jd950
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- I just don't log dives
Well, I couldn't wait any longer if I wanted the new toys for an upcoming trip, so I have decided on the Seatool housing for the GF-1. I am getting the 14-45 and 7-14 ports. I have some concerns about how well the 7-14 will maintain center to edge sharpness in the Panasonic dome, but I am hopeful.
I will probably consider adding the 8mm fisheye lens and port when they are out later this year, unless the 7-14 really impresses me.
I know some others are facing the same decision. For me, the Inon is an unknown at this time. I have no idea what it will cost or even if I would prefer it to the Seatool and I now hear it will be at least late June or July before it hits the market. They don't even have a price for it yet, and it does not seem likely to offer anything the Seatool doesn't offer.
The 10bar housing for the EPL-1 appealed to me on price, but I want a flat port for the 14-45 and that isn't available with 10bar. I would also have to buy the Oly camera body, which I don't really need. The 10bar housing for the GF-1 looked like it had too many ergonomic compromises and was just not as mature a design as I wanted and again has no flat port for the 14-45.
I originally thought of getting a Canon S90 with Fix housing and fisheye lens, but I just could not bring myself to commit $1,200.00 to a housing and wet lens for another point-and-shoot dive camera. I also want to try some HD video and if I went with the S90, I was also looking at spending $1000.00 or more for a separate video camera, and who wants to carry two cameras?
I spent a lot more on this setup than the S90 stuff would cost, but I think and hope it will last me longer and give me more pleasure overall, and if I factor in the video abilities of the GF-1, the difference in price is not as much.
I fly to dive locations and carry on my camera gear. I also do a lot of shore diving and even the smallest DSLR and housing was bigger than I want to deal with. I compared the sizes of all the micro 4/3 housings, the Fix S90 housing, the WP-DC35 housing and the E620 housings. The Seatool housing for the GF-1 was as large as I wanted to go and actually not that much larger than the point and shoot housings.
I think I can get the GF-1, lenses, housing, ports and strobes into a backpack style camera case that is carry-on size.
Clearly, my choice was personal and your best option may be different. I hope this helps someone else who is trying to decide what to do.
I will probably consider adding the 8mm fisheye lens and port when they are out later this year, unless the 7-14 really impresses me.
I know some others are facing the same decision. For me, the Inon is an unknown at this time. I have no idea what it will cost or even if I would prefer it to the Seatool and I now hear it will be at least late June or July before it hits the market. They don't even have a price for it yet, and it does not seem likely to offer anything the Seatool doesn't offer.
The 10bar housing for the EPL-1 appealed to me on price, but I want a flat port for the 14-45 and that isn't available with 10bar. I would also have to buy the Oly camera body, which I don't really need. The 10bar housing for the GF-1 looked like it had too many ergonomic compromises and was just not as mature a design as I wanted and again has no flat port for the 14-45.
I originally thought of getting a Canon S90 with Fix housing and fisheye lens, but I just could not bring myself to commit $1,200.00 to a housing and wet lens for another point-and-shoot dive camera. I also want to try some HD video and if I went with the S90, I was also looking at spending $1000.00 or more for a separate video camera, and who wants to carry two cameras?
I spent a lot more on this setup than the S90 stuff would cost, but I think and hope it will last me longer and give me more pleasure overall, and if I factor in the video abilities of the GF-1, the difference in price is not as much.
I fly to dive locations and carry on my camera gear. I also do a lot of shore diving and even the smallest DSLR and housing was bigger than I want to deal with. I compared the sizes of all the micro 4/3 housings, the Fix S90 housing, the WP-DC35 housing and the E620 housings. The Seatool housing for the GF-1 was as large as I wanted to go and actually not that much larger than the point and shoot housings.
I think I can get the GF-1, lenses, housing, ports and strobes into a backpack style camera case that is carry-on size.
Clearly, my choice was personal and your best option may be different. I hope this helps someone else who is trying to decide what to do.