Got an e-mail today from Nauticam regarding the new Panasonic GX1 camera which is being released in Nov/Dec this year. It seems Nauticam will release a housing for the GX1:
"Actually we just decided to housing the camera, but as the camera will be available after new year, the soonest shipment we are looking at is possibly after Feb. 2012. "
Could be an interesting choice for anyone wanting a compact solution with good control. From what I understand the GX1 will use the same sensor as G3, which produces IQ very close/the same as GH2. For video GH2 will still be hard to beat though. Some specifications from dpreview:
16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor
ISO 160-12,800
Orientation sensor (providing information with non-OIS lenses)
3.0", 460k dot LCD
Full AVCHD 1080/60i video (from 30fps sensor output)
Continuous shooting up to 20fps (at reduced resolution)
Electronic level gauge
Four available Fn buttons (two onscreen)
Differences between the GX1 and the GF1
Looking forward to see what this little camera can do!
scipionems
November 17th, 2011, 01:20 PM
This is a very good news.
Actually I use a Panasonic Lx5 + Nauticam housing and I am very happy with it, but in future I would like to upgrade to a micro 4/3 system.
This Gx1 is very interesting.
I wonder if Nauticam will create even a dome for the Panasonic G X Vario Pz 14-42mm F 3,5-5,6 ASPH OIS lens.
Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH OIS: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/lenses/panasonic_x_14-42_3p5-5p6_pz)
This compact lens with the Gx1 could be a perfect solution for underwater use.
If Nauticam will create a compact standard port for this lens, possibly with an M67 thread in front of it, it will be possible to attach in front of it a macro or a wide wet lens.
Probably I dream but..... :)
Scipionems
Patrick_J
November 19th, 2011, 02:22 PM
I don't know the dimensions of the new X 14-42 lens, but isn't there a chance the normal 14-42 port might work? Remember the X lenses are all of collapsible design, so when the camera is turned on they will actually expand.
Patrick
scipionems
November 20th, 2011, 05:06 AM
Hi Patrick,
May be that the standard flat port 56 of Nauticam will work with this lens, but at the moment I really don't know.
I was looking to other lens like 7-14 mm Panasonic for wide and the 45 mm Pana-Leica for macro, but every lens need another specific dome port, and all the set become very expensive , probably more than a DSLR :(
Probably i will stay with my compact Lx5 for the moment.
Scipionems
RetroBlader
January 15th, 2012, 03:00 AM
I was looking to other lens like 7-14 mm Panasonic for wide and the 45 mm Pana-Leica for macro, but every lens need another specific dome port, and all the set become very expensive , probably more than a DSLR :(
Not to mention, the "change lens on the inside, not the outside" approach will introduce the same restrictions as DSLRs -- one must choose WA/FE or macro beforehand, and there is no way to change underwater. (The proverbial "what if a whale shark were to swim by" scenario)
Anyway, with the GX1/PZ14-42 combo due any day now, hopefully we'll find out soon....
:)
scipionems
January 26th, 2012, 08:15 PM
I found these pictures on Facebook of the new Nauticam housing for the Pana Gx1 Nauticam NA-GX1 for Panasonic GX1 | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.238735682868089.55215.235428156532175&type=1)
I hope to see the housing to the next Eudishow here in Milan, Italy (16-19 february 2012) :)
Scipionems
bullshark
February 2nd, 2012, 04:25 PM
I have my eye on this camera. I want it for above ground. There are so many lenses I would like. I don't know if I like it better than E-P3 though. I want to know if any housing maker will accomodate the EVF. That would be dope.
All the fine lenses and fast focus in the world won't get this shot (http://underwatercompetition.com/Photos/View/20961231654917), unless you can see it, and thats not happenin' without an EVF.
swee sin
February 4th, 2012, 12:22 PM
actually i'm quite puzzle abt why ppl keep wanting EVF??
don't you have LCD on the camera?
why bother going back to small EVF?
don't it more easy to see thing with big screen rather than looking thru the small window of the EVF while wearing your mask?
scipionems
February 5th, 2012, 12:03 PM
I agree with Swee sin.
