Olympus E-330 , E-500 ,or Canon Digital Rebel XTi - SLR

[Life-Is-Good-Diver]

I wanted to see if anyone is shooting these camera's UW.

I just sold a Olympus C-8080 , 8MP, and wanted to go SLR.

I'm looking at the Olympus Evolt E-330 , E-500, which dosn't have the self cleaning option like the E-330, or the Canon Digital Rebel XTi , 10MP.

All the housing's UW run about $1,100 , for all three, plus the tubes for the lens.

Just about all three camera's run about $1,000 , the E-500 is alittle cheaper

I been reading mixed reviews, really between the E-330 and the Canon Rebel XTi .

This entire set-up will run about $3000.00 + with strobes etc, so before investing into my first Digital SLR, I'd like to know if anyone can comment, some of the plus and minues, and if your shooting anyone of these camera's, I'd like your feedback.

My background consist of a few good point and shoot camera's for UW, like the Olympus C-5060 WZ, which I loved, Oly C-8080 , Oly C-5050 , and even a simple point and shoot like my wifes Canon A620.

This is my first SLR UW set-up, and I'd like to make a good choice.


Also, I should have asked this before selling my Oly C-8080, but are the SLR Digital pictures that much nicer then the point and shoot's, even the higher end point and shoots, like the Oly C-8080 ?

I was very used to my Oly C-5060 , and am a just a begginer, even though I had some nice UW set-up's the past few year's. I have alot to learn, but I've learned alot also shooting pictures these past few years, both above and UW.

Thank you for your help

 

[jlyle]

Be afraid, be very afraid! Your estimates are low for what you are going to need. You have forgotten to include glass (aka lenses). At the very least, you will need a wide angle lens, a good macro lens, plus teleconverters, dome ports, extention tubes, etc. With a good strobe, sync cord, arms, etc. will easily make your $3K into closer to $5/$6K+.

I came from a c5050 and have just bought an Oly E-330. Coming from your P&S Oly background, IMHO, you will be very happy with this camera. The 330 is the only dslr with live-view. It's more expensive, but worth the extra bucks.

Just my $0.02

 

[Life-Is-Good-Diver]

Be afraid, be very afraid! Your estimates are low for what you are going to need. You have forgotten to include glass (aka lenses). At the very least, you will need a wide angle lens, a good macro lens, plus teleconverters, dome ports, extention tubes, etc. With a good strobe, sync cord, arms, etc. will easily make your $3K into closer to $5/$6K+.

I came from a c5050 and have just bought an Oly E-330. Coming from your P&S Oly background, IMHO, you will be very happy with this camera. The 330 is the only dslr with live-view. It's more expensive, but worth the extra bucks.

Just my $0.02

Yes, I agree, I just looked up the lens ports, at $349.00 a pc, etc. I'm adding everything up now, and It came close to $6,000.00

That was using two Ion Strobes, etc.

I'm not sure if I can justiy spending $6,000.00 yet. I may need another year or two shooting UW pics.

I was VERY happy with the Oly C-5060 , the colors really pop out on the Oly camera's.

I'm taking with the wife now, keeping fingers crossed

I tought I could get into everything for around $3K , but it dosn't look it, if so, It will be all stock unit at that price

 

[alcina]

But I don't think you can go too wrong with either system...and it's an endless money pit. There's always something else to buy

 

[Life-Is-Good-Diver]

But I don't think you can go too wrong with either system...and it's an endless money pit. There's always something else to buy

Sure, Where ever you think , I'm reading now on wetpixel and a couple of other websites. I been reading all week, eyes getting tired

I'm not sure now, I'm wondering if I should have gotten rid of the Oly C-8080

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

All of the Olympus dSLRs have the dust buster. E1, E300, E330, E400, and E500 all have it. The XTi has it as well, but its getting mixed results apparently.

The E330 and E500 are basically the same camera, LiveView on the E330 being the difference. E330 has more housing support(Olympus, Ikelite, 10Bar/Fantasea). The E500 is only supported by Ikelite. E330 Fantasea housing can be had for $900 including a standard port and DEPP insurance(awesome to deal with if you're stuck in a position to need a claim). IMO, the LiveView allows for more flexibility UW keeping you from having to have your face up against the camera to compose a shot - this is good for framing your photos at an arms length away and potentially better for the environment by keeping careless divers from laying all up on the bottom to get a shot shooting upwards at whatever subject.

