Macro with EPM1

[John Gulliver]

I use an Inon S2000 bought used, and after looking through my wifes shots(she onlys have the kit lens), I think she need a strobe too. It takes out the full potential of this camera/lens combination, but she also have some very good shots without the strobe.
It all depends on the light available.... By the way, I also shot a video of the frogfish moving, and the quality is far better than my Gopro.....

In my opinion, you definitley need a strobe, preferably two. Sea & Sea's YS-01 with a fibre-optic cable works fine with the E-PM1. I've also found that you need a decent video light to take good video under water.

 

[orenbvip]

I have a ys-01 stobe (brand new) i'd sell cheap....

 

[deeper thoughts]

good stuff

 

[jbb]

Yes, a focus ring could help when the auto hunts...focusing manually.

I use the 60 mm in the 36161 12-50 port. Do the 60 mm focus gear fit inside of that port and not just the 65 macro port? I don't see anything on Nauticams web site.

 

[Foxtrot16]

I use the 60 mm in the 36161 12-50 port. Do the 60 mm focus gear fit inside of that port and not just the 65 macro port? I don't see anything on Nauticams web site.

The 60mm macro lens will fit inside the 12 - 50 port as I use mine in there. The 60mm and 12 - 50mm lenses are almost identical in size - about 1 - 2mm in difference which isn't much.

I don't use focus rings for manual focus as I only ever use auto focus.

If the lens is hunting either pull back slightly or use a focus light.

Karl

 

[Soakedlontra]

Yes, a focus ring could help when the auto hunts...focusing manually.

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but where do you put this focus ring?

 

[cardog]

It goes on the lens....


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[Soakedlontra]

The 60mm macro is a fantastic lens and is my preferred macro lens - I love it and highly recommend it to anyone thinking of doing macro work.

However, the question Soakedlontra originally asked was for a replacement lens for the 14 - 42mm as theirs was broken and they are one a tight budget.

In this case I think the 12 - 50mm is a better option as it is cheaper than the 60mm - around $400 as opposed to $600 (Aust Dollars) but it is even cheaper on EBay where I have seen them for around the $200 mark.

The 12 - 50mm is a good range and works well will wet lenses - I use this combination and can not fault it - but there is also the added benefit that if you want to do a dive and just shoot macro images you can lock the lens into macro mode (43mm) and you has a very good macro lens.

At the end of the day there is always going to be compromises and you have to decide which is the best compromise - if you want the best macro lens then get the 60mm macro, but if you are on a tight budget then get the 12 - 50mm.

This image was taken with the 12 - 50mm in macro mode.

View attachment 177667

This one was with the 60mm

View attachment 177668

Hope this helps.

Karl

Great pictures Karl!

So it seems to me that if I want to use the 12-50mm to shoot macro I have to use a wet lens as well (like I did when I was using the 14-42mm). The wet lens would probably cost something around US $100 (I looked at the website whose link was posted earlier on but I don't remember the exact price any more right now) so at the end the whole cost would be around US $300. Somebody suggested that I may be ABLE to find this famous 60mm lens for US$400...Uuuhmmm...I think I will do some research and hopefully that will help me to make a final decision.

 

[cardog]

The lens was on sale for 399 recently....


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[Foxtrot16]

Great pictures Karl!

So it seems to me that if I want to use the 12-50mm to shoot macro I have to use a wet lens as well (like I did when I was using the 14-42mm). The wet lens would probably cost something around US $100 (I looked at the website whose link was posted earlier on but I don't remember the exact price any more right now) so at the end the whole cost would be around US $300. Somebody suggested that I may be ABLE to find this famous 60mm lens for US$400...Uuuhmmm...I think I will do some research and hopefully that will help me to make a final decision.

That is correct - to use the 12 - 50mm you would need to have a wet lens attached as you can't access macro mode (unlike with the Nauticam port) but if you use a good quality wet lens then you will get very good results. Value for money I would recommend these ones - 67mm Wet Macro Lenses - Reef Images Underwater Photo Accessories - Reef Wreck & Critter - I used one for a while and have it as a backup. I now have a Subsea +10 but it is a lot more expensive.

Try EvilBay for cheap lenses - you never know you might get lucky.

Karl