Nauticam na-em5 housing

[PHIL RUDIN]

Hi Andy,

This Nauticam housing is a real winner along with a great camera.

The 60mm macro will have some big advantages over the 50 in that it will first be a true 1:1 macro lens. Second if will have a control switch which will limit the macro focus range so the lens will not hunt as much as your 50 or the Panasonic 45 macro I am using now. Nauticam intends to support the lens so it is just a mater of when the lens will arrive. My Panasonic 45 would also become a 135 equv. As well with the same extension port. This would cover a wide range of smaller subjects with the least equipment to carry. It was announced with the 75 F/1.8 which is beginning to arrive around the world so I hope to see it before my late November trip to the PI.

I would like to see a quality 1.5X tele converter to give the lens more reach (180mm equv. In 35) with one stop of light loss. That is about as much reach as I would ever need and of course an extension port would need to be made to move the port out.

Phil Rudin

 

[AndyT]

Thanks Phil, I think that would cover my macro needs very adequately.

As for W/A - I have used the 8mm FE on my E-3 in clean water and on wrecks, but locally (where I do most of my photography) I have found that the 12-60 does the job really well.
I would use the 7-14 more, but the Oly dome I have distorts around the edges at the widest setting so it does not get much use.

Question - is there a dome port for m4/3 that will give decent images for both the 8mm FE and 7-14 (the micro 4/3rds version)?

My thinking is that with the 60mm macro and one dome I would then not need any other ports. Your opinion as always is much appreciated.

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

The Nauticam port for the 60 macro will a flat glass with the 67mm thread for closeup lenses and controls for the focus limiting switch I expect. The Nauticam port for 7-14 is six inches and extends out about three inches from the housing to accommodate the length of the lens and the zoom gear. The 8 fisheye port is about 4.33 inch and has no extension.

The olympus housing for E-M5 will offer an adapter for your existing 4/3 type ports but I have no idea how those ports will work with the M43 lenses which are much smaller. I would think that the 7-14 and 8 fisheye would work well with the 170mm glass dome port. For macro I don't see Olympus making a port that will allow the 60 macro to take advantage of the full controls because it will be a bit expensive for their buyers. If the Olympus housing comes in a the price point it is listed at in Japan I can't think of ANY reason someone would want it over the Nauticam housing at the $1350.00 price for the housing. Only if you already owned Olympus 4/3 ports and you intended to use the 4/3 adapter and only use 4/3 lenses would it even begin to make sense to consider the Olympus housing.

I will be teaching the Reef Photo Macro Techniques Workshop August 2nd to 5th at the Blue Heron Bridge in Palm Beach Florida. We will have the OMD E-M5 camera and Nauticam housing for students to test dive it anyone is interested.

I already have students signedup with bothe 4/3 and M4/3 systems so Olympus will be well covered in the classes.

A link and further information is listed on the Scubaboard Underwater photography fourms front page or go to reefphoto.com for further details.

Phil Rudin

 

[scipionems]

I would like to follow your Macro Workshop Phil Rudin, but unfortunately Palm Beach is too far from Italy

 

[bvanant]

The 60mm macro will have some big advantages over the 50 in that it will first be a true 1:1 macro lens. Second if will have a control switch which will limit the macro focus range so the lens will not hunt as much as your 50 or the Panasonic 45 macro I am using now. Nauticam intends to support the lens so it is just a mater of when the lens will arrive. My Panasonic 45 would also become a 135 equv.

Phil: Can you explain that comment? I understand that the 45 is a 90 mm equivalent in u4/3 land but were your referring to the wished for 1.5 tele? If so then I get it. Supposedly I will have the housing next week for a trip to Komodo.
Bill

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

Panasonic 45mm macro X 1.5 tele converter=67.5mm, two X times crop factor compared to 35mm=135mm and with a 1.5X tele converter the lens goes from 1:1 to 1.5:1 on the macro end of the lens.

The Olympus 4/3 50 macro is a 1:2 lens at the macro end.

Coming 60mm macro X 1.5 TC=90mm or 180mm in 35 and again goes from 1:1 to 1.5:1 at the macro end.

Which housing, the Olympus or the Nauticam.

Phil Rudin

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

The Nauticam port for the 60 macro will a flat glass with the 67mm thread for closeup lenses and controls for the focus limiting switch I expect. The Nauticam port for 7-14 is six inches and extends out about three inches from the housing to accommodate the length of the lens and the zoom gear. The 8 fisheye port is about 4.33 inch and has no extension.

The olympus housing for E-M5 will offer an adapter for your existing 4/3 type ports but I have no idea how those ports will work with the M43 lenses which are much smaller. I would think that the 7-14 and 8 fisheye would work well with the 170mm glass dome port. For macro I don't see Olympus making a port that will allow the 60 macro to take advantage of the full controls because it will be a bit expensive for their buyers. If the Olympus housing comes in a the price point it is listed at in Japan I can't think of ANY reason someone would want it over the Nauticam housing at the $1350.00 price for the housing. Only if you already owned Olympus 4/3 ports and you intended to use the 4/3 adapter and only use 4/3 lenses would it even begin to make sense to consider the Olympus housing.

I will be teaching the Reef Photo Macro Techniques Workshop August 2nd to 5th at the Blue Heron Bridge in Palm Beach Florida. We will have the OMD E-M5 camera and Nauticam housing for students to test dive it anyone is interested.

I already have students signedup with bothe 4/3 and M4/3 systems so Olympus will be well covered in the classes.

A link and further information is listed on the Scubaboard Underwater photography fourms front page or go to reefphoto.com for further details.

Phil Rudin

Phil,

I am trying to arrange to attend this workshop.

I am seriously debating from moving from my e-pl2 system to either the OM-D, or to a Canon 7d. I want a faster responding camera for action shots (shark and dolphin) and I have used the OM-D at a couple of stores, and think I would live it as a travel camera and was I impressed at the image quality. It is great the OM-D is at the workshop, would there be any possibility of a 7d set up as well. I know that is asking a lot . . .

Anyway, hope I can make it and see you there, if nothing else than to get the most out of my E-pl2!

Guy Harrison

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

Hello Guy,

I can try to make that happen but I never know what reef will have in rental/demo at any given time. I own the E-M5 and Nauticam housing so I am sure I will be able to let you try mine.

Phil Rudin

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

Hello Guy,

I can try to make that happen but I never know what reef will have in rental/demo at any given time. I own the E-M5 and Nauticam housing so I am sure I will be able to let you try mine.

Phil Rudin

That's great, I have the 45mm macro already and the 9-18mm. Too bad Nauticam does not have the port ready for the 12-50 yet! That promises to offer an unprecedented "all around" lens like no other. Honestly I am leaning to the OM-D if it can handle fast action situations even fairly well (the E-PL2, which has excellent image quality, is just not cut out for that as I learned on my recent shark expedition with Abernethy-- got great shots but only a fraction of what the others with pro rigs got).

Guy

 

[terson]

If Olympus has taken the criticism of it's PEN systems auto focus issues and fixed those issues with the new, about to be released PEN cameras, then I for one can't wait to see these new models. I have been holding off buying the OMD thinking that the new PEN's will have the OMD's auto focus, or equivalent, and a couple of other upgrades and this should then make the PEN's a super system for those who don't want to go all the way up to the expense of the OMD and its associated housing costs. . .
Just a thought
Bruce