Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV Camera & 14-42mm EZ Lens Kit with Backscatter Octo Underwater Housing & Most Versatile Lens Package

Package Includes:

• Olympus OMD- E-M10 IV Camera
• Olympus 14-42mm EZ Lens
• Backscatter Octo Housing
• Zoom Gear
• AOI UWL-09PRO Wide Lens
• AOI UCL-09PRO Macro Lens
• AOI Float Collar
• AOI Bayonet Adapters

Backscatter Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV Underwater Octo Housing UH-EM10IV

Excellent image quality, more affordable than similar rigs, and compact enough for travelers and novice shooters - is this the new Best Bang For Your Buck in underwater photography? That’s a 10-4, good buddy!

Meet the new contender for the best compact mirrorless underwater camera: The Olympus E-M10 IV and Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing.

Watch our complete video review of the Olympus E-M10 IV and Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing.

An Even Better Bang For Your Buck

The last few years have seen a major rise in the popularity of compact mirrorless cameras for underwater photography. The Olympus E-PL10 was our pick for the Best Bang For Your Buck when paired with the limited edition Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing because of how well it balanced performance, ease of use, and value. That camera has now been officially discontinued, so it’s time for something even better to come along: enter the Olympus E-M10 IV and Octo Housing Package.


Say hello to our new overall favorite compact mirrorless camera system for underwater photography: The Olympus E-M10 IV and Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing.

What’s upgraded with the E-M10 IV?

• Image quality improved from 16 to 20 megapixels
• Dedicated exposure controls: ISO, shutter speed, & aperture
• More ergonomic shutter activation
• Automatic TTL flash power with Backscatter Mini Flash 2 via LED flash trigger

The Olympus E-M10 IV can still be used like a point-and-shoot camera with external ‘wet’ conversion lenses or used like an SLR with dedicated wide angle and macro lenses and ports. Keep it simple and versatile, or go for the best image quality possible – the choice is up to you.

The camera and housing system includes everything you need to start shooting straight out of the box. The interchangeable ports and lenses make it easy to upgrade and configure your rig for any type of shot - from ultra wide angle down to super tight macro. The integrated LED flash trigger features automatic TTL flash power and High Speed Sync when used with Backscatter Mini Flash 2 making good lighting results easier to pull off and better looking than ever.

At $799.99 for the camera with lens and $699.00 for the housing, it’s easily the best bang for your buck in underwater photography - not to mention one of the coolest looking rigs around thanks to the custom ‘Octo’ tentacle print (a Backscatter limited edition).





The Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing includes everything needed to start shooting underwater.

Resolution Boosted to 20 Megapixels, Excellent Image Quality

The Olympus E-M10 IV gets a healthy resolution boost over the Olympus E-PL10 from 16 to 20 megapixels, producing an image that has satisfyingly sharp image detail. High-key highlights don’t look blown out, and dark shadows aren’t noisy or grainy. Color saturation is vibrant and packs plenty of pop. Whether shooting backlit sunballs or black-background macro, the results across the board were excellent and comparable to current-gen Micro Four Thirds sensor cameras, including the flagship OM System OM-1.

When compared to the Olympus TG-6, the larger sensor of the Olympus E-M10 IV creates much sharper image detail, better dynamic range, and lower noise in low-light situations. Given the relatively minor size increase of the Olympus E-M10 IV body, the user gets all the benefits of a larger sensor, and higher-end camera without significantly adding to the weight or size of the underwater rig.


Wide angle image results have great dynamic range detail and vibrant colors.
Olympus E-M10 IV | Olympus 8mm Lens | 1/60 | ISO 200 | ƒ11


Macro results maintain dark backgrounds and sharp details on tiny subjects.
Olympus E-M10 IV | Olympus 60mm Lens | 1/250 | ISO 200 | ƒ11

Small, Lightweight, Easy for Travel

The Olympus E-M10 IV is remarkably compact and lightweight for what it can do making it ideal for frequent travelers who need to watch their camera gear volume and weight requirements closely. The interchangeable lens is the biggest variable in overall system size, ranging from compact-sized when using the Olympus 14-42mm EZ kit lens to more SLR-like with lenses like the Olympus 8mm fisheye, Olympus 60mm macro, or even topside telephoto zoom lenses like the Olympus 75-300mm lens.

