e410 lenses and ports

Hi all

I've just bought a used PT-e03 housing for my e410. Problem is it came with the port for a 14-54mm and I've only got the 14-42mm kit lens.

So my question is: Is it better to buy the 14-54mm lens or would I be best of getting the PPO-e05 port for the 14-42mm and then perhaps a 50mm macro lens and maybe even an EX-25 extension ring? (as I understand it that combination will also fit into the PPO-E05).

Also: I'm going to Florida next week on holidays. Can anybody recommend a good shop to visit for these parts in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale area? (this stuff is much cheaper in the US than it is in Denmark)

Michael

Click the link at the right side of the page called "REEF" ------->

Thanks, that looks very useful. Have you got any recommendations about which lenses to go for?

Hi Michael,

While you are at Reef Photo you may also want to checkout this port, Athena OPD-SZ14-42 Dome Port for your housing which is in stock at Reef and works with the 14 to 42 or 14/45, 50 macro, 35 macro and perhaps more.

Phil Rudin

Hi Phil

Thank You very much, that looks like an ideal port for me

Michael

Hi Michael,

 

While you are at Reef Photo you may also want to checkout this port, Athena OPD-SZ14-42 Dome Port for your housing which is in stock at Reef and works with the 14 to 42 or 14/45, 50 macro, 35 macro and perhaps more.

 

Phil Rudin

Phil very interisting to know that this Port, will support all this lenses.

However I have only one question...... Will it have vigneting any of those lenses mentioned above by using this Port??

Have you been able to tried??

Thanks

Juan

I have not had the port in the water but I don't see any reason that it should be a problem. I did try the dome with the 12 to 60 zoom and their is vignetting with that lens. Also keep in mind that the 35 macro focuses so close that the closest focus point will be inside this dome. I know of only one port made just for the 35 mm and that is also from Athena.

Phil Rudin

I have not had the port in the water but I don't see any reason that it should be a problem. I did try the dome with the 12 to 60 zoom and their is vignetting with that lens. Also keep in mind that the 35 macro focuses so close that the closest focus point will be inside this dome. I know of only one port made just for the 35 mm and that is also from Athena.

 

Phil Rudin

Phil

I recently bought the PT03-PP05 port, and using the INON Z240 with the Athena bracket for the fiber optic.

I have tried on land, and next weekend I will be trying in water.

Doing the practice on land I have notice that the internal flash when is fired, the Athena does not "block the whole flash", since the PT03 housing is clear glass, and there is always light coming from the sides.

When you did your practice in the water, did you put some type of "tape" on the PT03 to block the internal flash ??? I am afraid that if the whoe flash light is not block, there will be small spots of "particulars" that will come out in all photos.

I am thinking to put some type of tape on the inside of the housing to block the possible light coming out.

Also due to the preflash of the OLY camera, how did you set the clear photo system of the Inon, push in or pull out??

Thanks for your help

Juanra

I have the right lower button pushed in, however i don't see any difference between in or out when shooting in STTL.

I have used the Athena and Inon fiber optic systems with the PT-E03 housing and have not had any problems with stray light causing back scatter in my images.

Phil

I have the right lower button pushed in, however i don't see any difference between in or out when shooting in STTL.

 

I have used the Athena and Inon fiber optic systems with the PT-E03 housing and have not had any problems with stray light causing back scatter in my images.

 

Phil

The button has no effect in s-ttl mode and is only for Auto and Manual modes where it will send out a large preflash signal to fool your camera into using a minimal flash.

That may be true if hard wired to the housing, but with Fiber optic cables I see no difference in manual or STTL with the button in or out.

Phil

Phil and Gary, thanks both for your answers and clarification.

Regards

Juanra

Hi Michael,

 

While you are at Reef Photo you may also want to checkout this port, Athena OPD-SZ14-42 Dome Port for your housing which is in stock at Reef and works with the 14 to 42 or 14/45, 50 macro, 35 macro and perhaps more.

 

Phil Rudin

I am considering the Olympus 410 (or 420) and Olympus housing. I have an Inon z240 strobe and fiber optic link and a Heinrich adapter which is compatible with the 410 (the adapter, not the bulkhead) which I use with a Nikonos 105. I can only afford one port and would like to hear opinions on the advantages/disadvantages of the Athena OPD-SZ14-42 Dome Port compared to the Olympus PPO-E05 flat port. I would probably use the 14-42 lens primarily. My initial thoughts/questions:

1. Does the Athena port include a zoom ring?

2. The dome port would provide greater field of view which would be beneficial for wide angle shots. However, I assume that I would lose the magnification of the flat port with respect to macro. Is this a significant issue/limitation?

