Need some advice: What lens setup for m4/3 (OM-D)

[MarkHerm 1]

Hi!

 

After debating with myself about the pro's and con's of various setups, I think I need some input from you guys.

I decided to get a OM-D in a Nauticam housing and strobe(s). So far I shot above water with a Canon 5D Mark I but I never wanted to house it because of weight, seize and cost. My underwater camera for snapshots has been a Panasonic LX 3 in 10bar housing with no external strobe. With this setup I took 70% of all underwater pictures at 24mm FF-equivalent (widest setting) behind a standard flat port.

 

I am after 2 or max. 3 lenses (and ports) as I want to keep the setup small, light weighted and travel friendly.

 

I loved the 15mm Fisheye on my 5D even above water so it seems to me a no brainer to get the 8mm Panasonic Fisheye anyways and put it under the dedicated nauticam dome. I am fully aware that this lens is special and probably cannot serve as my always-on lens.

 

So what to get next?!

At first, I thought about housing the 12/50 lens. It has a dedicated macro mode and covers a mid range focal length behind the offered flat port. The downside is the cost of the port (around 800 Euro / $ 1,000) so I am a little hesistant to buy it as I don't know how useful it's going to be. It's probably not as good as a dedicated macro and it's not as wide as WA lense. So how useful is the range of 24-100 FF equivalent underwater with a macro function behind a flat port?

 

I also could get the Olympus 9-18 with the 4" dome. This would be a moderate WA lens. Does this make sense in addition to the 8mm fisheye? Can the 9/18 behind a dome be useful as an always-on lens when you don't know what to expect to see during a dive? Additionally, Nauticam offers a flip-on wet lens holder for 9/18 dome. Would it make sense to add a subsee macro diopter for this lens? The focal length is rather limited, so would this work for some macro work?

 

Of course, I could get the 45mm or upcoming 60mm macro besides the 8mm fisheye. But I am wondering if this two-lenses combination might be a little too extreme, especially on regular dives when you simply don't know what to expect. I don't do any special subjects underwater so I shoot everything and anywhere I get to dive, from the quarry to Komodo.

 

Should I consider other lenses that I don't have in my radar yet?

 

 

As you can see, I am a little at loss here. any input is greatly appreciated!

 

Cheers!

[jlyle 8]

I have the 8mm, 12-50, and 45mm lenses. I borrowed a 14-45 and port for a recent trip while waiting to get the 12-50 port.

 

IMHO, you need the 8mm and Nauticam dome - love this lens for WA!

 

Either get the 45mm or wait for the 60mm - macro is so satisfying and pretty.

 

I found the 14-45 lens to be very nice for I-don't-know-what-i'm-going-to-see dives - reasonably wide, good for fish portraits, and, with a 67mm wet lens adapter like the SubSee 10X, you can shoot great macro.

 

Of course, the 12-50 is better glass than the 14-45, but I haven't taken it u/w yet.

 

All of the micro 4/3 lenses are small, as are the ports, so the decision between two or three combinations isn't important.

 

Here's a link to my recent trip and lots of pictures taken with the above lenses:

 

http://diver.net/bbs/posts003/86335.shtml

[MarkHerm 1]

Thanks. Great pics by the way!

 

Have you received your 12-50 port yet? I heard somewhere that it has 77mm thread so common wet lenses cannot be attached directly. Can you attach a flip on Subsee to it?

Regarding macro, I think I'll wait until there is a price announcement for the 60mm. But I assume that the port will be quite expensive as I've read the lens is going to have a lot of manual switches.

 

Let me ask you some additional questions How often did you use the 14-45 zoomed to large end (e.g. 45) when not taking macro with it? I am still trying to assess wheather I should go for the 12-50 or 9-18 for I-don't-know-what-i'm-going-to-see dives. With my Lumix LX3 I barely zoomed and almost always used as wide angeled as I could (24mm behind a flat port). The question is for me, do I really need the 12-50 with its macro ability if I get a dedicated macro lens anyways? It would be only worth it if the mid zoom range of the 12-50 gives a benefit over the moderate wide angle of the 9-18.

 

It would be awesome if I could rent all the equipment so I could give it a shot but there is no way around here... I'd like to avoid buying stuff now that end up being pretty useless just because I don't have any experience with underwater lense setups.

[jlyle 8]

AFAIK, the 12-50 lens-port has not shipped in the US, yet. I've been told the port is 77mm so an adapter is necessary for 67mm add-ons.

 

I used the 14-42 kit lens on both ends of the zoom and lots in between - reasonable WA and fish portraits. Until I get the port for the 12-50, I can't compare it to the 14-45. I was, however, very satisfied with the 14-42 and consider it a viable choice for u/w.