Tired of lugging around an SLR, or frustrated with compact cameras not having enough controls? The combination of portability, performance, and an uncompromising control set is one of our favorite parts of the Olympus E-M10 IV.

Even when fully equipped with a pro lens and dual arms for lighting the Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing isn’t much larger than a compact camera, like the beginner-favorite Olympus TG-6. Considering the number of controls, interchangeable ports, built-in LED flash trigger, and vacuum and leak detection features, it’s pretty astonishing that the overall housing size is able to remain so compact. The upgraded and more ergonomic shutter release is easy to use both while holding the housing in your hand or reaching it from the grip of a tray.


The Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing is about the same size as most point-and-shoot rigs but features way more power and potential.


There is a surprisingly minor size difference between the body of the mirrorless Olympus E-M10 IV and the massively popular compact Olympus TG-6.


Both the Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing and the Olympus PT-059 housing for Olympus TG-6 are remarkably similar in size, but the Olympus E-M10 IV is an infinitely more capable camera.

An Ideal Upgrade from TG Cameras

If you’re one of the thousands of underwater photographers who have fallen in love with their Olympus TG-series compact camera but are now ready to take their gear to the next level then look no further than the Olympus E-M10 IV. Any Olympus user will feel right at home with the familiar menus, controls, and operation of the camera.

The ability to swap between such a wide variety of lenses is the standout feature of this camera when compared to the Olympus TG-6 because it allows the user to get wider shots, more macro working distance, and sharper overall results. When shooting macro with the Olympus 14-42mm EZ and a diopter you’ll have a much greater working distance to the subject than with the Olympus TG-6, which will make macro shots much easier to pull off.


Fast-action scenes where rapid firing is required are much easier to pull off with the Olympus E-PL10 than the Olympus TG-6.

The Olympus E-M10 IV offers full manual exposure control, which is a major advantage over the Olympus TG-6 when it comes to obtaining great underwater image results easily. This is especially helpful for wide angle background exposure control, which is where shutter speed control becomes essential. The Olympus TG-6 offers limited shutter speed control at best, and never without an Auto-ISO caveat. The Olympus E-M10 IV can completely separate shutter speed from ISO just like any other fully manual camera providing the user with complete exposure control for the perfect image.

For shooters that are ready to graduate from their tried-and-true TG camera but aren’t quite ready to go all-in for a full-frame SLR, then the Olympus E-M10 IV is the best choice for a major step up in performance at a fraction of the price of other options.


Balancing perfect foreground and background exposures is made much easier thanks to the full manual control of the Olympus E-M10 IV.
Olympus E-M10 IV | Olympus 8mm Lens | 1/100 | ISO 400 | ƒ11

It’s All About The Lens Options

The Olympus E-M10 IV includes an interchangeable Olympus 14-42mm EZ power zoom lens. This lens on its own is about equivalent to the zoom range on most compact cameras. Just like compact cameras, the Olympus 14-42mm EZ lens must rely on wet-mounted external conversion optics to get the best results underwater. Without conversion lenses, the Olympus 14-42mm EZ is not wide enough for wide angle at 14mm, and not tight enough for macro at 42mm.

There are a ton of great optical options for the Olympus E-PL10 that all provide excellent image quality.

While it can be shot as simply as a compact camera with external wet lenses, the camera body also supports the full range of Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lenses. This provides an excellent array of sharper, wider, faster focusing, and tighter macro optics for pro-level image results. This is easily the most distinct advantage of the Olympus E-M10 IV over compact, non-interchangeable lens cameras.

Lens choice is all about the size of the subject you are trying to shoot. While it might sound obvious that you wouldn't shoot a shipwreck with a macro lens, there is some overlap between macro and wide that can cause headaches when using the wrong lens for the task at hand.

