The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II has earned a dedicated following among underwater photography enthusiasts due to its compact size, reliability, and exceptional performance in challenging aquatic environments. With its mirrorless design, this camera brings forth incredible versatility, making it a go-to option for those seeking to capture the beauty of underwater life. In particular, when it comes to macro photographycapturing the minute details of tiny creatures and delicate underwater scenes the E-M5 Mark II truly excels, delivering crisp, vibrant images that showcase intricate textures and colors.
For macro photography, the right settings play an essential role in ensuring sharp, well-exposed images. To achieve the desired results, it is recommended to use the camera's manual mode, giving you full control over the exposure settings. A good starting point when aiming to capture detailed close-ups of small marine life is to set the aperture to f/22, the shutter speed to 1/250th of a second, and the ISO to 200. This aperture choice provides a greater depth of field, which is critical when photographing small subjects underwater, allowing you to keep multiple layers of your subject in sharp focus. In macro photography, even the tiniest details matter, and maintaining clarity is paramount.
One of the challenges underwater photographers face is the fluctuating light conditions in the water. To address this, using the camera’s auto white balance feature can ensure that the colors in your images remain true to life, despite the variations in underwater lighting. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II comes with a built-in flash, which can serve as an excellent fill-in light for macro shots. When combined with an external strobe set to TTL (Through The Lens) mode, the flash will automatically adjust its output for optimal exposure. This combination helps ensure that your subject is beautifully illuminated without overexposing the background or other surrounding elements in the scene.
For those who prefer more control over their lighting setup, the strobe’s power can also be manually adjusted. This flexibility allows you to fine-tune the exposure based on the particular lighting conditions of your dive, ensuring that every shot is perfectly exposed, even in more challenging environments. However, it is important to remember that underwater environments often present low-light situations, and your lighting adjustments may vary depending on the depth, water clarity, and natural light availability.
Choosing the Right Aperture for Macro Photography
Macro photography with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II opens up a world of creative possibilities, and selecting the right aperture is one of the most critical aspects of achieving stunning results. When photographing small marine subjects like nudibranchs, shrimps, or coral details, a smaller aperture such as f/22 is recommended. This setting ensures a greater depth of field, which is essential for keeping the subject sharp from the front to the back, given the tiny scale of the creatures being captured. The resulting images will exhibit a high level of detail, revealing the textures and fine features that make macro photography so captivating.
However, it’s not always about maximizing depth of field. In certain situations, especially when photographing larger subjects like fish or marine plants, you may want to open up the aperture to f/8 or f/5.6 to allow more light into the lens. A wider aperture in such cases can help illuminate the subject and ensure that the image is bright enough for clarity. This setting also makes it easier to use the camera’s built-in strobe or external lighting effectively, providing a good balance between subject lighting and background exposure.
Another useful technique when capturing macro shots, particularly for those who enjoy creating artistic, visually striking images, is to use a wider aperture such as f/2.8 or f/5.6. These apertures help to isolate the subject from the background, creating a dreamy, blurred effect known as bokeh. This technique allows you to focus attention solely on the main subject, making it stand out against a soft, diffused background. When the background is blurred, it draws the viewer’s attention to the fine details of the subject, whether it’s the delicate texture of a seahorse’s skin or the intricate patterns on a coral reef. It’s a great way to emphasize the beauty of a subject and add depth to the image.
Working with Lenses and Close-Up Techniques for Macro Photography
The lens you use plays a vital role in how close you can get to your subject and the amount of detail you can capture. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is compatible with a variety of lenses, each offering different strengths for macro photography. Popular choices include the 45mm and 60mm macro lenses, both of which are excellent for capturing fine details in small subjects like shrimp, starfish, or even the tiny bubbles that float through the water. These lenses allow you to get up close to your subject while maintaining exceptional sharpness and clarity.
