E-PL5 vs SeaLife DC1400

[FlyinV]

I had a Sealife DC1400 with 2 strobes, the video light and the wide angle lens.
I was unhappy with the pictures.

Then I went and got this package
System Packages :: Mirrorless Systems :: Optical Ocean Olympus/Sea & Sea PT-EP06 (E-PM1) Special Package -

I added a second strobe to it for another $400 and I am SUPER happy with it.

If I had to do it again I wouldn't purchase and waste my time with the Sealife camera.
Sealife is great for a point and shoot but if your going to drag around strobes and such ... just go for a higher quality camera.
The Sealife camera people need to look into upgrading their systems to a 4-3rds camera. They are falling way behind technology.
Note - Sealife does have A+++ customer service.

 

[deeper thoughts]

I owned and used the following. EPL1, OMD em5 and the dc1400. The sealife is not even in the same conversation with the other two.
That being said sealife has great customer service and their camera systems are very easy to use and maintain

 

[ksporry]

actually, that link with the EPM1 DOES include the camera... I'd say its an awesome setup to begin with!
I'm going for the EPL5 with nauticam housing though. Admitted about 1k more expensive, but I too have some experience above water and won't go for less than the OMD IQ which the EPL5 has... Wished the EP5 already had a case, but I think with exception of Athena (I think) no cases were made for the EPn series, so not gonna wait around to get disappointed. Note: I do have an EP1, but with the Athena case costing over 2k euros, I think I'm better off with the EPL5 plus the nauticam case (Olympus case is even cheaper, but like the quality feel of the nauticams)

 

[tamas970]

mjh:
Thanks for the link. They have the following setup for $1,489:
Optical Ocean Olympus PT-EP10/Sea & Sea Value Package

What am I missing? It seems like a very low price for that camera, housing, and strobe. Thanks.

What I am missing is a link to the actual offer... (next time link pls)

As earlier said: camera (+700$) is missing. The price is realistic, especially the upgrade to longer arms (2$)

 

[ksporry]

Ah, I think there was a mixup of links. The link I was referring to was: System Packages :: Mirrorless Systems :: Optical Ocean Olympus/Sea & Sea PT-EP06 (E-PM1) Special Package -
Which includes a camera

This is not the case for this link (which I think is the link you were referring to):
System Packages :: Mirrorless Systems :: Optical Ocean Olympus PT-EP10/Sea & Sea Value Package -
At 1500 USD that's still a pretty sweet deal, and the camera is not 700USD anymore.500-550 should be possible (I can get it in china for that price, and china is more expensive than the US)

 

[dmoore19]

Have you posted this in the Sealife Forum? I would think you might get a balanced answer to your inquiry if you compare feedback from both. It doesn't matter to me but it seems to be fair...........

With about a $600 difference between the setups below, I'm looking for some feedback; pros and cons of each. This will be my first photography setup. Thanks.

Olympus E-PL5 Camera, Housing and Sea&Sea Strobe Package vs SeaLife DC1400 Underwater Digital Camera Maxx Duo Set

 

[Darth Bangkok]

Regarding the Olympus housing for the E-PL5, does anyone know if I will be able to use my Sea & Sea YS-02 with it? Will the flash of the camera be visable through the housing? I'll use it on the yellow Sea& Sea tray with two arms and wondering if the whole thing will fit on there too. THanks!

---------- Post added August 18th, 2013 at 09:05 PM ----------

Well, I will find out soon if I can use my strobe with the Olympus housing. Its looks like I can. I took my sea & sea tray down to B&H today to see if the housing fits inside. The housing is real big (for me. I also hate attracting so much attention). But it does fit inside. However I won't be able to use my gopro alongside because the port will block its view. However, in the same area of B&H I found a solution right away. In the tripod area I picked up a hot shoe - tripod plate. So just unscrew the tripod mount (which is heavy) and I am left with the connector to the hot shoe which I can use to attach the gopro to the top of the housing. Good to go! But let's see how the E-PL5 video is , maybe I won't need the gopro at all.

Anyway, I went just to look. I wasn't planning to buy. But the salesman said "hey why is the price 746 online but only 599 here?" when he added it to the bill the lower price showed up even though his display had 746. The same thing with the E-PL5 itself. The price went from 599 to 499. So for a spur of the moment $250 off coupon, I pulled the trigger! I bought the camera, housing, zoom gear and the tripod mount and am playing with it now. The shots I took of my bicycle and other parts of my apartment are the sharpest test shots I've taken here. I think I will keep it!

The housing they had in stock was a bit scratched and looked like some things were missing from the box (like a manual - is there one?). So I still have to wait for that (the most important part!) as it had to be shipped to me.

 

[RTee]

I recently upgraded from a Sealife DC1000 to the E-PL5. In the near future I am planning to get an underwater housing, strobe and focus light. My GF is quite happy to use the Sealife Point and Shoot camera, but, as for myself, I wanted to have much better pictures and resolution.

 

[Darth Bangkok]

And the non-TTL strobe can be used. Nice and easy too.

 

[Divealpha]

First time underwater with the PM1. Shot with the 14.42mm and a Inon S2000. I think the $500,- offer for the camera+Olympus hosing can't be beaten, and it may take a while before a similiar offer for the PL-5 comes around... Going from compact to this camera is like night & day. So cheap that I also bought one for my wife, so she doesn't have to struggle getting good pic's from her Intova