These are the lenses we recommend and when to use them:

WIDE ANGLE

AOI UWL-09 PRO Lens with Olympus 14-42mm EZ

Backscatter M52 Wide Angle Lens with Olympus 14-42mm EZ

Olympus 8mm or Panasonic 8mm Fisheye Lenses

Olympus 9-18mm Wide Zoom Lens

Olympus 14-42mm EZ Lens

MACRO

AOI UCL-09PRO Lens with Olympus 14-42mm EZ

Olympus 60mm Macro Lens

Olympus 90mm Macro Lens

Olympus Macro Lens Comparison

The image below is the exact same scene, shot with 4 different lens combinations to show the macro capabilities of each. All were shot at the minimum focus capability to show the maximum amount of magnification possible. There is no cropping - these are straight out of the camera.

Shooting the smallest critters of the sea requires the most magnification, and the recommended setup for this is the Olympus 60mm Lens with an optional AOI UCL-09 PRO close-up lens. By itself, the standard Olympus 14-42mm EZ lens can’t really be considered a macro setup, even when zoomed in all the way. Casual macro shooters with larger macro subjects can use the Olympus 14-42mm EZ with the AOI UCL-09 PRO close-up lens, but it will never be able to match the smaller macro capability, faster focusing, and overall ease of use of the macro Olympus 60mm Lens.


All images shot at 1/250 | ISO 200 | ƒ22

Improved Autofocus Tracking Makes Macro Easy

The autofocus speed is faster and more accurate than the Olympus E-PL10 thanks to an improved processor and chip. This is most noticeably improved when tracking a macro subject. When locking on to the eye of a close-up critter the camera does a great job of sticking the sharpest part of the frame right where desired. Using dedicated wide and macro lenses will yield even better results than the kit lens with wet-mount conversion lenses. To be fair things did slow down a bit when tracking at extreme magnifications like 2:1, but if you need maximum performance in those situations it’s worth looking at the flagship OM System OM-1.

The controls can be configured to enable back-button autofocus operation. By separating the focus control from the shutter button we gain a huge advantage over compact cameras and take the next step towards SLR-like camera control. This custom control assignment is easy to set up in the menu and can be easily set once and forgotten about.


The fast and accurate autofocus works great for just about every situation. Being able to assign focus to a thumb-activated back button provides an SLR-like operation of the Olympus E-M10 IV.
Olympus E-M10 IV | Olympus 60mm Lens | 1/250 | ISO 400 | ƒ18

Perfect Lighting with Automatic TTL Flash Power

The Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing includes an LED flash trigger that features automatic TTL flash power when shot with RC Flash mode compatible strobes, such as the Backscatter Mini Flash 2. RC Flash mode is Olympus’ proprietary automatic TTL flash power synchronization method. This produces perfect lighting results, even in challenging macro situations, breaking down a challenge that often frustrates novice shooters.


Thanks to the automatic TTL flash power of RC Flash mode-enabled strobes the Olympus E-M10 IV is able to achieve outstanding lighting results with ease.
Olympus E-M10 IV | Olympus 60mm Lens | 1/250 | ISO 200 | ƒ18

Maximum Exposure Control With HSS

The Olympus E-M10 IV can utilize High Speed Sync (HSS) when using the Backscatter Mini Flash 2 strobes to blow past traditional flash sync limits for maximum exposure control. Sync with strobes up to the maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 to completely eliminate ambient light from your scenes. This can be activated by turning on the Super FP mode within the RC Flash menu.

When not using HSS, the Olympus E-M10 IV can shoot up to 1/250 when using the AOI HSC-01 connector for 2-pin manual-only strobe sync. It will shoot up to 1/200 when using the included AOI HSC-02 connector in manual mode, or up to 1/160 if using the HSC-02 in RC mode.


Create shallower depth of field and more bokeh in macro by shooting at a more open aperture, and preserve dark backgrounds - even during the daytime - thanks to the unlimited shutter speed of HSS.
Olympus E-M10 IV | Olympus 60mm Lens | 1/4,000 | ISO 200 | ƒ4

Rapid-Fire Strobe Sync

Thanks to the built-in LED flash trigger of the Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing, the camera can shoot rapid-fire by completely bypassing its own pop-up flash. It will fire faster than any compact or mirrorless that has to rely on a pop-up flash, creating more opportunities to capture the perfect frame in a fast-action sequence. This camera will fire as fast as the paired strobe can recycle, so at lower strobe powers it can do astoundingly fast rapid shooting. This also has the benefit of keeping the housing small because it does not need to accommodate the pop-up flash.

