Moving from 60mm macro to 30mm Macro lenses? Maybe?

Architeuthis wrote:

Dann-Oh wrote:

Wolfgang,

Would you be able to share any image samples of the Pana 45mm and or the 12-40? Unfortunately, my housing does not have a zoom gear option so Im stuck with fixed focal lengths. I have the Pana 8mm fisheye and 60mm macro but nothing in between. Okay I lied my housing only has one gear on it, I have to choose between a focus gear and a zoom gear. Which means; I could use the 14-42 kit lens with a zoom gear in the standard port if I wanted something in between 8mm fisheye and 60mm macro. I also have the Zuiko 12-45 F4 I could use but I'm not too sure how well it performs underwater.

I have been eyeing the Zuiko 12-40 F2.8 to compliment my 40-150 F2.8 for top side photography. I wonder if ill need a port adapter for any of these decisions? Time to call Backscatter :-).

I fear I cannot help much about the ports, as I have a Nauticam system that requires different ports compared to your system, but it may serve as an example:

For the two macro lenses (Pana 45mm and Oly 60mm) one can use the same port, "Macro Port 45", the 60mm requires an additional 20mm extension ring. Also the two 30mm macrolenses can be used with the 45 Macroport.

The 12-40mm Pro requires a domeport for best IQ, I have the Zen DP170-N120 and an additional 60mm N85-N120 adapter. With this combination I can also use the Pana 7-14mm WA and with the domport plus another 34.7mm N85-N120 adapter, I can use the Zuiko 8mm fisheye. With the same DP170-N120 port and 34.7mm adapter I can house the Canon 8-15mm fisheye with 1x Metabones Canon-EF to MFT adapter (with additional 35mm extension) - that is, at present, my favorite WA lens.

=> The bottomline (and what may help you in lens and port selection) is that I recommend first to think carefully about the selection of port(s) to buy: If, for instance; I would have bought the Macroport 65, I could only house the Oly 60mm and would need to buy the Macroport 45 extra for the Pana 45mm and/or the 30mm macros (in case I wanted them to use) => more money spent and more lugagge to carry. Similar with the N120 version of the Zen DP170 domeport: several N85 versions with build in extensions exist for the three lenses above, but no single one would house all three lenses. With just two ports, one planport (Macroport 45) and one domport (Zen DP170-N120), I can house all my lenses....

I believe that AF with your EPL10 will be substantially better with the 45mm compared to the 60mm. In addition the closer working distance will improve IQ in not so clear waters...

Here come some sample photos for the Panasonic 45mm macrolens. I really prefer this forum to Wetpixel for showing pictures, since one can upload in full resolution:

The 12-40mm Pro with domeport samples come with the next post...

The best thing that Backscatter did for me was to inform me about port extension rings.  I was thinking of buying the dedicated 60mm port when I bought my housing but they told me that I could get a 30mm extension ring for a fraction of the price as the dedicated port.  So if I need to get a different size port I will go ahead and just get a different size extension ring.

The guys at backscatter didn't recommend the 12-40 lens when I was talking with them but your images defiantly show that the lens is capable.