Olympus OM-D E-M5

[Scubanomad 1]

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

 

Would love to (want to pay for my dive trip?) LOL :-)

Don't have another dive trip scheduled until early next year. Sorry.

I only had my rig recently in Ibiza Balearic islands spain but only snorkeled without the strobe.

Here is a photo:

Edited October 9, 2012 by Scubanomad

[Bubblke7 0]

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

 

 

I found it take some pressure to change the zoom length and it zooms slowly!

The quickest way is to use the Fish mode, so from 12 to 50mm, or 50 to 12mm is just a click!

[derway 2]

I found it take some pressure to change the zoom length and it zooms slowly!

The quickest way is to use the Fish mode, so from 12 to 50mm, or 50 to 12mm is just a click!

 

Right, and then there is no need, nor benefit, from an $800 port!

[guyharrisonphoto 21]

Can someone explain how to zoom the 12-50 by using the camera body? I cannot seem to find this in my manuals. Bubblke7 mentioned "fish mode" and how do I access that?

 

Does that mode also allow access to the lens' macro feature? If not then it is of very limited use and certainly no substitute for the Nauticam port (which I have on order). If it does allow access to macro, then that is something to think about.

 

As for the slower power zoom why would that be a deal breaker? Because of how the lens zoom/macro ring operates, with clicking forward and backward in three steps, it seems that it is only possible to execute two adjoining click stops with the port control. I assume Nauticam made the choice of accessing the macro/power zoom which is much more useful. If you can jump between 12 and 50 with the body and then fine tune the zoom with the port, then that seems to be a pretty good set-up.

[girelle 19]

Right, and then there is no need, nor benefit, from an $800 port!

 

Not so simple the 50 mm is not a macro mode , the macro mode is at 43 mm and you need to push a button on the side of the lense ,while in zoom mode to access it

[Phil Rudin 485]

To use the U/W (W/A and macro) settings on the camera to zoom the 12-50 lens you must first update to software v.1.5. The lens will them set to 12 mm at W/A and 50mm at the other setting. So you loose all of the zoom range between the two ends and at 50 mm you are at about 1:2.5 in 35 mm terms. In the macro setting which can only be accessed with the Nauticam gear in the Nauticam housing you get to about 1:1 in 35mm terms and you get full zoom from 12-50mm. It is clear that some will want to take the less expensive route and some will want the more expensive full control. Either way a port will still be required and that is at least half or more of the cost unless you already have a port which fits this lens and you chose not to use the complex Nauticam gear.

 

Phil Rudin

[Ryan 57]

Right, and then there is no need, nor benefit, from an $800 port!

 

This is actually not true. There is substantially better magnification in the macro setting on the lens than is available when "just" zoomed to 50mm. There is currently no fish mode or other shortcut to access the lens' macro functionality, it is only available via the mechanical shifting of the zoom ring on the lens barrel.

Edited October 10, 2012 by Ryan

[guyharrisonphoto 21]

Phil and Ryan,

 

Thanks so much for that response. Ryan, I am definitely keepimg my order for the 12-50mm port! Can't wait until it all gets there!

 

Guy

[TerryTaylor 0]

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 ??

 

Thanks for letting me know about the pressure and speed- really didn't want to go through disassembly and reassembly. I am out of town through the weekend, so I can't try it above ground. I did shoot off a few picts after I assembled it, and didn't notice any problems, but really was not looking at the quality, more for the function. I'm back for two days next week, then off to Florida and the Bahamas- I will throughly check it out at that point. I sure hope it works on land. Maybe a focus issue?

[TerryTaylor 0]

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.

 

I was thinking the same thing- should have put in a few extra screws. Fortunately for me, once assembled, it won't come off. I have the 12-35 f2.8 for on land.

[Deep6 7]

Add this to your wish list. From 4/3rumors:

 

Egami (Tranlsation here) spotted a new Olympus patent describing the design of three new wide angle lenses:

8-20mm f/2.8-4

8-35mm f/2.2-4

8-74mm f/2.8-4

From the description you will notice that this are actually Fisheye lenses! Right now only Canon (with the 8-15mm) and Tokina (10-17mm) have this kind of lenses on market. Is that something we need for the Micro Four Thirds system? Certainly not a priority lens but it’s always nice to expand the lens horizon.

 

It would be on my priorty list!

 

Bob

[glee719 6]

So guys what's the general consensus on the 12-50mm with the OMD and Nauticam? I just bought the lens at a low price, and am liking the convenience of the macro mode. However, if I take my photography habits on land to apply underwater, I don't think I'd be happy with an all-around lens but it's intriging in concept...

