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Olympus E-3

Started by ktwse ·

  • 84Posts
  • 84Replies

Read-only discussion

Olympus E-3

84 posts

  1. Does the housing support hard wired TTL ? If so for which strobes?

    It seems to suggest it in the pics, but my Japanese just aint up to scratch.

     

    Thanks

  2. It appears so far that all the Nexus housings support the Nikonos V connectors and that none work in TTL out of the box. This housing also has two fiber optic ports which will work very well in TTL with the required Inon strobes (Z-240/D2000's). TTL can be added to the inside of the housing to support wired strobes however.

     

    I is nice to see one of the established housing manufacturers starting to build housings with both the choice of fiber or wire.

     

    Phil Rudin

  3. To answer Gary's question, yes you can use the 14 to 42 zoom port.

     

    Phil

     

    thanks Phil. So I can just purchase the 50mm macro lens and it should work with the PPO-E05 port. That would be great and limit the damage to the wallet.

  4. TTL can be added to the inside of the housing to support wired strobes however.

     

    Phil Rudin

     

    Thanks for the info Phil.

     

    Any more info or a link as to how wired strobes can be supported? I have 2 x YS 90 Autos. The E-3 and housing are just about going to bankrupt me, so as much as I would like to I cannot change to Inons yet.

  5. Thanks for the article, Yoko! It certainly does look good.

     

    It appears so far that all the Nexus housings support the Nikonos V connectors and that none work in TTL out of the box. This housing also has two fiber optic ports which will work very well in TTL with the required Inon strobes (Z-240/D2000's). TTL can be added to the inside of the housing to support wired strobes however.

     

    From the images in the article, it looks as if it also supports Olympus' new UW strobe. Guess that's fiber as well. Anyone with information on that strobe?

  6. Gary, yes it works but not as well as the Inon or Athena macro ports. I tested the Inon macro port and it is very nice, can be had without the magnetic ring which you can add later and is lower cost than the Olympus or Athena.

     

    Andy, I recommend you learn to shoot in manual until you can afford to go to new strobes. The conversion is not worth the cost verses reliability and ease of use. You will become a better photographer learning in manual.

     

    KT, the Olympus strobe is a fiber optic strobe. Look in the Digitaldiver.net strobe finder for more information or at an olympus site. Reef Photo sell a lot of these strobes to entry level photographers looking for a low cost, about $ 300.00 strobe.

     

    Phil Rudin

  7. Although I`d like to chime in for the INON port here as it allows you to use the INON wet lenses for more Macro when you really need it.

     

    inon or athena, both have 67mm.

     

    I have epoque wet lenses, the really strong dml-2 macro lens.... tried it on my athena port over the 50mm and never again. Yeah, it's strong, yeah, it's an inexpensive lens, just a simple lens, not a achromat or apochromat, yeah it was good enough for the old 5050... but never again on my 50mm. It just messes up the image quality too much. Using the plain 50mm and cropping and stair interpolating with photoshop probably gets you an image just as good.

     

    Lower power wet lenses may work better, but of course, they will do less. I wouldn't go too crazy for that 67mm theading.

     

    But it is really nice having a more compact, streamlined port.

     

    just my 2 cents.

  8. "Gary, yes it works but not as well as the Inon or Athena macro ports."

     

    I sometimes feel like I've completely started over by going to a DSLR. Its like going from rugby to American Football. I'm sure you can feel my growing pains.

    So by not working "as well" does that mean it will have focusing issues, not be as sharp or ?

     

    Also, Athena and Inon make just one port, a dome port, for the PT-E03 right? So does this dome port cover quite a few lenses? Would it be worth it to sell the Oly port and upgrade my port first?

     

    Also the more I read about the 12-60mm lens the more I want this lens underwater. Due to its size 98mm in length 79mm wide I'm certain it won't fit in my port. Would a lens like this fit into the Athena or Inon port?

  9. Also the more I read about the 12-60mm lens the more I want this lens underwater. Due to its size 98mm in length 79mm wide I'm certain it won't fit in my port. Would a lens like this fit into the Athena or Inon port?

     

    It certainly is a brilliant lens, but somehow I can't see why it would be so much better than eg the 14-42. Sure, you get slightly more WA, but I hardly think that will make a huge difference compared to getting an UWA lens. And a macro lens is much better at that than the 12-60.