3. Is a diopter required or recommended when using the dome port with the 14-42? Would one be beneficial on those dives that I know will be mostly macro shots?

4. On those dives where I know the available shots are going to be mostly macro, would it be better to go ahead and buy a 50 mm macro lens rather than use the 14-42? If so, what diopter or other accessories should be included with the macro lens?

Thanks, in advance, for your patience with an amateur,

RWE,

#1 Olympus port includes the zoom gear, Athena port does not.

#2 Yes you will lose the reduced angle of view on the macro end meaning you would need to move the lens closer to fill the frame, however you will have sharper corners at both ends of the zoom range.

#3 No diopter is required because this lens focuses down to about three inches from the outer lens element.

You would be better off using a close-up lens on the outside of the housing for macro.

#4 A macro lens like the Olympus 50 mm F/2 is always going to be the better choice for macro, it requires no diopter. Both ports can be used with the 50 mm macro until you can afford a proper macro port.

Phil Rudin

RWE,

 

#1 Olympus port includes the zoom gear, Athena port does not.

#2 Yes you will lose the reduced angle of view on the macro end meaning you would need to move the lens closer to fill the frame, however you will have sharper corners at both ends of the zoom range.

#3 No diopter is required because this lens focuses down to about three inches from the outer lens element.

You would be better off using a close-up lens on the outside of the housing for macro.

#4 A macro lens like the Olympus 50 mm F/2 is always going to be the better choice for macro, it requires no diopter. Both ports can be used with the 50 mm macro until you can afford a proper macro port.

 

Phil Rudin

Thanks for the quick, through response. A few additional questions on the outside closeup lens. Is there a outside closeup lens for the dome port? If so, who sells it. Also who sells outside closeup lens for Oylmpus port?

Thanks again,

Athena and Inon both make lens which mount on small arms that attach to the port itself. You'd then flip these in place when you wanted additional macro. http://www.athena-opt.com/pt-e03-grip-e.html

After a new 50mm I'm going to get the largest woody's diopter available (120mm) and buy an additional port cover to surgically place the diopter inside of. Its a DIY job but I've heard it works well enough.

Phil

First of all thanks so much for your help on my decision in acquiring this system.

I tried last weekend the PT03 - PP05 - 14-42, INon Z240 and Athena fiber optic bracket, and I want to show you my first pictures with this system.

Jumping from a compact camera to the Digital Reflex, all are good thoughts and I really think there is huge room for improvement.

All pictures can be seen at:

www.pbase.com/juanreta

Many thanks for all your help, and the article you wrote about this system.

Juanra

Thanks Juanra, happy to help.

It looks like you are off to a good start. I looked over your Pbase page and I still like the range of the 14 to 42 zoom as an entry level lens. It can focus very close for a "kit" type lens. Where were you diving?

I did three days of diving in Calpe in November 2006 and had a great time. These photos are from that trip and were taken with the E-410 and 50 mm macro.

Phil

Juaneta,

Nice shots. I like the kit lens as well. However I just took the plunge on that 50mm macro and will dive with it in May. Couldn't afford the 1.4 or 2.0 teleconverter but have some diopters and I'm going to try and modify a Woody's Wet Diopter (which I think would work great with the kit lens). I'll keep you all posted on my DIY port adapter..haha.

Thanks Juanra, happy to help.

 

It looks like you are off to a good start. I looked over your Pbase page and I still like the range of the 14 to 42 zoom as an entry level lens. It can focus very close for a "kit" type lens. Where were you diving?

 

I did three days of diving in Calpe in November 2006 and had a great time. These photos are from that trip and were taken with the E-410 and 50 mm macro.

 

Phil

Phil the photos were taken at La Herradura at GRANADA, south of Spain which is close to the strait of Gibraltar.

As I mentioned I am very happy, specially coming from a compact camera like the IXUS.

In other forums they recommended me the 50 mm, however due to money reasons I will first practice as much as I can with the 14-42, and later on I will try to go for a macro lens and port.

The Athena bracket work fines with the INON and due to the bracket I have the chance to put on top a Fisheye light to help with the focus, although for real macro purposes wth this lens the camera has difficukt on focusing.

Still I a quite happy with the equiment I acquired.

Regards

Juanra