the wet lens your working distance from the subject is reduced and this allows for the increased magnification. I do this when I use the 12 - 50mm in the macro port and it works well.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Karl

[Nicool 26]

thanks both for the explanations, /0:-)

[linder 3]

When researching the 12-50 mm lens for the OM-D there is a lot of talk about macro wet lenses but I can't seem to find any relevant info regarding WA wet lenses. I really love the idea of using this lens as an all purpose and would love it if someone knows if there are any WA wet lenses on the market that will work with it? (sorry if the question has already been asked an answered I've been searching for quite a while).

Edited April 16, 2013 by linder

[glee719 6]

I did a quick test above water at 100% pixel crop in this thread. 50mm + diopter is better than the macro mode on that lens alone, but it doesn't do a whole lot more even. Macro mode + diopter is a no-no.

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46536&p=325112

 

 

When researching the 12-50 mm lens for the OM-D there is a lot of talk about macro wet lenses but I can't seem to find any relevant info regarding WA wet lenses. I really love the idea of using this lens as an all purpose and would love it if someone knows if there are any WA wet lenses on the market that will work with it? (sorry if the question has already been asked an answered I've been searching for quite a while).

Edited April 16, 2013 by glee719

[linder 3]

I did a quick test above water at 100% pixel crop in this thread. 50mm + diopter is better than the macro mode on that lens alone, but it doesn't do a whole lot more even. Macro mode + diopter is a no-no.

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46536&p=325112

 

 

Thanks Trig! I am actually looking for any possible way to extend the wide angle capabilities of the 12 - 50 mm, preferably using a wet lens.

[glee719 6]

I don't know, most wet lenses are 67mm but the 12-50mm port (36161) has 77mm so I imagine it needs the wider glass for the 12mm end. Try it and le us know

[linder 3]

I'll try and do that, just have to find a place where I can rent/borrow the wet lenses, don't wanna spend €400 on an Inon that doesn't work with the 12-50 / my rig (trying to sell a used wet lens in Sweden is a bit tricky, it's a niche product in an extremely niche market )

Edited April 17, 2013 by linder

[Yako 8]

Here, you can see test photos, with a Inon WA lens, and a 12-50mm inside 60mm port: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49639

Edited April 17, 2013 by Yako

[Thomas K. 4]

Hello everybody.
After years of playing with my Canon G12 I am going to move to OMD EM-5.
I have reviewed this forum since it is my only source of information about OMD EM-5 stuff.
I would be very thankful for any comments and suggestions for the following combination which I want to get soon:

Nauticam Housing
Lens: ED 12-50 mm f.3.5-6.3 EZ
Nauticam Macro Port for 12-50 mm f.3.5-6.3 EZ
Nauticam Zoom Ring for 12-50 mm f.3.5-6.3 EZ
Wet close up maro lens M67 ( +8) - from my present setup
M67 Flip diopter holder for M77
Focus light - may get one


For wide angle photography:
Lens: Panasonic Lumix G 8 mm Fisheye F.35
Nauticam 4.33'' Fisheye Dome port

I am going to use my present strobes: 2 x Inon S2000

What do you think of this setup ?

[jlyle 8]

What do you think of this setup ?

 

 

Excellent choice. I've got the same rig with S&S YS-D1s. Love it.

[linder 3]

All this info is making it even harder for me . I am now torn between 3 options (all options are with the Nauticam housing):

 

A: 12-50 with the Austrian zoom gear and 4" semi dome with subsee +5 or +10 in a flip diopter. This will be a versatile set-up with better WA but I am worried that the macro will suffer compared to the 12-50 gear/port where I have access to the macro button and have a flat port.

 

B: 12-50 with dedicated flat port/gear. Versatile and good macro with access to the macro button but will suffer on the wide angle due to flat port.

 

C: Getting just the hosuing without 12-50 (saves me a bit) and buying the Oly 9-18mm WA and the 60mm macro lenses with gear in the 4" semi dome, suprisingly this isn't that much more expensive than option B. I am worried about the macro results in the semi dome as I have never shot macro in a dome before but as I see it I trade versatility for two better lenses.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Edited April 18, 2013 by linder

[Jock 14]

linder,

 

If I were you I would buy the 12-50 port plus gear. This is a great all-around setup.

 

The 60mm is sort of an extreme lens, not for "everyday use".

 

When I started with uw-photography with a Motormarine camera I wanted to have a camera-lens combination for every situation I might encounter during a dive. So I carried with me two macro lenses and a wide angle wet lens. I ended up with not getting decent photos at all, because I was busy changing lenses and looking for small and big stuff at the same time, which is IMHO just counter-productive. As soon as I accepted that I might miss something due to the wrong lens and went down with macro OR w/a only, I relaxed and shot photos that were not as bad as before.

 

This said, I would not buy the dome port. Just my 2 cents...

 

Jock