     

    I own the 12-60 and love it, but don't plan on using it UW.

     

    Phil, thanks for the info. My original idea back when I first intended to take an SLR underwater was to go with the DS51 strobes as I felt two of those would be sufficient. This could perhaps be a good alternative for the Nexus housing, to start out with?

     

    What would be the best upgrade route, or the next step up in strobes?

  10. inon or athena, both have 67mm.

     

    I have epoque wet lenses, the really strong dml-2 macro lens.... tried it on my athena port over the 50mm and never again. Yeah, it's strong, yeah, it's an inexpensive lens, just a simple lens, not a achromat or apochromat, yeah it was good enough for the old 5050... but never again on my 50mm. It just messes up the image quality too much. Using the plain 50mm and cropping and stair interpolating with photoshop probably gets you an image just as good.

     

    Lower power wet lenses may work better, but of course, they will do less. I wouldn't go too crazy for that 67mm theading.

     

    But it is really nice having a more compact, streamlined port.

     

    just my 2 cents.

     

    I can't speak to the Epoque lens, other than to say I selected the INON lens over it. What I CAN say is that I have been VERY happy with the INON UCL-165 67mm lens when mated to my Canon 100mm (I stick the lens on the end of my S&S custom flat port with a custom-made adapter. Maybe those Olympus lenses are so much better than my Canon, or maybe the Epoque lens is that much worse than the INON or maybe the distances are off with the combination you've got. I don't know, but I find the 67mm wet lens option to be very, very nice. If you look in my last Indonesia gallery, many of the shots of small nudibranchs were done with the 67mm lens on there.

     

    http://mikeoelrich.net/Indo0507

     

     

     

    Mike

  11. Hi all,

     

    Having a nice relaxing day of diving in the Cayman Islands so I will make thi as short as I can.

     

    First the Inon, Olympus and Athena ports fit ALL the Olympus DSLR housings and will fit the Nexus and UK-Germany housings for the E-3 ( also E-300/E-330 from UK) with the adapter. The macro ports are better than the 14 to 42 zoom port because they are smaller, lighter, the lens comes closer to the inside of the port glass

    (which puts greater distance between subject and lens) Inon and Athena are threaded (67mm) for diopters, filters, Athena ring flash and more. The 35 and 50 macro can be used under the 14/42 port until you get the port. I would rather have a new lens before a new port.

     

    No port or zoom gear has been introduced for the 12 to 60 yet. I have used my 12 to 60 with the Olympus dome port and 7 to 14 zoom extension with a home made gear which does not work well. The results were quite good and the AF is fast,fast fast under water. When you look at the 14 to 42 v. 12 to 60 remember that the kit lens is used with a flat port which reduces angle of view at both ends. The 12 to 60 would be much wider behind a dome port and still retain a respectable close-up end with a greater working distance between subject and lens than with the kit lens.

     

    The Athena dome port is 220 mm and cost about $1500.00, it is an outstanding port for all the wide lenses, 7/14

    11/22 and 8 fisheye. You will not find a better port.

     

    The Inon port is designed for use with the 8 mm fisheye and is light, small and gives great picture quality at about $600.00. It may work with the 12 to 60 but not the 7/14.

     

    The Olympus dome is 170 mm, the glass is from Athena and has the same coating as all their domes. It is around $900.00 and works well but can't reach the corner sharpness of the 220 mm dome.

     

    The DS51 strobes are designed to be used with Iklite cords and TTl converter in an Iklite housing. They can be used with Nikonos V cords and a $350.00 TTL Athena converter in the Olympus housings or Nexus housing. I see no upside to going with Ike strobes if you are going to a non-Ike housing for your Olympus camera. With the E-410 or E-3 I would just go for the fiber optic option. The Oly strobe or one of the Inon strobes depending on how much you are willing to spend.

     

    Phil Rudin

  13. Andy, I recommend you learn to shoot in manual until you can afford to go to new strobes. The conversion is not worth the cost verses reliability and ease of use. You will become a better photographer learning in manual.

    Phil Rudin

     

    Hi Phil

     

    Once again thanks for the info. I used F/O when I first got my 5060 and am using it temporarily again now (problem with bulkhead) with my 7070 so I don't have an issue with manual strobes. I enjoy being able to experiment with different lighting effects.

