Sneak Peak: AOI UH-EM1III

[Pomacentridae 22]

I know a couple of people here that would be happy with this news. [mention]Dann-Oh [/mention] [mention]turandot [/mention]

 

Caught a glimpse of the AOI UH-EM1III housing for Olympus. The housing looks to be compact like their EPL10 housing and also has built in LED flash trigger (unlike their EM5III Housing). Was able to confirm that it uses the PEN port standard. So those that currently have their EPL10 can easily upgrade, I know I will.

 

Tentative release this May 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited March 12, 2022 by Pomacentridae

[turandot 15]

Very interesting news for OMD EM1-III users, and good idea the built-in flash trigger, looks compact in size. I don't like the design of the housings for the OMD EM5-III, because of the height of the camera flash. PEN ports are also a good idea, their size is smaller than OMD ports.

In addition, the Nauticam housing has a high price (2.438,00 EUR / 2,786.00 USD). Obviously there are differences between materials. Housing Body : Polycarbonate vs Aluminium. Another important thing is the weight for travel: Nauticam 2000g vs AOI (EM5-III) 1340g

Congrats! Good work from the AOI team. It can be a bestseller.

[Wapiti 26]

This was rumored a while back, and it's nice to finally see it as I held off on housing my M1mkIII on the idea of saving over Nauticam prices. Still, kind of shocked that they would go with the PEN port system and not the OMD ports as it means the larger Pro lenses (and the PL 8-18) are mostly a no-go.  As someone with existing OMD ports, the M5mkIII or M1mkII would make more sense as there's not much the M1mkIII has over those two underwater.  

[Pomacentridae 22]

This was rumored a while back, and it's nice to finally see it as I held off on housing my M1mkIII on the idea of saving over Nauticam prices. Still, kind of shocked that they would go with the PEN port system and not the OMD ports as it means the larger Pro lenses (and the PL 8-18) are mostly a no-go.  As someone with existing OMD ports, the M5mkIII or M1mkII would make more sense as there's not much the M1mkIII has over those two underwater.  

Yeah I am hoping they did something with the PEN port to accommodate the pro lenses. As it is an OMD body.

Looking at the PEN Port the inner diameter is 70mm. The neck of the pro lenses taper to 60mm outer diameter. There might be a solution where the PEN port bells out to accommodate the pro lenses. Dunno just speculating. I asked them about support for the 12-40mm they would not say.


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[Wapiti 26]

Thanks for asking them- the 12-40 is my default lens underwater so I'm glad you brought it up.

[cueea1988 0]

UH-EM1III have lens and port release button 
so camera body in housing can mount the lens and port

 

[Phil Rudin 485]

I reviewed the AOI housing for Olympus EPL-10 in issue #110 at uwpmag.com and found it to be an excellent entry level choice. AOI built the housings for Olympus for years and they have excellent support for the most used lenses. 

I hope AOI will consider a housing for the new OM-systems OM-1 because the EM-1 III was a bit of a disappointment for me and not worth the upgrade from the MKII. The OM-1 on the other hand seems to be well worth the upgrade just to the the muck better EVF and LCD plus better focus and tracking. 

The only lenses that the Pen ports don't cover is the 8" dome range and they may offer one at some point. I think folks using this system would be much more likely to use the 14-42 with a wide wet lens like the AOI UWL-09 than to house the 7-14 or 8-25mm anyway. 

 

[Pomacentridae 22]

Just some additional photos of the AOI UH-EM1III housing.

Based on the images, there doesn’t seem to be a port for the EVF, but maybe you can see thru the clear window at the back. The PEN port doesn’t look like a standard PEN port. Vacuum valve and system is included standard.







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[Pomacentridae 22]

@Wapiti and @Phil Rudin

Good news! I just got a reply from AOI and my theory is correct. By default the housing uses a PEN port but there is a special adapter that will allow the use of OMD ports on it, basically it'll support your PRO lenses: 12-40mm pro, 12-100mm IS pro, 7-14mm pro and 8mm pro.

[caolino 7]

Just some additional photos of the AOI UH-EM1III housing.

Based on the images, there doesn’t seem to be a port for the EVF, but maybe you can see thru the clear window at the back. The PEN port doesn’t look like a standard PEN port. Vacuum valve and system is included standard.







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Thanks for sharing. Any information about dimensions and weight?

[Pomacentridae 22]

@caolino no official information as of yet. But judging from some parts on the camera with known dimensions (vacuum valve, screen, ports, etc.), it looks like it is just a little bigger than the EPL10 housing. Definitely smaller than the EM5III housing they have.