The viewfinder probably have a sense using a 4/3 reflex, like my old Oly E-520, with a very very slow Contrast Detection Autofocus.
Using the viewfinder you can avoid the Contrast Detection Autofocus and use the Reflex like a Reflex, with a better autofocus.
The problem is that the viewfinder of a 4/3 reflex like my Olympus E520 is very very small and it is quite impossible to use (i need a magnifier to use it, like the 45° magnifier of Inon).
The advantage of the Micro4/3 cameras, like the new Panasonic Gx1, is the fast autofocus system.
This let you to use the LCD like a compact camera, avoiding the tiny viewfinder.
This is only my personal opinion , don't kill me :D
Ciao.
Scipionems
bullshark
February 8th, 2012, 11:22 AM
actually i'm quite puzzle abt why ppl keep wanting EVF??
don't you have LCD on the camera?
why bother going back to small EVF?
don't it more easy to see thing with big screen rather than looking thru the small window of the EVF while wearing your mask?
You obviously have never used one. I thought the same thing as you until a friend of mine let me look through her DSLR with EVF at the safety stop. It took about 8 microseconds to adjust, and then fall in to the image projected in my eye.
Have you ever used binoculars or telescope?
Which do you think is better?
Looking at a camera LCD attached to the Telescope
Putting your eye to the telescope
.
Which one do you think has more details?
The LCD on the camera is less that 460,000 pixels.
The image on the DMW-LVF2 (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMW-LVF2-External-Viewfinder-DMC-GX1/dp/B006FKR1PG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328713071&sr=1-1) with 1,440,000 pixels.
.
The EVF provides a 100% field of the live image and projects it on your retina, just like the telescope or binoculars. Near or far sighted is doesn't matter; you don't have to focus and everything is perfectly sharp. It isn't large or small. Shut one eye and just like the telescope, it fills your whole mind. The LCD is puny, dim and washed out by comparison.
I have shot thousands of photos using LCD not knowing if the details were there or not until later examining on the computer. It's not my eyesight, it's the LCD. They get washed out in bright light. The colors will turn to muted B&W when the light is intensely blue. There isn't enough contrast to see the ribs in a transparent fin. There aren't enough pixels to show the details.
Having the small space between your eye and the face plate of the mask is not perfect, but low-volume black-skirted masks like the Atomic frameless gets your eye close enough for optics on the housing to take care of the rest. It still projects on the back of your eye like binoculars or telescopes filling your whole world.
The difference is night and day.
shaker
February 8th, 2012, 12:38 PM
I have my eye on this camera. I want it for above ground. There are so many lenses I would like. I don't know if I like it better than E-P3 though. I want to know if any housing maker will accomodate the EVF. That would be dope.
All the fine lenses and fast focus in the world won't get this shot (http://underwatercompetition.com/Photos/View/20961231654917), unless you can see it, and thats not happenin' without an EVF.
The viewfinder probably have a sense using a 4/3 reflex, like my old Oly E-520, with a very very slow Contrast Detection Autofocus.
There is absolutely nothing similar about your E-520 with OPTICAL viewfinder as compared to an EVF which stands for Electronic View Finder.
Using the viewfinder you can avoid the Contrast Detection Autofocus and use the Reflex like a Reflex, with a better autofocus.
Connecting an EVF to the hotshoe has absolutely nothing to do with autofocus methods or speed.
The problem is that the viewfinder of a 4/3 reflex like my Olympus E520 is very very small and it is quite impossible to use (i need a magnifier to use it, like the 45° magnifier of Inon).
The advantage of the Micro4/3 cameras, like the new Panasonic Gx1, is the fast autofocus system.
This let you to use the LCD like a compact camera, avoiding the tiny viewfinder.
Suggesting that attaching an accessory to the hotshoe will change or slow down the focus system, or that the autofocus system has anything to do with the LCD is just completely mistaken. It's not true and they are not related.
