[HELP] Oly E-PL7, Pany GX8, or something else for beginner

LarsPolarBear wrote:

rp200 wrote:

Hi,

Want to start practicing underwater photography, and need advice on which camera to use (buy housing, etc).

Before you decide on what to buy, I would do an honest self-assessment on what you are realistically going to do with your underwater equipment. I decided on the E-PL7 because I knew I would only be able to squeeze 1-2 dive vacations into a year, which meant that all the expensive housings would not make any sense if you consider that you will replace your camera probably after 3-4 years.

Agreed, except perhaps about the camera replacement part.

For a long time I debated buying a big expensive housing for my DSLRs.  I often found myself debating whether to put the backup (last model) DSLR underwater or the primary (current mode) under.  In one case I risked only the second-best camera I had.  In the other, I get the advantages of the newer model plus have a bit more time before obsolescence.

Then my wife came down with pancreatic cancer, and it changed my views on things.  I'm in my 60's, and I can't really wait any longer if I want to have a DSLR underwater.   I may never have had the chance if I waited longer.

So 3 years ago I bit the bullet and got a housing (Nauticam) for me then-best camera (Nikon D810).   My alternative at the time would have been a housing for my D800e.

I've now been diving with the D810 for 3 years, and I have 117 dives with it.   I've since added a D850, and while I would love to have a housing for it, I can't justify it with the D810 still going strong.  In retrospect, I'm glad I got a housing for the D810 and not the D800e.

Furthermore, it is important to consider your proficiency of diving, a large and heavy housing with extra strobes and a dome port creates a lot of resistance underwater and can be a challenge to handle in strong currents up to the point where it get dangerous - don'y forget, underwater photography is significantly more challenging than above water!!!

It's hugely more difficult and challenging.   I love it - the challenge is part of the fun.

I'd point out something I didn't know before my purchase arrived on my doorstep - a bit dome port is HUGE and it is a royal pain in the *ss to pack.

Last but not least, you have to consider the type of underwater photography are are planning to do. The main two forms of underwater photography are wide angle and macro, which in most places (not all) will be decided on where you are diving (e.g. Lembeh Straits = Macro; Komodo National Park = mostly wide angle).

And, depending on camera, you may only have wide and macro lens choices!   I would love a normal zoom on my D810, but there doesn't seem to be one that is offered/recommended.  i jump from a 16-35 behind a 230mm dome port to a 105 macro behind a flat port.

Due to how glass works underwater, there is no magnification factor with the dome port, but i get about a 20% magnification with the macro through the flat port.  Which is effectively jumping from 35mm to about 135mm with nothing in between.

Already own Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic GX8 with Olympus 45mm macro. Housing for GX8 is available from Nauticam only for ~$1600. EPL7 has housing for ~$700, plus $400 for 45mm port.

Photography is all about the light and that is even more true for underwater photography since you are loosing colour with increased depth. Therefore, you will have to bring light with you in one form or another.

And learn how to work with the lighting you bring.

And the lighting is different between stills and video lighting.  And not unexpectedly, it's expensive.

Again, to keep the package small and manageable and to safe cost, I decide to stick with the flash that comes with the E-PL7. This is actually the major change in philosophy between the E-PL6 and E-PL7 housing. The E-PL7 housing was more designed like a point-and-shoot camera housing, meaning no extras attached and just using the lens it comes with, while the E-PL6 housing considers the possibility of using other lenses and ports more. However, if you, like me, like to safe some money, the E-PL7 is the better choice, since the original port is short and thin allowing the use of the internal flash for macro without shading (which is also true if you attach a macro diopter wet lens like the Inon UCL-165M67). The 14-42mm EZ kit lens it actually not a bad macro lens (but not comparable with a dedicated macro lens).

Hopefully the housing comes with a small diffuser to help more.

The port comes also with a built-in M67 thread to attach wet lenses, which cannot be overstated as an advantage (you will need it!!!). You can also attach wet wide angle lenses like the Inon UWL-H100 28M67 plus dome port (http://www.inon.jp/products/lens/lineup.html) to compensate for the weakness of the kit lens. However, they are heavy and would make the housing front heavy and you would need an extra strobe since they would cover the internal flash.

I've tried both macro and wide angle on my RX100 II rig, but I have to say I never got them to work.

Not wanting to invest too much on equipment in the beginning, but also want something that would last.

Too bad point-n-shoots have died.   Canon used to sell a number of affordable cameras with matching dive housings.  I've had SD630, SD870is, S95 and S120.  None of them leaked, all worked well, but the cameras all eventually died (above water, zoom mechanism failures).   Consider finding a used rig on Craigslist.   New these cameras all cost about $450-500 new, including both camera and housing.

You will need at least a spare battery or two when diving.   And don't even bother with a non-OEM battery as they have the lifespan of a gnat.

Should I start with EPL7? GX8? Or get a GoPro to start practicing first?

Gopro - decent for video, sucks for stills.

Lars

Here some (random) pics taken with the E-PL7 & PT-EP12 (most macros with Inon UCL-165M67)

Nice pics.