Micro Four Thirds for Underwater Photography

The reason why I use Micro Four Thirds has to do with performance in underwater photography. Typically you shoot small apertures because of the issues with water and optics so there is no real benefit of larger sensors underwater.

Today majority of competitions are won by people using APSC cameras especially the Nikon D500. I have been on boats with competition winners shooting that camera and I can comfortably say there were no difference due to the camera but more to do with the ability. Micro Four Thirds is however perceived as an intermediate format and I have not had the chance to do much diving since 2014 but I am hoping to get back in shape soon after covid

Some images

GX7 - 2015

Bommie

GH5

Vertigo

Torpedo

In addition it takes also some great video and also in HDR

https://youtu.be/C1OOLkA60no

https://youtu.be/K-I987aK5tg

From there I started also using the camera on land during lock-down a bit more and I have to say for 95% of the shooting I do I am very pleased with the outcome and I do not fell I am missing anything

I think this discipline is where the format can really shine and I hope OMD will continue having some focus to underwater photography as it is a good thing although I shoot Panasonic underwater

Love your photos!!

Great shots.  Thanks for posting.  What are you using as the underwater case for your cameras?

I have been thinking of converting either my GX8 or my Sony A6300 for underwater use, but haven't pulled the trigger yet because of the pandemic, which has limited everyone's travel.  Most likely I'd get a Nauticam enclosure, since I've had good luck with one for my Sony RX100M3 camera.   They are expensive but worth the price.  The vacuum system has never failed me on my RX100.

I bought a nimar housing for my em1mk2 in the beginning of the year... And then there was lockdown, so no holiday to anywhere... I guess the housing won't go bad at least!!! I think I got one of their last Olympus housings cause it's disappeared from the site (and it explains the big discount I managed to get)

Baba Ganoush wrote:

Great shots. Thanks for posting. What are you using as the underwater case for your cameras?

I have been thinking of converting either my GX8 or my Sony A6300 for underwater use, but haven't pulled the trigger yet because of the pandemic, which has limited everyone's travel. Most likely I'd get a Nauticam enclosure, since I've had good luck with one for my Sony RX100M3 camera. They are expensive but worth the price. The vacuum system has never failed me on my RX100.

I use a Nauticam housing with a combination of ports. The details are on my blog. I think the Nauticam housing is well machined and worth every penny however fantasia and ikelite are good lower cost alternatives and I think one has a vacuum system too

I use Panasonic because I started underwater with video and then I have done some photos work too.  So I never considered Olympus. I have an OMD EM1MKII as my land wildlife camera and I am pretty sure it would take great images too but can't have two housing right now. From what I can see other than ergonomics the IQ is the same with Olympus housing being cheaper

If you have a chance to look at the youtube there is a video from the great hammerhead and tiger shark expedition