One of the principle reasons people demand hotshoes is for the EVF option as well as external flash. The GX1 accomodates the DMW-EVF2 (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMW-LVF2-External-Viewfinder-DMC-GX1/dp/B006FKR1PG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328713071&sr=1-1). I don't think any serious photographer would be with it. In bright sunlight, or for low angle shots it is indispensable. We're talking about an $800 body, and supporting lenses that could cost thousands all-told. I don't want to squint at 460K LCDs trying to display 1600K images washed out by the glare of bright sunlight.
The GX1 is one of my favorites (E-P3) being the other, but I won't spend thousands of dollars on lenses and be saddled with all the complexity and fragility of DSLR systems for something (as yet) so inferior. The GX1 at least supports ISO filmspeed equivalents down to 160; but they need to get to 100 or better, otherwise there is no point in bright, beautiful f/1.8 lenses. None of the MFT offerings are good enough yet for underwater use yet (because of the housing costs), and for me, the lack of EVF is just one of the reasons.
Dude! Way cool! Who is making that? Is that an E-P3?
Soooo out-of-the-box. The front pops off instead of the back. That makes it so much easier to insert the camera. The port is permanently attached to the lexan faceplate?
swee sin
February 9th, 2012, 12:23 PM
You obviously have never used one. I thought the same thing as you until a friend of mine let me look through her DSLR with EVF at the safety stop. It took about 8 microseconds to adjust, and then fall in to the image projected in my eye.
Have you ever used binoculars or telescope?
Which do you think is better?
Looking at a camera LCD attached to the Telescope
Putting your eye to the telescope
.
Which one do you think has more details?
The LCD on the camera is less that 460,000 pixels.
The image on the DMW-LVF2 (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMW-LVF2-External-Viewfinder-DMC-GX1/dp/B006FKR1PG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328713071&sr=1-1) with 1,440,000 pixels.
.
The EVF provides a 100% field of the live image and projects it on your retina, just like the telescope or binoculars. Near or far sighted is doesn't matter; you don't have to focus and everything is perfectly sharp. It isn't large or small. Shut one eye and just like the telescope, it fills your whole mind. The LCD is puny, dim and washed out by comparison.
I have shot thousands of photos using LCD not knowing if the details were there or not until later examining on the computer. It's not my eyesight, it's the LCD. They get washed out in bright light. The colors will turn to muted B&W when the light is intensely blue. There isn't enough contrast to see the ribs in a transparent fin. There aren't enough pixels to show the details.
Having the small space between your eye and the face plate of the mask is not perfect, but low-volume black-skirted masks like the Atomic frameless gets your eye close enough for optics on the housing to take care of the rest. It still projects on the back of your eye like binoculars or telescopes filling your whole world.
The difference is night and day.
yes, i do shot astrophoto like what you mention, and you can check my picasa web album for it.
i do understand what you mention but do you think you can achived perfect focus with the optical or evf view finder?
i think you also familiar that normally astrophoto ppl tend to used other tools to help in doing perfect focus ... do they rely on the high resolution evf?
talk about the resolution on the evf ... it like shrinking a 8mp photo into less than half size and view on screen ....
is like watching 42" full HD LED tV from 20 feet away ... which one do you think will be useful?
don't get me wrong as i do shot macro photo with optical view finder(20D) ... i know how hard to achived the perfect focus ...
and i do shot super macro with S90 ... with live view ... so do i miss anything here?
any space between mask and the view finder only will reduce the size of the image ...
and if you familiar with astro photo ... do 1.25" EP give you better view that 2" EP??
think about it ... :D
swee sin
February 9th, 2012, 12:36 PM
Having the small space between your eye and the face plate of the mask is not perfect, but low-volume black-skirted masks like the Atomic frameless gets your eye close enough for optics on the housing to take care of the rest. It still projects on the back of your eye like binoculars or telescopes filling your whole world.