Much Improved Exposure Controls

Previously, the Olympus E-PL10 only used one control dial which required toggling to control aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation. Now the Olympus E-M10 IV features dedicated dials and controls for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO for massively improved overall operation. It’s now much faster and easier to dial in the best recommended settings for any shooting situation.


Dedicated controls for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO make changing exposure settings much easier than before.

The rest of the control layout is intuitive, matches the placement of the camera well, and provides an ergonomic, comfortable experience. We especially like the offset angled button for back-button autofocus, as it stands out well and is easy to separate from other controls by feeling alone.

Record Video in Either 4K 30p or 1080HD 60p

The Olympus E-M10 IV offers a maximum recording spec of 4K at 30p or 1080HD at 60p. There is a relatively heavy 4K crop factor, so for general use, it is recommended to set the video to 1080 60p. 1080 resolution will be easier to review and edit than 4K for most amateur or hobbyist video editors. More frames per second also offers more flexibility for slow-motion effects, which is always a favorite among underwater editors.

Natural Video Color Looks Great up to 45 Feet

Executing an ambient light custom white balance is easy to do, and produces great looking natural-light color down to about 45 feet. There are 4 custom white balance banks for storing multiple depth color settings, or for shooting with or without video lights.

One minor quirk of the camera is that it must be set to photo mode in order to capture a manual white balance. It’s still possible to cycle between the 4 stored banks while in video mode, but the camera must be set to photo mode in order to actually capture a new white balance.

Image Stabilization Provides Smooth Movement

5-axis in-body image stabilization assists handheld video to appear buttery smooth. If your rig is perfectly trimmed as outlined in our Buoyancy Solutions Article, then the extra layer of stability provided by the camera itself is enough to make your underwater wide shots look cinematically stable and graceful. Don’t forget to slow down that 60p footage to 30p playback for even more stabilization.

Macro video shooters will still need a tripod for rock-solid results, just like every other rig out there. Fortunately, the AOI housing is small enough and light enough to work great with a simple Joby Gorillapod, eliminating the need for bulky, heavy aluminum tripod legs and a plate.

Limited Edition Backscatter Underwater Housing

We teamed up with AOI to produce the Limited Edition Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing. As if the simple operation, compact and well-laid out ergonomics, affordable price point, changeable ports, and built-in LED trigger and vacuum system weren’t enough, we just had to go and make it the coolest looking housing around too thanks to custom tentacle-themed graphics.


High performance, ease of use, and cool graphics make this one well-rounded housing.

The size of the housing overall is barely larger than most compact cameras and is smaller than most similarly-spec’d Micro Four Thirds underwater rigs. When compared to systems like Panasonic GH6 and OM System OM-1 the Olympus E-M10 IV stands out as being easier to handle and smaller enough to pack for travel.

Even with the overall compact nature of the housing, there is plenty of room for ergonomic control access, even for those with smaller hands or wearing thick cold water dive gloves. Whether you prefer to hold the housing directly or prefer to use a handle grip, you can easily access the improved trigger-pull style shutter release without moving your hand.

Housing Includes 67mm Threaded Port

The housing Includes a 67mm threaded front port for the Olympus 14-42mm EZ lens. Pair this port with wet wide or macro lenses for compact-like versatile shooting. Swap this port out for dedicated domes or extended macro ports for prime lenses and you will be ready to shoot any subject large or small. The housing is even compatible with older Olympus PEN series housing ports, so if you are upgrading from one of those classic systems then you already have some compatible accessories.

Mount a double flip holder on the 67mm threads to be able to quickly swap between macro and wide on the same dive. If you don’t want all that bulk on the front of your port, use the AOI QRS (Quick Release System) of bayonet mounts for quick-disconnect of lenses which can then be stored on a control arm or in a pocket.