When working with the 45mm or 60mm macro lenses, you can experiment with a wider aperture to create a shallow depth of field, further enhancing the bokeh effect and allowing you to isolate your subject. If you’re photographing larger subjects, such as fish, it is important to adjust the aperture to around f/8. This setting ensures enough light reaches the subject while still maintaining some depth of field for sharpness. Since the smaller apertures like f/22, will limit the reach of your strobes, adjusting the aperture to a slightly wider setting ensures well-lit images with proper exposure.
For a more versatile approach, the 12-50mm lens is also an excellent option, especially in its macro mode. This lens offers a wider field of view, which can be useful when photographing larger subjects or when you want to capture more of the surrounding environment along with your subject. The lens’s macro mode lets you zoom in on smaller creatures while maintaining a solid level of detail, providing flexibility in various underwater shooting scenarios. The 12-50mm lens allows you to quickly adjust between wide-angle and macro shots without the need to switch lenses, making it a convenient tool for underwater photography.
When working in close quarters with subjects in macro photography, particularly with a wet diopter, it’s crucial to zoom in fully to capture the subject with the highest level of detail. The working distance between you and the subject in such cases will be very limited, so being patient is key. Moving too quickly or causing disturbances can startle your subject, causing it to swim away or change its position, making it harder to capture the shot. To avoid this, take slow, deliberate movements and get as close as possible to fill the frame with your subject. This technique ensures that your shot is as sharp and detailed as possible, allowing you to showcase the beauty of the subject with minimal distractions.
In certain situations, you may find that even with the best settings, the subject remains too dark or lacks proper exposure. To address this, try adjusting the strobe’s output manually based on the available lighting conditions. Experimenting with the power of your strobe and flash, adjusting their angles and distances from the subject, will help achieve more accurate lighting. As with any form of photography, practice is key. As you refine your underwater photography techniques with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, you’ll become more adept at making quick adjustments and anticipating the best settings for various underwater environments.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is an excellent choice for capturing underwater macro shots, thanks to its exceptional image quality, manual controls, and compatibility with a variety of lenses and accessories. Whether you are capturing the delicate features of a small marine creature or the broader underwater landscape, this camera offers the versatility and control you need to create stunning, high-quality images. By fine-tuning your exposure settings, experimenting with aperture sizes, and choosing the right lens for your subject, you’ll be able to take your underwater macro photography to new depths of creativity and precision.
Choosing the Right Lens for Wide-Angle Shots
When it comes to wide-angle underwater photography, selecting the right lens is critical. Popular lens choices for these types of shots include the 8mm fisheye and the 9-18mm wide-angle lens. These lenses provide a wide field of view and the ability to capture expansive scenes, which is ideal when shooting large reef formations, schools of fish, or dramatic underwater topography. The 8mm fisheye lens, in particular, gives a unique perspective with its circular distortion effect, making it a favorite among underwater photographers looking to emphasize the immersive depth of the ocean.
For optimal results, it's important to set your camera to manual mode, which gives you full control over your exposure settings. Begin with an aperture of f/8, a shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, and ISO 200. These settings serve as a good baseline to ensure sharp focus and proper exposure. The key to great wide-angle photography is managing the balance between ambient light and artificial flash. The flash in TTL (Through The Lens) mode should be used to illuminate your primary subject, while the surrounding ambient light from the environment fills in the background, creating a natural sense of depth.
Balancing Exposure with Shutter Speed
Shutter speed plays a crucial role in wide-angle underwater photography, especially when it comes to capturing the right amount of ambient light. A faster shutter speed, such as 1/250th of a second, is perfect when shooting in well-lit conditions or in shallow waters where the sunlight can easily reach the scene. In these conditions, the fast shutter speed will ensure that your images are bright, with minimal motion blur. On the other hand, deeper waters often come with less ambient light, requiring slower shutter speeds, such as 1/60th of a second or even slower. Slowing down the shutter allows more light to hit the sensor, ensuring that your image is properly exposed despite the darker conditions.
