9-18mm lens Vs. 8mm Fish Eye , my 2psi

[orenbvip]

Just wanted to put in my findings. I've owned the 8mm fish eye lens and used it with my epl5 setup for a year and loved it. However it had its limitations, mainly not being able to zoom. When in Palau it was near impossible to get shots of sharks. I did get amazing pics of manta (fit in the frame easy).

This Year, I upgraded to the E-m1 setup. I also decided to get the zen 170mm port and 9-18mm lends. I do own the 12-40mm pro lens but didn't opt for the gear so i've yet to try it. Overall I find the $1600 investment (port and lens) kind of a waste. The 9-18mm is not very sharp and nowhere near as sharp as the 8mm lens. I'll be selling the lens and hoping the new 7-14mm lens will fit the 170mm port.

I've switched to only the 8mm lens for wide shots. and 60mm for macro.

Here are some pics with the 8mm taken the other day:

 

[NautilusCairns]

I have the now no-longer manufactured EM-5 and also have the 8mm and 60mm. I have decided to wait to see what the new OLy 7-14 PRO has to offer as I would like a zoom wide angle with good IQ. The 8mm is a great lens but has limitations for say large fish when you can't get that close. There is always the option of the Panasonic 7-14 but I'll bide my time and make do with the 12-50 at the wide end as a stop gap measure.

 

[jd950]

You should really give the 12-40 a try since you have the port. It is a very good lens.

 

[orenbvip]

I don't have the gear but maybe set it to 12mm before i dive?

 

[jd950]

I don't have the gear but maybe set it to 12mm before i dive?

You could. To me, if you have the lens (expensive) and the port (expensive) then adding a $200 (US) zoom gear seems comparatively insignificant. The new 7-14 might fit in the port and might even use the same zoom gear as the 12-40 (it looks very similar in photos I have seen, but who knows?) the current Panasonic 7-14 will work in that dome.

By the way, I am assuming you have the newer DP-170-N85II port. The first version does not accommodate the 12-40.

 

[deeper thoughts]

interesting

 

[orenbvip]

Yes the new version and I forgot to get the gear before I left. I dove with it set at 12mm today will post results later.

---------- Post added November 19th, 2014 at 04:06 AM ----------

took with the f2.8 pro lens at 12mm. overall prob not going to use this lens again under water. top side its the best

 

[jd950]

Well, I am sorry but not that surprised that you found the DP170 port for the 9-18 lens less than satisfying. Maybe the the Oly 7-14 will work in the DP170 when it comes out or you could get the current Panasonic 7-14, although I don't think it is much better than the 8mm for getting fish portraits.

Good luck in your search.

 

[glee719]

I have been pretty satisfied with the Panny 7-14mm. Fisheye is always best when you can get close, but I wasted a whole trip with no good photos when I took it on a liveaboard in Maldives and didn't have any zoom lens with me. Stupid I know, I thought the sharks were all going to come within petting distance.


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[victor]

Why won't you use this lens underwater?
What port did you use?

took with the f2.8 pro lens at 12mm. overall prob not going to use this lens again under water. top side its the best