Olympus Evolt E-330 with PT-E02

[conradb212]

This was my first dSLR with underwater housing. Initially it blew me away just how much larger an underwater-prepped dSLR is compared to a compact. And especially when you add the flash bracket. And it's HEAVY. Still, the "live view" of the E-330 proved invaluable and we ended up doing a detailed review of the Olympus R-330 with the PT-E02 housing.

 

[jlyle]

Nice review. The E-330 in an Ikelite housing is even bigger, but is almost neutrally buoyant u/w.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

Nice review. The E-330 in an Ikelite housing is even bigger, but is almost neutrally buoyant u/w.

Maybe without strobes, but my rig (2 DS-51s) sinks like a rock.

 

[jlyle]

Maybe without strobes, but my rig (2 DS-51s) sinks like a rock.

Strange. I have dual DS-125s and can easily single-hand my E-330/Ikelite rig.

 

[gballard]

Are you using an 8" dome port? That would increase the volume, and make it more bouyant.

 

[MarkUK]

I've used my E330 and Olympus housing on three trips now, just with the 14-54mm kit lens, and got some reasonable results. Have attached three for your interest.

However, just got the pro-lens - 11-22mm and 14-54mm – which are a much-better optical quality than the kit lens, so interested to see what results I get in Malta next week, and then Grenada in September.

Mark

 

[jlyle]

Are you using an 8" dome port? That would increase the volume, and make it more bouyant.

I have flat ports for my 14-54mm, 50mm, and 105mm lenses - only slightly negative.

I have an 8" dome port for the 7-14mm - additional buoyancy of the port is offset by the heavier lens - only slightly negative.

 

[rcolman]

TNX for a detailed and thoughtful review. HOWEVER, you really need dual strobes to good lighting of underwater subjects. Sure, you can often get great results with a single strobe, but it is difficult and results are often spotty.

I don't think anyone at OLYMPUS actually dives their housing, or they would come up with a dual-strobe solution.

Does anyone have a good dual-srobe, TTL solution for the Oly housing?

Maybe not, which is why I drag the big, heavy Ikelite rig around ...

Rick Colman

 

[MarkUK]

Rick, it is interesting you say this. All my contributors used to use dual strobes for all their wide-angle work, and some of the macro stuff, but several have gone back to using one strobe - and I am not noticing any drop in the quality of the images. Yes, they have to be more diligent in the positioning of their single strobe, but it shows that top-quality images can be produced using a single strobe. For macro, many are using a ring-flash instead of strobes.

I am sure I have seen a splitter, which runs from the one port on the housing and allows you to run two strobes. I will try to find a link to the web page.

Mark

 

[RTRski]

I also thought Athena sold a dual-TTL converter that would mount to the Oly housing hotshoe and allow the use of two strobes:

http://www.reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=95_74&products_id=1475

I can understand Oly not making one (dual connector) since they probably figure most photogs that serious would go to a 3rd party flash vs their limited abovewater flash and housing combinations.

The statement that no one at Olympus dives their housings probably ignores pictures that can be found quite readily like this one:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=6251