 

If you are going to fly through LAX, you might be able to arrange for rentals from bluewaterphoto.

[derway 2]

I am in the same quandry - I have an omd and the 12-50 lens, but at $800 for a port, that only gives motorized zoom!!! Why bother. I hate motorized zoo.

 

As for wide angle, you are right the oly 9-18 is not fisheye, nor very wide.

 

The panasonic 7-14 is a great lens, very wide angle fisheye, and many folks have been diving with it.

 

It gives much more angle of view flexibility, by being able to zoom in for big things that won't let you get too close.

 

Much like the tokina 10-17, that is so very popular on apsc DSLRS around here, this would be my choice for wide angle.

[Alex_Tattersall 90]

With regards the 77mm thread on the front of the 12-50mm port, this was included in the design to avoid blocking at 12mm. Nauticam does produce a flip diopter holder with a 77mm to 67mm conversion.

[Phil Rudin 454]

Derway,

 

The Panasonic 7-14mm zoom is a great wide angle lens but unlike the Tokina 10-17 it is NOT a fisheye lens, at 7mm it has a 114 degree rectilinear angle of view lens.

 

Also the Olympus 12-50 zoom can be zoomed in MANUAL as well as in power zoom for video users, Derway are you saying that you have knowledge that the Nauticam zoom gear and port can only be used in power zoom?

 

As Alex T has said the 12-50 port from Nauticam is 77mm rather than 67mm so the lens will not vignette between the 14 and 12mm range.

 

Phil Rudin

[MarkHerm 1]

Nauticam does produce a flip diopter holder with a 77mm to 67mm conversion.

 

That is good to know! Is this flip diopter holder already available? If so, do you have a part number / official name as I cannot find it at the moment? Besides, are there any good third party flip diopter holders for 77 threads and 67 wet lenses?

 

Derway are you saying that you have knowledge that the Nauticam zoom gear and port can only be used in power zoom?

 

I am not Derway but I did read somewhere (probably Scubaboard) a while ago that the Nauticam port for the 12/50 would only support the power zoom not the manual zoom. I don't know if this is true though.

Edited September 15, 2012 by MarkHerm

[Phil Rudin 454]

I think what you may have read is that in the E-M5 firmware version 1.1 the lens will be able to zoom between 12mm or 50mm by using the U/W wide angle mode or the U/W macro mode to power zoom the lens without a gear. This would allow the lens to be used in a port with no gear but only at the two ends of the lens (12 and 50), not throughout the zoom range and not in the macro mode.

 

Phil Rudin

[Deep6 7]

Pardon the digression, but I handled the Olympus E-M5 w. 12- 50 lens Thursday. I couldn’t put it down, so it came home with me. The lens doesn’t come with a hood. Minor excavation in the camera cave uncovered a Nikon HN-2 hood and a Nikon 52 mm lens cap. Gee a real metal hood! Well OK, its aluminum and from pervious misadventures I know it is very rugged. The hood does not vignette at 12 mm (24 FX equ.). The Oly cap won’t grip in this hood, but the Nikon of course does.

 

The adventure begins!

 

Regards,

Bob

.

[derway 2]

Hi Phil and all.

 

Yes, that is what Edward has said several times. The nauticam 12-50 port will only support motorized zoom.

 

I hope and pray I am wrong.

 

Aloha from Kona.

[Deep6 7]

Aloha from Kona.

 

Hey Don (you lucky dog), are you going to do a black water night dive. It is great.

 

Bob

[derway 2]

I've done them quite a few times, with the original dive makai, who first started doing it.

 

Alas, I am mostly here to help my parents move into a retirement home, much ahead of need IMNSHO.

[RogerC 4]

regarding the 12-50, I do dislike motorized zoom for stills, but it is the way to go for video, and it may surprise you how much video you start to shoot.

 

regarding the 7-14, i vastly prefer rectilinear to fisheye, but after shooting the regular (not micro) oly zuiko 7-14mm for years and never getting sharp corners, I'm pretty happy with the sharpness of the little m4/3 8mm... not to mention the cost and size of the lens and dome. The old athena dome I used with my 7-14 was pretty small, but it feels like a bus windshield now.

 

Regarding lenses in general, think how you shoot and what you shoot. On his E330, I think I can say that jim used his oly 14-54 lens 90% of the time. I took mine in the water once. Different styles. I have no interest in taking my 12-50 in the water due to that port price, I'll probably even sell the lens. Only bought it because I had to buy a kit to get the camera early (anyone want it? email me an offer). But that 60mm macro, can't wait until that comes out.

