Olympus OM-D E-M1 Camera, Underwater Housing and Port Bundle

SOLD OUT, We recommend the Olympus E-M5 Mark II Bundle special

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Camera, Housing & Port Bundle is the perfect solution to get a great, professional quality camera and housing bundle at an incredible price. If you've been thinking about upgrading to a more robust camera, with dSLR like controls, fast and accurate focusing and excellent image stabilization, now is the time! The E-M1 offers improved autofocus, faster shutter sync speed of 1/320th and a more robust sensor than the original E-M5. Improved processors offer super crisp detail and excellent overall results for underwater photography.

Unsure if this is the camera for you? Read our comprehensive review on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 for all the details on this great camera.

Please Click here for instructions on setting up the Camera Flash for the Olympus Housing.

Olympus E-M1 Underwater Housing Bundle Includes:

• Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera + 14-42mm IIR kit lens. This is the top of the line camera.
• Olympus OM-D E-M1 underwater housing
• Olympus PPO-EP01 Port for the 14-42mm lens (also works great with the Olympus 60mm Macro!)
• 14-42mm / 9-18mm zoom gear (PPZR-EP02)
• This is everything you need to take the setup underwater and shoot!
• All items are brand new!
• This is a great deal, and an exceptional camera!

Recommended Port Options:

• The included port also supports the 14-42mm kit lens, 60mm macro lens, and Olympus 9-18mm wide-angle lenses. However, we recommend the Zen WA Dome port for the Olympus 9-18mm lens
• Get the Zen 4" Dome for Pansonic 8mm Fisheye for excellent Wide Angle & Close Focus Wide Angle!
• For a wide-angle lens with zooming in and out use the Zen Wide Angle Dome port & OM-D Adapter for the Olympus 9-18mm (uses the same zoom gear as the Oly 14-42mm)
• Zen also makes a dome port for the Panasonic 7-14mm (requires adapter) and a flat port for the Panasonic 45mm macro (requires adapter) if you prefer either of these lens options.
• Olympus OM-D port & zoom kit for 12-40mm lens

Olympus OM-D E-M1 recommended lenses for underwater photography

• Panasonic 8mm fisheye for coral reefs, whale sharks, mantas, schools of jacks
• Olympus 8mm Fisheye Pro - for coral reefs, whale sharks, mantas, schools of jacks *Best Quality*
• Panasonic 7-14mm F4 lens for wide-angle, sharks, pelagics, video, topside landscape, or the Olympus Pro 7-14mm F2.8 lens for the best quality 
• Olympus 9-18mm lens for sharks, skittish schools of fish, large-ish marine life
• Olympus 60mm macro lens for macro - especially the very small things
• Olympus 12-40mm lens for fish, mid-range subjects

Learn More

• Check out our comprehensive review on the Olympus OM-D E-M1.
• Get all the important information you need to set up your new OM-D E-M1 for use underwater.
• Olympus PT-EP11 Underwater Housing

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Camera:

The new OM-D E-M1 camera promises incredible focusing speed with both phase and contrast detection available. With a revolutionary new design for mirrorless cameras this new camera makes the gap between small "travel-friendly" cameras and large high quality dSLR cameras even smaller. Able to compete against some of the top of the line dSLR in terms of function, speed and quality the new OM-D E-M1 is blazing the way for mirrorless cameras.

• High Speed AF - Phase & Contrast Detection with improved continuous autofocus
• 16MP Live MOS Sensor
• 81 Contrast Detection Focus Points & 37 Phase Detection Focus Points
• Able to shoot up to 1/8000th Shutter for high speed shooting
• Up to 10 frames per second high speed shooting
• Includes timer and interval timer for multiple shots
• Micro-Four Thirds Lens Mount (accepts any four-thirds lens with adapter)
• Magnesium Alloy Body with improved weather sealing - freeze proof
• Highly improved large electronic viewfinder - see the action as your eye would
• 3.0" Tiltable LCD Touch Screen Monitor
• 5-Axis Image Stablization
• ISO 200-25600 with optional ISO LOW in Manual Mode = ISO 100

OM-D E-M1 Underwater Housing Specs

• Polycarbonate housing, clear backplate allowing some view into the o-ring with a good front grip.
• Shutter lever is precise and easy to get half-shutter focus.
• All the buttons are tiered, making it easy to use underwater, even in gloves.
• Zoom control is placed well and easy to use with two fingers.
• One downside: the aperture and shutter speed dials are not easily reached, and require moving the hand off the housing and using two fingers to turn.
• Housing was designed to be more ergonomic, and to be used with the UW Mode activated so the flash will fire without being popped up. Unfortunately this also takes up one of the customizable Fn Buttons.
• The location of the video start button required me to remove my hand from my handle, making smooth video starts difficult.
• The port system was completely redesigned from previous housings, allowing quick and easy port changes, with a loud secure click on the locking mechanism.
• Includes a hot shoe mount and 2 fiber optic ports.
• Includes a button to switch between the EVF and LCD screen underwater.
• Depth Rated to 45m (~150ft)

Here are the instructions to set up the camera flash so that it will fire when in the "DOWN" or off position.

Before taking your rig underwater these things MUST be completed to ensure proper functionality and minimize the risk of a housing flood.

1) Remove the rubber grommet from around the Electronic Viewfinder.

To do this make sure the accessory flash is off the camera, and then simply slide the piece up and off the camera. Remember to replace the flash before putting the camera in the housing.

2) Change the Flash Mode so that the flash will fire even when flipped down.

The PT-EP11 housing was designed to house the camera and flash with the flash flipped down in order to be slightly smaller in size. In order to use the flash you have to activate the "Underwater Mode" on the camera. This mode acts as an "Auto" mode designed for "good" settings underwater. It also allows the camera flash to fire when "closed".

Custom Menu -> B: Button/ Dial -> Button Function -> either Fn1 or Fn2 can be assigned this function. I recommend Fn2. -> Underwater Mode (fish icons).

Note: The Underwater Mode automatically changes the camera settings including, Mode (P), ISO to 200, Focus to S-AF, White Balance to UW Mode, and on newer lenses like the 12-50mm it will zoom all the way out (3 fish) or all the way in (1 fish). If you keep it in the UW Mode while shooting, you are limited in control of the camera. To exit out of the UW Mode simply hold down the Fn button for a couple seconds and it will restore your original Mode, and settings. As long as the UW Mode is assigned to an Fn button the flash will fire when closed, even if the mode is not "activated" so you can go back to Manual Mode and the flash will still fire in the housing.

The are no changes needed to be made to install the OM-D E-M1 into the Olympus Housing. Simply slide the camera into place with the flash attached and you are good to go.

For more information on overall settings please read this article.

Review of the OM-D E-M1 Housing / Camera Bundle

OM-D E-M1 Sample Photos:

Reef Scene from Anilao with 8mm fisheye lens

Sawblade shrimp, photo taken with the 60mm macro lens in Anilao. View the ultimate critter list here.