When shooting near the water’s surface, especially if the sun is in the frame, using a higher shutter speed is vital to prevent overexposing the highlights. Direct sunlight can cause parts of the image, particularly those near the surface, to become blown out. By increasing the shutter speed, you can control the light coming into the frame and capture a more balanced exposure. If the sun is a prominent part of your composition, shooting at a faster shutter speed also helps preserve the bright highlights while maintaining detail in the shadows. In these scenarios, an aperture setting like f/16 or f/22 works well to avoid overexposure of bright areas.
Leveraging Ambient Light and Adjusting for Natural Conditions
While artificial lighting, such as flashes and strobes, can significantly enhance your wide-angle underwater shots, ambient light is an essential element in capturing the natural beauty of the underwater world. If you prefer to shoot with natural light, or if you're diving in areas with sufficient sunlight, you'll want to adjust your settings to make the most of what the environment offers.
In this case, opening up the aperture to f/5.6 or even f/4 can help gather more light, especially when the lighting is dim or when shooting at greater depths. Additionally, you may need to increase your ISO to compensate for the reduced light. Depending on the situation, ISO values of 400, 800, or even 1600 may be necessary to maintain a properly exposed image. Higher ISO settings can introduce some noise, but with the right post-processing techniques, this can often be minimized, allowing you to retain the atmosphere of the shot.
For optimal natural lighting, try to position yourself with the sun behind you. This ensures that the light evenly illuminates your subject, providing a well-lit scene without harsh shadows or overexposure. Shooting at the right angle to catch the light can make a dramatic difference, especially when you're aiming to highlight the textures and colors of coral reefs or marine creatures. Additionally, fine-tuning your white balance settings can help you achieve the desired color tones in the final image, ensuring the scene’s hues reflect the natural beauty of the underwater world.
Flash Settings for Wide-Angle Shots
Flash is a crucial tool when it comes to wide-angle underwater photography, as it helps to light up your subject while still allowing ambient light to fill the background. However, managing flash power and its positioning can be tricky, especially when using wide-angle lenses like the 8mm fisheye. This lens has a unique characteristic of exaggerating the distance between the subject and the background, which can result in uneven lighting or harsh shadows if the flash is not adjusted properly.
When using a fisheye lens, it's essential to ensure that the flash illuminates not only the subject but also the edges of the frame. Because fisheye lenses have such a wide field of view, the light must be evenly distributed across the entire scene to avoid areas that are too dark or too bright. Adjusting the flash power and experimenting with the distance and angle of the strobes will help you achieve a balanced exposure across the entire frame.
Flash placement is also crucial when shooting subjects that are close to the camera. If your subject is too close, the light from your flash can create harsh shadows or cause overexposure. To prevent this, try positioning the strobe at an angle, rather than directly in front of the subject, which will help diffuse the light and reduce the likelihood of creating unwanted shadows.
Getting the Most Out of Your 8mm Fisheye Lens
The 8mm fisheye lens is particularly popular in wide-angle underwater photography for its ability to offer an ultra-wide perspective, allowing photographers to capture large areas of the underwater environment. This lens is ideal for shooting expansive coral reefs, underwater caves, or vast schools of fish, as it provides a broader field of view compared to traditional wide-angle lenses.
However, because of its distinctive barrel distortion, the 8mm fisheye lens can present challenges in achieving even lighting. The light from your flash may not cover the edges of the frame effectively, leading to an uneven exposure. To mitigate this, make sure to carefully adjust the flash power to ensure that the entire scene is illuminated evenly. By experimenting with different strobe settings and flash positions, you can find the right balance and create dramatic images that capture the vastness of your surroundings without harsh light spots or overexposure.
The fisheye lens also requires you to pay close attention to the distance between the subject and the background. This lens tends to exaggerate the sense of space, which can create a dramatic, almost surreal effect. It’s important to adjust the positioning of both the camera and the strobe to achieve the desired perspective and lighting. The wide-angle capabilities of the 8mm fisheye lens, combined with careful flash management, allow you to capture images that are both striking and immersive.