 

I guess I will ask the pros differently. If you go on a general dive trip (not specifically wide angle or macro) and can only take one lens, would this lens be chosen for the first dive?

Edited October 13, 2012 by glee719

[guyharrisonphoto 21]

I am a specialist AND a generalist. There are deep wreck and big animal wide angle dives where I live (South Florida), macro specialty havens like the Blue Heron Bridge, but also beautiful reefs for wide angle scenics that also are loaded with great macro opportunities. The 12-50 is a superb lens for the latter type of diving. I have ordered the Nauticam port/gear despite the cost because I think nothing else out there can touch it, in any format. At 12-18mm you have plenty of wide angle opportunities. As you zoom in, the focal lengths are excellent for fish portraits and head shots of larger fish. Close focus is good even in normal zoom mode.. This, of course, can be said of some other lenses in the 24-100 range (ff equiv). However, it is the macro mode that makes this lens really stand out. It is a "true" macro mode. The area covered in macro is roughly the area of a 35mm slide. While that is larger than 1/1 in the 4/3 format, it is roughly equal to 1/1 in 35mm, with no adapters needed. This is truly a remarkable capability. Deep closeups of feather dusters, head shots of jawfish, full frame blennies, all sorts of shrimp and arrow crabs are shootable in extreme closeup with very good quality. If you add a +5 or +10 diopter to the lens, you are now in ultra-macro territory, and with decent working distance (the macro mode focal length is 85mm ff equiv). I have not investigated, but plan to investigate, whether a wet mount wide angle adapter would also work to add wide angle reach if I cannot carry my wide angle lens/port for some reason.. The port is designed with the lens front element very close, and the lens does not change length when zooming, so this might be very feasable.

 

You can switch between all of these capabilities in mere seconds with the Nauticam port.

 

I also have the 7-14mm with dome, and the 60mm macro which also works in the 12-50 port. These are superlative specialty lenses that exceed the 12-50 in their respective areas.

 

BUT, If I could take only one lens? (for example a business trip where I might squeeze in a dive or two as opposed to a decicated trip), that is an absolute no-brainer for the 12-50.

 

Go for it!

[girelle 19]

I am a specialist AND a generalist. There are deep wreck and big animal wide angle dives where I live (South Florida), macro specialty havens like the Blue Heron Bridge, but also beautiful reefs for wide angle scenics that also are loaded with great macro opportunities. The 12-50 is a superb lens for the latter type of diving. I have ordered the Nauticam port/gear despite the cost because I think nothing else out there can touch it, in any format. At 12-18mm you have plenty of wide angle opportunities. As you zoom in, the focal lengths are excellent for fish portraits and head shots of larger fish. Close focus is good even in normal zoom mode.. This, of course, can be said of some other lenses in the 24-100 range (ff equiv). However, it is the macro mode that makes this lens really stand out. It is a "true" macro mode. The area covered in macro is roughly the area of a 35mm slide. While that is larger than 1/1 in the 4/3 format, it is roughly equal to 1/1 in 35mm, with no adapters needed. This is truly a remarkable capability. Deep closeups of feather dusters, head shots of jawfish, full frame blennies, all sorts of shrimp and arrow crabs are shootable in extreme closeup with very good quality. If you add a +5 or +10 diopter to the lens, you are now in ultra-macro territory, and with decent working distance (the macro mode focal length is 85mm ff equiv). I have not investigated, but plan to investigate, whether a wet mount wide angle adapter would also work to add wide angle reach if I cannot carry my wide angle lens/port for some reason.. The port is designed with the lens front element very close, and the lens does not change length when zooming, so this might be very feasable.

 

You can switch between all of these capabilities in mere seconds with the Nauticam port.

 

I also have the 7-14mm with dome, and the 60mm macro which also works in the 12-50 port. These are superlative specialty lenses that exceed the 12-50 in their respective areas.

 

BUT, If I could take only one lens? (for example a business trip where I might squeeze in a dive or two as opposed to a decicated trip), that is an absolute no-brainer for the 12-50.

 

Go for it!

 

Thank my god ,an american guy has written all that I think about the 12 -50 and 60 mm lenses , less work for me and my scolar english

I did try the 12-50 last week , and the 60 mm this morning . Undoubtfully the quality of the 60 mm is excellent , but you can also perform very good macro shots with the 12-50 in macro mode .

