Micro 4/3 Advice

I'm currently diving with the following rig

Canon S95 (WP-DC38 Housing)

Inon LD adapter

UCL-165 Macro Lens

UWL-H100 LD WA Lens + Domeport

Twin Z240 Strobes

Inon Float arms + 5"long inon arms

The second strobe/dome were recent upgrades so plan to do this diving season with the setup above, getting used to a twin strobe rig. I am however already considering my next camera upgrade, mainly because when I've looked back over previous shots I've taken (I dive UK waters mainly with some abroad trips as well), I find that when taking sunball shots or others in brighter shallow water I'm limited by the aperture of the camera to a minimum size F8. I know that I can just increase the shutter speed slightly to compensate, but that won't work too far if I want to fill in the foreground with flash due to the flash/camera sync speeds.

So i'm looking at other camera options for the future, and mainly eyeing the Olympus Pen series of cameras + housings. (Nauticam - drool!).Obviously the change of camera here would take away the flexibility of the compacts being able to change lenses per dive which I do like, thus I'd like advice! (I have briefly looked at the RX-100 however its macro performance is not as good, plus I do sometimes find the compact housing a bit small with 5mm gloves!).

1. I'm looking at either the EPL-3 or EPL-5 camera realistically. (I'd love the EM5 but the cost is out of my price range), do people think that the EPL-5 is a significant improvement over the EPL-3 when underwater, or its worth saving a bit of cash and just getting a secondhand EPL-3?

2. I've had olympus cameras before and haven't been too impressed with the housings, thus I'm considering saving up for a nauticam housing - opinions?

3. Obviously one of the benefits of a CSC camera is the interchangeable lens which do come at additional costs. It occured that one way to keep the costs down (and resuse as much of my current rig as possible) would be to use the kit-lens supplied (I believe its the 14-42mm) with a flat port equipped with a 67mm thread. I can then get a 67mm/LD adapter and utilise my wet lenses. What do people think?

Advice/opinions are greatly appreciated

EPL5 is basically the same sensor as the one in EM5, as far as image quality goes. That alone is worth the difference, as it's a newer and better one than EPL3 which has also been used in previous models. I would go for EPL5 if the circumstances allow it.

Nauticam housings, comparing to the Olympus ones win hands down, but it's apples to pears. Both will work, and I'd rather get a better imaging sensor (EPL5) then a better housing if I were to cut costs, providing they both keep the equipment dry.

You can use the macro wet lens. Not sure about the WA.

Edit: I use EM5 in Nauticam housing. Very nice stuff.

One of the other benefits of the E-PL5 over the E-PL3 is the 1/320 sync speed!!

Just sold my E-PL3.

I do not believe that the PEN series would be a significant step up from what you currently have. FWIW, I started with an E-PL1 (in an Oly housing) which is admittedly nowhere near as capable as more recent models. But switching to the OM-D EM-5 (in a Nauticam) is a major upgrade. Sure the sensor is the same but the controls are so much better and the EVF is very useful underwater especially for macro. So far I use the 12-50 lens exclusively, which gives a very useful range and takes very good macro at near 1:1.

It may not be as expensive as you think. Now that the EM-1 is out, it looks like the EM-5 with the 12-50 lens is selling at a major discount. The Nauticam housing and port / gear are still a little expensive but not that much more than the Oly when everything is added up.

True. I have looked at the Nauticam/Oly prices

Camera (here in the UK)

EPL5 - £445 (ish depends on where from)

EM5 - £800

Oly housing EPL5 - £560 ish (can get EPL5/Oly housing From cameras underwater for £1000.

Nauticam EPL5 - £1089

Nauticam EM5 - £1029

Disadvantage is that the oly housing includes a port which will take a 14-42, 9-18 or macro lens without changing (although it its a flat port).

but I wouldn't be able to reuse my wet lenses

Nauticam price doesn't include the port, so I'd have to budget for that as well, but if I went for (I think its port 65 but might be wrong), this comes with a 67mm thread as std, and as mentioned above this can be fitted with a suitable adapter.

So

EPL5 - Oly total £1000 - but would have to budget for addtional lense (could sell my other stuff to cover)

EPL5 -nauticam £1500 + port/adapter costs

EM5 - nauticam £1800 + port/adapter costs.

