Ultrawide lens from Olympus: when?

[jan10]

hi
anybody an idea when the ultrawide lens of olypus, see the roadmap http://www.nl.olympus.be/consumer/images/E-System_Lens_Roadmap.pdf, will come out exactly (foreseen for 2008) ?
jan

[AndyT]

Possibly Photokina at the end of Sept ?

I am looking forward to seeing the 100mm macro released.

Maybe follow this thread - they are usually first with the info.
Lens Topics Super Wide Standard Lens - Fourthirdsphoto Forum (http://forum.fourthirdsphoto.com/showthread.php?t=37032)

[PHIL RUDIN]

I hope to see a 90 to 100 mm F/2 macro that will go to 1:1 before the end of the year myself. The 8 to 16 mm zoom should be about half the cost of the 7 to 14 zoom and will complement the E-420/E-520 offerings out this year.

Phil Rudin

[jan10]

hi
- would anybody have any idea (guess ?) what the main difference would be in qualityterms between the existing 7-14, which is in the pro-range of Oly (but anyhow unaffordable), and the new 8(?)-16(?)mm which will be in the standard range ?
- what would be the main advantage of the 100mm macro (1:1) compared to the 50mm (1:2) ? probably the opportunity to stay a litle further from the animal ? Is this then really compared to a 200 mm in analog terms ? You could 'take ' the eye of a pygmeeseahorse ? :)

so both lensens are more to be expected in september probably ?
jan

[PHIL RUDIN]

Hi Jan,

The 100 mm is the 35 mm equv. of a 200 mm and will put greater distance between the port and subject. At life size (1:1) the subject will be the same size as it would be with the 35 macro at 1:1, the only difference would be distance to subject and shallower depth of field. The 100 mm macro will be a specialty lens for skittish subjects and NOT a standard macro choice, at least not for me. I will also take a higher degree of skill to use as DOF and steadying the lens will be challenging.

The Olympus standard range lenses have tested very well against the competition in the same price and angle of view range. The new standard wide zoom will not be weather sealed or as robust in build quality. However I use the 35 mm macro (under $200.00) all the time with outstanding results, you just can't get as close as you sometimes need to be because it focuses to about 3 mm from the port.

Phil Rudin

[AndyT]

Here's the answer to the W/A - a 9-18mm at around $ 599

Plus a new camera - the E-520

Olympus Announces the E-520 and the 9-18mm Lens - Fourthirdsphoto Forum (http://forum.fourthirdsphoto.com/showthread.php?t=37056)

DCRP News: Olympus announces E-520 D-SLR and new lens; preview available (http://www.dcresource.com/news/newsitem.php?id=3741)

[PHIL RUDIN]

Also a new housing for the E-520 to round out the package. Should be a very compelling system V. cost.

Phil Rudin

[jan10]

back again on the new lens:
I am a little puzzled on the possibilities of the new lens and this in relation to the 8mm fisheye:
- both are +/- same price
- the 8mm is a 'real' fisheye: angle 180 degrees
- the 9-18 has probably an max angle of 110 (I saw that the angle of the 'unaffordable' 7-14mm was 75 - 114 degrees, on the Belgian site there is mentioned that the angle of the 9-18 is 65 °, but this for the 18mm-side probably)

If I had to chose (I want to buy one) between the 8mm fisheye and the new one 9-18mm for underwater photography what is now really the best choice. For sure you can use/enjoye the 9-18 also above the water, which is not the case for the 8mm.
Probably also important if you consider the extra cost of the port: the 8mm needs a dome port, the 9-18 probable a less expensive port (not dome)
But what to do if you only consider the possibilities underwater ?
tnks
jan

[AbyssalPlains]

Sheesh, I can't even afford the 7-11 at this point....

[ce4jesus]

After doing my first trip with the 50mm lens, I'm so glad I listened to Phil, Roger and others. That lens absolutely rocks. Throw a custom woody's diopter in front and you're getting some killer macro. I'll post some results later. Just got back and I'm whipped.

[RTRski]

back again on the new lens:
I am a little puzzled on the possibilities of the new lens and this in relation to the 8mm fisheye:
- both are +/- same price
- the 8mm is a 'real' fisheye: angle 180 degrees
- the 9-18 has probably an max angle of 110 (I saw that the angle of the 'unaffordable' 7-14mm was 75 - 114 degrees, on the Belgian site there is mentioned that the angle of the 9-18 is 65 °, but this for the 18mm-side probably)

If I had to chose (I want to buy one) between the 8mm fisheye and the new one 9-18mm for underwater photography what is now really the best choice. For sure you can use/enjoye the 9-18 also above the water, which is not the case for the 8mm.
Probably also important if you consider the extra cost of the port: the 8mm needs a dome port, the 9-18 probable a less expensive port (not dome)
But what to do if you only consider the possibilities underwater ?
tnks
jan

I'm assuming the 9-18 is a rectilinear like the 7-14. So while you lose a little bit of view angle, you gain by not getting the distortion to straight lines. A lot of people post that the fisheye effect isn't that bad for underwater shots since most of what you shoot is 'organic' and not rectilinear anyway, but imaging a shot of the leg structure on an oil platform dive, or a wreck, and you can certainly see the interest in avoiding the fisheye distortion effect as well.

I really don't think you'd want to use the 9-18 behind a flat - any more than you would the 7-14. Domes preserve view angles at the cost of image distance, flat ports exchange field of view for magnification. Putting an extreme WA lens behind a flat would defeat the purpose...you'd be just as well off sticking with the 14-54 behind your dome, I guess.

p.s. just read on DPreview that the 9-18 will be compatible with the EC14 and EC20 teleconverters. What exactly would be the benefit of using a WA lens with something that has the effect of doubling its focal length...vs using a middle-wide standard lens in the first place ???

[AndyT]

After doing my first trip with the 50mm lens, I'm so glad I listened to Phil, Roger and others. That lens absolutely rocks. Throw a custom woody's diopter in front and you're getting some killer macro. I'll post some results later. Just got back and I'm whipped.

Looking forward to seeing your images !!!

[EastEndDiver]

just a few using just the 50 MM macro with an E-330 in an Ike housing with a DS -125 strobe.taken on Grand cayman

[AndyT]

Great images - now I am really itching to get my E-3 underwater !!!

[EastEndDiver]

This was also taken with a 50 MM

[AndyT]

Fantastic - you guys are pushing me towards bankrupcy.