Experience with Lumix DMC-ZS30 (TZ40)?

[koksie]

Yes, that's the mountbase that is needed, I believe that is does contain thread and needs no further adaptors, although I cannot see any thread in that pic. The description sais: "to the integral 67mm threaded mount". However, I saw a thread on wetpixel in the DYI section where a guy screwed a M67 mount to his Canon G7 housing. He used a 4$ stepping ring and after some work he had a mount fixed to his housing at almost no cost. Link: Canon G9 & G7 housing - DIY 67mm lens adapter - Unrequited Gear Lust and DIY Projects - Wetpixel :: Underwater Photography Forums
I think that the same method could also be used on the Panasonic housing, since it also has screws in the port.

I think Inon only supports M67 lenses for this housing. Unfortunately I used to say, since AD-lenses are much wider available second-hand than M67 lenses, are cheaper (also new) and are much easier to switch underwater. However, Greenjuice and Interceptor121 made clear in this thread that AD lenses would vignette far more and, when using an extra M67 to AD adaptor (which do exist), you would have the adaptor in sight during normal shooting without the macro lens. That would mean that you could no longer use the camera in 24mm setting but always need to zoom in a little, limiting your WA. And the UWL-S100 ZM80 is M67, so to change from marco to normal to WA would be a hassle with all the adaptors.

All in all, enough reasons for me to stick to M67 and try to find some second-hand lenses.

 

[HenrikBP]

Thanks Koksie, makes sense.

I pulled the trigger and ordered the TZ40 - which is on back-order of course Really looking forward to using the camera. I think it will do well for my topside photography, and when I get comfortable with the camera I may order the UW housing as well.

The only thing that still bugs me a bit about the TZ40 is the lack of RAW. I can't help but think that Panasonic simply disabled RAW shooting in the firmware. There is a Panasonic hack out there, but only for the TZ10, and there doesn't seem to have been any development in over a year. Too bad.

I've been reading up on M67 vs. LD etc. and it would seem that the bayonet mounts would be much easier to use UW. I read Interceptor's blog about converting from M67 to LD. But if it causes vignetting and generally blocks the "view" of the lens, it's certainly not worth it.

 

[koksie]

Ha ha, of course it is. I was checking availability as well two days ago and noticed it too. Where did you order it? I think I saw the lowest price at B&H but cann't remember for sure. And since I am not that much at home in US webstores, I am wondering what the best/cheapest stores are.
Let me know what the IQ is like once you get it, I am curious of course.
For the UW housing I found prices ranging from 400 to 299 US for the Panasonic housing, so it obviously pays to shop around for those as well.

I thought that the whole RAW disabling is always a firmware issue, since alle cameras shoot in RAW and then the processor makes into a JPEG image, but I might be wrong. Shame there is no firmware hack, it would make the camera even more attractive. But well, I think you'll enjoy it anyway.

Bajonet is always easier to attach/detach than M67, as Greenjuice tells us in his earlier posts in this thread. I don't know if all lenses can be converted to LD, the UWL-S100 ZM80 seems difficult to do. If that one is not possible, than converting to LD makes no sense (well, if you plan to buy that lens as well of course). And I don't know if the LD lenses suffer the same disadvantages ad the AD lenses. I understand from Interceptor121 that the AD lenses are an older system with smaller lens diameter, causing the vignetting and other issues. Maybe the LD lenses, being newer, don't have these problems. However, the adapter will most likely still show-up at 24mm, blocking the view, meaning you can easily remove the lens with the LD but have to unscrew the M67>LD adapter. More parts to lose...
Maybe Interceptor121 can shed some light on M67 vs M67 converted to LD lenses?

Well, good luck with waiting for the camera and let us know how it goes!

 

[HenrikBP]

I placed the order with B&H. You can't order online, but I called and placed the order over the phone instead. So they'll ship it when they get it back in stock. They have a pretty good bundle deal on Photoshop Elements 11 and Lightroom that I jumped on as well.

It would certainly be helpful to get some hints as to whether it may be possible to convert M67 to LD. I could of course just learn to thread the M67s

 

[koksie]

I put an email-alert for the TZ40 on their site, so they'll notify me when it gets in stock. It's sold out on most websites, hopefully because it's such a good camera and not because of a recall.

How much were PSE and Lightroom in the bundle deal?

I think that Interceptor121 can answer the M67 to LD questions when he strays into this thread again, or otherwise you can send him a PM, I think he'll know the answer. Otherwise, indeed learn to screw the M67 in, shouldn't be too hard and keeps it more versatile if you switch to other housings/manufacturers later on. M67 is some kind of world-wide standard, whereas LD certainly is not. Or you can of course re-convert the LD to M67 again, but I don't know if that mod is easily reversable, better check that beforehand.

 

[HenrikBP]

I put an email-alert for the TZ40 on their site, so they'll notify me when it gets in stock. It's sold out on most websites, hopefully because it's such a good camera and not because of a recall.

Oh yeah, that'd not be good ...

How much were PSE and Lightroom in the bundle deal?

A total of $40 off of Elements bringing it down to $43 and $30 off of Lightroom down to ~$110

Otherwise, indeed learn to screw the M67 in, shouldn't be too hard and keeps it more versatile if you switch to other housings/manufacturers later on.

Thanks, that's a good point about cross housing compatibility.

 

[HenrikBP]

Good news:



Fingers crossed that it'll ship and arrive before the weekend ...

 

[koksie]

Yes, I got the email this morning. I hope for you it will be there soon (also because you can let us know how it performs).

 

[HenrikBP]

I hope for you it will be there soon (also because you can let us know how it performs).

It unfortunately won't arrive until Monday - and I'm away all that week. So it'll be awhile before I can post a first-hand report. But I'll post when I've had a chance to use the camera (topside) for a bit.

 

[koksie]

Ok, thanks. Shame you won't be able to take it on your trip, but then again, patience is a virtue, right? I'll be watching out for your reports. Have a nice and safe trip!