     

    However the Auto sensor on the YS 90 Auto plays havoc with exposure, especially on macro stuff - the strobe keeps on making adjustments to it's output, even on successive shots of the same subject. The Auto function is cancelled with wired strobes. I wonder if masking off the sensor will get more even results ?

    I know, replace the strobes !!!! :)

     

    Also the water temp here gets down to 7 deg C (45 deg F) so I have to wear 5mm gloves, the combo of the two makes operation of small buttons difficult to say the least. The exposure dial on the YS 90 in particular can become difficult to operate with semi frozen hands.

     

    This is why I like to use TTL locally, where I do 90% of my diving, so any input re the conversion is greatfully appreciated.

     

    BTW Given that some E-3's are showing focussing issues, after having read your review on the 410 I almost pulled the trigger on getting one as a start to DSLR. But I think I will wait a while.

  14. Hi all,

     

    Having a nice relaxing day of diving in the Cayman Islands so I will make thi as short as I can.

     

    First the Inon, Olympus and Athena ports fit ALL the Olympus DSLR housings and will fit the Nexus and UK-Germany housings for the E-3 ( also E-300/E-330 from UK) with the adapter. The macro ports are better than the 14 to 42 zoom port because they are smaller, lighter, the lens comes closer to the inside of the port glass

    (which puts greater distance between subject and lens) Inon and Athena are threaded (67mm) for diopters, filters, Athena ring flash and more. The 35 and 50 macro can be used under the 14/42 port until you get the port. I would rather have a new lens before a new port.

     

    No port or zoom gear has been introduced for the 12 to 60 yet. I have used my 12 to 60 with the Olympus dome port and 7 to 14 zoom extension with a home made gear which does not work well. The results were quite good and the AF is fast,fast fast under water. When you look at the 14 to 42 v. 12 to 60 remember that the kit lens is used with a flat port which reduces angle of view at both ends. The 12 to 60 would be much wider behind a dome port and still retain a respectable close-up end with a greater working distance between subject and lens than with the kit lens.

     

    The Athena dome port is 220 mm and cost about $1500.00, it is an outstanding port for all the wide lenses, 7/14

    11/22 and 8 fisheye. You will not find a better port.

     

    The Inon port is designed for use with the 8 mm fisheye and is light, small and gives great picture quality at about $600.00. It may work with the 12 to 60 but not the 7/14.

     

    The Olympus dome is 170 mm, the glass is from Athena and has the same coating as all their domes. It is around $900.00 and works well but can't reach the corner sharpness of the 220 mm dome.

     

    The DS51 strobes are designed to be used with Iklite cords and TTl converter in an Iklite housing. They can be used with Nikonos V cords and a $350.00 TTL Athena converter in the Olympus housings or Nexus housing. I see no upside to going with Ike strobes if you are going to a non-Ike housing for your Olympus camera. With the E-410 or E-3 I would just go for the fiber optic option. The Oly strobe or one of the Inon strobes depending on how much you are willing to spend.

     

    Phil Rudin

     

    That summarized exactly what I was looking for B) ...thanks again. I was just in a little bit of a money quandry. I have about $500 to spend but want to put the money where it will be best spent. That looks to be buying the 50mm and just putting it behind my flat port for now.

  15. Don't mention it :D

     

    Anthis has announced the release of Nexus Eï¼3 on January 17, 2008 :excl:

    http://www.anthis.co.jp/news08_02_1.html

    http://www.anthis.co.jp/news08_02_2.html

    Weight:2,100g

    Price: JPY260,400～291,900(for Olympus port),JPY246,750～278,250(for Nexus port)

    Depth Rating:75m

     

    Yoko

     

    Thanks!

     

    Could you clarify what the difference is between the two versions with the Olympus ports?

  16. Who sells the Inon and Athena ports in the US?

  17. Site sponsor Reef Photo Video for one. They have all of the Olympus equipment in stock at most times.

     

    Phil

  18. Thanks!

     

    Could you clarify what the difference is between the two versions with the Olympus ports?

    Hi,

     

    The difference is between the two versions is equipment with strobe connectors for electrical cable or without them.

     

    Yoko

  19. Somebody knows where can i order this nexus housing?

    The shipment will be to Spain.

    Thanks for the info.

Turtle

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