New Olympus EPL-1

[Dragonsrock]

Hi all and Merry Christmas!

Santa is bringing me an EPL-1 with the Olympus housing, I have never taken an underwater pic, so I guess I have a very steep learning curve, in fact I have not used anything other than a point and shoot camera for a very long time.

I am heading to Fiji in about 5 days time and I was hoping that some of you knowledgable folk might be able point me in the right direction. I have absolutely no idea what settings I should even start with. I am just using the standard lense that comes with the camera and I do not have a strobe.

Should I be using the flash that comes witht he camera when underwater or not?

Any tips would be great. A good reference point for anyone prepared to help is that I know absolutely nothing!!!!!

Thanks for any assistance.

Dave

[scipionems]

Try this
Chapter Index - Guide to Underwater Photography|Underwater Photography Guide (http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/underwater-photography-guide)
It is very useful.
Scipionems

[Dragonsrock]

Thanks

[Peter Guy]

The camera's flash will probably not be very helpful for you as it really is designed to trigger a strobe. But, in the bright, clear waters in which you'll be diving, that shouldn't be a problem.

One other thing, if Santa doesn't also bring you the zoom adapter ring, you won't be able to change the zoom once the camera is in the housing so you'll have to decide, Wide Angle, Medium or Telephoto (macro) at the start of the dive. As someone new to "advanced" cameras, you might want to set it on iAuto and just let the camera decide your various exposure settings, including ISO.

Don't forget, READ THE MANUAL. Have fun and enjoy.

I've been using the camera since April and I love it.

[Dragonsrock]

Thanks Peter,

Santa was on his game, he brought me the Zoom ring and an anti reflector ring. I think I will just do what you advised and go with Auto. If I were going to use the flash, would I just remove the little plugs where the strobes connect?

Dave

[Peter Guy]

Dave,

You could take the plugs out (don't lose them!) but I don't think there'd be much advantage. I don't have the housing handy so I can't tell -- just my memory says it is really only useful for triggering strobes. But it can't hurt!

[Doubler]

When using your camera strobe get as close as you can get and still focus. Have a great time. Heck you can always shoot video.

[deeper thoughts]

They also have 2 underwater modes, wide angle or macro

[-Fred-]

They also have 2 underwater modes, wide angle or macro

Hi
I also received a e-pl1 from Santa (I was very nice this year ;-) )... Speaking of the 2 underwater mode, I'm unable to program them (I found mention of those mode in the user manual p. 80 but no way to find them in the camera).
Any idea?
Thanks
Fred

[Dragonsrock]

Hi Fred,

I too had some difficulties with this, however, it appears to work in any mode other than AUto or SCN. If you set the mode to M then you can simply activate the advanced menu (Menu/Settings/Menu Display (ON)). Once you have doen this, u need to go menu then the advanced menu (it looks like two little gears). Then select Button. Select Function and scroll through until you see the fish.

Once this is done, whenever you are ina mode other than Auto or SCN you will be able to use the function button to toggle between underwater Macro and Underwater wide.

Hope this helps and NO it is not in the instruction manual :dontknow:

[deeper thoughts]

I found you have to put the camera to P setting. Then the function button will take you to both modes. The book is still open if these settings are any good though.

[NW rx]

Yes you will need strobes. If you want the kind of pictures that you see in the diving magazines. If you get close to the subject one will work but 2 are better. I just got the same camera and I am trying to get my strobes to fire as they did when I used the Oly SP 350. With that camera and 2 - YS 110s I got some great pictures over the last 4 years. But the RAW shooting was a limitation. I bought mine through the Cathy Church group in Grand Cayman and there recommendation was to shoot in manual with the strobes and FO cords. I like shooting in TTL when in groups for shooting on the run.

[slowhands]

Hi
I also received a e-pl1 from Santa (I was very nice this year ;-) )... Speaking of the 2 underwater mode, I'm unable to program them (I found mention of those mode in the user manual p. 80 but no way to find them in the camera).
Any idea?
Thanks
Fred

Olympus locks most adjustments when you select a SCN mode, so they are not very useful underwater. They try to make those modes idiot proof and succeed in making them almost useless.

Stick with M, A or P mode and you can make the adjustments you need.

[neilhinds]

The EPL-1 is a very nice camera, a friend of mine uses it and gets excellent results, I believe she uses the Olympus UFL-2 strobe with it. Fantastic results.

I am using the E-520 dslr at the moment, still saving for the housing, but am looking at getting two strobes for best lighting