Olympus E410 tunnel vision

I finally got my hands on an Olympus E410 in the Olympus housing. As I struggle with the decision of what to move up to from my current P&S, I am trying to explore all of my options, and in a DSLR I would like to stick with Olympus since I have a few bodies and several lenses already.

Maybe it is just inexperience on my part but using the viewfinder in the housing, approximating the distance from my eyes with a mask on, it looked like I was viewing the world through a narrow tunnel. I don't quite understand how I would get used to this. To put this in context, I often use a DSLR on land and am quite used to viewfinders, even the traditionally small and dark (compared to some other brands) Oly viewfinders.

This really discouraged me. Maybe I'm just a Live View kind of guy underwater? I guess that makes up my mind about whether to go with the E330 that I have or add an E410.

I suppose another option would be to move to a different brand, at least for underwater. My budget is limited and I want to get as compact a setup as possible. I wonder if the viewfinder on, for example, a Canon 400D would be that much better. I could possibly stretch the funds enough to cover a Rebel in a Seatool housing, but there would be no point unless the viewfinder is substantially better.

Am I missing something here?

Also, why is the port for the 14-42 lens so large? I was surprised by its diameter.

House your 330!

The lens port diameter is set by the largest lens the housing will accept - all or the lens ports will be the same diameter.

I finally got my hands on an Olympus E410 in the Olympus housing. As I struggle with the decision of what to move up to from my current P&S, I am trying to explore all of my options, and in a DSLR I would like to stick with Olympus since I have a few bodies and several lenses already.

 

Maybe it is just inexperience on my part but using the viewfinder in the housing, approximating the distance from my eyes with a mask on, it looked like I was viewing the world through a narrow tunnel. I don't quite understand how I would get used to this. To put this in context, I often use a DSLR on land and am quite used to viewfinders, even the traditionally small and dark (compared to some other brands) Oly viewfinders.

 

This really discouraged me. Maybe I'm just a Live View kind of guy underwater? I guess that makes up my mind about whether to go with the E330 that I have or add an E410.

 

I suppose another option would be to move to a different brand, at least for underwater. My budget is limited and I want to get as compact a setup as possible. I wonder if the viewfinder on, for example, a Canon 400D would be that much better. I could possibly stretch the funds enough to cover a Rebel in a Seatool housing, but there would be no point unless the viewfinder is substantially better.

 

Am I missing something here?

 

Also, why is the port for the 14-42 lens so large? I was surprised by its diameter.

Hmmm. I own the camera and housing and just made the transition from a P&S with a 2.5inch LCD. I actually like the clarity of the viewfinder over the LCD. Its bright and so far I haven't missed the LCD at all. I'd make sure you're taking off the little rubber eye cup. Its supposed to be removed with the camera in the housing. That might narrow your field of view. There are some more expensive housings that offer right angle viewfinders that might work better for you. I know that Olympus makes a magnifier for the camera but it won't fit in the oly housing but I'm not certain about Ikelite. BTW, the port for the lens is the perfect diameter with the zoom gear attached.

Draq,

When the 14 to 42 zoom is extended to the 42 mm end it comes close to the dome glass and the port diameter is not relevant. However as the lens is retracted into the port to its wide (14 mm) end the port diameter needs to be wide enough for the lens not to vignette, e.g have the port show in the corners of the image.

You will also need to go to a substantially higher priced camera like the Olympus E-3 before you will get much difference in viewfinder size. Other housings have the advantage of adding a larger viewfinder to the housing but at a cost from $600.00 to $1100.00 just for the accessory finder.

Most who have used this housing system said that they found the viewfinder quite easy to use after a few dives. The learning curve is about the same for the oversized viewfinder and the 45 degree viewfinder if not longer.

Phil

Well, that makes sense (the vignetting), I should have realized that right off. I will check again and see if the rubber eyecup was off. I assumed it had to be to fit in the housing, but didn't pay much attention beyond that.

I am strongly leaning toward housing the E330, which will allow me the option of lcd or viewfinder. I would like the improvements found in the latest Oly bodies and the new E410 housing, but I'd hate to put so much into a body and housing and not be able to enjoy it. I don't really need an E410 and would only use it for underwater. I don't have the ability to dive with and E410 and actually use it, and that is part of my concern.

If I find the viewfinder works for me on the E330 then I can later move to something else to get the benefits of the newer bodies and/or housings, but if not, I'll have the benefits of a DSLR with the LCD of a point and shoot. At least that's how it looks to me. Is this a sane approach?

