E-3 Deals are coming

[Larry C]

Just got my latest sale ad online from Costco. I'm sure the other outlets will be putting these out as well. E-3 with 12-60 lens and FL-50R wireless flash bundled at a $700 discount. Costco has a 90 day no questions asked return policy on electronics including cameras.

Costco - $2,399.99 After $700 OFF Olympus E-3 10.1MP 2.5" 12-60mm Lens & Flash Up to 5 Frames/sec

I thought strongly about the E-3 before going with the D300, basically for lens choices and housing options. Check with AndyT on how things are going with UW options.

 

[AndyT]

Here's another E-3 housing option other than the Nexus.

Seatool E-3:

Seatool Housing for Olympus E-3 [st.sdh.ome3] - $3,199.00 : Reef Photo & Video!, The Underwater Photo Pros

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

I think the lens and port choices for the E-3 housings (Nexus & SeaTool) are outstanding. The 50 mm macro is tack sharp and can be housed behind several ports in several price ranges. The 8 mm fisheye and Inon port are a bargain for super wide angle. With the Olympus port adapters for Nexus & SeaTool ports from Olympus, Athena, Inon, Zen Underwater, Nexus and SeaTool can be used. Thats over thirty ports in a verity of price ranges. Both housings are top quality and should give great service for many years. Both can also use fiber optic (Inon) strobes.

Iklite also makes a housing for the E-3 if you already own Iklite equipment.

I will be reporting on the SeaTool E-3 housing later this month.

 

[jlyle]

Does Costco's sale signal the end of the E-3?

 

[Larry C]

Does Costco's sale signal the end of the E-3?

Generally, it means the end of "exclusivity". The camera is no longer the latest hottest item, and the mfg. wants to move more of them than they can through their dealer network. Nikon's discount on the D300 hit all outlets at once, but they did it through a lens discount on the 18-200 lens package. They never discounted the camera itself. I think Oly is headed in the same direction. They'll probably have another new product announcement coming shortly. (Nikon just sent up the D-700, a full frame FX sensor model between the D-300 and the D-3 with a couple of new features.)

 

[geek]

Damn those housings are expensive. I thought the Ikelite was bad enough. I've got an e-330 right now and I'm intending to upgrade to the e-3 (with 12-60 and 50-200swd) once prices come down a little.

I'm just getting started with diving but am looking at housings out of curiosity because I want to take pics in the Galapagos. Wondering if I should just get a $500-700 underwater camera instead of the e-3 housing. i'll probably do 30 dives on my trip next year...

 

[AndyT]

Just housed my E-3. Worth every cent. Off to the Red Sea on the 26th, looking forward to it.

 

[gballard]

There is talk of a new olympus camera, a possible e-330 upgrade. They should be announcing it late September, or early October.