The C8080 took very good pictures and it had a high quality fixed lense. Alot of people will swear by the camera and I've seen some very professional results posted with them online. Since you're stuck with the fixed zoom on the camera, you are somewhat limited...

The Canon will handle noise better than the Olympus cameras. I preffer the colors and tonality from the Olympus dSLRs far more out of camera. The Olympus dSLRs will handle noise much better than the C8080. Give the camera's a hold before purchasing, the Canon Drebel's ergonomics pretty much suck IMO. The E330 and E500s ergonomics fit most hands better. The E330s looks kinda funny compared to traditional dSLRs. Either camera will produce fantastic results. I personally think the LiveView is a great feature to have UW as well as in some surface situations.

I flooded my C5060 and used the insurance money couple with the money from selling my E500 to buy an E330 that I hope to house soon enough. I've also got an E1 which is a superb camera for the price.

 

[Life-Is-Good-Diver]

All of the Olympus dSLRs have the dust buster. E1, E300, E330, E400, and E500 all have it. The XTi has it as well, but its getting mixed results apparently.

The E330 and E500 are basically the same camera, LiveView on the E330 being the difference. E330 has more housing support(Olympus, Ikelite, 10Bar/Fantasea). The E500 is only supported by Ikelite. E330 Fantasea housing can be had for $900 including a standard port and DEPP insurance(awesome to deal with if you're stuck in a position to need a claim). IMO, the LiveView allows for more flexibility UW keeping you from having to have your face up against the camera to compose a shot - this is good for framing your photos at an arms length away and potentially better for the environment by keeping careless divers from laying all up on the bottom to get a shot shooting upwards at whatever subject.

The C8080 took very good pictures and it had a high quality fixed lense. Alot of people will swear by the camera and I've seen some very professional results posted with them online. Since you're stuck with the fixed zoom on the camera, you are somewhat limited...

The Canon will handle noise better than the Olympus cameras. I preffer the colors and tonality from the Olympus dSLRs far more out of camera. The Olympus dSLRs will handle noise much better than the C8080. Give the camera's a hold before purchasing, the Canon Drebel's ergonomics pretty much suck IMO. The E330 and E500s ergonomics fit most hands better. The E330s looks kinda funny compared to traditional dSLRs. Either camera will produce fantastic results. I personally think the LiveView is a great feature to have UW as well as in some surface situations.

I flooded my C5060 and used the insurance money couple with the money from selling my E500 to buy an E330 that I hope to house soon enough. I've also got an E1 which is a superb camera for the price.

Thanks SuPrBuGmAn, you been very helpfull as always


I saw you were selling your E-500 , I probley would have bought it.

I personalley havn't used the live view on the DSLR's, but i also agree, that's what I really like about the E-330.

I'm bouncing back and forth, about going back to a C-8080 , theres one on Ebay right now, and the same seller is selling the Ikelite housing.

I'm not sure If I want to take the plundge of $3000.00 + For the DSLR's

I held the E-330 , Rebel XTI and E-500 today, was out all day looking at them

I dont know anything anout noise, white ballance, etc, I just point and shoot. I still shoot on auto focus, Which tell's me I may need more time UW, before going to a DSLR

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Nothing wrong with utilizing autofocus capabilities at all... Makes life a hellovalot easier in most cases.

 

[Life-Is-Good-Diver]

Thanks for everyone help.

After selling my last UW set up on ebay, check my feedback under the same name I use here, I just purchased another C-8080 , with a PT-23 housing, with all the extra lens adapter's for wide lens conversions, etc.

ebay auction # 170046854466

I paid $950.00 for it, and it has $500 in extra's for the housing

Does anyone know if the PT23 has full TTL? or sTTL ?

I would like to purchase a strobe set up, I had the Ds-50 , what would you guys recommend ? Knowing the set up, and what I'm shooting?

 

[Ryan]

We sell a few different ttl solutions for Olympus housings-

This is new, and allows a Sea & Sea strobe to be connected directly to the housing's bulkhead:

We don't have that item in our cart yet, but it is in stock, and will be $249.

This piece turns the Olympus housing's proprietary bulkhead into 2 nikonos connections, and contains TTL conversion circuitry. I like the redundancy it adds over a Heinrichs connector-

Any strobe that can be connected elecrically, and is compatible with the Olympus TTL Conversion Circuitry, can be used. With the hotshe cable this part is $479.

Lastly, we can replace the existing proptrietary bulkhead with a nikonos style bulkhead & TTL conversion circuitry-

http://www.reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=95_74&products_id=902