New Oly M4/3 camera + housing coming!

[terson]

Hi Jack,
Are you getting confused or have we been miss-led, OR am I barking up the wrong tree again?
I thought that the new camera was going to have the same port system as the current micro 4/3 cameras,
and if this is so, then the older ports of the 520/620 era cameras won't fit?
If what you say is true, then my current crop of ZEN ports won't fit the new housing AND, more importantly, Olympus just lost a sale. . . .

Bruce

Olympus told me that the cameras will ship in April, but the housings won't be available in the US until July or August.

I think this camera continues the 4/3rds line nicely and is the logical upgrade choice for users shooting 620s or 520s (or older!) that have a lot of legacy ports and lenses. Besides Olympus and Zen remember that Athena makes a wide range of ports and accessories for Olympus.

It's great to see all the excitement here and I look forward to seeing this puppy in the water - but do temper that excitement in the knowlege that we are several months out.

Jack

---------- Post added at 06:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:25 PM ----------

Hi Jack,
This is staight out of the Olympus pages upon the introduction of the new camera and housing. . .

Underwater Case PT-E08
Works to a depth of 45 meters. This new housing uses a waterproof lens port that is bayonet-mounted and replaceable. The standard underwater lens port accepts the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 IIR and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm f4.0-5.6 lenses. When an optional port adapter is used, an underwater lens port compliant with the Four Thirds System standard can be attached on it. This design is expected to make the two lenses, the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8mm f3.5 Fisheye and ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50mm f2.0 Macro, usable with the underwater case.

This clearly says that it is a bayonet system and the users of the original 4/3, not micro 4/3 system, have to buy the optional adapter to use their ports.
Are the 520/620 system ports the same as the older 4/3 system, if so, then they can be used when the optional adapter is purchased.
BUT, there is always a but, this will make the older ports that much longer, by the length of the adapter, and surely with the close focusing abilities of these new lenses,
the older ports won't be such a good idea?

Bruce

 

[nudibranco]

If they did it right the new port uses the same attachment as the new m43 and with the adapter people can use the older 43 gear.

M43 port : Basically the current diameter is 71mm so lenses up to 70 mm can fit...

Current PEN port attachment internal diameter is 80mm but including attachment hinges is 78mm so the M43 to 43 UW case adapter would have to fit into this and I believe Athena already has that for the M43 case.

43 port: whatever attaches to the adapter has to fit the bigger 43 diameter lenses which is 71mm for the 35 or 50mm macro, 79mm for the 8mm fisheye. Other lenses do not make too much sense UW (maybe the 11-22 which is 79.5mm or the 12-60 are somewhat useful if you already have them).

The MMF attachments (MMF1/2 and probably 3) seem to be 68mm in diameter and extend 19mm just enough to fit into m43 to 43 adapter for the UW case and allow for the 43 lenses to attach and fit into the older 43 UW port you may have.

Since the 8mm fisheye is much wider I am not sure if the 43 port will block anything but the spec says it can use it so I presume it will do that!

 

[terson]

. . . .how wide do all these 'older' lenses become when you attach focus/zoom gears to them?

 

[nudibranco]

Actually the main lenses in question (the 8mm and the macro lenses) cannot be zoomed and cannot be focused manually in the case. I saw some ports with magnetic rings that allow you to do manual focusing though.

 

[ggibson]

Here's a link to the Japanese website for the housing & port:

ƒIƒŠƒ“ƒpƒX ‚¨’m‚点:uOM-D E-M5vê—p–h…ƒvƒƒeƒNƒ^[uPT-EP08v‚ðƒ}ƒŠƒ“ƒ_ƒCƒrƒ“ƒOƒtƒFƒA‚ÉŽQlo•i

 

[shaker]

More infos here:
Olympus OM-D E-M5 going for a dive, PT-E08 underwater housing to be released July 2012 | Stuff-Review

 

[sentlon]

is my zen WA-100 working on this new housing?

 

[nudibranco]

from the drawings on the Japanese link it does not seem it will be compatible...:depressed:

 

[billmackbarnes]

More infos here:
Olympus OM-D E-M5 going for a dive, PT-E08 underwater housing to be released July 2012 | Stuff-Review
Taking you gear underwater is a costly business, the main PT-E08 housing costs 112,350 Japanese yen ($1,360) while the Micro Four Thirds PPO-EP01 lens port will set you back an additional 39,900 yen ($480).
The underwater gear is set to be released in July 2012 in Japan.

If these prices are right, didn't they just price themselves out of the market?
Camera prices are almost the same as a full DSLR now without the quality of a full DSLR.

My Pany 45mm macro lens give far superior image quality to the kit 14-42mm lens.
This housing is almost the same price as a Ikelite housing with TTL cords!?!

What is going on?
Bill

 

[chris196]

I agree the price seems high, but is that a for sure price?
Still seems early to pass judgement. And considering the OMD is the high end and the PEN is the consumer, I was expecting the housing to be more.
We'll just have to wait and see.