Just ordered the zuiko 9-18 mm lens

[deeper thoughts]

Just ordered the above lens and zen port from Reef photo. Any hints,tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[slowhands]

Zoom Ring: If you have the E-PL2 with PT-EP03 housing, the zoom ring for your type II lens fits the 9-18mm lens. If you have the E-PL1 with original housing, you also need a new zoom ring. It is different than the one for the original lens.

Shading Ring: Olympus says you should have a "shading ring" so stray light from your flash does not enter your lens due to reflections inside the housing, which could cause loss of contrast. Olympus makes shading rings for the 14-42 lenses only ($43). The M Zuiko 9-18mm lens has a 52mm filter ring, so the 43 or 37mm rings for the 14-42 types I and II lenses don't fit.

You can improvise one from a either a 52-62 or 52-67 step ring ($5). The inside diameter of the standard port is about 70mm, so a 52-67mm ring barely fits. The Zen dome is 2.5mm wider due to thinner walls, so the 52-67 fits better. There is ample clearance in front of it under the dome.

 

[under water]

My experience with that lens / port combinations showed edge fuzziness at apertures below 7. So I would take that into consideration when planning shots.
I discuss it in this thread - Which I know you have seen
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ol...some-pictures-review-my-e-pl1-underwater.html

I would like you to try some shots wide open, just to confirm my experience.

I don't use the shading ring and have not noticed an issue with normal underwater shooting. I can create a nice picture of the markings on the lens though, with the right lighting conditions, but that only happnes when I am pointing the strobe back a bit towards the camera.

 

[deeper thoughts]

Thnx all

 

[nudibranco]

Zoom Ring:

You can improvise one from a either a 52-62 or 52-67 step ring ($5). The inside diameter of the standard port is about 70mm, so a 52-67mm ring barely fits. The Zen dome is 2.5mm wider due to thinner walls, so the 52-67 fits better. There is ample clearance in front of it under the dome.

mmmm.... maybe the 50mm macro lens from olympus fits in the zen dome?? I remembered it was 71mm diameter. The original port was 70mm I recall...

 

[slowhands]

mmmm.... maybe the 50mm macro lens from olympus fits in the zen dome?? I remembered it was 71mm diameter. The original port was 70mm I recall...

The 50 does not fit the standard port from Olympus. In the Zen 9-18mm port, it fits very snugly. The lens is contacting the sides of the port barrel.

Surprisingly, it works. Unfortunately as it focuses the lens will contact the dome. The lens is not harmed, but I'm not going to risk scratching the port glass. Recall I had to add the 4/3 to M43 adapter so the lens plus adapter is a bit long. I do love this 50mm macro lens though.

This lens plus adapter is not ideal. This problem would go away if Olympus would release their 50mm M43 lens. But who knows when that will happen??

 

[deeper thoughts]

The 50 does not fit the standard port from Olympus. In the Zen 9-18mm port, it fits very snugly. The lens is contacting the sides of the port barrel.

Surprisingly, it works. Unfortunately as it focuses the lens will contact the dome. The lens is not harmed, but I'm not going to risk scratching the port glass. Recall I had to add the 4/3 to M43 adapter so the lens plus adapter is a bit long. I do love this 50mm macro lens though.

This lens plus adapter is not ideal. This problem would go away if Olympus would release their 50mm M43 lens. But who knows when that will happen??

I have called Olympus and they know nada. Spoke to Reef Photo and they are waiting on Olympus too.

 

[nudibranco]

agh... too bad!. Slowhands which adapter did you use?

Probably the 35mm macro may fit. It is cheaper but the focal length that would be very useful is 50 to 60mm with a minimum focus distance of 15cm...
The 35mm is cheap though. Maybe I must still wait...

 

[slowhands]

agh... too bad!. Slowhands which adapter did you use?

Probably the 35mm macro may fit. It is cheaper but the focal length that would be very useful is 50 to 60mm with a minimum focus distance of 15cm...
The 35mm is cheap though. Maybe I must still wait...

I'm using the Panasonic M43 adapter. I did not like the new plastic Olympus type II adapter. The Panasonic adapter has Metal mounts and is not expensive. I don't have an Olympus M43 adapter, so I can't swear it will fit the Zen port. But the Panasonic does and this allows mounting the E series lenses.

I wanted the F2.0 aperture of the 50mm macro. I could try the 35mm, but actually the 14-42 II does well for macro and focuses to 25cm. I think a close up lens on the 14-42 would shorten working distance to the range of the 35mm.

Perhaps that is why Olympus is tardy in releasing the 50mm M43 lens? If an existing lens is basically similar, why bother?

Panasonic has taken leadership with this Olympus-pioneered product family, with many more bodies and some better lenses. But their camera bodies lack in camera stabilization, which is so nice. That GH2 is something though.

I read an interesting rumor that GE may also enter this market. Really just a licensee of the GE mark, this camera maker in Asia says it will make a low end product for this market. They supply a low end camera for Sea&Sea already.
GE Micro Four Thirds Cameras Coming Soon?