The difference is night and day.
oh yeah ... talk about contrast ... do u familiar with those eyepeice with big cover? like hyperion EP?
i remember the only way to increase constrast is to reduce scatter light ... so do you think the space between ur EVF and ur mask will not degrade the contrast?
all i had to said ... by all sense ... not the EVF nor view finder will help you get better shot ... is the man behind the camera to do the job ...
if u free enough ... go browser the flicker .. i think you will find tons of compact ppl shooting better that thosse DSLR user ... and they didn't use any EVF at all ... :D
scipionems
February 9th, 2012, 07:02 PM
Probably i was not able to explain me clearly.
My Optical magnifier viewfinder is necessary on my reflex, so i can avoid the contrast detection autofocus used in Live-view on my oly E-520 (when i try to use the lcd). Using the viewfinder the mirror of the E-520 is always up and the focus is perfect and istantananeus.
The Electronic VF is useful OUT of water on the Pana GX1 because the direct sunlight don't allow you to use the LCD under the direct sunlight.
But underwater the Evf is absolutely useless, because the autofocus system is the same with or without the EVF on the panasonic, and underwater the lcd is larger and you can see better the objects and you don't have the problem of direct sunlight underwater.
This is my personal opinion, don't get angry for my opinion ok ? :)
Peace :)
Ciao.
Scipionems
shaker
February 10th, 2012, 10:20 AM
Hi,
Dude! Way cool! Who is making that? Is that an E-P3?
Soooo out-of-the-box. The front pops off instead of the back. That makes it so much easier to insert the camera. The port is permanently attached to the lexan faceplate?
The E-P3 housing is made by PROMO FACTORY in Japan. They also made housings for the GF1, GF2, GF3, GH2 and others. They will soon make a housing for the GX1.
Yes the Ports are attached to the Faceplates, the back is attached permanently to the body. The new GX1 housing has a new design, they melt the faceplate with the port and the back with the body.
The whole housing is made of ABS Plastic.
Here is the new GX1 housing with the 8mm fisheye Inon dome port and the 14-42x port:
Google Übersetzer (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&ie=UTF8&rurl=translate.google.ch&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://promo-f.com/blog/index.php%3Fe%3D47)
Here is the E-P3 housing with the Pana 14-42x port, the 45mm macro port and the Inon viewfinder:
Google Übersetzer (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&ie=UTF8&rurl=translate.google.ch&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://promo-f.com/blog/index.php%3Fe%3D47)
They also have a port the 14mm. Notice, all flat ports have the Inon LD Mount fin order to attache maco or WA wet lenses.
One can buy it here:
Google Translate (http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?ie=UTF8&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.promo-f.com/gf1.htm&usg=ALkJrhhbxS0x8Sh0OpRp7hVh1qimhGvcow)
shaker
February 10th, 2012, 10:31 AM
Hi,
Dude! Way cool! Who is making that? Is that an E-P3?
Soooo out-of-the-box. The front pops off instead of the back. That makes it so much easier to insert the camera. The port is permanently attached to the lexan faceplate?
The E-P3 housing is made by PROMO FACTORY in Japan. They also made housings for the GF1, GF2, GF3, GH2 and others. They will soon make a housing for the GX1.
Yes the Ports are attached to the Faceplates, the back is attached permanently to the body. The new GX1 housing has a new design, they melt the faceplate with the port and the back with the body.
The whole housing is made of ABS Plastic.
Here is the new GX1 housing with the 8mm fisheye Inon dome port and the 14-42x port:
Google Übersetzer (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&ie=UTF8&rurl=translate.google.ch&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://promo-f.com/blog/index.php%3Fe%3D47)
Here is the E-P3 housing with the Pana 14-42x port, the 45mm macro port and the Inon viewfinder:
Promo's Blog::E-P3 (http://promo-f.com/blog/index.php?e=71)
They also have a port the 14mm. Notice, all flat ports have the Inon LD Mount fin order to attache maco or WA wet lenses.