Enhancing Visibility with Live View Boost
One of the most crucial elements to focus on when shooting underwater is ensuring that you can clearly see your camera's display. This becomes especially challenging in environments where light is limited, such as deeper or darker waters. In these conditions, the LCD screen can easily become difficult to read, often due to the lack of natural light and the impact of using strobes to illuminate the scene. The struggle to see what you're shooting can be frustrating, and it's easy to lose track of your composition or miss important details when you're trying to frame the perfect shot. Fortunately, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II offers an excellent solution to this challenge, helping you navigate these tough conditions with its innovative Live View Boost feature.
When this feature is activated, it brightens the LCD screen, making it much easier to see in low-light situations. Whether you’re diving in deeper waters or shooting in murky conditions, the boost in brightness can help you maintain clarity while framing your subject. To activate Live View Boost, you simply need to go to the Custom Menu and locate the "D: Disp/PC" section. Within this menu, you’ll find the "Live View Boost" setting. It gives you two options for customization: On1 and On2. On1 is generally sufficient for most underwater environments, offering a moderate increase in brightness that makes it easier to see your screen and frame your shots accurately.
However, when you’re diving deeper, or the water clarity is poor, the On1 setting might not provide enough visibility. In these situations, switching to On2 can be a game-changer. While On2 does lower the frame rate to some extent, the significant boost in screen brightness allows for much better visibility in very dark or shadowed environments. This setting is particularly valuable when you're working at greater depths or in conditions where external light sources like natural sunlight or strobes are minimal.
By having this flexibility, the camera helps you adapt to various challenging underwater lighting situations, ensuring that you never miss an opportunity to capture that perfect shot. It also aids in fine-tuning the composition of your images, as you can adjust to see details more clearly, ensuring that you capture every aspect of the scene as intended. Being able to see your subject in more detail and under various lighting conditions gives you greater control over your underwater compositions, making it easier to bring your creative vision to life.
Moreover, the ability to view the camera’s display with clarity is not just about ease of shooting—it also affects your overall experience, reducing stress and helping you make the most of your time underwater. Without the hassle of straining to see your screen or worrying about the accuracy of your compositions, you can focus on the art of photography itself. As the underwater environment is often unpredictable, features like Live View Boost give you peace of mind, ensuring that you’re always ready to capture the best moments, no matter how challenging the lighting conditions may be. This level of adaptability is essential for photographers looking to explore and push the boundaries of their craft in the underwater world.
Ensuring Smooth LCD Use by Disabling EVF Auto Switch
Another feature of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II that is crucial for underwater shooting is managing the electronic viewfinder (EVF) and the LCD screen. When you’re using underwater housing, it's common for the sensor that detects whether the EVF or LCD should be active to become blocked. This can lead to unexpected switching between the EVF and the LCD, disrupting your workflow when you need to rely on the screen for live view and composition.
To avoid this issue, it’s essential to disable the EVF Auto Switch function. By doing so, you ensure that the LCD remains your primary tool for viewing and composing images, even when the housing sensor is obstructed. To make this adjustment, go to the Custom Menu and select the "J: Built-In EVF" section. In this menu, you’ll find the "EVF Auto Switch" option, which can be turned off. Disabling this feature ensures that the camera will not automatically switch to the EVF, and you can rely entirely on the LCD screen to review your composition and make adjustments during your dive. This simple change can significantly improve your workflow underwater, making your shooting experience smoother and more efficient.
Adjusting Flash Settings for Optimal Lighting Control
Underwater photography often involves challenging lighting conditions. Depending on the depth and environment you’re shooting in, natural light may not be sufficient to illuminate your subject properly. External strobes are a popular solution to this problem, providing the necessary light to bring out the vibrant colors and details of your subjects. However, to make the most of your strobes, you’ll need to adjust the flash settings on your Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II to match your needs.
