EPL-2 Vs. XZ-1

[nudibranco]

Here's a shot I took in May of 2010 of a piece of brain coral, using an E-P1 camera, which has the same sensor as the E-PL2. Settings were ISO 400, 1/90, F/8.0, and two strobes:

Here's a shot I took in April of 2008, using a Fuji F30 (not as high-end as the XZ-1, but a fairly high performance compact with full manual controls) with an Inon macro lens. Settings were ISO 400, 1/100, F/8.0, and a single strobe:

Do you see the difference? The camera with interchangeable lenses had a dedicated macro lens (in this case a Nikonos 80mm lens with close-up kit), and I was able to get much better magnification without any loss of quality.

I loved my old F31d (actually I still use them for my DUP course work!) but now they are old and actually a controlled and more useful comparison is easy to do at dpreview link
Olympus XZ-1 Review: 9. Compared to (JPEG): Digital Photography Review
that has a widget to compare crops at different ISO. I would not expect to use anything higher than 100 ISO on most of my macro shots (not 400 ISO).

Compacts have little to envy to the larger 4/3 sensors at low ISO settings. The XZ1 has also the ability to use a very fast lens and achieve both great MACRO DOF control all the way up to 112mm focal length (you get up to 84mm on the EPLx kit lenses) without any external wet lenses. Actually a fast F2.5 112mm focal length is quite useful for some critters (the XZ1 will focus up to 30cm at that soom setting!).

With some VERY close inspection on some very large A2 and maybe A3 prints you may get better results with the EPL system but otherwise... With the cost of the XZ1 and UW case you pay as much as the only current macro lens for the EPLx system and easier to switch on the boat!

 

[surf4life]

The Olympus XZ-1 seems like a great camera, but does it taking a USB port to charge mean there will be no ability to change batteries in the field? Hope I'm just overlooking something.

 

[Puffer Fish]

The Olympus XZ-1 seems like a great camera, but does it taking a USB port to charge mean there will be no ability to change batteries in the field? Hope I'm just overlooking something.

It charges with a USB port, but you can get a plug in charger for that battery, so charging a spare will not be an issue.

 

[Puffer Fish]

The XZ-1 is a very exciting camera to me. Finally a great feature camera, that shoots raw, that comes with an affordable good case.

I wish it had a wider wide angle... don't know about lens travel (where the lens is at 28mm), but overall, this should be a winner.

Our shop is going to stock them, and I will be using one to teach with.

Is the 67mm mount strong enough for heavy wide angle wet lens? Don't have a clue.

What I do know is that this camera and underwater case should be a great combination, one that can use 67mm wet lens... that is at a great price point.

Unless there is some major issue with the case, I don't know why anyone would buy the more expensive camera, unless they just did very specialized images, and then would suggest that one is investing a whole bunch more.

Note: If you shoot in really clear water, and like wide angle images, then an interchangable lens camera with wide angle lens and dome is the way to go. If you only like to shoot macro and super macro, then a dedicated macro lens is nice...just don't ever expect to do both on the same dive, and expect to have spent thousands.

 

[cardog]

The XZ-1 is a very exciting camera to me. Finally a great feature camera, that shoots raw, that comes with an affordable good case.

I wish it had a wider wide angle... don't know about lens travel (where the lens is at 28mm), but overall, this should be a winner.

Our shop is going to stock them, and I will be using one to teach with.

Is the 67mm mount strong enough for heavy wide angle wet lens? Don't have a clue.

What I do know is that this camera and underwater case should be a great combination, one that can use 67mm wet lens... that is at a great price point.

Unless there is some major issue with the case, I don't know why anyone would buy the more expensive camera, unless they just did very specialized images, and then would suggest that one is investing a whole bunch more.

Note: If you shoot in really clear water, and like wide angle images, then an interchangable lens camera with wide angle lens and dome is the way to go. If you only like to shoot macro and super macro, then a dedicated macro lens is nice...just don't ever expect to do both on the same dive, and expect to have spent thousands.

I pre ordered the camera, housing and an Inon 67mm wide angle wet lens. I'll be posting pics within a day or two of their arrival.

