Love my E-PL1!!!

[Peter Guy]

I got the Pen a few weeks ago and now have several dives on it, just using the kit lens and Pen housing (I have the wet macro lens but haven't used it yet) with an Inon D2000 strobe.

I LOVE THIS SETUP!

This is my 4th UW camera - first was an original Nikonos (as in no number, purely manual and usual real Flash Bulbs! -- avatar was taken with that camera, which I still have).

When I started diving again 5 years ago I got an Minolta DiMage XG with the Minolta housing -- which flooded after a couple of years of use. Great for playing around (even got video of a Humpback) but quality, well.....

I then upgraded to the Canon S80, Inon D2000 and Canon Housing and wet lenses and have been very happy with it. But after flooding a couple of them (and getting replacements from Canon!), it was starting to be a bit cranky and when I read about the PEN I just decided I HAD TO GET ONE.

I AM SO GLAD.

I know I have a lot to learn about how to get the best pictures out of it but I'm having fun learning.

So, for those who are thinking about jumping in -- Just Do It! You'll be glad you did.

For those of you who have one, please give me your tips. BTW, I had a particularly difficult time yesterday getting focus lock on some tiny nudis -- they were pretty light and I wonder if there just wasn't enough contrast.

At the moment I'm shooting in Ap mode -- f9, ISO 200, 1/60th appears to be the default and either at full zoom (42 mm) or full wide (14mm).

From Yesterday:

Series of pics on FB at: San Juan Saturday

Other Pics from Monterey last weekend: Monterey

 

[Doubler]

Nice shot Peter. I came real close to purchasing a PEN setup at the Dive show until I was informed that my DS51 strobes will not work with the Olympus Housing. The aluminum housing offered was almost twice the cost. Backscatter is working on an after market dome for the Olympus housing. Have you used the Auto Program Setting for Underwater yet?

 

[Peter Guy]

I tried the auto program once (?) but couldn't force the flash so opted not to use it.

I saw one prototype dome port for the PEN housing but I couldn't figure out if it had the same problem as the current flat plate -- that is, not replaceable. But since I don't know much of anything about domes, can you do macro through a dome port?

I'm still looking at this setup as a "tweener" -- not a full dSLR with all the bells, whistles (and weight) and a huge leap up from a PnS.

 

[Hollywoodivers]

We have sold a few of the PEN Cameras The Zoom gear has been backordered for a while now. I assume you are shooting the Olympus housing with it ? Do you have the gear ? or do you set your lens before going in ? I have this camera for topside and I love it. Thanks for sharing. I love Micro 4/3

 

[Peter Guy]

I have the zoom gear and use it when needed. Because of where I'm diving, most of my pics are macro(ish) so I'm using it completely zoomed with the subject a few inches away from the port. I thought the placement of the zoom knob would be a real PITA with my strobe also coming off the left, but it isn't that bad. I hold the housing in my left hand and reach my right around the lens port to rotate the knob (all done with dry gloves). My guess is that in warm water and bare hands, it would be trivial.

 

[under water]

Thanks Peter. I am definitely getting one, but kinda waiting for Ikelite to get a housing so that I can use all my Ike gear. If that doesn't happen by October, then I'll probably get one, get another housing and set of smaller strobes and sell my Ike strobes.
It's just what I have been looking for as a reason to upgrade from my G9.

 

[davelew]

For those of you who have one, please give me your tips. BTW, I had a particularly difficult time yesterday getting focus lock on some tiny nudis -- they were pretty light and I wonder if there just wasn't enough contrast.

I dive with an EP-1 instead of an EPL-1, but this tip might work for you as well.

I set the camera so that the lens doesn't reset to focus on infinity after every shot. Then I program the "Fn" button to switch between MF and AF. When I'm having trouble getting focus lock, I focus on something well-lit at about the right distance, then thumb the "Fn" button to switch into manual focus. Then I move the camera back and forth to get the ideal focus on the nudibranch (usually using the preview screen zoomed to 7X), and take the photo.

 

[slowhands]

Thanks Peter. I am definitely getting one, but kinda waiting for Ikelite to get a housing so that I can use all my Ike gear. If that doesn't happen by October, then I'll probably get one, get another housing and set of smaller strobes and sell my Ike strobes.
It's just what I have been looking for as a reason to upgrade from my G9.

So much can happen in this business in a few months. By October, there will be a whole new batch of interesting choices. Possible successor models from Olympus or Panasonic. Possible Sony NEX cameras. Or a G12? I admire your discipline, but hope you keep checking out the market too.