On a related note, I am leaning towards the Olympus E330 housing with the Athena TTL converter and a single Inon z240 strobe, partly for the AA batteries, and partly for the compact size of the strobe. I am one of those who has to fly to dive and already have a bunch of dive gear to carry. I know JLyle uses the Ike with Ike strobes and loves them.

Can anyone tell me roughly how negative the setup I am looking at would be in seawater? Coming from P&S cameras in housings, I am a bit intimidated by the size of these setups.

Drag,

The upsides to the PT-E03/E-410 so far out weight the down side of a little more shutter lag that I would think twice. For one, by the time you add the higher cost of the E-330 housing and TTL converter over the E-410 housing using fiber optics you have covered the cost of the E-410 body. I have used both the Olympus E-330 housing and E-410 housing with a converter and wired cords. I can tell you without question that fiber optics are the better choice.

Phil Rudin

Thanks for the input, gentlemen.

Decisions, Decisions.....If only housings didn't cost so much I could house both cameras and experiment. Too bad Live View "A" couldn't be (or wasn't) implemented in the 410/510 or E3, then this would be easy.

I will continue to dwell upon this.

Thanks again, your patience is appreciated and I'm sure I will have more questions soon.

I can tell you without question that fiber optics are the better choice.

Phil Rudin

Sorry to invade the post, but I am considering in housing a OLY E-410, with the Olympus housing + an INON Z-240, and you have mentioned that "fiber optics are the better choice".....

.....why and what are the reasons for a better choice on "fiber optics" instead of "electrical sync-cords"?

-Of course I understand that with an electrical cord connector there is higher risk for a leak than with fiber optics-

Thanks four you help in advance

JR

Too bad Live View "A" couldn't be (or wasn't) implemented in the 410/510 or E3, then this would be easy.

I am not a preowner of a OLY 330, but why the LIVE VIEW of the E-410 "cannot be used for underwater photography" and the one on the E330 it can be used ??

Thanks

JR

Hi JR,

Last question first. The E-330 has a second sensor in the view finder that powers the live view. This means that the mirror in the camera does not need to be raised for the live view to work. As a result their is little or no shutter lag as compared to the E-410, E-3, Nikon and Canon live view offerings when used in auto focus. It also makes the viewfinder of the E-330 darker compared to the E-410 which overall is a much better camera.

Regarding fiber optics, with my two Inon Z-240 strobes I have eliminated five O-rings which are points for leaks. Two into the strobes, two into the TTl converter, and one into the housing bulkhead. The Athena TTL converter is also eliminated reducing cost by about $375.00. Conversion chips regardless of who makes them add cost to the housing unit and are another source for failure. Fiber cables are much more robust than wire cords and can be repaired by snipping a piece out of the cord. With the camera popup flash in use I was able to get over 450 images before the battery low light appeared on the LCD, (not using live view). The accuracy of the exposures using fiber optics in TTL for macro is better than with wire cords on the E-410. The system is lighter and easer to assemble. The money saved buying the E-410 housing over the E-330 housing with TTL conversion is enough to pay for the camera body or other accessories, (about $500.00). Strobes can be interchanged underwater, I use a ring flash with fiber optics as well. Works as well in manual as it does in TTL.

Downsides are that not many strobes work with fiber optics, (upside Inon strobes do). You need a housing that allows the popup flash on the camera to be raised. You will see that more and more housings are being introduced that offer this option.

Phil Rudin

Thanks so much for the full explanation, I understand now a lot more things for possible configuration......

.......the leaks is a "bis concern" as I am not sure to put a DSRL in the water. With the fiber optics, I reduce the risk quite considerable.

Downsides are that not many strobes work with fiber optics, (upside Inon strobes do). You need a housing that allows the popup flash on the camera to be raised. You will see that more and more housings are being introduced that offer this option.

I am thinking of the OLY Housing with the Athena system for the fiber-optics....does the OLY housing allows the popup flash on the camera to be raised??

Many thanks

JR

Yes, the Olympus PT-E03 housing for the E-410 camera has room for the popup flash on the camera. You can see the flash up in this image.

Phil

Hey Phil:

When you travel do you carry your gear on the plane? Just wondering how easy it would be or if it is necessary to check some of it.

Because of the small size of the housing I can carry my 220 mm dome, macro port, extension ports for the 7 to 14 zoom, and 1.4 & 2 X tele converters, two Inon Z240 strobes, my ring flash, several camera bodies, all my lenses, dive computer, all fiber optics equipment along with the housing in an ThinkTank Airport Security carry on bag. My camera tray and handles, strobe arms and tool (e.g. allen wrench) fit in a small shaving kit bag which I pack with my checked stuff. My laptop, batteries, all chargers, portable hard drives, card readers, passport, business cards and so on go in a ThinkTank AirPort Checkin shoulder bag which I also carry on. So my entire camera system and support with the exception of tray & arm system are carried on. I can make this work with two housings if I wish too. This is now it looks while in use.

