Affordable 4K underwater video with the Panasonic LX100

http://interceptor121.com/2014/12/13/panasonic-dmc-lx100-nauticam-4k-underwater-video-becomes-affordable/

I have made some financial comparisons with the GH4, no doubt the latter gives superior quality and flexibility but there is a huge cost difference!

The lens quality of the LX100 is very attractive, but for long run, the lens and port for the GH4 could be off set when moving to GH5 and GH6 body in the future. If the GH5 body work in the GH4 housing, that would even be great. It's all just a gamble and one just have to live and know when to anticipate the camera/housing combo is going to be outdated. If there is a flat port available for the 12-35 lens, it will be the best lens for all around use especially if the new Nauticam wet WA lens would work on it. May be we should petition to ask Nauticam to make a flat port for 12-35mm lens, he he.

I don't think it's possible as that lens moves quite a bit during zooming. The best best is the 14-42 X which is longer at wide end. I think wet lenses for 35mm compact would work on the 35 flat port not sure about optical quality though and also the LX100 lens is much brighter

Tried the Inon UFL-165AD with a AD->67mm converter and spacer (same set up as the Sanyo Xacti) on the macro port 35 with 14-42mm X pz lens, the UFL-165AD won't work. The Opteka works tough.

I was told the new smaller Nauticam SMC is almost the same strength as the regular SMC, which is about +12. So the question is, 50mm on the LX100 with the +12 (or Subsee +10), would the macro good enough? But then with 4K video, you could further crop in if the output is only for 1080 video.

The 165 lens won't work the flat lens could as it starts working at 32mm I choose diopters based on working distance. +12 gets you very very close. Will be good to see if you can test the housing I would try the dome port as a starter

Won't be able to test the LX100 as I'm diving today with the rental GH4 housing and I'm flying out tomorrow. They only have the prototype rectangle housing at Reef Photos, at least that's what they shown me. I will ask more question about the flat port + SMC as the GH4 housing seems a bit too big for my hand. I have to use my index finger to trigger the WB setting, then use my thumb to press UP, then SET to take white balance. Switching from index finger to thumb is when my hand get tired and the camera shake/get loose. May be with more float the whole process would help. But I do miss the LX-7/LX-100 that you just press RIGHT and SET to take white balance, everything is done with thumb. The subject tracking on the GH4 is also not working correctly for me.

The 14-42mm lens can't be manual focus because the gear is used for zoom only. The work flow is to set the camera to Manual Focus, then press the AF lock, and if the subject is not in focus due to swinging or surge movement, I had to move the camera in and out relying on the focus peaking. If I'm on a tripod, moving in and out to further focus would be an issue. Still debate between GH4 & LX100

I personally think that the main difference is:

a) the size of the housing
b) the absence of changable lenses (and the correlated "problems" like having the wrong lens attached)

c) image quality with is undisputable better with the GH4 (especially using the Shogun for raw recording)

I would love to have the GH4 but as i have already the D800 both will be rather similar in size and as i wrote in

another tread; i need a small camera to tuck under my right armpit during my work as dive guide and Instructor when permited.

In this moment he LX100 is certainly the best option for 4K video in a compact housing and it seems that Nauticam made a great job

developing the new housing for the LX100.
Ikelite still build nice and affordable housings, but unfortunately they stick with their decision to not allow (where possible) to open/add

a internal strobe and so using optical triggered strobes.
Also they "overseen or understimated the need of switching to manual and macro during the dive and this is a serious issue/pita.

I tried to stow somehow the LX100 in my Canon G1X MKII and G12 housings to do some basic and limited underwater testing but
the thicker lens barrel avoid to fit the LX100 inside both housings.

It seems that for this time the only way is to use a plastic bag "housing" as used in the red sea video posted a few days ago.

Chris

Actually if you compare the 14-42 X and GH4 to the LX100 4K video still frame capture the LX100 look better, yes there are not many options for grading etc etc however the processor is the same the coded exactly identical and the 14-42 X not an amazing lens

The 12-35 is a much better lens but again is a matter of price and what you can afford

Surely if you put an external recorder the situation is different however I am pretty sure if you are at that stage your choice is the GH4 for sure

For me, shooting at 4K and scaling down to 1080p looks already very good compared to my own Sony RX100 Mark II videos and those are pretty good already

I just thinking that Sony will most likely add 4K to the next RX100 and I do like the manual Auto ISO in video that the RX100 has and the LX100 doesn't have so am thinking carefully about investing considering that my next trip may be in March or April