 

[Nemrod]

I wish it had a wider wide angle... don't know about lens travel (where the lens is at 28mm), but overall, this should be a winner.

Why? I could see the advantage for surface photography but underwater I don't see the advantage, just disadvantages. First, a 24mm (air) lens through a flat port will have edge distortion issues and second a 24mm native lens would probably preclude use of wet/accessory lenses since they are made and intended for 28mm or 35mm equivalent camera lenses, the 24mm would vignette and require considerable zooming which would back the lens off the port.

I think I would like to buy one of these for testing with my current fleet of lenses but not sure I can justify it over the S90 as it is, I agree, a slightly better camera in some respects but just barely and that "just barely" may be offset by housing and/or other aspects of the system.

Is the 67mm mount strong enough for heavy wide angle wet lens? Don't have a clue.

I suspect the port and 67mm lens mount are plenty strong, the single shoe/attach on the base of the plastic housing, probably not in the long run. The Inon WAL with dome kit is a heavy chunk of aluminum and glass and is a strain on even typical aluminum housings or the heavy duty Ikelite boxes both of which have twin mounting screws in the base.

N

 

[Puffer Fish]

The LX-5 has a 24mm lens, and if you use the 16 x 9 setting, due to the larger sensor, covers roughly what a 28mm does on land, and I don't see an obvious distortion (my laptop and I are in different cities or would post.) thru the flat port, But that seems to be because the lens moves forward as one approaches 24mm. Not tried any of my wet lens yet.

I should have a setup for you to try, if you can get down to the gulf, as we will have several at the shop. Would guess in the April time frame.

The plastic used appears to be glass filled, which can be some really tough stuff, and might (should under line the might) actually be much stronger than metal.. will depend on how the attachment fitting is made. I tend to build a support structure for it anyways to prevent twisting.

Image quality with the LX5 is noticeably better than the S90, and I would expect the Oly to be better than the LX5. Macro is better, and focus should be better.

Why? I could see the advantage for surface photography but underwater I don't see the advantage, just disadvantages. First, a 24mm (air) lens through a flat port will have edge distortion issues and second a 24mm native lens would probably preclude use of wet/accessory lenses since they are made and intended for 28mm or 35mm equivalent camera lenses, the 24mm would vignette and require considerable zooming which would back the lens off the port.

I think I would like to buy one of these for testing with my current fleet of lenses but not sure I can justify it over the S90 as it is, I agree, a slightly better camera in some respects but just barely and that "just barely" may be offset by housing and/or other aspects of the system.



I suspect the port and 67mm lens mount are plenty strong, the single shoe/attach on the base of the plastic housing, probably not in the long run. The Inon WAL with dome kit is a heavy chunk of aluminum and glass and is a strain on even typical aluminum housings or the heavy duty Ikelite boxes both of which have twin mounting screws in the base.

N

 

[Nemrod]

If indeed it is glass filled that is a game changer, if not, then not.

N

 

[Puffer Fish]

If indeed it is glass filled that is a game changer, if not, then not.

N

Finally got to see images of the case. It is obviously polycarbonate, and my bet is it glass filled, or that added tripod mount would not last very long...

I've gone to cutting a rubber sheet that is a small amount thicker than the tripod mount to the size of the case base, and then cutting out the tripod mount. Then the screw is just holding the case to the rubber, and it will not move on you, but also has the added benefit that the case is now supported across the entire bottom, and not just that small mounting area.

Only down side is the every case I get seems to have a different thickness, so I have to buy more sheeting. My only hope is that this time it matches what I already have.

 

[Nemrod]

You know, I saw some photos on the web, if it is glass reinforced/fiber reinforced I will eat my hat (which makes me safe because I do not have a hat to eat if I am wrong).

But I like it anyways. Just have to be gentle with a heavy lens mounted up front. The main times of stress are entry and exit. Once underwater the weight is reduced and thus the stress is reduced. Of course, this only matters when using a tray with separate handle(s). Since I tend to cradle the smaller housings with my right hand even if I have a single or dual handle tray, I think I would be OK with it but why cannot these companies get the simple things right, how much more could it cost to have twin screws and a wider base.

N