Dumb questions RE Oly E520

First, some background: Awhile back I was going to house my Oly E330, and then thought instead of getting an E410 and housing (Thanks to those who helped me back then). When all was said and done, I knew I wanted to use an Inon strobe with fiber optics and TTL. Well, rumors of a new body began flying, housings for the E330 dried up, I worried about the size of the housing, my next dive trip was approaching, and I ended up with..... Canon G9 with Canon housing and Inon strobe.

I really do like using the LCD to compose and focus underwater. I like having something small enough to easily carry during entries and exits, small enough to put in a carry on with other gear, and small enough to use with one hand when needed. I also realized that I simply cannot put $3,000 into a housing for a camera, given the rate at which cameras come and go these days and the amount of underwater use I get.

I like the G9, and have seen a big improvement in my photos since getting it, although the shutter lag irritates me and the lens isn't wide enough. I recently began looking at a Patima housing for the G9 so I could use an accessory wide angle. But the lag time of the camera still bothers me a lot. If that wasn't a problem, I probably wouldn't bother with a DSLR, although one disadvantage of the Patima housing may be the inability to switch from WA to macro without switching ports. Lo and behold I see Oly has a new camera, housing and lens coming out.

I use Oly DSLRs anyway, so buying an E520 is okay. The new housing looks fairly compact and it appears it will be around $1,000.00 plus a port. I would like to have one do-it-all lens, and it looks like I can get that somewhere in the OLY lens lineup. I already have the 14-54, the 14-42 is pretty inexpensive and that 9-18 might work? (I don't know about macro with that one). I may well want different ports and lenses later, but initially want to have reasonable macro and wideangle capability in one lens and port. It looks like the live view on the 520 may work better underwater than the live view on the 410 would have.

So here are my dumb questions:

1. If I were to spring for the Oly stuff, keeping in mind that I want to use the LCD (I know, maybe I will grow to appreciate the viewfinder, but for now I need a good LCD option), will the live view likely work well for composing and focusing, and the shutter lag improve noticeably, in contrast to my G9? I realize this camera is not "out" yet so maybe no one can tell me. I am looking for something that is an improvement over what I am using in shutter delay, without losing that P&S LCD. If the live view isn't sufficiently useful or the shutter lag isn't noticeably shorter than the G9, then I suppose I should stay with what I have, for now.

2. I have looked at photos of the new Oly housing, but can't get a feeling for how big or small it is. I am familiar with the size of the housing for the E410. Can anyone tell me how these would compare?

I may need to wait until this stuff is out and people have a chance to use it, but my next dive trip is in October and if I want the very popular Patima housing, I probably need to order it fairly soon. If I put a grand into that housing, that will be what I use for some time to come.

I have searched through posts here and elsewhere and read reviews and comments and even looked at some guy's video, but I still don't feel that I have a handle on this.

As always, I appreciate the insights of you more experienced folks.

1. If I were to spring for the Oly stuff, keeping in mind that I want to use the LCD (I know, maybe I will grow to appreciate the viewfinder, but for now I need a good LCD option), will the live view likely work well for composing and focusing, and the shutter lag improve noticeably, in contrast to my G9? I realize this camera is not "out" yet so maybe no one can tell me. I am looking for something that is an improvement over what I am using in shutter delay, without losing that P&S LCD. If the live view isn't sufficiently useful or the shutter lag isn't noticeably shorter than the G9, then I suppose I should stay with what I have, for now.

 

2. I have looked at photos of the new Oly housing, but can't get a feeling for how big or small it is. I am familiar with the size of the housing for the E410. Can anyone tell me how these would compare?

Hi Draq,

Got my E-520 today so I don't have that much experience with it.

To begin with question number two, according to the specs it's about 2cm wider and 1cm taller than the E-410 housing.

As for question number one, I think you'll find the shutter lag will improve greatly, however from my admittedly very brief test of the new Liveview mode, I think the focusing leaves a bit to be desired compared to a P&S camera. It's much much improved from the earlier generation in the E-410/E-510, however.

From my reading, the E520 live view delay will be better than the E410/E510/E3. But still slower than the E330. Is that 'enough' improvement over the G9 to satisfy you? I don't know. I'd also be concerned about the focus performance of the E520 liveview especially in low light / low contrast, so at the very least you'd need a focus light. But I use one on my E330 anyway.

