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ramcewan · Feb 10, 2013, 11:34 AM

Planning a trip to do some snorkeling and am weighing a dedicated underwater shooter vs. a housing for my Olympus PEN E-PL2.

Olympus makes a nice setup for $599 which is out of budget (couldn't find them on lens rental - but would consider renting if I could - no hits on ebay but would consider used)
briefly looked at some underwater rated P&S cameras - seemed $299 was price point for decent quality although I saw a few $199 ones. We already have an aging Canon powershot P&S and my daughter has a Nikon. Neither gets much use as cameras on our phones have replaced that function, for that reason alone I am loathe to add a single purpose P&S to the electronics collection.
started looking at Dicapac bags - WP-S5 ($67) or WP-S10 ($76)seem to be the right choice from B&H but looking at Dicapac's site they have a WP-S3 which is only available in the states via ebay for $88. Seems it might have been discontinued but it is the one matching my camera on their fitting chart. I don't mind spending the extra if it will be a better fit.

So I am leaning towards the Dicapac bags but looking for experience, alternatives, advice, etc. Like I said if I could rent the Olympus housing for a reasonable price it would be a no-brainer .

ramcewan · Feb 10, 2013, 1:08 PM

also looking at the Opteka UC-SLR - seems to get better reviews than the Dicapac ones.

http://opteka.com/ucslr.aspx

Nagasaki · Feb 12, 2013, 8:22 AM

I'll start by saying I have very little experience with this type of housing. I have an overboard case for my zoom compact and find it surprisingly difficult to get the lens properly positioned in the port. You'll probably be OK snorkeling but a friend of mine tried a EWA-marine housing on a shallow dive and found the pressure prevented him using the controls.

Ken

ramcewan · Feb 12, 2013, 8:37 AM

Ken,

Thank you for your reply. I ended up finding a ewa marine that I am going to try. My camera has a live view LCD and I am comfortable using it more as a point and shoot in full auto mode.

Nagasaki · Feb 14, 2013, 5:06 AM

Let us know how you get on and post some pics after your trip.

Ken

Melvin2930 · Jul 6, 2013, 10:40 AM

How's the trip, mind sharing it here? I plan the underwater shooting too:-)

Feb 10, 2013, 11:34 AM	#1
ramcewan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New England, USA Posts: 2,069	looking for housing advice - Olympus Pen Planning a trip to do some snorkeling and am weighing a dedicated underwater shooter vs. a housing for my Olympus PEN E-PL2. Olympus makes a nice setup for $599 which is out of budget (couldn't find them on lens rental - but would consider renting if I could - no hits on ebay but would consider used) briefly looked at some underwater rated P&S cameras - seemed $299 was price point for decent quality although I saw a few $199 ones. We already have an aging Canon powershot P&S and my daughter has a Nikon. Neither gets much use as cameras on our phones have replaced that function, for that reason alone I am loathe to add a single purpose P&S to the electronics collection. started looking at Dicapac bags - WP-S5 ($67) or WP-S10 ($76)seem to be the right choice from B&H but looking at Dicapac's site they have a WP-S3 which is only available in the states via ebay for $88. Seems it might have been discontinued but it is the one matching my camera on their fitting chart. I don't mind spending the extra if it will be a better fit. So I am leaning towards the Dicapac bags but looking for experience, alternatives, advice, etc. Like I said if I could rent the Olympus housing for a reasonable price it would be a no-brainer . __________________ in my bag: e-m1, 7-14mm pro, 14-54mm mk ii, 50-200mm mk i, 70-300mm in my pocket: e-pm2 lumix 12-32

Feb 10, 2013, 1:08 PM	#2
ramcewan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New England, USA Posts: 2,069	also looking at the Opteka UC-SLR - seems to get better reviews than the Dicapac ones. http://opteka.com/ucslr.aspx __________________ in my bag: e-m1, 7-14mm pro, 14-54mm mk ii, 50-200mm mk i, 70-300mm in my pocket: e-pm2 lumix 12-32

Feb 12, 2013, 8:37 AM	#4
ramcewan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New England, USA Posts: 2,069	Ken, Thank you for your reply. I ended up finding a ewa marine that I am going to try. My camera has a live view LCD and I am comfortable using it more as a point and shoot in full auto mode. __________________ in my bag: e-m1, 7-14mm pro, 14-54mm mk ii, 50-200mm mk i, 70-300mm in my pocket: e-pm2 lumix 12-32

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Feb 12, 2013, 8:22 AM	#3
Nagasaki Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 897	I'll start by saying I have very little experience with this type of housing. I have an overboard case for my zoom compact and find it surprisingly difficult to get the lens properly positioned in the port. You'll probably be OK snorkeling but a friend of mine tried a EWA-marine housing on a shallow dive and found the pressure prevented him using the controls. Ken

Feb 14, 2013, 5:06 AM	#5
Nagasaki Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 897	Let us know how you get on and post some pics after your trip. Ken

Jul 6, 2013, 10:40 AM	#6
Melvin2930 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 2	How's the trip, mind sharing it here? I plan the underwater shooting too:-)