One can buy it here:
Google Translate (http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?ie=UTF8&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.promo-f.com/gf1.htm&usg=ALkJrhhbxS0x8Sh0OpRp7hVh1qimhGvcow)
scipionems
February 14th, 2012, 08:23 AM
About the Pana Gx1 , today Dpreview has published a review of this Camera.
Panasonic DMC GX1 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcgx1/)
It seems very good for pictures, very very bad for video (it is better Gh2 for video).
ciao :)
Scipionems
xahhax
April 14th, 2012, 09:17 PM
Just got the housing :-) Can't wait to try!
121572
swee sin
April 18th, 2012, 09:45 AM
Here's mine ... hehehe
Can't wait to test it underwater ...
121875
121876
jd950
April 18th, 2012, 11:48 AM
Looks good. Don't know for sure, but you might want to consider some buoyancy arms for that.
swee sin
April 18th, 2012, 08:37 PM
Yes, need to add some float arm/floatstix for this setup.
But will try out first only know how much need to add.
BluewaterPhoto
April 27th, 2012, 01:29 AM
We just got some Nauticam GX1 housings in. The housings are quite and small and very nice. I just updated our mirrorless camera guide (http://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/2012-best-mirrorless-camera-guide) to include the GX1 as on of our top picks.
mjh
April 27th, 2012, 09:16 AM
Great thing regarding the Nauticam version of the GX1 is the new pricing; US$1200 vs. $1650 for it's housing for other cameras in this class.
ggibson
April 27th, 2012, 06:04 PM
How is the 14-42mm X zoom as an UW lens? Are there other lenses that will fit in the included port?
jd950
April 28th, 2012, 11:13 AM
How is the 14-42mm X zoom as an UW lens? Are there other lenses that will fit in the included port?
Nauticam has both a flat port and a semi-dome for the 14-42. No port is per se included with the housing.
I know the semi-dome port will also accommodate the older 14-45 lens and the non-auto 14-42 and the 9-18. I am not sure what other lenses would work in it. Their port chart is a bit out-of date, and they accommodate more lenses than they show.
If for some reason I were going to limit myself to only one port, I suppose it would be the 4" semi-dome so I could use the 9-18 for wide angle and the 14-42 for fish portraits. They also have now come out with an adapter to use a diopter on the semi-dome, so one could even do macro.
Alsky72
May 6th, 2012, 02:05 AM
Hi guys,
I just took the GX1 away to Egypt to test. Very impressive image quality, I used the 8mm Fisheye and the 45mm macro and took it on 2 dives.
Apologies for the direct links, the file sizes are too large to include in the message and I don't have time to resieze and reupload at the mo.
I am looking into this housing as I own a GX-1 that I was looking to use for an underwater setup now that my wife insisted it was her turn with the Canon G10/housing. My question is that I am not going to have the funds for several ports at first, as I would rather invest in a strobe. I have the following lenses, and would appreciate input as to which one would be the most broadly useful:
Panasonic 7-14mm
Olympus 12mm
Panasonic 25mm
Panasonic 14-45mm (the first generation one)
Panasonic 45mm
As you can see this is my main camera system with an Olympus OM-D EM-5 as my main camera body for general nature photography. I enjoy many aspects of underwater photography, so I am a bit concerned that the macro lens may be too limiting at first.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Cliff
PHIL RUDIN
May 30th, 2012, 11:23 AM
First I am sure that any of the dome ports you purchase from Nauticam for GX-1
Camera well be transferable to future housings for the Olympus OMD systems.
My choice would be the six inch dome port for the 7-14 or the 45 macro port depending on your preference for wide-angle or macro photography. Keep in mind that a 60 macro is coming from Olympus which will require a different port than the 45 mm macro report.
Phil Rudin
CliffWarner
May 31st, 2012, 08:28 PM
I am not planning on putting the OM-D in a housing, and am planning on using the GX-1 for underwater photography.
I am leaning on getting the 7-14mm port for now, and adding the 45mm macro with time.
xahhax
June 1st, 2012, 01:39 AM
I have the 14mm, 8mm fisheye and the 45mm macro with respective ports.