 

The other lens I really want is that tiny new ultra pancake 15mm so I can carry the camera in my pocket all the time on land.

[jlyle 8]

On his E330, I think I can say that jim used his oly 14-54 lens 90% of the time.

 

More like 50% with the 14-54 and 50% with the 50mm.

[Alex_Mustard 0]

I intend to get the 8mm FE and 60mm (when released). I also have the 12-50mm, which came with the camera.

 

Alex

[Herb Segars 5]

Alex:

 

You have so many cameras available. Why did you choose to buy the OM-D? I have been very interested in this camera.

[Alex_Mustard 0]

It is a great second camera, with specific strengths and image quality more than good enough for publication (and non of the drawbacks of a compact). A bit like having a Nik V and SLR housing when shooting film. There are certain shots that are more easily achieved with the small camera.

I really like the format (sensor size). If it had been full frame I would have definitely avoided it.

Alex

[Herb Segars 5]

Thanks, Alex. I was thinking along the same lines. I am using a Nikon D300 in a Subal housing. I love the camera but I have been hoping for a DX updrage and don't really want to go to FX. I loved the results that you achieved with the Olympus and I agree with everything that you say about it. Much of my photography is in the low light levels off New Jersey. I saw some photos taken in the great lakes with the Olympus using auto ISO and no strobe and was really impressed. I often have to push the ISO in order to match available light so high level ISO is important to me. I also like the fact that it is a much smaller rig and would be ideal for travel. As I get older, I find that I need to travel lighter. Thanks again for the info. I do have one last question. I have been using the Tokina 10-17 and it is a great lens. I love the fact that I can shoot close if the viz isn't so good. That being said, I am more of a fan of a rectilinear lens. Would you recomend the 7-14 to kind of replace the Tokina on an Olympus?

[loftus 42]

It is a great second camera, with specific strengths and image quality more than good enough for publication (and non of the drawbacks of a compact). A bit like having a Nik V and SLR housing when shooting film. There are certain shots that are more easily achieved with the small camera.

I really like the format (sensor size). If it had been full frame I would have definitely avoided it.

Alex

Alex, as you have a D7000, except for a smaller rig what are the benefits of the Olympus for someone already invested in Nikon gear?

[glee719 6]

I just spent 2 weeks with OMD on land, and about 15 dives with E-PL3 underwater in Olympus housing in Hawaii. I bought the OMD couple weeks before the trip and learning from my past mistakes I decided not to get a brand new housing/ports right before the trip even though I was tempted. I have to say, OMD is one solid camera and the lenses are spetacular (12mm f/2, 20mm f/1.7, and 45mm f/1.8 for land, 9-18mm for uw). Now I have to get on the bandwagon to put together a Nauticam housing/port system before my next dive trip. It will allow me to travel as light as I can with all micro four third setup.

 

So I guess nobody is jumping on the Olympus PT-EP08 housing for the OMD huh?

Edited September 17, 2012 by glee719

[guyharrisonphoto 21]

I got to demo dive the OM-D in the Nauticam housing. I have heard the Oly housing will be about the same price as the Nauticam, but I have not seen the Oly housing available for sale in the U.S. yet. Having the OLY housing for the E-PL2, I can certainly say I have no intention of getting anything other than the Nauticam when I am finally able to upgrade if he prices are close. If the Oly housing is much cheaper (say, $500-600 cheaper including the ports) then I might be tempted because I could buy another lens).

 

That Nauticam is sure one sweet well-designed housing, I can say that!

[glee719 6]

Hey Guy, yeah you and Phil got me to try OMD. B&H is selling the Olympus housing now, but it looks like the ports are about as much as Nauticam and the polycarbonate Olympus housing is only $200 cheaper than the aluminum Nauticam housing. So it doesn't sound like the Olympus route is worth it.

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/885082-REG/Olympus_v6300560g000_PT_EP08_Underwater_Housing_for.html

Edited September 17, 2012 by glee719

[Phil Rudin 454]

I agree, at this time Olympus only has one port designed for the M43 kit lens and it does not come with the housing like The past PEN housings. It seems that they expect owners to buy the adapter and use the older ports from Athena, Inon and Olympus and the 43 DSLR lenses.

 

Phil Rudin

[guyharrisonphoto 21]

 

Based on that info, the Nauticam for sure. They are way ahead on ports and overall quality and design. Not worth to save $200, not at all.

 

I am currently debating between going "all the way" with a housed d800 or going with the OM-D, but now in a Nauticam for sure if I go that way.