purchase for wide angle?

[budasub]

:admingreet:I want to start doing wide-angle photos have the e-pm1 with pt-EP06 housing, what do you advise me to buy before: 1 the 9-18mm
2 zen dome and use it with the 14-42 mm
I can not buy both of them before my trip in winter, it would be better to buy before the dome or the 9-18mm?thanks

 

[victor]

I think you really need both to make things work for the 9-18.
The 14:42 will work behind the dome and the standard port. The port make no difference to the pictures for the 14-42
I don't think, from my reading, that the 9-18 will work at the 9 end in the standard port.
I would suggest you save your cash until you can afford both.
However if you use the camera topside you could practice with the 9-18 before you take it underwater.

 

[R-balljunkie]

you could always look for used gear.

I purchased both items (9-18 and dome) for considerably less than retail. I'm still getting used to WA. Have to say, the 9-18 is a great lens to use. Great IQ that really opens up the frame when shooting.

 

[budasub]

Thanks guys, if I can find, them buy used without problems

 

[BluewaterPhoto]

I agree with Victor, the minimum imho for a decent wide-angle shot is the 9-18mm lens behind a dome. Good luck!

Scott Gietler

 

[Furnari]

From experience, I can say that the 9-18 does work in the flat port at 9mm with no vignetting. Is it perfect? No, but it's considerably better than the 14-42 at 9 (and 14). If I'd bought the dome first or waited until I could get them both, I'd have missed out on a lot of shots both above and below the water. I made a similar statement on another thread, and included some pics. The one with the dog swimming is one of my favorites, and was taken at 9mm behind the flat port.

As an aside, I wonder if some of the criticism about the flat port /9-18 combo comes from not shading the lens from the internal flash. You can use the factory piece, or a 2-dollar step up ring. Might be worth a try for those of you with the lens, but not a dome.