Let's talk about upgrades from an epl-1

[casts_by_fly]

Hi gents

i bought an epl1 here on SB about two years ago. I have shot it a bit since then and it has been good. I have the olympus housing and zen dome, plus the usual set of lenses and a ufl-2 strobe. I am firmly in the olympus camp as it just works well together. So with that, let's talk about olympus upgrades.

i am considering the em5, epl5, epl7, and possible em10. The first three will all cost about the same for a housing plus camera (the em5 would be used, the others new). I would need to also get the port adapter to used the zen port on the em5 housing. I primarily am looking for faster autofocus and better high ISO above water as I only travel with one camera. I played with a friend's epl5 last night with my 60mm macro on it and it was so much faster to focus in low light. I would be happy with that performance underwater. The rotary thumb dial drove me nuts though and I don't think I could live with that above water.

any reason to chose or eliminate the rest? Are there any deals going on any of them now?

thanks
rick

 

[SEMO Scuba]

I moved up from an E-PL1 to an E-M5 a few months ago. So far I have been very satisfied. I can't comment on an E-PL5 or E-PL7 because I have never tried either. The E-M5 has 2 rotary dials on top. There are package camera/housing deals on the E-M5 for $1299.00 and the E-PL5 for $799.99. Your Zen dome will require a $100.00 adapter to work on the E-M5 housing. I don't think the adapter is needed for the E-PL5.

 

[chris196]

This is by far your most cost effective option:
Olympus E-PL5 Camera and PT-EP10 Housing Bundle - Huge Savings | Bluewater Photo & Video

uses your Zen port, gets you into the 16mp sensor.
All your listed options would be good, but that epl5 setup is most bang for the buck.

If you plan on getting into other lens and ports, then the em5 or maybe a nauticam housing becomes more attractive.
As you know, changing ports on the PEN housings is not the easiest thing in the world.

 

[casts_by_fly]

Hi Chris,

Yes, I have seen that and it is tempting. I don't change out my ports (I don't even check the O-rings as much as I should) which is why I want to keep the Zen dome going. It just works really well with the lenses I use. The EPL5 focusing would be perfect underwater and I assume the ISO is quite an upgrade on what I have. I don't know if the scroll wheel on the back would drive me nuts above water though or if I would get used to it. It seemed incredibly touchy when I was playing with it. If I could find an OM5 deal in the similar price range I would jump on it immediately, but I'm not 100% on the EPL5 just yet.

thanks,
rick

 

[chris196]

I went from an epl2 to epl7. The epl5 deal had not yet been announced. If it would have been available I would have taken it.
I'm happy with epl7, just not sure it's worth the extra money.
I already own an em5 for above water. If I didn't have that I probably would have gone with em5 deal, but olympus kind of spooked me ports wise when they announced the em5ii with the PEN port instead of the OMD port.
I definitely prefer the em5 above water over the PENs.
So, if only one camera, the em5 deal might be the way to go.

I really don't think you can go wrong either way on this.
I, like you, love my ZEN port. I have the one designed for 9-18. I use the9-18, 60mm and very rarely the kit lens. It's great to not have to change ports to go from WA to macro.
I also have the 8mm with port. I've only used it on one trip so far ant it was one where I never changed ports. So, will have to wait and see in real life how it is changing the port.