[Wapiti 26]

18 hours ago, Pomacentridae said:

@Wapiti and @Phil Rudin

Good news! I just got a reply from AOI and my theory is correct. By default the housing uses a PEN port but there is a special adapter that will allow the use of OMD ports on it, basically it'll support your PRO lenses: 12-40mm pro, 12-100mm IS pro, 7-14mm pro and 8mm pro.

Thanks so much for the update!  Pretty excited about this.  Crossing my fingers that it comes in a camo pattern like their m5mkIII housing

[turandot 15]

On 3/15/2022 at 8:39 AM, Pomacentridae said:

@caolino Definitely smaller than the EM5III housing they have.

This is a success, I don't like any of the current OMD EM5 Mark III underwater cases, because the size (height) of the flash. Nauticam, Isotta, AOI.. all the models have the same design about the FL‑LM3 Flash inside the camera. For the design of the underwater housing I think it's better to incorporate a trigger inside of the housing.

Less interior space and more compact design for travel and less battery consumption of the camera.

[Dann-Oh 40]

@Pomacentridae OH MAN, thanks for this info. This is VERY exciting news.  I am interested in a few things.

1) How will the housing use this special adapter to accommodate BOTH the PEN and OMD port sizes? Will the housing come with the "aoi-ad-lp-01" installed (its the PEN to OMD port adapter)?

2) Do we have an estimated price point and or release date? the EPL10 is about $650, EM5-3 is about $900 (without flash trigger), I'm guessing the EM1-3 will be in the $1,000 to $1,200 range. If so, Id be willing to sell off my EPL10 for the EM1-3 housing I would still be able to use the PEN ports so that would be awesome.

3) having the integrated flash trigger will be awesome since the EM1-3 battery is so much better than the EPL10 battery

4) I really hope we can get something fun for the external of the camera housing, I really like my EPL10 tentacle design, Im less of a fan of the EM5-3 camo (but its better than just plain black).

5) I also just got the 9-18 but haven't ordered the port for it yet, I'm wondering if I should hold off and revaluate my lens decisions/choices.

Edited March 23, 2022 by Dann-Oh

[Pomacentridae 22]

On 3/23/2022 at 10:00 PM, Dann-Oh said:

@Pomacentridae OH MAN, thanks for this info. This is VERY exciting news.  I am interested in a few things.

1) How will the housing use this special adapter to accommodate BOTH the PEN and OMD port sizes? Will the housing come with the "aoi-ad-lp-01" installed (its the PEN to OMD port adapter)?

2) Do we have an estimated price point and or release date? the EPL10 is about $650, EM5-3 is about $900 (without flash trigger), I'm guessing the EM1-3 will be in the $1,000 to $1,200 range. If so, Id be willing to sell off my EPL10 for the EM1-3 housing I would still be able to use the PEN ports so that would be awesome.

3) having the integrated flash trigger will be awesome since the EM1-3 battery is so much better than the EPL10 battery

4) I really hope we can get something fun for the external of the camera housing, I really like my EPL10 tentacle design, Im less of a fan of the EM5-3 camo (but its better than just plain black).

5) I also just got the 9-18 but haven't ordered the port for it yet, I'm wondering if I should hold off and revaluate my lens decisions/choices.

1) I honestly don't know, but it is clear from the images the port seems to be a modified PEN port.

2) No Price announced yet. But they will be announcing soon. Launch date would be May 2022.

3) Agree! I can't confirm, my Chinese is bad. But if I translate correctly is says that is a "High-speed" flash trigger system and USB-C Charging. Hoping that means high-speed sync.

4) I hope so too. But all the images I have seen are all black.

5) I understand from my conversations that all these lenses would be supported: https://www.aoi-uw.com/media/wysiwyg/AOI_Ports_Chart_for_OLYMPUS_Housings.pdf

 

[Barmaglot 262]

29 minutes ago, Pomacentridae said:

Hoping that means high-speed sync.

Highly unlikely. I would assume that it refers to burst ability rather than HSS.

[Pomacentridae 22]

Hi All,

Updated press release here:

https://www.aoi-uw.com/news/aoi_uh-em1III_housing/

Highlights for me is the LED trigger, supports a) Manual Flash Trigger (with and without Pre-flashes Modes) and b) Olympus RC Flash (TTL Auto, Manual, FP TTL, FP Manual)


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[turandot 15]

According to the press release the price will be USD999

Edited April 8, 2022 by turandot

[Phil Rudin 485]

If you want to look at some high quality images of this housing backscatter.com now has the housing listed. Also perhaps overlooked is that this housing supports both the EM-1 III and EM-1 II with a modification. The housing does list for the $999.00 US and they are taking orders/ pre-orders, does not specify. 

