Use of a Filter?

Hope this is in correct category -

Question on filters .... read several articales on the use of the the 'Magic' filter of 'Pro cy', and how they can make such a huge difference to non-flash photography.

However when I went to look at buying a Mgic filter the comment was that they do not suit non-SLR digital cameras.

I will be using an Olympus C-8080 .... does anybody have advice on what filter to use ?

I do not intend buying flah/strobe units initially so use of a flter for ambinet light dives would seem a good idea.

Also do these fit on the lens and therefore inside the housing ? sorry if this last question seem really stupid.

Your question is certainly not stupid.

Coloured filters do work very well in the age of digital photography, especially in creating even lighting over large area.

For your camera, i am not sure of the best way to get a filter. As far as i know, the lens on the 8080 moves in and out with the zoom function and i am not sure it has a filter mount on the front or if this is even possible due to the lens moving in and out...

A lot of the smaller cameras have an add on filter that fits on the outside of the housing, ie a wet mate. Usually these are only for the regular flat port though. If you get a wide angle add on to your Ikelite (i read your other post...) i am not really sure what your options would be.

Perhaps someone with more experience in this area will chime in

Osprey,

Most of the advice found on the magic filter website can be applied to other filters (e.g. how they work, what they do, how to make the best of them, etc.).

The major difference is that magic filters fit directly onto a dSLR lens, while filters for consumer cameras generally fit in front of the housing part (wet filters).

In terms of where to get one for your housing, Ikelite distribute the UR Pro filters that match their ports:

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/oly5050acc.html

Alternatively, I've used a filter from 10Bar with my Nikon CP5000 and Aquatica housing. That works pretty well and may fit your housing too, if you ask them.

Cheers,

Mat

It’s probably possible to mount a filter inside the housing on the inner side of the port, need to order a big enough filter and cut it according the port dimensions.

I recently had a similar issue with a 7070.

Our solution was to cut up ( sacrifice ) a 67mm magic filter. We managed to get 3 units from 1 filter.

The 8080 has a 58mm thread in the lens, so it should be possible to cut a 67mm down. Try to get a thin filter .

Our attachment solution was very agricultural - we used tape to attach the filter to the lens port.

Sometimes it's neccessary to adapt to suit you situation .... ( on a boat in the middle of the ocean makes it hard to swim down to the local camera store )

Good Luck !

UR Pro also make good filters for compact cameras. On many models these can be screwed directly onto the front of the port. Although the larger sizes are pretty pricey.

http://www.urprofilters.com/

Alex

Don't know about the Ike but the Olympus PT housing doesn't have enough room to fit a 55mm screw in filter between the standard port glass and the zoomed lens.

Ahh ... that was going to be my question, I had many years with film SLR, and it's normal there to simply screw on a filter onto thread on front of lens barrel

Anybody know if I could do this with the Ikelite housing ? or do I need to screw filter onto the housing glass itself?

The Ikelite (or at least most Ikelite digital housings) comes with an optional UR-pro filter that fits over the lens port. It has a rubber sleeve that holds it in place on there.

Check their website for details. The press-on filter does not work on the Olympus housing, however if it has front thread on the lens port, you can probably buy a glass filter to screw on there.

Cheers

James

OK - I'm not getting very far here .... contacted Ikelite, they do not make any filter or attachment for a filter for the C-8080 housing as the lens is too big.

Anybody know how to get around this ?

Hi Osprey,

Things are not sounding good for the Olympus 8080. If you haven't purchased the camera yet, I STRONGLY urge you to reconsider and get a different camera.

Yes, you can buy a magic filter and cut it down to fit on the inside of the glass on the Ikelite housing, but now we're getting into the realm of "just make it work." Wouldn't you rather have a "clean" solution?

The lens on the 8080 is not good for underwater use, and Ikelite will probably tell you that, if they haven't already - when you contacted them about the UR Pro filter.

If you want an 8 megapixel camera (with the same sensor in fact) then get a Coolpix 8400. There is a review here posted by photodpv here - and he really likes this one.

Sincerely,

James Wiseman

I have already bought the C-8080 after loads of very positive reviews on multiple Dive sites, so the Nikon is not really an option.

I did get it at a very good price as well - so the camera really has to stay.

The reviews on line have been superb for it.

The question is whether to get the Ikelite housing ... was just about to buy until the isue of lack of support for a filter arose.

Hoping that others have come across the need to find a filter and have an answer for this.

I understand Ikelite sponsor this site, maybe someone on their team will know how I can achieve a filter solution.

..Ikelite ... you out there ?

I just looked at an 8080 yesterday, it does have a thread on the lens. The zoom is internal so the UR pro should be fine if its available in that size, then just pop it in the housing and you are good to go.

Hopefully Ike will tell you if it fits in their housing, maybe send him a Personal message on this board...

The internal thread size is 58mm if my memory serves me corrrectly.

I have shipped a few UR/ Pro filters to people with the 8080 although I am unsure as to which housings they had.

Still nobody has said they had a problem with clearance and none have been returned.

I don't suppose you have contact detais of anybody who bought one ? be good to be able to contact them and find out if there are no clearance problems.

Or anybody out there fit a filter and have no problems ?