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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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