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I wanted to report my experience on upgrading from EPL1 to OM-5 that relates to the search for a flexible lens + port solution to allow some versatile shooting in unknown waters...
I got the Nauticam housing based on some recent feedback and on the single fact that the EVF is better implemented on the Nauticam.
I have the old 14-42mm, the 9-18mm, the 45mm Leica, and now the 12-50mm. I used with reasonable success the 14-42 on the Zen Port and an addon Epoque macro lens on the EPL1. So:
1) the 12-50 has a great range and in its Nauticam port provides that flexible solution some may be looking for
2) quality seems good even behind the flat 77mm port. A bit Chromatic aberration in the corners can be easily batch fixed afterward.
I compared against the 9-18mm in the 4" Nauticam semidome port and the quality result is similar at 12mm (24mm equìvalent)
3) together with the Epoque macro addon an object is about 1.3 to 1 the size achieved with the 45mm (2 to 1). Great achievement.
4) both the 4" port (with 9-18mm set at 9mm)) and the 12-50mm ports (with the 12-50mm set at 12mm) show very slight vignetting on the right side of the image when in RAW (but not in jpeg!)... This is what I dislike the most about the setup so far. I am not sure what causes this.
5) the e-zoom is slow but works fine except that its spring Nauticam gear is very hard. Probably just need to get used to it.
6) once you mounted the 12-50mm zoom/macro gear you have to disassemble it and this is not a fun thing to do! So, unless you plan to use this lens exclusively UW on your scuba trips (!) ... well ...I do not see much motivation in going through the assemble disassemble madness.
Overall the Nauticam housing is very very nice except for:
1) the triggering button should have a longer run to better weigh the prefocus and final shot. The Olympus housing seemed better in this regard.
2) a bit too negative UW even with the Acrylic port (and I use ULCS arms...)
3) I do not undersatnd why they use a sled than needs to be mounted on the camera prior to fitting into the housing. An extra step that makes it harder to install/uninstall the camera.
The OM-D camera is a great step forward with respect to the EPL1!
I got the Nauticam housing based on some recent feedback and on the single fact that the EVF is better implemented on the Nauticam.
I have the old 14-42mm, the 9-18mm, the 45mm Leica, and now the 12-50mm. I used with reasonable success the 14-42 on the Zen Port and an addon Epoque macro lens on the EPL1. So:
1) the 12-50 has a great range and in its Nauticam port provides that flexible solution some may be looking for
2) quality seems good even behind the flat 77mm port. A bit Chromatic aberration in the corners can be easily batch fixed afterward.
I compared against the 9-18mm in the 4" Nauticam semidome port and the quality result is similar at 12mm (24mm equìvalent)
3) together with the Epoque macro addon an object is about 1.3 to 1 the size achieved with the 45mm (2 to 1). Great achievement.
4) both the 4" port (with 9-18mm set at 9mm)) and the 12-50mm ports (with the 12-50mm set at 12mm) show very slight vignetting on the right side of the image when in RAW (but not in jpeg!)... This is what I dislike the most about the setup so far. I am not sure what causes this.
5) the e-zoom is slow but works fine except that its spring Nauticam gear is very hard. Probably just need to get used to it.
6) once you mounted the 12-50mm zoom/macro gear you have to disassemble it and this is not a fun thing to do! So, unless you plan to use this lens exclusively UW on your scuba trips (!) ... well ...I do not see much motivation in going through the assemble disassemble madness.
Overall the Nauticam housing is very very nice except for:
1) the triggering button should have a longer run to better weigh the prefocus and final shot. The Olympus housing seemed better in this regard.
2) a bit too negative UW even with the Acrylic port (and I use ULCS arms...)
3) I do not undersatnd why they use a sled than needs to be mounted on the camera prior to fitting into the housing. An extra step that makes it harder to install/uninstall the camera.
The OM-D camera is a great step forward with respect to the EPL1!