I thought there was still a used E330 housing for sale if you don't mind going Ikelite...but that will be much bigger than the Olympus housing, I'm almost certain...look up fltekdiver, he had a posting some time ago and was parcelling out his kit. I don't think he ever sold the housing and might let it go cheaper after all this time. I bought his arms and dome though.

I should also point out though that all the real photographers on this board will tell you you really should give up on liveview and use the optical viewfinder. I remain forever in the pedestrian lane because I can't/won't. (...well, and because my pictures suck, too. ) On a PnS you have almost no choice but to use the screen, while on a DSLR the optical viewfinder is much bigger and brighter so it can't be compared to trying to use it on the PnS (even on Olympus).

Coming from the E-3, which has an exceptionally good OVF on par with eg the D300, I have to say I have no problems with the E-520.

I tested the Imager AF LV setting yesterday at home in a fairly dark situation and it does focus but it takes a couple of seconds. It's much faster with the OVF to be sure.

If you want a do-it-all lens I suppose your current 14-54 fits the bill fairly well although it won't go that wide and isn't exactly designed to be a macro lens. The 12-60 goes a bit wider and longer but is quite expensive (brilliant lens though!).

Hi Draq,

The G-9 is a nice choice it you want to stay with the point n shoot/live view type cameras.

If you want to move up to a DSLR the Olympus E-520 and PT-E05 housing are going to be the best system for the money you can buy. The housing in the US should run around $900.00. If you want to keep cost down the 14 to 42 zoom port works well with the ($200.00) 35 macro except at very close range and the "kit" zoom is a very sharp lens, although not as robust as the 14 to 54 zoom. Athena also makes a dome port for the 14 to 42 which will allow a wider angle of view than using the Olympus flat port. These housings have an excellent pickup finder for the price range and are fiber optic ready, allowing them to be used in TTL with the Olympus and Inon strobes.

http://reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=p...5e8678a19689c09

http://reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=p...5e8678a19689c09

Images with the 35 mm macro and flat port.

Phil Rudin

all the real photographers on this board will tell you you really should give up on liveview and use the optical viewfinder

really?

Thanks.

Despite it's cost, I might well choose the 12-60 as I would like one for topside travel photography anyway. On the other hand the 14-42 is lighter and smaller.

I already use a focus light at night but haven't needed one during the day with the G9. Simply leaving the light attached all the time would not be a big issue.

I make no pretense about being a real photographer, at least underwater. I do not sell my photos or even enter them in competitions or shows; they are not that good. Also, I manage about 3, sometimes 4 dive trips a year, of about a week to 10 days each. That just doesn't justify (for me) thousands of dollars in equipment. I may switch over to using an ovf while underwater someday, but I also may not. I looked through the ovf of an E410 in the Oly housing once, albeit on land. I didn't like the view. For now, I need a good liveview option to insure I don't end up with an expensive system I don't enjoy using. Then I can make the choice.

If I were to go to a DSLR, the only one in consideration would be the OLY due to cost and size issues. I also abandoned the Ike housing idea for the E330 for the same reason, coupled with my desire to use sttl with my inon strobe. I looked for a used Oly housing for the E330 for a long time and never found one.

By the way, the LCD on the G9 is good enough that I can see it in fairly bright light and at a pretty good angle, allowing me to take some shots that I could not if confined to an ovf. But, I would rather not get inito a big ovf vs. lcd debate at this point.

Maybe I can and E520 around here before too ong to play with and see for myself. So far, no local shops have any or and don't claim to be getting any soon.

My advice is to do exactly what your last line suggests. Play with the camera first. If you don't like it topside, you'll hate it underwater. As for the housing size, I can't imagine it being a whole lot larger than the E410 because manufacturers are starting to build tighter tolerances on these because of the obvious desire for smaller gear. From Phil's photos it looks almost identical to the PT-E03 only obviously it will be slightly bigger. You would still be able to use the s-ttl of your inon strobe which to me anyway, is an advantage.

ce4jesus:

Yes, but for the last sentence...no one locally has one. BUT, your reply inspired me to call around again and I found one in stock, so I am going out over the lunch hour and play with it. Hopefully I can answer my own question about the live view.

A few impressions after some more time with the camera...