This is quite a big price range. From what i've read, the Nauticam Em5 housing has separate dials for Shutter/aperture settings on the housing. How is this controlled on the PEN series housings? Menus?

65mm port for Nauticam will be fine for 12-50 and 60mm macro, most probably for something else as well, in a pinch (I use it, instead of the dedicated port for 12-50).

Also, 12-50 can be zoomed from 12 to 50 and back via push of a button, in case you do not want to buy the zoom gear/dedicated port from the beginning. Not sure if this works on EPL5, somebody else should confirm.

I would go epl5 for sure over the epl3. However, I don't think either the epl5 or em5 achieve 1/320 flash sync as someone said. I think only the em1 does that. epl5 & em5 go to 1/250. epl3 is 1/160 which is the same as epl2 (I shoot an epl2).

I have to very much disagree with the comment that a PEN is not that much of an upgrade over an S95.

I own an S95 and it's a terrific camera for the size and portability and versatility. But, my epl2 is much better for image quality. Some of this goes to lens also. If only using the kit lens on the PENs then you're not getting the full power of these cameras. Make no mistake, it's still better than the S95, but if you put the 60mm macro on you'll get great pictures from any of the PEN line. I use the 60mm and 9-18 on an epl2. I was coming from different P&S cameras underwater and the quality is another level or two.

I also owned a Nikon D7000. An EPL2 is not as good as the nikon but, it's pretty close. Biggest difference is focus speed. I now have an em5 and I'd say it is 98% of a D7000.

I have also purchased an epm1 refurbed body for cheap ($119) and with my 17mm pancake on it, it has completely replaced my S95 as my small carry camera. It's a little larger than the S95, but the quality of the pictures is so much better.

So, after all that, I'm saying you'll take a step up with any of the PENs over the S95.

If you want to change ports and lens often, go with the nauticam and the em5.

However, a very versatile and easy setup is similar to what I have.

You could get the epl5 & oly housing. Then get the ZEN dome for the 9-18mm. This dome will accommodate the 9-18, the 60mm and the 14-42. You can now go semi wide (100 degree view) all the way to very tight macro without ever changing a port.

I use this setup on my epl2 housing and really love the versatility of it. I occasionally do miss being able to go with a fisheye lens, but it's not that big a deal to me.

BTW, I like the oly PEN housings. I think they are well made and ergonomically fit my hand well.

I've never used a pricey aluminum housing, so I might not know what I'm missing.

I find changing shutter/aperture easy. It is with push buttons and not wheels, but fairly straight forward to me.

In manual mode, one push of the top button on the jog wheel enables changing shutter/app with the 4 jog wheel positions. So, you just push the top jog button, then the top/bottom jog buttons will increase/decrease shutter speed and the left/right will increase/decrease aperture. I may have some of those details incorrect, but that's generally how it works. I'm assuming its the same for epl3 & 5. I know the epm1 takes more steps than that.

SMK82 - are you anywhere near the London DIve Show on the 15th/16th February? If so, we will have Nauticam housings on our stand for you to see.

I am indeed coming to the dive show. I was planning on dropping by your stand to have a nose at the various options and ask questions regards options etc.

Sorry - yes its 1/250 - not 1/320... I stand corrected.

I would go epl5 for sure over the epl3. However, I don't think either the epl5 or em5 achieve 1/320 flash sync as someone said. I think only the em1 does that. epl5 & em5 go to 1/250. epl3 is 1/160 which is the same as epl2 (I shoot an epl2).

Having just spotted the article on the main wetpixel site regards the new OMD EM-10. This might be a camera worth waiting for me as it sits in the middle of the price range quite nicely, plus its a bit easier to handle that the smaller PEN series. Will have to wait and see if the housing manufacturers support it. The time for that gives me time to save though!

Has Olympus said whether they'll have a housing for the em-10?

Not yet, but considering they offer housings for the EM-5 and the EM-1 I would not be at all suprised if they offer one for this camera too, same goes for Nauticam. I especially like the fact that there isn't a clip on strobe. I had a play with an EPL-5 the other day, and came away thinking that I'll always forget to clip on/lose the damn thing. I'm going to the dive show in a couple of weeks, so can query Nauticam UK directly.(unless Alex wants to answer on here??). Rough prices from Jessops place the camera + 14-42mm lens at ~£600 which is much better in my eyes that £900 for the EM5. Just got to wait and sea..

B