Olympus OM-D EM-5, Nauticam housing, dual S&S D1s, ultralight arms - weigth data

[jlyle]

Several people have inquired about the weight of the Nauticam/OM-D rig, in and out of the water.


My Oly OM-D with 8mm lens, Nauticam housing with 4.33" dome port, ultralight tray/arms, dual Sea and Sea D1 strobes, and Styx floats.

Weight in air = 10.1 pounds (4.6 Kg).

Weight in fresh water = 0.5 pounds (225 g). Salt water 215 g).


Weight will vary with the lens/lens port, but the above figures will serve as a general guide.

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

I like the Nauticam Flexitray and think the grips are the best I have used. The fact that the tray has a bit of "flex" rather than being very rigid does not bother me at all. I also have the wrist strap for added support while holding the housing with my right hand. To offset the negative weight of the small housing while in the water I use the same type of blocks seen in Jlyle's photo above. I use four blocks for both macro and my W/A (7-14, 6' dome) I also have two of the eight inch Inon float arms attached with both macro and W/A. What adds the most dead weight to the macro system for me is the SubSee +10 closeup lens a heavy but steller chunck of glass. I also use the Nauticam 45 degree viewfinder with the NA-EM5 housing (excellent for macro lenses) and that adds a bit of weight as well. I will also be using a ZEN DP 100 S3 and Zen PA-NA-S3 port adapter 100mm coated optical glass port for the 8mm Fisheye and will be testing with the 12mm as well, not sure how much weight difference should be involved but it can't be much. I also use the Inon Z-240 strobes and again not a big difference from the larger Sea & Sea YS-D1's.

Phil Rudin

 

[jlyle]

Phil,

Do you know the weight difference between the Flexitray and the ULCS tray?

 

[BoltSnap]

I also use the Nauticam 45 degree viewfinder with the NA-EM5 housing (excellent for macro lenses)
Phil Rudin

Is this 45 Deg. viewfinder worth it for this housing even for WA?

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

I have ordered the 45 degree viewfinder. I found the view through the standard finder to be a little small and cramped (although still worlds better than chimping at a blurry screen). The magnified finder is like going to the movies. Great for video, and great for any type of shooting I can imagine. If you use a z-finder on a land-based DSLR you will know what I mean, but the 45 degrees is much better for macro and staying off the bottom. The m43 system is so small compared to a DSLR that the 45 finder is no problem shooting wide angle either, from what I saw looking through one at the store.

This is going to be my main camera system for quite a while, and I plan to thoroughly enjoy it and the viewfinder will be a MAJOR asset. Plus, if I stay within Nauticam through the future for other models of cameras/housings the finder will give me a lifetime of viewing ease. They also have very good resale value.

I had thought it would be a tough decision, but once I looked through one it was easy to go for it.