Wet lens with micro four thirds E-PL1

[tripntx]

Can wet lenses be used with M4/3 platform?

Want to upgrade next year, following M4/3 development, really like Oly E-PL1 camera as well as OEM &/or 10-bar housing for it. Already have an INON UWL-100 lens 67mm threaded, had been wanting to get a dome for it, but not going to if I know I'll never use wet lenses with M4/3. I'm also planning on purchasing an INON S-2000 soon so I will have dual strobe setup.

Current setup:
Cannon A720IS, OEM housing, Ikelite housing, ULCS trays and handles for each, INON D-2000 strobe.
Backup camera is Olympus C-8080, OEM housing with broken clips, OEM wide angle lens and OEM w/a housing port.

 

[friscuba]

Give me 5-6 hours...

I just got my Oly housing for the E-PL1 and I'm planning on getting it wet this afternoon. Not sure about 10Bar, but the Oly housing has a 67mil treaded adaptor for it for about 45 bucks. I picked one up and will be taking my inon macro lens along. I'm excited, should have some results later in the day. I couldn't afford the flashes just yet, so I'll be trying it available light. It should be interesting to see how this camera handles the lower light of the reef, it does great topside in lower light compared to my old point and shoots.

 

[slowhands]

I have the E-PL1 in the Oly housing. If you use the standard flat port, you can buy a macro lens adapter that mounts a 67mm macro lens. You do have to zoom out to avoid vignetting. But a wet mount works for macro with the Oly flat port.

There is no benefit in adding a wide angle wet lens, since it would vignette severely, and if you change the camera lens to longer to crop the vignetting, then you cancel the wide angle effect. It is more practical to use the 9-18mm lens in a dome port, that's the best you can do with available ports and lenses for a wide angle setup at this time (might yield a 100 degree field of view). There might be an 8mm fisheye out someday, that would be interesting, but expensive I'm sure.

I bought the Zen dome port and 9-18mm lens for wider angle. The 10bar comes with a dome, so if you like their housing, that's a cheaper package than the Olympus housing plus dome port. I prefer the Oly housing, I'm pretty sure it's made by Sea&Sea from all the little design details and materials used, same feel. On these housings, I gotta trust the vendor, Oly I know, Sea & Sea I know, 10Bar ... hmmm... I really have no experience. Maybe Jack Connick can share his thoughts...

Bottom line: Macro wet lens OK with flat port, wide angle wet lens not feasible. That's my take.

 

[Wisnu]

On these housings, I gotta trust the vendor, Oly I know, Sea & Sea I know, 10Bar ... hmmm... I really have no experience. Maybe Jack Connick can share his thoughts...

My experience with 10 bar is not very good. I bought flash housing directly from them - the setting button are not precisely located so can not be used.
They responses was good on sales but not after sales - I sent 4 e-mails and still no response.

 

[friscuba]

I didn't notice anything unusual with the macro lens adaptor. As usual, I had high hopes for the first trip out with a new camera... nothing too exciting for results though. I definitely like the camera setup.