Olympus E-PL10 Underwater Camera & Housing Review

The Best Bang For Your Buck: Olympus E-PL10 and Backscatter E-PL10 Octo HousingOlympus E-PL10 and Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing Full ReviewThe Best Bang For Your Buck in Underwater Photography Striking a balance between value, performance, and ease of use is the ideal trinity of underwater photography equipment. The Olympus PEN E-PL10 camera and limited edition Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing create a system that is not only more affordable than similar rigs, but also has outstanding shooting specs and image quality while staying compact and easy enough for even the first-time underwater photographer. The Olympus E-PL10 can be shot like a point-and-shoot camera with external wet conversion lenses, or shot 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. Straight out of the box the system has everything needed to get started and can be upgraded and expanded to pull off any shot imaginable. At only $699.99 for the camera with lens and $649.00 for the housing, it’s truly the best bang for the buck in underwater photography. Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Custom Housing $649.00BUY NOWOlympus E-PL10 Camera with 14-42mm EZ Lens $699.99BUY NOWThe Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing includes everything needed to start shooting underwater right away.The Olympus E-PL10 is the best bang for your buck when it comes to underwater photo gear. It’s a seamless blend of value for performance while staying simple to operate, and looking cool while doing so.Jump To A SectionTwo Cameras, One HousingSmall Enough to be Your Main Travel RigAn Ideal Upgrade from TG CamerasIt’s All About The Lens OptionsCamera Review and SpecsHousing Review and SpecsRecomended Lens PackagesConclusionTwo Cameras, One Housing The Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing supports both the Olympus E-PL9 & Olympus E-PL10. There is effectively no difference between these cameras, as the only significant change is the inclusion of some built-in art filter modes which won’t be used for underwater photography anyway. Small Enough to be Your Main Travel Rig The interchangeable lens of the Olympus E-PL10 is the biggest variable in overall system size, ranging from pocket-sized when using the Olympus 14-42mm EZ kit lens to more SLR-like with lenses like the 8mm fisheye, Olympus 60mm macro or even topside telephoto zoom lenses like the Olympus 75-300mm lens. There’s a lot of shooting power tucked inside the pocket-sized Olympus E-PL10. When compared to similar Micro Four Thirds cameras it's compact size really sets it apart from the pack. Tired of lugging around an SLR? The combination of portability without sacrificing control is one of the best parts of the Olympus E-PL10. Even when fully equipped with pro lenses and dual arms for lighting, the Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing is barely any bigger than a compact (such as the beginner-favorite Olympus TG-6). Considering the well-laid-out ergonomics, interchangeable ports, included LED flash trigger, and vacuum and leak detection features, it’s pretty astonishing that the overall housing size of the Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing is so small. It’s easy to hold in the hand, or add the included extendable shutter release and operate it from a tray grip. The Backscatter E-PL10 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-PL10 and the massively popular compact Olympus TG-6.Both the Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing and the Olympus PT-059 housing for Olympus TG-6 are remarkably similar in size, but the Olympus E-PL10 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-PL10. 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.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 8mm | 1/200 | ISO 400 | ƒ11 The Olympus E-PL10 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-PL10 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-PL10 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-PL10.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 8mm | 1/125 | ISO 400 | ƒ14It’s All About The Lens Options The Olympus E-PL10 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. Even though 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 and is easily the most distinct advantage of the Olympus E-PL10 over compact non-interchangeable lens cameras. Lens choice is all about the size of the subject and choosing the right lens to best capture it. While it might sound obvious that you wouldn't shoot a shipwreck with a macro lens, there are some gray areas in the crossover between macro and wide that can cause headaches when using the wrong lens for the task at hand. Here’s the breakdown of the lenses Backscatter recommends and when to use them.WIDE ANGLEOlympus 14-42mm EZ Lens with AOI UWL-09 PROProsThis is the Backscatter recommended wide angle setup for most shooters and most wide angle shooting situations.With 130 degrees of coverage and the greatest amount of flexibility, this is the easiest wide angle setup for the novice shooter.Can be removed underwater.Allows for zooming for the greatest amount of flexibility for a wide angle setup.ConsIt’s a wet lens that needs to be “burped" at the beginning of the dive.Because it is a wet lens, it cannot do split images as the water will drain out when half in and out of the water.The simplicity of using wet-mounted conversion lenses can still produce stunning results. This shot was captured with the included Olympus 14-42mm EZ lens and AOI UWL-09 PRO wide angle lens.