Integrated Vacuum Detection, Moisture Alarm, & LED Flash Trigger

One of the coolest features of the housing is the integrated Multi-Control Device. This USB-rechargeable unit is what controls the LED flash trigger and the vacuum/moisture detection for peace of mind before, during, and after the dive.

Connect the cable to the camera's hotshoe for rapid-fire LED flash firing, and seal up the housing and port in order to pump it down for vacuum protection. By drawing a vacuum prior to the dive, the housing's integrity can be verified so that it can be taken underwater with full confidence of being leak-free. If by some chance there is any moisture present inside, an alarm will alert you so that it can be addressed before any serious damage occurs.

Use Your Existing UMG Viewfinder Accessories The housing is also compatible with UMG magnifiers, which many TG and E-PL10 shooters already have for their housings. Both the AOI UMG-01 and AOI UMG-05 are compatible with the Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing, meaning that they can carry right over from the old rig to this one.



The AOI UMG-01 makes it easy to see the LCD screen in bright conditions by creating a loupe-style, magnified view of the back of the housing. The AOI UMG-05 is great for SLR-like operation, where the LCD screen can be viewed at a downward angle using an angled prism. This is great for getting down in the sand to shoot a macro subject face to face and while still actually being able to see the screen.

OUR RECOMMENDED CONFIGURATIONS

The versatility of lens choice is one of the key things that makes the Olympus E-M10 IV such a great system, but it can also lead to a lot of choices for the user. The team at Backscatter has made it easy to decide which lens configuration is the right one for you with this selection of our favorite setups.

Remember, this is a completely modular system that can always be added to in the future. If your budget doesn’t support going all-in from the beginning, just start with what you need for your next dive, then add on more capabilities later.

SPECS:

• MODEL NUMBER: Backscatter UH-EM10 IV
• DESCRIPTION: Underwater Housing for Olympus E-M10 IV - White Color
• HOUSING COLOR: Custom Octo Print on a White Hosuing
• COMPATIBLE CAMERA MODELS: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
• MAIN MATERIAL - Housing Body: Polycarbonate
• DEPTH RATING: 45 Meters / 147ft
• LENS PORT SYSTEM: AOI / Olympus PEN Ports System
• BUILT-IN LED FLASH TRIGGER: Compatible with
• a) Manual Flash Trigger (with and without Pre-flashes Functions)
• b) Olympus RC Mode (TTL AUTO, MANUAL, FP TTL AUTO, FP MANUAL)
• WATER LEAKAGE PROTECTION: Built-in Vacuum Analyzation and Wet Detection System (VWS)
• BATTERY POWER: Built-in Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery (3.7V 110mAH)
• BATTERY CHARGING: By USB Charger DC5V, 0.5A (not included) - Approx. 1.5 Hours for a full charge
• BATTERY OPERATION TIME: Approx. 2 Days (Based on 3 Dives/Day and 1 Hour/Dive)
• DIMENSIONS: 177.9mm (W) x 139.8mm (H) x 151.2mm (D) / 7.0in (W) x 5.5in (H) x 5.95in (D)
• WEIGHT: On Land : Approx. 835g / 1.84lbs - (Only included the Housing Body and Flat Port)
• STANDARD ACCESSORIES:
• Flat Port (AOI FLP-06);
• Lens Gear (AOI LG-OM-1442EZ)
• Hot Shoe Connector (AOI HSC-02);
• USB Type-C Charging Cable (AOI USBC-02)
• Vacuum Pump (AOI VP-02);
• LCD Monitor Hood (LCDH-01)
• Spare O-Ring for Vacuum Valve Protection Cap x 1pc. (AOI SRVV-01)
• Spare Main Seal O-ring x 1pc. (AOI HOR-01)
• Silica Gel (AOI SIGE-3) x 1pc.;
• Silicone Grease (AOI SIGR-5)
• Lanyard (AOI LYD-01);
• Port Front Cap for M67 Thread (AOI LFC-01)
• Port Rear Cap for PEN Mount (AOI PRC-02);
• O-ring Remover (AOI ORR-02)
• Micro-Fiber Cleaning Cloth (AOI MC-01);
• AOI Logo Sticker