Olympus E-PL1,with underwater housing

Kit set : US$599.99 (will be available in March)

with new M4/3 lens :

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9–18mm f4.0–5.6 (will be available in May)

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14–150mm f4.0–5.6 (will be available in June)

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1002/10020305olypenepl1.asp

Underwater Housing for Aquatic Adventures

The new camera’s compact design makes it the perfect companion for all of your dive trips. The PT-EP01 underwater case has been specially customized for the Olympus E-PL1 and is waterproof to a depth of 40 meters (approximately 130 feet). With its durable, high-quality polycarbonate construction, this Olympus housing protects the camera from water while also cushioning it from knocks and bumps on land. The housing enables viewing from either the camera’s LCD screen or an optional electronic viewfinder. The flash connectors allow optional use of up to two UFL-2 underwater flash units via fiber optic cable. A nonremovable front lens port accommodates multiple Micro Four Thirds lenses.

A nonremovable front lens port accommodates multiple Micro Four Thirds lenses.

The lack of a dome port is disappointing.

Main Features

1. The world's first waterproof housing for a Micro Four Thirds System camera; significantly lighter and more compact than conventional SLR camera waterproof housings (weight reduced by 47% to 1100g)

The PT-EP01 Water Protector maximizes the compact and lightweight design advantages that are inherent to the Micro Four Thirds System standard. Measuring 179mm x 156mm x 166mm (W x H x D) and weighing approximately 1100g, it is noticeably more compact than, and weighs only about half as much as, 2079g of the PT-E06 Water Protector and PPO-E05 Standard Lens Port needed to shoot underwater with a Olympus E-620 digital SLR camera.

The PT-EP01 Water Protector features a fixed lens port and can accommodate an OLYMPUS PEN E-PL1 camera fitted with an M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14–42mm f3.5–5.6L or M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9–18mm f4.0–5.6 lens. The lens port assures uncompromising image quality by using multi-coated glass to suppress internal reflection.

Shots can be composed on the LCD monitor with the same ease as with a waterproof compact camera, but the protector can also accommodate the optional VF-2 Live Viewfinder, enabling users to choose the shooting style they prefer.

2. Enables high-quality underwater photography with ease by using the Underwater Macro and Underwater Wide scene program modes on the OLYMPUS PEN E-PL1

The PT-EP01 Water Protector allows users to take advantage of the OLYMPUS PEN E-PL1 camera's Underwater Macro and Underwater Wide shooting modes, which ensure vivid and natural color with rich blue tones when shooting underwater.

3. Supports the Olympus Wireless Remote Control Flash System using the UFL-2 dedicated underwater flash unit

The PT-EP01 Water Protector supports the Olympus Wireless Remote Control Flash System, enabling the OLYMPUS PEN E-PL1 camera's built-in flash to be used as the command unit for advanced multi-flash setups. Optical connectors are provided for up to two UFL-2 dedicated underwater flash units, with full control of flash mode and brightness settings accessible via the camera's LCD monitor when shooting underwater.

Related Accessories

Product Name MSRP Launch Date

PTMC-01 Macro Lens (ø67mm) ¥20,000

(¥21,000 incl. tax) available now

PMLA-EP01 Macro Lens Adapter

(for M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6L) ¥5,500

(¥5,775 incl. tax) March 5, 2010

PPZR-EP01 Zoom gear

(for M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6L) ¥3,500

(¥3,675 incl. tax)

POSR-EP01 Ring

(for M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6L) ¥3,500

(¥3,675 incl. tax)

PPZR-EP02 Zoom gear

(for M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm f4.0-5.6) ¥3,500

(¥3,675 incl. tax) the end of April, 2010

POSR-EP02 Ring

(for M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm f4.0-5.6) ¥3,500

(¥3,675 incl. tax)

PST-EP01 Hand strap

(Red / Blue / Orange) ¥2,400

(¥2,520 incl. tax) early in April, 2010

Im excited and look forward to playing with this camera. The lack of a dome is disappointing, but I think it is going to be a nice middle ground between P&S and DSLR set ups and at a great price.

Me too Mike!

The micro 4/3rds format is very attractive, small, high quality, great glass and easy-to-use. I agree that not having removable ports is a drag with this housing, but I would look to 3rd party add-ons, and 3rd party housings as well. Never-the-less, this will be a macro/fish portrait shooter's dream set up.

Jack

Me too Mike!

 

The micro 4/3rds format is very attractive, small, high quality, great glass and easy-to-use. I agree that not having removable ports is a drag with this housing, but I would look to 3rd party add-ons, and 3rd party housings as well. Never-the-less, this will be a macro/fish portrait shooter's dream set up.

 

Jack

with the M67 mount Air-dome in front of the fix port, it give a possibility for a wide angle shoot . Will try it when the housing available after March...

Looks to be an outstanding inbetween camera. I'm curious about the live view speed.

More info (and the original link).

Seems the 45/2.8 can be used. The 14-42, without the macro wet lens, is not impressive.

The size of this setup is intriguing. However, I wonder what it truly offers over my current DX-2G setup apart from shallower DOF and far better noise performance at ISO 200-800... Being able to add a wet wide lens to this setup would certainly make it more interesting.

More info (and the original link).

 

Seems the 45/2.8 can be used. The 14-42, without the macro wet lens, is not impressive.

