Olympus 5050 vs 5060 vs 8080

[alcina]

FWIW
I have used Smile Photo & Video repeatedly over the past 8 years with no problems at all. YMMV

 

[erichK]

:06: I too am torn between the 5050/5060. I compared the two at dpreview.com & they are basically the same. So, the question I have is about the accessories. The 5050 has a wider lens (35mm) than the 5060 (27mm) does. Can lenses be changed underwater for either camera? If so what brand? What about the macro differences in the two? Any experience on which camera is best for that? Is there additional macro lenses avail. that can be switched underwater? Can you use the LCD monitor in the case with either camera? What about strobe attachments for the PT 015 vs. PT 020? I have found very close prices for each camera & case.

Rhonda

It's a choice between:

1. the *faster* (that is, capable of transmiting twice the light), but rather flimsily mounted lens on the C5050, and the *slower*, but wider angle and probably more solidly mounted lens on the 5060. You have backward, by the way, the 60 goes wider than the 50. Both the ability to shoot with little light and the ability to shoot wide are highly desirable qualities, underwater.

2. Macro is also seems pretty desirable underwater. On the 5050, I've found the fiddley little button, follwed by dialing pretty awckward on land, and haven't even tried underwater, though suggestion/correction is always welcome. It does focus fairly close in normal mode, but getting into the Macro and Super Macro in current, or along a wall???

3. The apparent ability to connect an external flash on the 5060, over the need to use a cobbled together slave system on the 5050 is a BIG plus.

On the 5050, you *can only* use the video monitor (if you mean the LCD display on the back), as the visual viewfinder is blocked by the OLY housing. I imagine the 60 is the same.

I didn't examine the '60 closely enough to form much of an opinion on the zoom/len construction, but while I've not (yet?) had zoom/lens problems on my 5050, the amount of play (wiggle), sick-sounding zoom, and flimsy feel are worrisome.

Others should be able to inform you on add-ons. Personally, I'm inclined toward the much-more-solid feeling 8080 or the Canon 8 mb, which has a better zoom ration (as wide to longer) and focuses closer in normal mode, but doesn't feel as solid. Or a N70 DSLR...but that would easily cost twice as much by the time I had it in the housing.

Hope that this helps, and good luck making your choices.

 

[santacruzdiver]

I've been using the 5060 with a PT-020 for about 6 months now, and am happy with it. I have some example photos on my website. www.trainingspectrum.com/scuba/Photos.htm

As for Oly vs Ikelite, I'd now recommend the Ikelite due to the availability of a dome port for the optional wide lens.

 

[SVDiveMaster]

I just went through this question myself. I had read the reviews and all that and was dead set on getting the 8080. Until I tried it myself. I played with one at a local store and was very impressed with the speed that the lens responded with. But then I popped the memory card in one of the computers at the store...The pics from the 8080 were WAY NOISY. Even at ISO 50 there was just way too much noise to justify the price difference from the 5060. So I promptly went and ordered my shiny new 5060. I'm very happy with it. I have shot a C-5000 with a PT-019 and an Ikelite DS50. I'm getting great results with it. However I am going to be getting and Ikelite housing for my 5060 because of the TTL compatibility. Summary. if you dont want to fork out the cash for a DSLR stick with one of the 5MP Oly cameras and wait for prices/noise to drop in the more expensive cameras.

 

[oharag]

Could anyone recommend a fairly inexpensive Digital Video Camera with an underwater housing? I would like to take pictures, but also have the ability to capture video. I feel a video camera would be better than a DSLR.

oharag

PS I do not want to spend thousands on this system. Maybe $1,000.

 

[gaudencio]

Hello all,
Just like our thread starter, I am also can't decide wether to buy the 5060 or 8080. I also have one question. Since the 8080 has a wider lense than 5060 , is there a big difference under water without any wide angle attachment with these cameras? the price difference for these two in our country is around $ 200.00. Do you think I should go for the 5060. My photog friend said if I am not into advertising or having to print large sizes posters print I should go for the 5060.

 

[devilgas]

if it's of any use, i've had a few 5060 photos from our recent red sea trip blown up to 15"x10". they have upsized particularly well, but don't stand up to really close inspection. what's really close? 1 foot or less. at the usual viewing distance, about arms length, there's no issues whatsoever. making the same comparison with a blown up 35mm neg from the motormarine 2 then the digital print is superior. obviously the 8080 will give you more resolution, but check out the noise as that may be it's limiting factor.
the 5060 has a 27mm WA, the 8080 is 28mm (not that it makes a lot of difference). at the other end of the zoom scale, the 8080 is 140mm (5x) whereas the 5060 is 110mm (4.1x), so the 80 should get a better macro performance.

i chose the 5060 as i could still use my sea and sea ys60 flash, albeit with an add on from michael finger (www.mikedive.de)

 

[eho]

I have both a C5050 and a Canon Rebel DSLR. I love the Canon. But I bought the 5050 to take underwater. I bought the Oly for $375 used (eBay). If I flood it, I will fork another $375 and get another one, no big deal. Or I'll buy insurance. But if I flood the Canon, even if I have insurance, I will be heartbroken. For the difference: $999 vs. $375, you can buy an entire strobe. Or buy lots of neat arms, ball joints, sockets, etc. Or a WAL attachment. (I think it's a good call to get the Ikelite housing, but many people love their PT-015 and have no problems).

One other consideration for me is the smaller profile of the housed 5050 underwater. I have an Ikelite housing for my Canon Elan IIe and it's rather large.

Personally, I would start with a new or refurb 5050. You will have superb results as you learn how to take pictures underwater. I've shot hundreds of land pictures with the 5050 (I'm still figuring out what I'm going to buy for my 5050) and it's a wonderful little camera with an amazing repertoire of capabilities. But get your hands on a PT-015 quick. They're getting harder and harder to find.

P.S. The Canon DSLR will "hunt" for focus in lower light conditions also. DSLR's are not immune to this problem. They're just a lot easier to manually focus. But I'm not looking to manually focus underwater. That's why my Nik V hasn't been underwater in years.

 

[Scubatooth]

devil gas

have a question how are those files being uprezed because how its done makes a world of difference.

let me know how you did it and see where i can help you

Tooth

 

[devilgas]

they're not. as a test i left them in the native 2592x1728 format from the camera. when i do upsize, i use bicubic resample but done in lots of small steps rather than 1 big one e.g.
2592 --> 2700 --> 2800 --> 2900 --> 3000 etc etc. rarely use a step greater than 200 though. it's a modification of the stair interpolation method, which iirc, was a photoshop action by fred miranda.