The camera’s flash settings include an option for Manual Flash, which is ideal for underwater shooting. This setting allows you to control the power of the flash, ensuring that you get just the right amount of light to illuminate your subject without overexposing or underexposing your shot. To enable Manual Flash mode, simply press the OK button, navigate to the flash icon in the settings menu, and select the "Manual Value Flash" option. From here, you can adjust the flash power based on the distance of your subject, the ambient lighting conditions, and the strength of your strobes. This level of control helps conserve battery life, reduces the recycle time between shots, and ensures that each image is well-lit with the right amount of flash power.
Streamlining Your Workflow with Custom Button Assignments
Underwater housings often come with buttons that can be more difficult to reach than those on the camera itself. This can be particularly frustrating when you need to make quick adjustments to your settings. Fortunately, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II allows you to reassign control buttons to streamline your workflow and ensure that essential features are within easy reach. Customizing your camera’s button layout can save you valuable time when you need to make adjustments on the fly, ensuring you don’t miss any critical shots.
For example, if you frequently adjust the flash mode and ISO while underwater, you can assign these functions to the camera’s right and down arrow keys. This makes it easy to switch between different flash modes or change the ISO setting without having to navigate through multiple menus. Customizing button assignments can significantly improve the ease of use of your camera in challenging underwater conditions, allowing you to focus more on capturing the perfect shot and less on fiddling with complicated menus.
Preparing the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II for Underwater Housing Setups
When it comes to underwater photography, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is an excellent choice, offering exceptional image quality and performance. However, to get the most out of this mirrorless camera in an underwater environment, it’s crucial to ensure it is paired with the right housing system. Whether you opt for the official Olympus housing or a third-party Nauticam housing, setting up your camera for smooth operation while submerged is essential. This setup ensures that all controls are easily accessible, allowing you to focus on capturing stunning underwater shots.
Before placing the camera inside the housing, begin by carefully preparing your Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II. First, remove the rubber grommet around the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) to avoid any interference while inside the housing. Additionally, make sure the camera is free from any distractions, such as straps, filters, or lens caps. These accessories can cause difficulties when sealing the housing and might interfere with your ability to make quick adjustments underwater. After preparing the camera, ensure the ON/OFF switch is turned to the OFF position. The 1:2 switch should be set to the "1" position. Once you've ensured that these steps have been completed, you can proceed to slide the camera into the housing. After securing the camera in place, close the housing and double-check that the ON/OFF switch functions correctly. This step guarantees that everything is aligned as it should be, ensuring a trouble-free experience while capturing images underwater.
Configuring the Nauticam Housing for Advanced Customization
If you’ve chosen the Nauticam housing for your Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, you're in for a more customizable and flexible experience. The Nauticam housing system is known for its advanced features and button configurations, providing photographers with more control over the setup and ease of use. While the setup process is similar to the Olympus housing, there are distinct differences in the design that may require additional customization to fit your preferences.
One key advantage of the Nauticam housing is its flexibility in button assignments. The Nauticam system allows you to reassign certain buttons to better suit your shooting style, offering you enhanced control during your dives. For example, one useful modification is the option to reassign the Record Button to serve as the AEL/AFL button. This adjustment allows you to lock the focus independently from the shutter release, which is particularly advantageous for macro photography. In underwater photography, focus control is often critical, especially when working with subjects up close. By locking the focus, you can ensure that the subject remains sharp and that the camera doesn't refocus unintentionally when you press the shutter button. This level of control can drastically improve the quality of your underwater shots.
For those who are comfortable with manual controls, the Nauticam housing also offers additional options for adjusting focus settings. You can reconfigure the focus modes to make sure that both autofocus and manual focus are easily accessible, giving you the flexibility to adapt to different shooting conditions. For photographers who prefer manual focus to achieve precise control over their shots, the Nauticam housing can be adjusted to meet these needs. This feature is ideal for capturing detailed close-up shots of marine life, where autofocus might struggle to lock onto the correct subject. Manual focus allows you to fine-tune your shots and ensure sharp images every time.