Phil

My wife has an E-330 in an Olympus housing and the Athena converter and wires connecting to a Z-240 as Phil describes. This is a configuration that will fail, has failed and is lot's more prone to failure that an internal flash initiated fibre optic cord. (like I had on my 5050 that has never failed)

I will repeat Phil's advice (to my wife): If live view is all-importent the E-330 is by far the best. If not the e-410 is a better camera, and a better strobe setup, in all respects.

My wife chose to continue with the E330 because the live-view IS all importent to her. I, on the other hand, switched to a D200 without difficulty and found the viewfinder much better.

I might add that the E330 is very limited for macro. Simply stated it has very poor low-light focusing ability and really needs a focusing light. This was unacceptable to my wife so she now shoots her zoom lens (in a flat port) almost exclusively. This setup is really a dSLR that acts like a P&S except for no shutter lag.

My wife has an E-330 in an Olympus housing and the Athena converter and wires connecting to a Z-240 as Phil describes. This is a configuration that will fail, has failed and is lot's more prone to failure that an internal flash initiated fibre optic cord. (like I had on my 5050 that has never failed)

That is really unfortunate about the TTL converter. I guess the Olympus housing is not the way to go for that model.

I think the Athena converter for the Olympus DSLR's is the best choice on the market because it is not exposed to the elements the way those built into the housings are. I used mine with the E-330/PT-E02 camera housing combo with great success and without failure. That being said using fiber optics is even better and eliminates the cost of the converter and its chance for flooded cord connections.

Phil Rudin

On the E330/PT-E02 setup with an Athena ttl converter, we have had the connections fail and we have had the Athena unit fail.

Phil is correct that even a small flood will wipe out the iTTL in an Ikelite housing. I had that happen also.

We have also found that the Pt-E02 is rather fragile and requires a lot more care packing than my Ikelite monster.

It is not, in my opinion, a good choice if one can work with a viewfinder.

In general the E-330 in a PT-E02 with an Athena ttl converter, an Inon Z-240 and a zoom lens in a flat port is the closest a P&S shooter can get to P&S type handling in a dSLR. It is somewhat larger, somewhat heavier and considerably more complicated than a P&S but it provides continuous autofocus and near zero shutter lag even in autofocus mode.

It does not compare, however, with my D200 and, I suspect, later Olympus models.

Because of the small size of the housing I can carry my 220 mm dome, macro port, extension ports for the 7 to 14 zoom, and 1.4 & 2 X tele converters, two Inon Z240 strobes, my ring flash, several camera bodies, all my lenses, dive computer, all fiber optics equipment along with the housing in an ThinkTank Airport Security carry on bag. My camera tray and handles, strobe arms and tool (e.g. allen wrench) fit in a small shaving kit bag which I pack with my checked stuff. My laptop, batteries, all chargers, portable hard drives, card readers, passport, business cards and so on go in a ThinkTank AirPort Checkin shoulder bag which I also carry on. So my entire camera system and support with the exception of tray & arm system are carried on. I can make this work with two housings if I wish too. This is now it looks while in use.

 

Phil

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Because of the small size of the housing I can carry my 220 mm dome, macro port, extension ports for the 7 to 14 zoom, and 1.4 & 2 X tele converters, two Inon Z240 strobes, my ring flash, several camera bodies, all my lenses, dive computer, all fiber optics equipment along with the housing in an ThinkTank Airport Security carry on bag. My camera tray and handles, strobe arms and tool (e.g. allen wrench) fit in a small shaving kit bag which I pack with my checked stuff. My laptop, batteries, all chargers, portable hard drives, card readers, passport, business cards and so on go in a ThinkTank AirPort Checkin shoulder bag which I also carry on. So my entire camera system and support with the exception of tray & arm system are carried on. I can make this work with two housings if I wish too. This is now it looks while in use.

 

Phil

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the help with the PTe03 housing.

I am now trying to figure out how to pack my setup for airplane travel. What model Think Tank bag are you using? I am also looking at the new Akona camera bag.

I have the original ThinkTank airport security which is twenty-two inches on the outside long side and obtained before international rules changed . The NEW ThinkTank airport international has been cut down to twenty-one inches on the outside long side to conform to the international airline rules. So far I have not had a problem in my international travels but I would buy the airport international if I was doing it again.

http://thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_ArprtInl2.php

Phil