 

The size of this setup is intriguing. However, I wonder what it truly offers over my current DX-2G setup apart from shallower DOF and far better noise performance at ISO 200-800... Being able to add a wet wide lens to this setup would certainly make it more interesting.

I think it will better with the new 9-18mm zoom lens

I think it will better with the new 9-18mm zoom lens

That will be a fine lens but it is not a fisheye, the Maximum FOV is 100 degrees. Several wet lenses offer up to 165 degree FOV. A wet lens option would be killer on this camera.

With the 35mm pancake, short port and a wet lens like the Inon 100WAL with dome a FOV of 130 degrees could be realized.

That will be a fine lens but it is not a fisheye, the Maximum FOV is 100 degrees. Several wet lenses offer up to 165 degree FOV. A wet lens option would be killer on this camera.

There's an 8mm fisheye with a 180 degree FOV coming out for the micro-four-thirds format in 2011 from Olympus, and Panasonic has announced an 8mm fisheye to be released this year.

You can also use the Olympus 8mm fisheye lens for the four-thirds lens mount with the MMF-1 adapter (this is what I use on my E-P1).

There's an 8mm fisheye with a 180 degree FOV coming out for the micro-four-thirds format in 2011 from Olympus, and Panasonic has announced an 8mm fisheye to be released this year.

 

You can also use the Olympus 8mm fisheye lens for the four-thirds lens mount with the MMF-1 adapter (this is what I use on my E-P1).

Yes, and that is exciting. But, always a but, the wet lens can be removed and a macro installed or switched for a different lens or no lens which of course with a dry port system cannot be done. Wet lenses, can be zoomed some also, the fixed focal length cannot.

The 8mm fisheye lens will be a great addition to the Micro lineup yes indeed. Now, they just need a 6 to 14 zoom fisheye also.

Half dozen one, half dozen another, there is no reason with such cameras that both a dry port and a wet port system could not be offered for those who prefer one or the other.

P&S people moving up may already have an inventory of wet lenses they enjoy using and might like that as an option, if workable.

there is no reason with such cameras that both a dry port and a wet port system could not be offered for those who prefer one or the other.

That's a really interesting idea. Right now, people upgrading fram a P&S to a dSLR have to buy a new camera, a new housing, new ports, and can only really re-use strobes. Here's an upgrade path that might be nice:

$1,900 basic setup:

E-PL1 camera with 14-42 lens ($600)

ring and adapter for 14-42 ($100)

housing with a flat port ($600)

strobe ($600)

$550 wet lens add-on

adapter for wet lenses ($50)

wet macro lens ($200)

wet WA lens ($300)

$1000 high-quality macro add-on

50mm macro lens ($400)

second strobe ($600)

$1400 wideangle add-on:

9-18mm lens ($600)

zoom gear and ring for 9-18 ($100)

adapter that replaces the flat port ($400)

6" dome port that fits into the adapter ($300)

$700 super wideangle add-on:

8mm fisheye lens ($600)

dome port spacing ring for 8mm lens ($100)

For under $2500, you can get a decent underwater setup with wet lenses. If you want to upgrade to dSLR quality, the incremental improvements are in the $1000 range. We just need an adapter to replace the flat port...

Here's a few new photos of the system I was sent.

Jack

Hi Jack,

From the photos I have seen of the housing and port it is clear the they are two different pieces and not one molded unit. It would be interesting to know if the port is threaded or bonded to the housing. If the port can in some way be removed without damage to the housing we could start all kinds of rumors about add on ports and lenses.

http://fotopus.com/marine/impre/epl1+pt_ep01/index.html

Phil Rudin

All I would want would be a very small, compact, short port for the pancake lens 35mm with 67mm threads.

I think it will better with the new 9-18mm zoom lens

I doubt it will be better for macro.

It looks to me like the port shown is not threaded but it has a "pop-on" cover that has threads for a screw-on macro wet-lens. Very cool.

Cheers

James

BUT the really important question for now is: how quickly does the camera lock on while in Live View, or even through the EVF for that matter?

IF this new Pen locks quickly and has a decent buffer, than it could be considered a significant improvement over new generation p&s digicams - u/w at least.

OK - word I have from Olympus is that it is NOT a removable port at all. I think the decision (in Japan) was to make as inexpensive a first housing as possible. Their ports are mostly flat anyway for the E-Series, except for the expensive glass dome, which I think is made by Athena for them (or at least the glass is).

Soooo; macro is no problem with a 2X 67mm wet mount diopter available that uses the adapter shown (around $200 for both pieces).

There is the BigEye 67mm "airdome" available; not the best - plastic dome, but it should work. Hmm, maybe I take one with me to PMA. Ike has a 67 w/a, as does Inon and others. Vignetteing etc may be an issue, or may not...

Then there is definitely going to be a third party market for wet mate domes - if the performance of the camera is good. Ryan at Zen said he'd consider it. and I'm sure Athena will come up with something, I'll skype Kida and see.

10Bar would consider doing a housing as well, I talked to LC Ng the other night about it. He has lots of port options pretty much ready to go. Again, wait and see if there's a market.

Ikelite has been kind of slow to move towards Panasonic and micro 4/3rds; I think their "boxes' are't a great fit.

Real early in the game to speculate.

But really, still, the camera should be great for macro and fish portrait, and moderate wide shots.

Jack