Olympus OMD EM10 vs Panasonic GX7 vs Sony a6000

Hey!

I am looking for a new Camera System. I am using a Canon 6D normally, but from my point of view it is to large, to heavy (espacially for luggage) and to expensive to go diving with it. Until now I always used a Canon G12 in a Canon housing with a Sea & Sea YS-02 flash.

Now I want to change my setup to something with better image quality so I came to MFT and Sony E-Mount System. I really like the EM10 and out of the three mentioned in the topic it would be the cheapest model. (Nauticam rig/Dome/Handle) I'd guess that the 16MP would be enough and I like the choice of lenses you have at MFT. The only thing that makes me think about buying it is the poor video features. More and more cameras are coming with 4K and here you are limited to 1080@30p. I d love to have 50p in this camera.

The GX7 has same advantages with the lenses and everything can do 50p, I d guess the Oly's IQ is a little better. It will be a little more expensive than the EM10 in full setup.

The Sony a6000 is a 24MP cam with 50p capture mode and everything I d love. But housing and dome will be much more expensive (round about 500-600 more).

First of all I would take the fitting Pancake Kit Zoom lens and extend it with wet lenses. I love to be flexible underwater. I am thinking of a Macro and a Fisheye wet lens. By the way: Which wet-lenses would you recommend as extension for the kit-lenses?

Total budget for Camera, Housing, Port, Handle and wet lenses is 3000€. (I'd also go for 3100, but not for 4000€).

I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas, even if you have a totally different setup-idea.

thanks

Bene

If your goal would be to use the kit zoom with wet lenses, and by that you include wideangle wet lenses, I would suggest you instead consider something like a Sony RX100, Canon G16, etc. To me, using a DSLR or mirrorless camera is all about lens and port choices, with the exception of add-on closeup lenses on a macro.

On the other hand, if you were going to look at using the 12-50 lens on a GX7 or EM10 and possibly adding a closeup wet lens, but not a wideangle wet lens, then that is different. I have insufficient knowledge of the Sony cameras to provide much insight there.

As to video, as I understand it, the GX7 does not have image stabilization in video mode, while the EM10 does. I'm not much of a video guy, but that might be something to consider. If video is REALLY important to you, especially 4k, there is the GH4, but it may pose budget problems.

Just my thoughts, I hope it helps some.

You are absolutely right about changing lenses, etc. It was just the plan for now and maybe try different lenses later. Not sure what is going to come in a year.

I allready thought about the Sony RX100, but honestly I don't really "like" it. It is nothing that I could explain, but I am sure that I will always have the feeling of: "I should have bought/tested something else".

I am not into 4K but it will be there in latest 2-3 years, so in my opinion 1080 is still okay but to be limited to 30p is a mess for a european...

I was always hoping that Panasonic is going to announce its LX8, this could have been the perfect camera. But rumorwise it was always delayed. Now there is a rumor that they will announce the LX100 next week. This could really be the perfect camera, BUT I am leaving to Maledives end of October and I am pretty sure, there will be no housing until then...

Anyways I will definitley wait until Photokina next week, before buying something.

regards

Hi,

I find the Oly 12-40mm/2.8 very flexible when used behind a Dome Port.

You can go pretty Close (not Super-Macro but Close fish Portraits and stuff like this), and 12mm behind a Dome is not bad at the wide end.

Since this lens has no stabi built in it would benefit from using a Olympus Body (EM10 or EM1 or EM5).

I am not sure how much one wants to "mess around" with changing wetlenses under water.

I am a bit sceptical how good IQ one can get from a (medicore) kit lens + a wet lens.

If I was going for a wet lens solution I would probably just go for a Compact (RX100II).

During my last Dive vacation I brought 8FE/9-18/12-40 with my EM1. I used the FE8mm for 2 out of 15 dives, the 9-18 for 2 out of 15 and the 12-40 with Dome Port for the other 11 dives.

There is another thread here where you can see how Close you can go with that Combo and if this is Close enough for you.

I am not sure if it makes sense to spend thousands for a underwaterhousing and camera and then save Money when choosing the lens.

While I too am very fond of the 12-40 lens in the 170 dome, I was trying to keep in mind the 3000 euro limit, and a body, housing, 12-40 lens and Zen dome would go over that by a fair bit. The 12-50 is not nearly as good a lens, but it isn't "bad: and does at least go to 12mm and can be used in a flat port or the 4" semi-dome with a closeup lens. I think that would be better than trying to use a 14-42. But, yes, the 12-40 is very nice.

I use the 12-50 in a flat port on a M5 in a Nauticam housing. Also, with a flip diopter. I am pleased with the results. What level of quality do you really need?

Bob

Hi to all,

I have a Panasonic Gx7 in Nauticam housing and i use often the Panasonic 14-42mm Pzoom into a Nauticam macro port 35 + Inon uwl-H100 LD wet wide lens , without any vignetting and quite enough good IQ.

Here https://www.flickr.com/photos/scipio2010/sets/72157647161876008/ you can see some pictures made with the 14-42mm lens+Inon wet lens, some with 8mm Panasonic and a few with an Olympus 60mm macro.

Scipionems