AOI UH-EPL10 vs Fantasea FR100iv

@dann-oh I started my journey with super small Sony compact camera without red filter and then I moved to TG2 +red filter and then to the sonyrx100iv with single strobe. I mainly do CFWA and I like big things but time to time a like some macro but not super macro.
In the change between Olympus and the last Sony, I lost the macro part but I got very good dynamic range, resolution to crop, raw to manage correction and colours mainly thanks to the strobe while still compact.
What I miss is battery duration, speed because of internal flash (mainly) and sometime ability to stay closer to the subject. macro with full zoom is a challenge.


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If you already have an RX-100 the case for the EPL-10 is less compelling, however the EM-5 III assuming same performance as the the EM-1 MkII sensor is another step up again in noise and about half stop better in dynamic range as well so starts to get into quite a reasonable upgrade from a 1"sensor. 
If you are starting from scratch or a small  compact of course the upgrade is more significant so buying an EPL-10 instead of an RX-100 makes perfect sense.

26 minutes ago, caolino said:

 

Thanks, very clear. My only concern is that moving to em5 or em1 will increase the overall setup (weight and size) and loosing the compact setup. I have not seen an housing comparison between the 2 of them but it seems considerably bigger. What do you think?


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Every thing's a compromise, certainly the housing is a little bigger but for me the better image quality and better AF would sway me in that direction.  Your acceptable compromises may well be different to mine.  The downside to me of the AOI EM-5III housing is it doesn't include a pickup eyepiece for the EVF, so you would be working off the back screen.

On 3/5/2022 at 11:21 PM, caolino said:

 

Thanks, very clear. My only concern is that moving to em5 or em1 will increase the overall setup (weight and size) and loosing the compact setup. I have not seen an housing comparison between the 2 of them but it seems considerably bigger. What do you think?


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Don't forget that the EM5 and the Em1 housings both use the OMD size port and not the PEN sized port therefore increasing the cost of the ports and the overall size of the system.   It might be worth it to price out the systems on backscatter to see which way your budget will allow you to go.  Also I wouldn't want to use the 14-42 on the em5 or em1.

On 7/31/2020 at 6:33 AM, caolino said:

Hi,

despite the covid situation the gear syndrome is there and I'm now thinking if the new setup release by AOI with the Pen10 can be a valid upgrade of my compact setup with fantasea and sony rx100iv.

My key drivers for improvement are:

1) stay compact

2) improve battery life

3) improve flash recycle time and keep TTL (I use an external strobe)

4) decrease the focus distance without additional wet lens to allow CFWD and/or simil macro

I'd like to have more resolution for cropping as well but I know already that this will be a step back.

Thanks

The answer for Caolino, the original poster is YES the EPL-10 is a valid upgrade from a compact. In fact the target buyer for this system is someone entering into underwater photography, moving up from a cell phone or compact and more. It is without doubt the best value in an interchangeable lens package you can find in the market. The system is targeted at recreational divers just like the old Olympus systems so a 45m depth rating is more than adequate. #1 yes the system is compact, #2 yes battery power is improved because it does not use flash powered by the camera. #3 Yes the recycle times are very fast, the included flash trigger is rechargeable using a mini USB and when I tested this system I never had the battery fail. NO the flash trigger is not TTL, most TTL flash triggers start at around $450.00USD just for the trigger. #4 The housing package from Backscatter with the custom Octo trim ships with the housing, flat port with 67mm threads, EPL-10 camera with "kit" 14-42mm lens, lens gear, vacuum system, manual flash trigger and more for $1298.00USD complete. For wide angle and CFWA you can add a verity of wide wet lenses, I tested the AOI UWL-09 wide conversion lens. For macro you can add a verity of C/U lenses, I tested the AOI UCL-09 +12.5 C/U lens. You can also use the Olympus 60mm macro in a custom port or the 8mm fisheye in a custom port.

I don't see a huge downside to the 16MP sensor V 20MP for the OM-line because the buyers for this system will not be looking to make large prints in most cases and if they are they should know to pass on this system and go to a larger sensor. 

The comparison to the AOI EM-5 III housing is just not apples to apples because that housing plus the flash trigger alone cost over $1000.00USD. 

If the AOI housings and the compatibility of Olympus PT housing ports seem like Deja vu it's because AOI has built the Olympus housings for years.

You can read my review of the AOI/EPL-10 system in back issue #122 at uwpmag.com, this is a free PDF download.