Olympus really that much better?

[fuzz]

Posted this over in Wetpixel.com as well...

Just wondering since I see so many advocates for Oly's - is there any qualitative difference between Olys, canon's, & sony's?

I'm looking to pick up a c-4000 & PT-010 housing probably tomorrow & would appreciate any advice/insight!

Thank you.

 

[andrsn]

ever thought about the c5050? i'd like to upgrade to it because it accepts much beefier storage pieces and has a faster lens. the oly housing is just as cheap.

A

 

[fuzz]

It's a $300 jump, otherwise I'd love to...
I'm getting it as a present & I have to follow my budget guidelines

Right now I"m more perplexed over the brand differences.

 

[Jon]

Someone on the digital diver site posted a place where you can get the new pt015 housing, for the 5050z camera, for only $150!

That's half of what I paid a few months ago. I have owned a lot of film cameras over the years and my little digital is by far my favorite.

Jon

 

[Pezman]

Got a link to bargain PT-015?

I was unable to find the housing for less than $170 + shipping:

http://www.uniquephoto.com/index.php?expand=&detail=OLD200868

I'm seriously thinking about getting a 5050 ...

 

[andrsn]

Fuzz, the Oly's have a faster lens than most other digitals which make them ideal for underwater stuff. You can't go wrong w/ the c4000 and the Oly housing. A gift just seems even sweeter.

All my pics on my website were with the c3000 and either a Oly PT housing or an ikelite housing. Can't tell the difference b/w housings, but the Oly housing was about half the cost.

Good luck,
Anderson

 

[DiverD]

Fast lens

Fuzz, the Oly's have a faster lens than most other digitals which make them ideal for underwater stuff. You can't go wrong w/ the c4000 and the Oly housing. A gift just seems even sweeter.

Actually, andrsn, the Olympus cameras ending in 40 (and now 50, with the 5050) are the ones with the fastest lenses, the 4000 has a slower one, maybe 2.8 compared with the 1.8 on the '40s and 5050.

 

[andrsn]

Ah, good to know! I have the C3000. Maybe my neon subjects would come out in better focus w/ a faster lensed Oly?

A

 

[DiverD]

fast lens

The fast lens means the aperature opens wider. wider aperatures mean shallower depths of field, which means the focus plane is thinner, less things are in focus except on the plane that is in focus. But this means more light can come in, this is good in low lighting, like when underwater. when I zoom the lens of my 2040 the lens will no longer open to it's full 1.8 aperture, it stops at 2.2 or 2.8 or so (not sure). I notice with the strobe, a smaller aperature opening (life f8 or f11) gives a darker background which I don't really like. I haven't worked out shooting with a strobe...yet!

 

[andrsn]

DD, not sure how the digitals work, but I know that my nikons have a better time focusing w/ my faster lenses, even when I have them stopped down for the actual exposure. I'm assuming because they don't shut down the aperture until the shutter is released, right? Again, not sure this is the case w/ digital, but I'd imagine it'd help.

I like the dark background (f8+) when using a strobe. Wide open seems to wash out too many things in your frame. Plus, it makes you look deeper than you are.

A

 

[DiverD]

DiverD

andrsn,

I really, really, don't know when it comes to digital, someone told me that a digital doesn't have a shutter at all, and everything is emulated, that's why in the RAW format you can change things like shutter speed. And I've never had an auto focus 35mm, just the old-fashined do it all yourself kind so I guess I'm really in the dark (pun intended).

But your'e right -- those dark backgrounds look deep, some shots I took this weekend looked like I shot them at 1000' underwater. They were almost frightening!