I see myself that i will use the 8 and the 45 the most.
45 for macro obviously and 8 for wrecks/other wide shots. I find the 14mm does not focus close enough and at the same time not wide enough.
Kevster
June 1st, 2012, 04:03 AM
I have the 8mm,14mm,14-42x mm,25mm,45mm.
Two lens i use the most 8mm & 45mm.
I have just got the panny conversion WA lens that can be used for both the 14mm & 14-42X. This will effectively give a 11mm fl.
I prefer the 14-42X (at 14mm) over the fixed 14mm lens, especially for video.
Unfortunately there is no zoom gear yet for the 14-42X lens so you cannot change FL underwater.
jd950
June 1st, 2012, 10:25 AM
I have the 8mm,14mm,14-42x mm,25mm,45mm.
Unfortunately there is no zoom gear yet for the 14-42X lens so you cannot change FL underwater.
I would question whether they will offer a port/gear for that lens. Dealing with the zoom button could be difficult / expensive and there are several other lenses in that focal length range already accommodated. They just ran out of stock but one online photo store was selling the Panasonic 14-42 lens for $69.00 after rebate. Other stores have the lens in stock and are offering it for $99 after the Panasonic rebate that I think expires today or tomorrow.
The Oly 14-42ii lens and the Panasonic 14-45 are also available for quite a bit more and probably slightly better lenses than the Panasonic 14-42 I mentioned above.
If I wanted that focal length range for underwater use and had the X lens, I would consider getting a different or additional lens. But that's just one guy's opinion.
Kevster
June 1st, 2012, 10:41 AM
I would question whether they will offer a port/gear for that lens. Dealing with the zoom button could be difficult / expensive and there are several other lenses in that focal length range already accommodated. They just ran out of stock but one online photo store was selling the Panasonic 14-42 lens for $69.00 after rebate. Other stores have the lens in stock and are offering it for $99 after the Panasonic rebate that I think expires today or tomorrow.
The Oly 14-42ii lens and the Panasonic 14-45 are also available for quite a bit more and probably slightly better lenses than the Panasonic 14-42 I mentioned above.
If I wanted that focal length range for underwater use and had the X lens, I would consider getting a different or additional lens. But that's just one guy's opinion.
I agree . I prob made a mistake by buying the 14-42x lens for underwater use. I emailed Nauticam 3 months ago to enquiry about the zoom gear. They were working on a trial gear for this lens. Still no news so i guess the trial was not successful
However it is prob a good small lens for topside use, especially if you have a GX1, the 14-42x would result in a very slim setup for a walkabout camera & lens
PHIL RUDIN
June 1st, 2012, 02:08 PM
Another choice if you have $1300.00 to invest in top quality glass will be the Panasonic 12-35 F/2.8 X. This lens will blow the doors off any of the above listed zoom and it has a manual zoom ring. It appears this lens will fit the four inch dome port for lenses like the 9-18 zoom with a proper gear for its diameter. The 12mm end will be more than a bit wide for a flat port and while it will focus to about nine inches I would always want to go with a macro like the Pana 45 or the new olympus 60 macro coming this year.
I also like the 7-14 over the 8 fisheye for its versitility and better rendering of stright lines. While I have owned both the 8MM fisheye and 7-14 zoom for years for the Olympus DSLR systems I found myself using the zoom much more offen than the fisheye.
Phil Rudin
BluewaterPhoto
June 11th, 2012, 12:52 AM
Cliff - I'd go with the 7-14mm lens or the 45mm macro lens. Either will be quite versatile. We took out the Nauticam GX1 housing this weekend to Catalina and loved it! The housing worked great and the camera focused quite fast underwater, here is a short writeup (http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/review-panasonic-gx1-mirrorless-camera). - Scott
AnakChan
June 11th, 2012, 09:54 PM
Cheers for sharing your writeup. The Nauticam GX1 does look like a nice housing. If you don't mind me asking, what sort of strobes did you use especially for the pix at the end of the writeup (both the macro and the fisheye)?
