Olympus OM-D E-M5

[tdtaylor 1]

Hi Terry,

 

Did you say which strobes you are having a problem with?

 

Phil

 

Sea & Sea YS-D1s.

 

I previously used Ikelite 160s with electronic control on a D700 in an Ikelite housing.

 

Last night I took about 200 photos before taking the batteries out to recharge (just picked up a spare battery for the OM-D..... YEAH! finally). Up to that point I methodically went through settings in different scenarios to see the effects on the pictures. While the mis-steps may have been user error (like the entire image blown out or very dark), I was very carefully making sure focus was locked and the flash was ready to go on the camera. On a number of the mis-step, which would occur between good images, one of the strobes would not display the green TTL light after the exposure. I also varied which flash. This happened probably every 7-10 exposures, with probably 15 seconds between each exposure.

 

Had the same issues when I switched to Manual exposure, with the pre flash (double lighting bolt). The strobes would not fire without the pre-flash (single lighting bolt), and I suppose this was correct, because the camera must be sending out a pre-flash. By the way, the OM-D manual only mentions pre-flash twice- under red eye settings, and in the spec chart in the back associated with TTL Exposure.

 

 

I can say my Ikelites were close to 100% on TTL, only needing tweaking on the back dial to accommodate for macro, WA or CFWA. And I have not had issues with the flash for land-based photos.

 

Thanks,

 

Terry

Edited September 6, 2012 by tdtaylor

[tobbe 0]

I just ordered one of those OM-D + the Nauticam housing my self.

Do you suggest the Panasonic 8mm or the Olympus 8mm ED Zuiko Lens for Fisheye photo?

 

Tobbe

[Cp 29]

I just ordered one of those OM-D + the Nauticam housing my self.

Do you suggest the Panasonic 8mm or the Olympus 8mm ED Zuiko Lens for Fisheye photo?

 

Tobbe

 

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

[Phil Rudin 454]

I have used the Olympus 8mm fisheye for 43 DSLR's and the Panasonic 8mm fisheye for M43, both are excellent lenses but the Panasonic lens is much more well suited for the E-M5/ Nauticam housing system. A much smaller port is used with the Panasonic lens which allows you to get much closer to your subject when shooting CFWA.

 

Phil Rudin

[fatky90 4]

Any idea when the 12-50 is shipping out??

[Alex_Tattersall 90]

First batch arrived with me this week.

[MarkHerm 1]

I finally decided to upgrade from my Panasonic LX3 in a 10bar housing to an OM-D with the Nauticam.

 

Anyways, I pretty much decided on the 8mm fisheye lens with the dome port but I don't really know what to get in addition to that. I could buy the Panasonic 45mm Macro with a flat port or I could order the port and gear for the 12-50 that I already got with the camera. Given the relatively high price of the 12-50 port, both alternatives are about the same price.

 

To compliment the 8mm fisheye lense, would you prefer a dedicated macro lense or would you choose the more versatile 12-50 that has macro mode as well (and could take an addtional diopter as well)?

[edmond320 26]

These pictures were taken with the Panasonic 45mm macro. I would highly recommand this lens for Macro and the port take an M67 diopter as well.

[edmond320 26]

If you don't mind manual focus underwater, you can use the 45mm macro zoom gear onto Voitglander M43 17.5mm f0.95 for manual focus,

together with Nauticam 6" dome port.

See if I can test it in pool this weekend.

 

Edmond

[derway 2]

For me, the pana 7-14 fisheye, would be a better wide angle solution. Many folks have been using it, with great results. It is as wide as the 8mm, but allows you to zoom in a bit, for big things that won't let you get too close.

 

Much like the ever popular tokina 10-17 on apcs DLSRs.

[pooley 39]

Don,

 

I think you've got your lenses mixed up a bit. The 8mm is a fisheye with the associated distortion and a 180 degrees angle of view. The 7-14mm, whilst getting excellent reviews, is a rectilnear lens with a max angle of around 114 degrees.

