Seeking reinforcement for decision to switch

[Henryville]

I am throwing up my hands on my ability to get decent macro shots with my little Canon S50 Powershot.

Despite the discontinued status, I like what I see in the C8080, which can still be had refurbished direct from Olympus. The combo of this camera plus the Ikelite housing and external flashes seems like a winner.

To help me with my one nagging hesitation, can some of you who are users comment generally on how this camera is for macro shots (nudis, small crustaceans, etc?) That's what I really want to shoot, and I need to find a new solution.

Thanks

 

[justleesa]

From what I see that Calypsonick does with the 8080, it's a winner

 

[f3nikon]

Yes, nick, kapula, verona , dan and the rest, really make their 8080 sing!

 

[f3nikon]

To help me with my one nagging hesitation, can some of you who are users comment generally on how this camera is for macro shots (nudis, small crustaceans, etc?) That's what I really want to shoot, and I need to find a new solution.

Thanks

Only one word could answer that… The 8080’s DSLR type LENS. A heavy weight for quick, but smooth focusing, super macro is another great feature.

Now I stated before that I am not a fan of close up add on lenses, to this day, an image from a macro SLR lens or extension tubes is far more superior than stacking the glass.

With the 8080, I will make an exception, because of the large threaded lens barrel of the 8080 at 58mm. In which with a filter adapter, a high quality Nikon two element close up lens can be used. Nikon’s 5T and 6T close-ups, from my experience, produce more superior images than the “wet lenses” of the after market line up, which users are forced to use because of housing limitations. And it is not just the limited DoF I see in the wet lenses; it’s the overall sharpness and dull colors or color fringing.

The chances of the 8080’s lens being parallel with the close up lenses are much better since the close ups are bolted directly to the filter tread. The wet lenses are attached to the UW housing, with no guarantee of being parallel.

You may check with Ikelite to see if there is enough space to accommodate a Nikon 5T or 6T. Olympus also has an two element close up at $90 the Nikons are about $60, that’s the other point, you can almost buy 3 of the Nikons with the price of one wet close up lens.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=37298&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...ls&Q=&sku=37297&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...kw=OLLME10&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=211563

http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/nikon_articles/other/close-up_macro/macro_4.html

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/closeup-diopters.html

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Optical/chromatic_aberration_01.htm

http://www.wrotniak.com/photo/e10/mcon-35.html

Good Luck

 

[kapula]

Thanks f3nikon... (blushing). I found this decent site about 8080 there should be answer for most of your questions http://www.molon.de/8080/ For my money it's great for macros. The only thing is to keep your distance when shooting super macro. Depth of focus area is so small in that case that you can go wrong. But then again that's the thing that makes 8080 brilliant. You can get up close and personal with such a small focus depth.