Hi, I hope you can help me. After some helpful takes from some of you, plus a lot of thinking and digging around I arrived to a conclusion.
To recap:
I want to upgrade my setup. I currently shoot with an Olympus TG-6, I have 2 Sola video lights and a Backscatter Mini Flash as well as a M52 Wide Angle Lens.
I also have an Olympus OM-D E-M1 mk II and several Olympus lenses for topside photography.
Photography is not only a hobby, but also a small part of my work (topside), Olympus cameras suit me very well for the balance between portability, image quality and flexibility.
So even though there may be other cameras better suited for UW photography, after much thought, I'm getting the OM Systems OM-1 to use both topside and underwater. (I don't want the burden and expense of two camera systems)
I would love to be able to settle for the OM-5 because of the size, but the new sensor with 10 bit video at 4k 60fps, and AI detection AF are very important to me.
Having said that, I would keep my kit as small and travel friendly as possible. I'm also used to being able to shoot wide angle and macro on the same dive, or at least would like to do it on different consecutive dives without changing ports (small boat). I don't know if it's in any way possible to do that with the OM-1. Is it?
If it is, how much would the image quality suffer if I use a normal lens (which one) with a wide angle wet lens and a macro diopter? (which ones?) instead of the full "several lenses, ports and domes"? How less wide and less macro this solution would be compared with a full kit?
If not, or not advisable, could 2 setups like this work?
1) wide angle / wide angle close focus / fish portrait
2) fish portraits / macro
So I keep some flexibility?
I can live without doing over/under photos, so as to not need a big dome. But I really like the macro possibilities I get with the TG-6.
On the housing side of things my budget allows for either the Ikelite 200DLM/B or the AOI UH-OM1, or something in that range. I'm leaning towards the Ikelite One because of its deeper rating, but I'm not sure.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Just in case, lenses I already have (I won't limit myself to these lenses, I would definitely buy the right lens for my needs)
M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F2.0
M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 Lens
M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8
M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens
M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6
M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm
Can you also recommend a couple of strobes that are an improvement but match this setup, so not too big/heavy or too expensive?
I really need to find a balance that's good for me in terms of image quality and portability/flexibility.
I know some of you like to geek out with these type of things, I'm counting on you !
Thanks in advance for your help.
To recap:
I want to upgrade my setup. I currently shoot with an Olympus TG-6, I have 2 Sola video lights and a Backscatter Mini Flash as well as a M52 Wide Angle Lens.
I also have an Olympus OM-D E-M1 mk II and several Olympus lenses for topside photography.
Photography is not only a hobby, but also a small part of my work (topside), Olympus cameras suit me very well for the balance between portability, image quality and flexibility.
So even though there may be other cameras better suited for UW photography, after much thought, I'm getting the OM Systems OM-1 to use both topside and underwater. (I don't want the burden and expense of two camera systems)
I would love to be able to settle for the OM-5 because of the size, but the new sensor with 10 bit video at 4k 60fps, and AI detection AF are very important to me.
Having said that, I would keep my kit as small and travel friendly as possible. I'm also used to being able to shoot wide angle and macro on the same dive, or at least would like to do it on different consecutive dives without changing ports (small boat). I don't know if it's in any way possible to do that with the OM-1. Is it?
If it is, how much would the image quality suffer if I use a normal lens (which one) with a wide angle wet lens and a macro diopter? (which ones?) instead of the full "several lenses, ports and domes"? How less wide and less macro this solution would be compared with a full kit?
If not, or not advisable, could 2 setups like this work?
1) wide angle / wide angle close focus / fish portrait
2) fish portraits / macro
So I keep some flexibility?
I can live without doing over/under photos, so as to not need a big dome. But I really like the macro possibilities I get with the TG-6.
On the housing side of things my budget allows for either the Ikelite 200DLM/B or the AOI UH-OM1, or something in that range. I'm leaning towards the Ikelite One because of its deeper rating, but I'm not sure.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Just in case, lenses I already have (I won't limit myself to these lenses, I would definitely buy the right lens for my needs)
M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F2.0
M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 Lens
M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8
M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens
M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6
M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm
Can you also recommend a couple of strobes that are an improvement but match this setup, so not too big/heavy or too expensive?
I really need to find a balance that's good for me in terms of image quality and portability/flexibility.
I know some of you like to geek out with these type of things, I'm counting on you !
Thanks in advance for your help.