My other lense is mainly a 8 mm Panasonic fisheye that I like also very very much , I've used it during the summer where we have dove mainly on wrecks.

I'm very happy with the OMD , and don't regret my Nikon D90 .

Here are some shots taken with the OMD and 12-50

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189548@N05/sets/72157631727209942/

 

and here some taken with the 60 mm .

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189548@N05/sets/72157631760090453/

 

I apolozige as these pictures are are far from perfect , but it was the first time I did use these both lenses .I just show they as I know that many people are impatient to have an idea about these new lenses .The macro shots have not been cropped

[guyharrisonphoto 21]

Hey Dominique, nice stuff, wow.

[glee719 6]

Dominique, do you have these uploaded somewhere that I can see larger resolutions? I hate to be critical but I want to make sure the pictures I take with the 12-50mm is good enough for prints too. Thanks!

[girelle 19]

Dominique, do you have these uploaded somewhere that I can see larger resolutions? I hate to be critical but I want to make sure the pictures I take with the 12-50mm is good enough for prints too. Thanks!

You can find them on flickr , but you won't see them at more than 2048*1365 because my pictures are supposed to be protected on Flickr ,this size is probably not enough for your purpose .

Anyway the adress is:http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189548@N05/sets/72157631727209942/

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2012 by girelle

[tobbe 0]

My OM-D Nauticam housing is finally on it's way :-)

I got all the other accessories except for the strobe arms.

I will use my two existing S&S YS110a strobes with fibers, but maybe the rig will be to negative under water with my standard ULCS arms?

What kind of arm set-up do you OM-D shooters use, floats?

 

/T

Edited October 14, 2012 by tobbe

[jlyle 8]

My OM-D Nauticam housing is finally on it's way :-)

I got all the other accessories except for the strobe arms.

I will use my two existing S&S YS110a strobes with fibers, but maybe the rig will be to negative under water with my standard ULCS arms?

What kind of arm set-up do you OM-D shooters use, floats?

 

/T

 

Four Styx floats will make the rig about 8 ounces negative underwater.

 

Edited October 14, 2012 by jlyle

[tobbe 0]

Looks good jlyle,

I have been looking at the ULCS Buoyancy arms, but the Styx floats could be another alternative.

Edited October 15, 2012 by tobbe

[Deep6 7]

Looks good jlyle,

I have been looking at the ULCS Buoyancy arms, but this could be Styx floats could be another alternative.

 

Be sure to check out if these arms add a significant amount of buoyancy. I don't think they do.

 

Bob

[Alex_Tattersall 90]

It is well worth checking our Stix own arms if you don’t own any arms already. They are significantly more lightweight than lattice style arms.

[Deep6 7]

OK, this is not for underwater use, but I thought some of you OM-D E-5 users might be interested. I added the side grip of HLD-6 battery holder to the camera. As mention, this gives a good handle. The tripod mount may be centered on the lens axis with this addition. Parallax test some time before spring may be! I have adapted the Olympus GS-4 grip strap to work with out the bottom battery holder. I used the RRS BP-CS plate from my D80. There is a small slot on the end for the bottom of the grip strap. Another bonus: I think the RRS D200 l-plate will be centered on axis for both landscape and portrait modes with the full battery holder installed.

 

Regards,

Bob

Edited October 24, 2012 by Deep6

[glee719 6]

Sorry Dominique I just saw your response and want to thank you for letting me see the larger-res pictures. I am pretty ok with the output, thanks!

 

You can find them on flickr , but you won't see them at more than 2048*1365 because my pictures are supposed to be protected on Flickr ,this size is probably not enough for your purpose .

Anyway the adress is:http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189548@N05/sets/72157631727209942/

 

 

 

[derway 2]

So I own an OMD, and feel screwed by olympus housing not being compatible with all the PEN ports. What were they thinking?

 

What ports are avaible for the oly pt-ep08? Are there any 3rd party ports out? Seems like it would be easy for someone to make an adapter for this larger size port, down to all the pen size ports, which would fit the m43 lenses...

 

Help!

 

The nauty housing is more than I want to spend.

 

I'm about to pitch it all, and buy the new oly epl5, same sensor as the omd, but no VF, and much less photog friendly. But the camera and oly housing are cheaper than the nauticam housing and port, for the omd, and 14-28 lens.

 

Curse them. Why the incompatible port system, for the omd housing???

 

Phil, have you had a chance to ask them this?

 

What about 10 bar?

 

Thanks!

Don