Questions about upgrading my Olympus housing

[hsakols]

Hello,

 

I'm so happy to have found this forum!

 

I am getting ready for a dive trip to Indonesia.  

 

I have an old Olympus PT-EP08 housing with the flat port it came with, and the PP0-EP02 dome port that I use with the 8mm 1.8 pro.  The EM5 mark one works, but I want the newer sensor and more accurate and faster auto focus.  I am now looking at AOI housings for either the OM-5 or OM-1.  It looks like if I go the OM-1 route, I will need to buy entirely new system because it has the newer mount.  My questions are:

 

1. If I purchase the AOI housing for the Olympus EM5iii or OM Systems OM-5 can I still use my old ports?  Also would I be able to add another Nauticam Grip for two strobes?

2. If I went with the OM Systems OM-1 what ports would I need for usiong a 60mm and 8mm lens. I would want a glass port. I hesitate with this because of the cost of an entirely new system.  

 

Thanks,

Hugh

 

 

[Griffer]

Hi Hugh there are adaptors available .  https://www.aoi-uw.com/products/lens-ports/aoi-ad-lp-01.html

[Troporobo]

I can answer your second question, assuming you mean a Nauticam housing, as that is the system I use.  (If you meant an AOI housing, you need to move to the OM-1 mk II as the original OM-1 housing has been discontinued)  For the 60mm macro lens, you need the N85 Macro Port 65 (#36163).  For the 8mm PRO lens, Nautical recommends the N85 140mm glass port plus (#36048) plus the 17mm N85 extension ring (#36617) or you can use the N85 4.33" acrylic dome (#36132) plus the 20mm N85 extension ring (#36620). I do not feel the need for a focus ring for either lens as I never use manual focus

 

FWIW, EM-1 mk II systems are coming up for sale from time to time. That's what I use, and I haven't upgraded as I don't see a big advantage to upgrading yet. 

[Chris Ross]

If you are looking at a new system, note that the AOI housings don't use a viewfinder they just have a window no optics to look into the viewfinder, they really are designed around using the rear screen.

 

Assuming you go with new domes and ports for the 60mm macro and 8mm fisheye and are looking at a 4/4.5"dome port in glass prices including a 4/4.5"dome and macro port are as follows(backscatter) :

 

AOI- OM-1 $2312

AOI - OM-5 $2212

Isotta OM-1 $3243  comes with handles

Isotta OM-5 $2686  plus $218 for handles

 

You need to add a full tray with handles for the AOI option.  For the Isotta OM-1 it's ready to take ball mounts on the handles. 

 

At that price I'd seriously consider the Isotta, it's much more adaptable, you can get a 45°viewfinder for example and a greater range of accessories and if you can find one the Olympus mini flash is usable and a great triggering option. 

 

Of course if you decide to use your old domes the AOI is a bit cheaper, it's certainly usable, the PEN ports are smaller diameter though and will likely restrict which lens you can use, so the 12-40 f2.8 I think doesn't fit and adapting the excellent canon 8-15 fisheye (effectively combines the 8mm fisheye and a 7-14 zoom for reach) wouldn't be possible - but quite easy on Isotta.

[humu9679]

Saw this on Scubaboard for the 140mm port, 17mm extension and the Olympus 8mm fisheye: https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/nauticam-port-olympus-lens.654395/

 

I liked the smaller footprint of the Panasonic 8mm - which seemed fine to me.

[Klaus]

I once read that the AOI polycarbonate housing for the OM-1 uses the ports from the former Pen-series housings (better to check this yourself). In that case, the adapters mentioned above by @Griffer should indeed allow you to continue using your PT-EP08 ports. Rumor has it that the Olympus Polycarbonate housings were made by what is now(or already back then) AOI, hence the adapters for the EM-1 housings should fit.
Maybe some of the seasoned members can comment on this - I would like to know more about that myself, too.

[bvanant]

I have the AOI OM-1 housing, previously I had the Isotta for the EM1-III. Both are good housings, but the AOI is like $1000 cheaper and has built in vacuum and LED trigger. For Isotta you will need some other method to trigger strobes and a separate vacuum system. The Isotta is MUCH prettier (cool Ferrari red) but in over 650 dives the AOI has been bulletproof and does the things a housing should do (it keeps the water out and lets you get to all the controls). I have long understood that my photos are not important to anyone but me and $1000 is 5 local dive trips or a few days at a resort. On liveaboards of course I have camera/housing envy. The guy with the $10K Canon R5d/Nauticam/EMWL systems get all the love but while I have camera envy, I don't have photo envy. The AOI/OM-1 is "better" than I am so using it well is what I worry about. null

[Klaus]

Great shot, envy or not. 😉

So, @bvanant does that housing have the Pen size port mount? I know I’m hijacking the OP’s topic here (apologies) but for completeness sake: Does the AOI OM1 housing allow continued use of Pen-ports when upgrading to an OM1?

[hsakols]

Yes, the AOI OM1 housing has the Pen port mount, while the AOI OM 5 has the OM-D port system.  I'm still unclear if an Olympus Port will fit the AOI OM-D port system.  

[humu9679]

I believe the PEN mounts include the old Olympus housings for the E-M1, E-M5, E-M10, etc, and includes some AOI branded housings. There is an adapter to fit some of the old ports onto the newer "OM-D" housings but there are ports made specifically for OM-D

 

OM System's nomenclature is appropriate given its history, but it is confusing. OM-D E-xx, E-PLx are Olympus names, and OM-1, OM-5 are OM System names.

[humu9679]

2 hours ago, bvanant said:

The guy with the $10K Canon R5d/Nauticam/EMWL systems get all the love but while I have camera envy, I don't have photo envy. The AOI/OM-1 is "better" than I am so using it well is what I worry about. null

 

 

Camera envy or not ... that's a fine photo. I figure it's better to be streamlined traveling around these days. Unless you're a business writing this stuff off, or a trust fund baby, I'd say save some dough and put it in your 401k.

[Chris Ross]

 

3 hours ago, Klaus said:

Great shot, envy or not. 😉

So, @bvanant does that housing have the Pen size port mount? I know I’m hijacking the OP’s topic here (apologies) but for completeness sake: Does the AOI OM1 housing allow continued use of Pen-ports when upgrading to an OM1?

It seems the OM-1 housing uses the PEN ports, while the OM-5 uses the OM-D ports, which seems an odd choice.  While the PEN port adapters are readily available, having an OM-D port housing opens up possibilities as it's a larger mount.

[hsakols]

I finally got the answer to my question. Yes, I can use my Olympus ports with the AOI EM5iii / OM-5 housing, but AOI is moving away from the OMD mount.  If I upgrade my camera to an OM-1 or OM-2, I must purchase new AOI ports.  My Olympus PPO-EPO2 glass dome port for the 8mm 1.8 lens was expensive.  I must decide whether to upgrade my camera and ports or continue with the old system.  

[Chris Ross]

If you choose to upgrade to the OM-1, I would seriously look at options other than AOI.  Your other option would be to search around and see if you can find an adapter to use your Olympus ports on a new system.  Their housings are quite cheap but their dome ports are relatively expensive.  For example their 4"glass dome is $899 while Isotta sell their 4.5"glass dome for $682.

[cerich]

On 1/25/2025 at 4:22 PM, Troporobo said:

  (If you meant an AOI housing, you need to move to the OM-1 mk II as the original OM-1 housing has been discontinued)

the current OM-1 AOI housing does work with either MK1 or Mk2, same as first one.