Moving on from my 50mm Macro

[ConchyJoe]

I was thinking the next step could be:

1. 14-42mm lens, Athena OPD-SZ14-42 Dome Port for Olympus 14-42 and a PPZR-E06 Zoom Gear
2. 9-18mm lens, Athena 100mm Dome Port for Olympus 9-18 and a PPZR-E06 Zoom Gear

I sure would appreciate any opinions.

Just got back from Cayman last week and feel I have greatly improved thanks to comments and feedback from Phil Rudin.

Also my wife Laurie got some video from her Contour of 10 Eagle Rays that is pretty awesome for a little tiny helmet cam:


Thanks for the feedback!

Bob

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

Hi Bob,

I am sitting in the Cancun airport ready for my flight home from Digital Fiesta, a workshop I just finished teaching in Cozumel for Mexican Diver Magazine. We all had a great time and used the 9-18 for much of the wide angle stuff. While I think the 14-42 is a great entry level lens I think you would be more well served with the 9-18. With that lens and the 50 macro you will be able to do 90% of anything you would want to do.

Like the eel shot.

Also see your post at digitaldiver.net

Phil Rudin

 

[deeper thoughts]

Hi Bob,

I am sitting in the Cancun airport ready for my flight home from Digital Fiesta, a workshop I just finished teaching in Cozumel for Mexican Diver Magazine. We all had a great time and used the 9-18 for much of the wide angle stuff. While I think the 14-42 is a great entry level lens I think you would be more well served with the 9-18. With that lens and the 50 macro you will be able to do 90% of anything you would want to do.

Like the eel shot.

Also see your post at digitaldiver.net

Phil Rudin

Phil any word when Olympus is releasing the 50mm macro?

 

[ConchyJoe]

Thanks Phil. I would have LOVED to attend that event, but my Bride and I had already booked Cayman, and she would get jealous if I had spent it with you all instead...

I am really thinking 14-54. Cost effective, and will still give me some close up, as well as getting everything in the shot when needed...

I sincerely appreciate your contribution, and hope to see you soon.

 

[R-subsea]

I have only been shooting with DSLR (520) since January this year. I have been using the 7-14mm lens, but it is just too wide for most things in the area i dive in, as the water is a bit murky most of the time with not much large sealife. It is handy on the wrecks though, I must say. I have the extension port and the dome port. I thought I needed the 50mm port, but last month I was playing in the pool and put the macro lens on and it works just fine with the dome port and extension tube.

I know from shooting in a studio with the 50mm, it doesn't focus too closely (not near as close at the 7-14 or 8mm fisheye, and there are times I just want to get in closer to fill the frame properly and get very close detail, but the lens is just not long enough.

Has anyone use the 1.4 teleconverter on the 50mm??? Does it affect focusing distance? I know it knocks you back two stops, but....

Thanks again.

Lovely photo of that eel. i will get around to posting some of my pics soon.

rsubsea

 

[R-subsea]

I have only been shooting with DSLR (520) since January this year. I have been using the 7-14mm lens, but it is just too wide for most things in the area i dive in, as the water is a bit murky most of the time with not much large sealife. It is handy on the wrecks though, I must say. I have the extension port and the dome port. I thought I needed the 50mm port, but last month I was playing in the pool and put the macro lens on and it works just fine with the dome port and extension tube.

I know from shooting in a studio with the 50mm, it doesn't focus too closely (not near as close at the 7-14 or 8mm fisheye, and there are times I just want to get in closer to fill the frame properly and get very close detail, but the lens is just not long enough.

Has anyone use the 1.4 teleconverter on the 50mm??? Does it affect focusing distance? I know it knocks you back two stops, but....

Thanks again.

Lovely photo of that eel. i will get around to posting some of my pics soon.

rsubsea

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

With the 1.4X tele converter the lens acts like a 140 mm (35 eqv.) and puts more distance between lens and subject. I think it is the best combo for the 50 macro. I have also used the 2X tele with the 50 to get to life size and a +10 diopter as well. With the 1.4 and the 2X tele converters extension ports are required with the 50 macro port. I don't like shooting with the dome because it gets in the way of the strobes and does not allow you to get as close to your subject. I also use a ring-flash which will not work with the dome port. Some of these items are going up for sale along with my trusty SeaTool housing for the Olympus E-3.

Phil Rudin

 

[R-subsea]

Thanks for the info. I haven't had a try with my 50mm kit yet, but will next week.

 

[ConchyJoe]

Thanks Phil for always being a wealth of information.