 

The tokina does a bit of both

 

Mike

[derway 2]

Dang! I was hoping...

[Ryan 48]

If you don't mind manual focus underwater, you can use the 45mm macro zoom gear onto Voitglander M43 17.5mm f0.95 for manual focus,

together with Nauticam 6" dome port.

See if I can test it in pool this weekend.

 

Edmond

 

Wicked combo Edmond!

[MarkHerm 1]

I finally got the camera and played with it on land. Seems to be really nice.

 

Anyways, for those of you who are alreading using it underwater: Did you try the video mode underwater yet? What setting are you using, especially with respect to AF? Were you satisfied with the results?

I plan to use it mostly for stills but a good video once in a while would be very nicht too. I tried the video mode above water and saw some very noticeable focus hunting. Therefore some recommendations for settings would be awesome.

 

Thanks!

[tdtaylor 1]

I was able to take the OM-D and the Nauticam housing to Cape Ann for the weekend, and could not be more pleased for a first outing. Light, responsive, makes hard shore entries easier, etc.

 

I took the 14-42 (although I would much prefer the 12-50 or the 12-35), and was not expecting much, but have been very pleased, especially because the visibility was poor. Very few compromises considering the advantages. The level of detail in the original really surprised me.

 

This was in surging current, fairly low light, 14mm, ISO800, 1/125 and f8. Focus was not a problem.

 

Terry

Edited September 19, 2012 by tdtaylor

[troporobo 244]

I am just about to pull the trigger on the OM-D and Nauticam setup. One thing I am curious about - what are the chances that one port would work for both the 12-50 kit lens and the new 60 macro lens? They are within a millimeter of each other in terms of length and diameter according to the Olympus site. Probably different gears would be required. Or is this a silly idea?

[Mamel 3]

I am just about to pull the trigger on the OM-D and Nauticam setup. One thing I am curious about - what are the chances that one port would work for both the 12-50 kit lens and the new 60 macro lens? They are within a millimeter of each other in terms of length and diameter according to the Olympus site. Probably different gears would be required. Or is this a silly idea?

 

I'm in the same think. The 12-50mm dimesion dia. 57 x 83mm and the 60mm is 56 x 82mm. So, why nauticam does not make a simple port for both lens, no need zoom gear but M67mm thread.

With the capability to select 12mm and 50mm within the camera; no need zoom gear. but M67 thread is crucial for macro

I don't understand what the difficulity to build this port? It should be similar as macro port 56 but slighlylonger,

[girelle 19]

I've use the 12-50 lense and port this morning for the first time , it's wonderfull to use because of the ability to use the macro mode of the 12-50 with the Nauticam port and zoom gear .

Notice : the 12-50 had vignetting at 12 mm when it was used with the first port that Nauticam build in 67 mm , it's why they have make a new one in 77 mm , the one I did use .

 

The 60 mm fits perfectly in the port of the 12-50.

I'm waiting for the flip holder in 77 mm for 67 mm wet lense , and have order on ebay a step down adaptater 67 to 77 as Phil gave us the good advice for waiting.

All this is a bit heavy , now I use my Stix collar for Aquatica macro port ( I own before a Nikon D90 ) it fit well the 12-50 port ..

I've also send my 45 °Inon viewfinder mounted in Aquatica to Backscatter, (where I bought it a few years ago ) , mainly because it had mould spot on the glass , they have clean it and change the mount from Aquatica to Nauticam , I also bought to them ( difficult to do something else ..) the replacement rear window for the viewfinder , all this with has been pretty expensive , but I don't regret , it has change my life with the OMD . Because the only complain that I have again this super camera is that the screen mimic exposure , with the viewfinder now I can see pretty well !!

 

I must say a big thank to the people who did explain me what PHD mean , but when I did assemble the zoom gear of the 12-50 I had regrets to be only a MD , it's rather difficult but it's done and works well.