It will be interesting to see if AOI also release a housing for the new OM Systems OM-1, I would like to see a pen port for the 30mm macro. 

The 14-42mm EZ port allows you to add a bayonet mount and use lenses like the AOI UCL-09 and UWL-90 or Nauticam CMC-1/2 and WWL-1.

[Wapiti 26]

I'd buy it today except that there's no clarity on adapting OMD ports to this housing, at least not yet.  I can't imagine they would shoot themselves in the foot by limiting the housing to just PEN ports.  Other than that issue, there's lots to like here, especially the form factor:  shorter, shallower, and 2 pounds lighter than my Olympus M1 housing.

 

For Phil- AOI's website indicates that their FLP-04 port is for the 30mm and PEN housings:

https://www.aoi-uw.com/products/lens-ports/aoi-flp-04.html

...however, that model is not listed that way at Backscatter.

[turandot 15]

When buying an underwater housing there are many factors to consider, including weight, size and the money you want to spend.
Here you can see a comparison of 3 different brands:

AOI Olympus OM-D E-M1 II & III Underwater Housing UH-EM1III
https://www.backscatter.com/AOI-Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-II-III-Underwater-Housing-UH-EM1III

• AOI PEN Port System
• Built-In RC & Manual Flash Trigger
• Vacuum System Included
• Material: Polycarbonate
• Handles: Not included
• Depth Rated: 45m / 148ft
• Dimensions: 194mm (W) x 128mm (H) x 145mm (D)
• Weight in Air: 950 gr
• Price $999.00

Isotta Olympus OM-D E-M1 III Underwater Housing
https://www.backscatter.com/Isotta-E-M1II-Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-II-Underwater-Housing

• Built-In Tray
• Double O-ring Seals
• Vacuum System Ready
• Use the Camera's Flash or get Nikonos Bulkhead
• Vacuum System: Not included (+$339)
• Flash Trigger: Not included
• Material: Anodized aluminium
• Handles: Included
• Depth Rating: 100m/330ft
• Weight in Air: 1,000 gr
• Size: 180 W. x 110 D. x 190 H.
• Price $1,890.00

Nauticam Underwater Housing NA-EM1III
https://www.backscatter.com/Nauticam-Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-III-Underwater-Housing-NA-EM1III

• Includes Built In Handles & Ball Mounts
• Vacuum System Ready, not included (+$334)
• Flash Trigger: Not included (+$338)
• Compatible With Olympus Flash
• Depth Rating: 100m/330ft
• Material: Aluminium
• Handles: Included
• Dimensions: 305mm(W) x 175mm(H) x 116mm(D)
• Weight in Air: 2,000 gr
• Price $2,786.00

[Wapiti 26]

I reached out to AOI to ask about the ports, and they replied: 

"The AOI UH-EM1III housing is designed to work with PEN mount port.  It can also work with OMD ports by adding an adapter for OMD port to PEN Mount Housing.  The adapter will be launched in the near future."

 We shall see...

[Dann-Oh 40]

13 hours ago, Wapiti said:

I reached out to AOI to ask about the ports, and they replied: 

"The AOI UH-EM1III housing is designed to work with PEN mount port.  It can also work with OMD ports by adding an adapter for OMD port to PEN Mount Housing.  The adapter will be launched in the near future."

 We shall see...

I'm interested to see how they plan to enlarge the diameter of the PEN port.  Adding an adapter does not seem to be the way to enlarge the diameter.  I also know AOI has the "aoi-ad-lp-01" (its the PEN to OMD port adapter)available today but it is to be used with the OMD sized housings.

 

Id also be interested in seeing if the EM1iii trigger can be used as a replacement for the EPL10 trigger, it would be nice to have BOTH housings have the same charge cable (USB C) so I only have to pack 1 charge cable for my housings and my phone.  But I just realized that my strobe battery charger is also micro usb so Ill have to pack both cables anyways.

Edited April 13, 2022 by Dann-Oh

[Dann-Oh 40]

On 3/21/2022 at 4:37 PM, turandot said:

This is a success, I don't like any of the current OMD EM5 Mark III underwater cases, because the size (height) of the flash. Nauticam, Isotta, AOI.. all the models have the same design about the FL‑LM3 Flash inside the camera. For the design of the underwater housing I think it's better to incorporate a trigger inside of the housing.

Less interior space and more compact design for travel and less battery consumption of the camera.

This is a more compact design and its only $100 more, that's totally worth the price.

[Dann-Oh 40]

@Pomacentridae Is there any chance we could get side by side photos comparing the EM1iii to the EM5iii and EPL10 housings?