AWB is not nearly as accurate as the E-3 in artificial light. The E-3 usually nailed it even in pretty harsh conditions and was pretty much the best I've seen so far in that area. The E-520 has to be adjusted when the only light source is artificial (bulb or fluorescent).

Can't really tell any difference between Imager AF and Hybrid AF, having tried with both the 14-42 (supports I-AF) and the 12-60 (don't think it supports it). Both are much more accurate than the traditional LV found on E-3/E-410/E-510 as they actually set the AF when you half press the shutter (AEL/AFL). In terms of lag, it's pretty bad, worse than a P&S to be sure.

Functionality is very, very good, at least for me. I can easily find my way around the camera while looking through the OVF, adjusting everything on the go. This is after having used it for a couple of hours. I had a much harder time finding the right button with the E-3.

General IQ is quite nice. I certainly can't tell the difference between this and the E-3. Will have to check in some challenging conditions to be sure, but it does seem to deliver well. Unless you really need the extra features, the E-520 will serve you just as well as the E-3.

And, having used the Pro lenses exlusively up to now, I absolutely love the 14-42 and the 40-150. Sure, max aperture isn't brilliant but sufficient for daylight and flash photography (won't go into a DOF discussion here as we're talking 4/3 and non-macro lenses), but they are sharp center to edge wide open and IQ is very nice. Build quality is better than all other kit lenses and all in all they seem to be very good value for money. Being so light weight, they help create a camera setup you can carry anywhere!

I played with the E520 for about an hour in the shop. Unfortunately, they had the 14-54 on it and didn't have a 14-42 handy. I don't know how much, if at all, that affected performance.

Overall, a very nice camera. I am still not sure about the live view functionality and "shutter delay" in the Imager mode. On the other hand the camera did seem to focus well in dim light.

I cannot imagine using that OVF underwater though. It isn't very big.

On the other hand, it looks more and more like the Patima housing doesn't do what I want, so I don't know what I'll do.

Is it correct that if one buys an Athena port for the 14-42, the gear is extra? I don't understand why it isn't included since this is a dedicated port.

really?

Sorry, I forgot the sarcasm tags. But honestly, Jim, aside from you and me and a few other malcontents/rebels, we do see that said a lot on this board. It's not really a viable option for me unless I ditch the HydroOptix mask...but I'm not good enough to defend that choice. (Hopefully one expects a "yet" at the end of the sentence.)

Sorry, I forgot the sarcasm tags. But honestly, Jim, aside from you and me and a few other malcontents/rebels, we do see that said a lot on this board. It's not really a viable option for me unless I ditch the HydroOptix mask...but I'm not good enough to defend that choice. (Hopefully one expects a "yet" at the end of the sentence.)

If a camera doesn't have a workable "live view," it's hard to use it. Some of us shoot the E-330...

Regarding Graq's question on the Athena 14 to 42 port it is true that the gear is extra, you need to remember that the port can also be used with the Nexus and the SeaTool housings for the E-3 which each require different gears. The Olympus port also works with these housings but you still need to buy a new gear or you may be able to find an Olympus 14 to 42 zoom gear.

Phil Rudin

Regarding Graq's question on the Athena 14 to 42 port it is true that the gear is extra, you need to remember that the port can also be used with the Nexus and the SeaTool housings for the E-3 which each require different gears. The Olympus port also works with these housings but you still need to buy a new gear or you may be able to find an Olympus 14 to 42 zoom gear.

 

Phil Rudin

Phil,

In a pinch, you can use a strip of large-loop velcro around the lens' zoom ring. The housing's zoom gear will engage with the loops and turn the zoom.

Jim

I played with the E520 for about an hour in the shop. Unfortunately, they had the 14-54 on it and didn't have a 14-42 handy. I don't know how much, if at all, that affected performance.

 

Overall, a very nice camera. I am still not sure about the live view functionality and "shutter delay" in the Imager mode. On the other hand the camera did seem to focus well in dim light.

 

I cannot imagine using that OVF underwater though. It isn't very big.

 

On the other hand, it looks more and more like the Patima housing doesn't do what I want, so I don't know what I'll do.

 

Is it correct that if one buys an Athena port for the 14-42, the gear is extra? I don't understand why it isn't included since this is a dedicated port.

Most housings have OVF magnfiers but some have better magnifiers than others. I would look into Ikelite or UN.