Couple of Issues with 12-50 lens in macro and normal mode

[deeper thoughts]

Off the topic. Olympus just released the 25mm lens for a very reasonable price. I wonder how this lens would do for underwater?

 

[Foxtrot16]

Hi Ardy and Karl. You should have retired to North Queensland like I did I spent about half my life in the Northern Territory where 5 metres viz was a great day, but didn't encourage photography. That's a recent pursuit.

Would love to but there are too many Queenslanders there

I would love to semi retire to Bali - lot cheaper to live - but at the moment I just love diving of any kind and we shore dive every weekend in the great hope that one day the vis will be > 4m which happens at least twice a year :cool2:

One thing though, diving in poor vis teaches you how to get a good image in any condition so when we do travel if the vis drops it isn't an issue with us.

Karl

---------- Post added November 2nd, 2014 at 09:30 AM ----------

Karl - I do have access to the 43mm macro in my Meikon house, as I've hacked the lens, as described in my post about that. I can thus enable macro by placing a magnet at a certain place outside the housing. This makes it a very cheap solution.

Do you have a link to it as I know a few may be interested over here???

Karl

 

[NautilusCairns]

Would love to but there are too many Queenslanders there

I would love to semi retire to Bali - lot cheaper to live - but at the moment I just love diving of any kind and we shore dive every weekend in the great hope that one day the vis will be > 4m which happens at least twice a year :cool2:

One thing though, diving in poor vis teaches you how to get a good image in any condition so when we do travel if the vis drops it isn't an issue with us.

Karl

---------- Post added November 2nd, 2014 at 09:30 AM ----------



Do you have a link to it as I know a few may be interested over here???

Karl

Ha ha , I know whwt you mean about Queenslanders, but they grow on you after a while...like a wart

 

[Ardy]

Just lucky - all but one of the kids have left home so I have a few dollars extra each week plus I have a secret bank account where I stash a few dollars away that SWMBO doesn't know about

I am the same with the wide angle - don't do that much here as the shore diving isn't the best for it due to low vis (about 4m on a good day) and I only manage to get to Bali once a year so a dedicated wide angle lens and port isn't on my list of wants and needs. I have a GoPro mount on top of my tray which I can use if anything big swims by when I am shooting macro.

I love the 60mm but I don't always get good opportunities to use it due to the poor vis so I end up with the 12 - 50mm in macro mode most of the time so I can get closer to the subject.

I don't think there will ever be the perfect set up as everything is always going to be a compromise.


These were taken with the 12 - 50mm in macro - View attachment 196545 View attachment 196546

These were taken with the 60mm - View attachment 196547 View attachment 196548 (this is a dwarf cuttlefish about the size of my fist)

In both cases the vis was about 4m and very milky with lots of silt floating around - the cuttlefish was a harder shot because I had to be so much further back just to fit him in the frame even though he is small.

I dream of diving in conditions where the vis is 10m+

Karl

My partner is hopeless with money and she relies on me to be sensible (not too smart an option). Bali in a few weeks early Dec, and then another trip maybe to Philippines in April and that will be it for the next 12 months. I went up to Coffs Harbour for a dive last year. The seas were rough, the diving a bit murky and the water temp 20c, did not make me want to rush back at my time of life.

Great shots considering what you have to deal with.

Ardy

---------- Post added November 1st, 2014 at 10:06 PM ----------

Karl - I do have access to the 43mm macro in my Meikon house, as I've hacked the lens, as described in my post about that. I can thus enable macro by placing a magnet at a certain place outside the housing. This makes it a very cheap solution.

EskilJ: I read your article about hacking the 12-50 and it made me mad! How come you have those skills, whereas I would end up with a pile of wires, glass and rubber, then go looking to buy a new lens.