Sample Checklist for Diving with EPL2, Oly Housing, Zen Port, Inon S2000 Strobe etc

[smoore]

View attachment PhotoHousing.docI a attaching a sample checklist that I have adapted from an old checklist I used with my Olympus C5060. I haven't used the new one yet. I would appreciate any feedback and suggestions. Once I have your feedback I intend to have the checklist laminated and I will store it in the lid of my Underwater Kinetics case. I hope some of you find this useful. View attachment PhotoHousing.doc

 

[CheddarChick]

Very Nice.. I'll look through it later. Thank you so much....

 

[TSandM]

Oh, my goodness; I got halfway through the first section and thought, "THIS is what my husband is trying to obligate me to do?" (He's desperately trying to get me to take over his second EPL-1 with Inon strobe. I'm resisting.)

 

[jetlife2]

couple things:
no mention of the zoom gear...should at least be on the "packing list" so it doesn't get forgotten, I had a 5060 too, and of course there was no gear with that one.... You have the "check lens is unlocked" and you have to put the gear on at this point.
I prefer center point focus. I did not have good experience underwater with the "multi point". Your mileage may vary.
Final point which may worry you! It is possible to get a small leak at the zoom gear dial. This happened to me on a long dive to 110 ft. Disassembling this, cleaning and lubing the o-ring fixed it for me. I always dive the housing empty on the first dive of the trip.

 

[smoore]

Jetlife2, thanks for the input. I completely forgot about the zoom gear and it should to on the packing list and installing the camera sections. I also forgot batteries for the flash. I will note your point on focus when I dive the rig in December. I will change it to your suggestion. Once I have more input I will update the checklist.

I don't usually dive the rig empty but I do usually take it in a pool empty down to 4 or 5 feet. I may just put a mention in the checklist to consider diving the rig empty to check for leaks.

 

[TheTrickster]

Good checklist - much more than I do (but perhaps thats not me doing enough!)

I just stick the camera in and go dive.

One thing that always catches me out, is to make sure the 'Playback / Record' button, on both the camera and housing are in the same position before putting the camera in. As underwater its 'Off' but in the 'On' position! But this applies to my Panasonic TZ10, and may not apply to the Olympuses.

 

[CheddarChick]

Make sure you add moisture munchers/drying packets to the list. I have a small tupperware container with Damprid in it I keep them in while on vacation!!

 

[smoore]

Make sure you add moisture munchers/drying packets to the list. I have a small tupperware container with Damprid in it I keep them in while on vacation!!

I mention them in the section about inserting the camera but I didn't include them in the packing list. I think I now have enough comments to update the list and will do so later.

One thing that always catches me out, is to make sure the 'Playback / Record' button, on both the camera and housing are in the same position before putting the camera in. As underwater its 'Off' but in the 'On' position! But this applies to my Panasonic TZ10, and may not apply to the Olympuses.

I don't believe that this is an issue with Olympus cameras. I realize my checklist is a little anal and that some things are repeated a number of times. That probably comes from the fact that I flooded my C5060 last year because I didn't check the O Ring after I closed the case and a couple of other incidents where I failed to check things and ended up with a dive with no pictures because of things like leaving the lens cap on, failing to ensure that all the controls worked etc.

 

[smoore]

I have updated the checklist taking into account everyone's helpful suggestions. However, if you flood your camera please don't blame the checklist.