Olympus digital fisheye

Hi!

I've heared rumors of about USD/EUR 800 for the lens. The new housing looks better than the series for the compact cameras. I've had a glimpse at one in a shop window yesterday. If I'm really lucky, Olympus will give me a sample for this weekend for testing (I phoned them yesterday). The pricing is quite high (EUR 1300 for the housing without port) so I'm curious how it'll sell.

As soon as I've got my hands on a PT-E01 I'll post a review.

Helge ;-)=)

Really looking forward to hearing about it, Helge.

I have read all about the great wide angle optics for Olympus's DSLRs but what lenses are available for macro and fish photography?

Alex

Hi Alex,

The only option that I know of for Oly DSLRs is their 50 mm f2.0 macro (100 mm equiv). Nice max aperture, but it only goes to half life size and requires either the teleconverter or tube to get to almost 1:1.

Others may know more, but that is the extent of my knowledge of the system.

Also Helge - really looking forward to the review too.

Hi!

Bad news first. I was a bit too late. They couldn't manage to get me a housing that quick. All housings for press reviews and testing are out right now. No chance left 'cause I've got to leave in 2 hours. We're diving a virgin mountain lake at 2000m altitude. Would have been a great chance to test cold water capabilities. There's a second chance later on this year. Let's have a try then.

A word about the 50mm macro (24° angle). It's a masterpiece of a macro lens. Crisp sharp, extreme good MTF curves. It's one of my most used lenses, mostly for macro but for portraits too. It's a pretty short built lens so there's lots of free space left when you're close focusing. The 1:2 scale means that you're at 1:1 35mm equivalent (because of the smaller sensor). Focusing is by wire as with all the Digital Zuiko lenses. The "gear" allows exact (manual) focusing. The AF works well in most cases but like with all macro lenses (long extensions) it is slow. Narrow DOF takes it s toll too so I prefer manual focus with the macro. The extension ring (25mm) allows focusing between 1:2 and 1:1 (object area with 17mm diagonal).

The quality of the WA lenses are also out of question. I own the 7-14mm lens and it's great. Nearly no distortion (just a slight barrel -- you've to look twice) and that at 114° diagonal. Great close focus capabilities. Can't wait to get it under water.

Olympus has planned a 100mm (12°) macro lens which will be available next year. I've heard reliable rumors that it'll be a fast lens too (f2.0 or f2.8) and I'm eagerly waiting for it.

Although I couldn't get my hands on a E-300 housing this time I'll try to get one for my next tests. Maybe I'll be able to do a comparison with the UK-Germany E-300 housing and also get the announced dome (PPO-E04) for the Oly housing.

Latest news: Olympus Europe will think about the pricing of the housing. They realized that it's a bit too high for a plastic box (although the designers did their homework, as far as I've seen yet). A friend of mine is currently testing one of the first Japanese samples in Egypt. I phoned him yesterday and he's quite pleased with the results.

I'll keep you informed!

Helge ;-)=)

I'll keep you informed!

 

Helge ;-)=)

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Thank You!

Hi Alex,

 

The only option that I know of for Oly DSLRs is their 50 mm f2.0 macro (100 mm equiv). Nice max aperture, but it only goes to half life size and requires either the teleconverter or tube to get to almost 1:1.

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Actually, this is technically true but in practical application it works just like a 100mm 1:1 lens on a 35mm camera as Helge says. The specs are a bit misleading because Olympus still insists on trying to show things in a mix of 35mm and "digital" numbers. The important figure is actually the one for "35mm equivalent" magnification, which is a little better than 1:1. Basically, the lens does 1:2 but the sensor is roughly half the size so it ends up giving you an image that looks like 1:1 would on a 35mm frame! Clear as mud, right? Think of it this way: A fish 36mm in length, if photographed at 1:1 with a 35mm camera would exactly fit the width of the frame (35mm frame size is actually 24mm x 36mm) The same fish, 36mm in length, would fill the frame of the E-300 at 1:2 because the E-300's sensor is only 18mm wide. Again, as Helge says, Oly does make an extension ring that takes it up to 1:1 (or, 2:1 in 35mm speak) . . .

Mike