Nauticam to produce housing for Panasonic GX1

[mjh]

Alex and others, have you been shooting in Manual or have you been shooting in TTL? Very interested in what Modes people are using.

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

How is the 14-42mm X zoom as an UW lens? Are there other lenses that will fit in the included port?

Look at this post for an answer to your 14-42 X question.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/sony-snappers/421653-pancake-g-lens-sony.html#post6357832

Phil Rudin

 

[CliffWarner]

I am looking into this housing as I own a GX-1 that I was looking to use for an underwater setup now that my wife insisted it was her turn with the Canon G10/housing. My question is that I am not going to have the funds for several ports at first, as I would rather invest in a strobe. I have the following lenses, and would appreciate input as to which one would be the most broadly useful:

Panasonic 7-14mm
Olympus 12mm
Panasonic 25mm
Panasonic 14-45mm (the first generation one)
Panasonic 45mm

As you can see this is my main camera system with an Olympus OM-D EM-5 as my main camera body for general nature photography. I enjoy many aspects of underwater photography, so I am a bit concerned that the macro lens may be too limiting at first.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Cliff

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

First I am sure that any of the dome ports you purchase from Nauticam for GX-1
Camera well be transferable to future housings for the Olympus OMD systems.

My choice would be the six inch dome port for the 7-14 or the 45 macro port depending on your preference for wide-angle or macro photography. Keep in mind that a 60 macro is coming from Olympus which will require a different port than the 45 mm macro report.

Phil Rudin

 

[CliffWarner]

I am not planning on putting the OM-D in a housing, and am planning on using the GX-1 for underwater photography.

I am leaning on getting the 7-14mm port for now, and adding the 45mm macro with time.

 

[xahhax]

I have the 14mm, 8mm fisheye and the 45mm macro with respective ports.
I see myself that i will use the 8 and the 45 the most.
45 for macro obviously and 8 for wrecks/other wide shots. I find the 14mm does not focus close enough and at the same time not wide enough.

 

[Kevster]

I have the 8mm,14mm,14-42x mm,25mm,45mm.
Two lens i use the most 8mm & 45mm.
I have just got the panny conversion WA lens that can be used for both the 14mm & 14-42X. This will effectively give a 11mm fl.
I prefer the 14-42X (at 14mm) over the fixed 14mm lens, especially for video.
Unfortunately there is no zoom gear yet for the 14-42X lens so you cannot change FL underwater.

 

[jd950]

I have the 8mm,14mm,14-42x mm,25mm,45mm.

Unfortunately there is no zoom gear yet for the 14-42X lens so you cannot change FL underwater.

I would question whether they will offer a port/gear for that lens. Dealing with the zoom button could be difficult / expensive and there are several other lenses in that focal length range already accommodated. They just ran out of stock but one online photo store was selling the Panasonic 14-42 lens for $69.00 after rebate. Other stores have the lens in stock and are offering it for $99 after the Panasonic rebate that I think expires today or tomorrow.

The Oly 14-42ii lens and the Panasonic 14-45 are also available for quite a bit more and probably slightly better lenses than the Panasonic 14-42 I mentioned above.

If I wanted that focal length range for underwater use and had the X lens, I would consider getting a different or additional lens. But that's just one guy's opinion.

 

[Kevster]

I would question whether they will offer a port/gear for that lens. Dealing with the zoom button could be difficult / expensive and there are several other lenses in that focal length range already accommodated. They just ran out of stock but one online photo store was selling the Panasonic 14-42 lens for $69.00 after rebate. Other stores have the lens in stock and are offering it for $99 after the Panasonic rebate that I think expires today or tomorrow.

The Oly 14-42ii lens and the Panasonic 14-45 are also available for quite a bit more and probably slightly better lenses than the Panasonic 14-42 I mentioned above.

If I wanted that focal length range for underwater use and had the X lens, I would consider getting a different or additional lens. But that's just one guy's opinion.

I agree . I prob made a mistake by buying the 14-42x lens for underwater use. I emailed Nauticam 3 months ago to enquiry about the zoom gear. They were working on a trial gear for this lens. Still no news so i guess the trial was not successful
However it is prob a good small lens for topside use, especially if you have a GX1, the 14-42x would result in a very slim setup for a walkabout camera & lens

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

Another choice if you have $1300.00 to invest in top quality glass will be the Panasonic 12-35 F/2.8 X. This lens will blow the doors off any of the above listed zoom and it has a manual zoom ring. It appears this lens will fit the four inch dome port for lenses like the 9-18 zoom with a proper gear for its diameter. The 12mm end will be more than a bit wide for a flat port and while it will focus to about nine inches I would always want to go with a macro like the Pana 45 or the new olympus 60 macro coming this year.

I also like the 7-14 over the 8 fisheye for its versitility and better rendering of stright lines. While I have owned both the 8MM fisheye and 7-14 zoom for years for the Olympus DSLR systems I found myself using the zoom much more offen than the fisheye.

Phil Rudin