Here are two pictures , I would like that the exposure be better but between the new use of the viewfinder , and the 12-50 I was very occupied , so this is only tentative pictures , only to show the interest for me of the lense , the pictures have not been cropped of course.

First is the anemona in it's environnement lense at 12 mm :

 

The second is the little spider crab living in the same anemona 12-50 macro mode ( 43 mm )

 

 

It's pleasant to be able to get pictures of both ..

 

Ps For Phil or anybody interested to meet , we will be to Marseille festival on the 4 of November at noon (I think) and maybe the first part of the afternoon .

Edited October 6, 2012 by girelle

[troporobo 244]

Thanks a lot for posting this comparison! It makes the range of this lens very clear. I'll be picking mine up in a couple of weeks and can hardly wait to get in the water with it

[tdtaylor 1]

Well, I assembled the 12-50 zoom gear, and the instructions are clear enough. My issue was more user issues- the screws are very small, and between my bifocals and large fingers it was somewhat challenging to assemble. Fortunately I had the foresight to assemble it over a tray which repeatedly caught the dropped screws.

 

Question- after assembling everything and installing it in the housing, do you have to turn the zoom knob on the housing with a fair amount of pressure to change the zoom length (as compared to other zoom gears). Also, it zooms slowly. Not so much a problem, because it will give a fair amount of control with video, but more a check to make sure I shouldn't need to pull out my aforementioned tray and disassemble/reassemble to zoom ring. The Macro/zoom switch on the port works fine.

 

Thanks,

 

Terry

Edited October 8, 2012 by tdtaylor

[Scubanomad 1]

hmmm makes me question now if I made the right purchase getting the 60mm macro instead of the 12-50 lens and using its wide / macro function on the OMD body

[Deep6 7]

hmmm makes me question now if I made the right purchase getting the 60mm macro instead of the 12-50 lens and using its wide / macro function on the OMD body

 

No, I don't think so. I haven't got my rig yet. I like the 12-50 a lot, but I will get the 60 for 1:1 or greater macro. Now take out that great rig of yours and makes us some pictures.

 

Weidmannsheil!

Bob

[girelle 19]

Well, I assembled the 12-50 zoom gear, and the instructions are clear enough. My issue was more user issues- the screws are very small, and between my bifocals and large fingers it was somewhat challenging to assemble. Fortunately I had the foresight to assemble it over a tray which repeatedly caught the dropped screws.

 

Question- after assembling everything and installing it in the housing, do you have to turn the zoom knob on the housing with a fair amount of pressure to change the zoom length (as compared to other zoom gears). Also, it zooms slowly. Not so much a problem, because it will give a fair amount of control with video, but more a check to make sure I shouldn't need to pull out my aforementioned tray and disassemble/reassemble to zoom ring. The Macro/zoom switch on the port works fine.

 

Thanks,

 

Terry

It's exactly the same thing for me , I need also a fair amount of pressure on the knob to zoom and it's slow . I've disassemble my port and it's still the same.

Yes the screw are very small , it could be a good idea for Nauticam to provide 14 of them , two more than the screws needed ( twelwe ) to mount the port .

I'm really happy with this lense and use mainly 12 mm and macro .

I notice also that the lense seems not usable on land when the port is mounted on it .. did you try ??

Edited October 9, 2012 by girelle

[derway 2]

Does not sound promising, for a $800 port. Something must be wrong.

[MarkHerm 1]

Does not sound promising, for a $800 port. Something must be wrong.

 

I thought the same thing. 12 tiny screws for assembly, lots of pressure required, very slow, difficult / time consuming assembly, power zoom only etc does sound a bit odd. Don't get me wrong, I totally understand that this lens provides a real challenge for port manufacturers but still... I am still on the fence about this port but I don't know. I think I need to take a look at one of them in person or try to rent one for a couple of days.

Edited October 9, 2012 by MarkHerm