Ensuring a Smooth Diving Experience with Proper Housing Adjustments
Regardless of whether you choose the Olympus or Nauticam housing, the main goal is to ensure that your camera functions seamlessly underwater. Customizing the button layout, adjusting the focus settings, and fine-tuning other aspects of the housing can significantly improve your overall efficiency while diving. A well-configured housing system will allow you to make quick adjustments and capture shots with ease, even in challenging underwater environments.
One crucial factor in underwater photography is the accessibility of the camera’s controls. When submerged, time is often of the essence, and having quick and easy access to buttons and dials can make all the difference. For this reason, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the housing's layout before taking it underwater. Spend time practicing with the housing on land so that you can navigate the controls without hesitation when you're in the water. This will ensure that you're always prepared to capture the perfect moment when it arises.
Another important aspect to consider is the durability and waterproofing of the housing. Both the Olympus and Nauticam housings are designed to protect your camera from the harsh underwater environment, but it’s still essential to check that the seals are properly aligned and that no water can seep inside. Regularly inspect the housing seals, buttons, and locking mechanisms to ensure they remain in good condition. Any small issues, such as a loose seal or a damaged button, can compromise the camera’s functionality and potentially cause water damage.
If you're diving in challenging conditions, such as low-light environments or deep water, it’s essential to ensure that your camera settings are properly adjusted. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II excels in low-light photography, but having the right housing setup will allow you to take full advantage of the camera’s capabilities. Ensure that you have easy access to the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture controls, as these settings will help you adapt to changing underwater lighting conditions. Additionally, consider using external lights or strobes to enhance the visibility of your subjects, especially in deeper water where natural light can be limited.
For photographers who dive frequently, investing in a housing system that can be customized and adapted to different shooting conditions is a wise decision. Both the Olympus and Nauticam housings provide flexibility, allowing you to make adjustments that suit your specific needs. Over time, you may find new configurations that work best for your shooting style, and having the ability to easily reassign buttons and adjust settings will keep your workflow efficient and productive.
With the proper housing setup and configuration, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II can be transformed into a powerful tool for underwater photography. By following the setup steps and making the necessary adjustments to the housing system, you ensure that you’ll be ready to capture stunning images with ease. The goal is to create a seamless experience where your camera’s performance is optimized, and every shot you take is a reflection of your skill and creativity.
Conclusion
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II stands as a powerful tool for both underwater macro and wide-angle photography, thanks to its compact design, excellent image quality, and versatile settings. Mastering its features, from manual controls to flash adjustments, is key to unlocking its full potential in underwater environments. Whether you are capturing the intricate details of small marine creatures or the vastness of underwater landscapes, this camera offers the flexibility and precision required for stunning results.
For macro shots, using a smaller aperture such as f/22 ensures a greater depth of field, while controlling shutter speed and ISO settings helps you adapt to fluctuating lighting conditions underwater. Combining the camera's built-in flash with external strobes allows you to illuminate subjects effectively without overexposing the background. The ability to fine-tune strobe power and angle further enhances your control over lighting, essential in the challenging, low-light conditions found beneath the surface.
Wide-angle underwater photography benefits from lenses like the 8mm fisheye or 9-18mm wide-angle lens, offering expansive views of the ocean’s wonders. Balancing ambient light with flash ensures well-exposed images, while fine adjustments to shutter speed and aperture settings allow you to capture scenes with clarity, even in deeper waters. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II excels in natural light conditions, and its TTL flash feature ensures that your primary subject is illuminated perfectly while maintaining the natural ambiance of the underwater world.
With the right setup, including the optimal housing and customized button layouts, photographers can enhance their workflow and enjoy a smoother shooting experience. The camera’s versatility allows you to adapt quickly to varying underwater conditions, ensuring that every shot is captured with exceptional clarity and precision. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is an outstanding choice for creating captivating, high-quality underwater images.