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | AOI UWL-09 PRO | 1/160 | ISO 640 | ƒ13Backscatter recommended wide lens setupOlympus 14-42mm EZ Lens with Backscatter M52 Wide Angle LensProsThis is a great option for TG shooters that already own this lens. Just add the bayonet mounting system and you’ll have an easy on/off wide angle optic ready to go.ConsSince the Olympus 14-42mm EZ lens is slightly narrower than a TG lens, the angle of coverage is only around 100-degrees. It’s not quite as sharp as the AOI UWL-09 PRO when used with the PEN. It’s a wet lens that needs to be "burped" at the beginning of the dive. Because it is a wet lens, it cannot do split images as the water will drain out when half in and out of the water.Olympus 8mm or Panasonic 8mm Fisheye LensesProsUltimate wide angle lens for the largest scenes such as large reef systems, whale sharks, shipwrecks, and splits.Great perspective for those super close focus wide angle shots.ConsNo zoom capability, it is always at 180 degrees of coverage.Must get really close to subjects, so some novice shooters might prefer more working distance that comes with the AOI UWL-09 PRO.Requires a port swap to a dome port.The ability to shoot like an SLR with interchangeable lenses gives the Olympus E-PL10 a distinct image quality advantage over fixed lens compact cameras.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 8mm | 1/200 | ISO 200 | ƒ8Olympus 9-18mm Wide Zoom LensProsGood alternative to get a bit wider than the 14-42mm kit lensZoom range is flexible to go from fish portrait to medium wide subjectsGreat for sharks, mantas, and other pelagics where a fisheye lens is too wideSharp, high quality optics make for great looking picturesConsThe narrowest of the wide angle options for the PENNarrow angle puts subject distance further away for wider subjectsHigher apertures are necessary when shooting behind a dome port for sharper cornersRequires a port swap The Olympus 9-18mm lens is a good alternative medium wide angle lens that can also be zoomed in for those shy critters that don’t like it when you get too close, but still maintain that close focus wide angle feel.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 9-18mm | 1/160 | ISO 400 | ƒ11A scene like this is about as wide as one can expect to pull off with the Olympus 9-18mm lens before moving to a wider angle lens like the AOI UWL-09 PRO or Olympus 8mm fisheye.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 9-18mm | 1/125 | ISO 400 | ƒ11Olympus 14-42mm EZ LensProsGreat lens for fish portrait and fish ID type shots.The range of the zoom on this lens works well for subjects underwater that range in size from a basketball to a softball.ConsWithout wet accessory lenses, the Olympus 14-42mm EZ has a limited range for underwater.The 14mm side of the lens isn’t very wide for underwater wide angle, and the 42mm side doesn’t have the close focusing capabilities necessary for macro shooting.MACROOlympus 14-42mm EZ Lens with AOI UCL-09ProsLeast expensive option for macro shooting and no port swaps required.The AOI UCL-09 lens will allow the Olympus 14-42mm EZ to focus closer, allowing it to get closer to macro subjects.Good for subjects down to the size of a golf ball.ConsThe autofocus hunts a bit more with the AOI UCL-09 lens.Once the AOI UCL-09 lens is in place, the Olympus 14-42mm EZ will not focus at longer distances anymore and the lens will need to be removed for larger subjects.This setup is good for occasional macro use. A true macro junkie will be much better off with the 60mm as it has a better macro range and will be easier to use.Olympus 60mm Macro LensProsBest lens option for macro photography. Razor sharp optics for the best macro image quality.This is a true pro level macro lens that will allow 1:1 reproduction ratio just like pro level SLR lenses.Focus is fast, easy, and accurate.Good for subjects sized from a softball down to a penny. Add on the AOI UCL-09 pro and get up to 2:1 macro for the tiniest critters of the sea. The Olympus 60mm Lens and AOI UCL-09 combination is the Backscatter recommended setup for ultimate macro flexibility.ConsThis is a dedicated macro lens that requires a port swap from the stock port, however, an extension ring can be used with the stock port to keep costs down.There is no zoom capability as this is a dedicated macro lens.While the Olympus 60mm Lens is great for macro, it also has the capability to do medium size fish portrait type shots.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 60mm Lens | 1/400 | ISO 200 | ƒ11Olympus Macro Lens Comparison The image below is the exact same blenny scene shot to show the macro capabilities of different lens setups. All were shot at the minimum focus capability of each lens configuration to show the maximum amount of magnification possible. There is no cropping, these are straight out of the camera. For macro junkies shooting the smallest critters of the sea, the recommended setup is the macro Olympus 60mm Lens with an optional AOI UCL-09 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 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 | ƒ22Exemplary Image Quality from a Micro Four Thirds Rig The Olympus E-PL10 produces satisfyingly sharp image detail and crispy resolution. 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 among some of the best from current-gen Micro Four Thirds sensor cameras. Overall the results are comparable to cameras such as the Panasonic GH5 and Olympus OM-D E-M1 III. When compared to the Olympus TG-6, the larger sensor of the Olympus E-PL10 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-PL10 body, the user gets all the benefits of a larger sensor higher-end camera without adding significantly to the overall weight or underwater system size. Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 60mm Lens | 1/250 | ISO 200 | ƒ22Backscatter recommended macro lens setupOlympus E-PL9 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Panasonic 8mm | 1/200 | ISO 200 | ƒ16Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | AOI UWL-09 PRO | 1/125 | ISO 200 | ƒ11Backscatter recommended wide lens setupRapid-Fire Strobe Sync Thanks to the built-in LED flash trigger of the Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing, the Olympus E-PL10 can shoot rapid-fire by completely bypassing its own built-in pop-up flash. It fires more shots per second than any compact or mirrorless that has to rely on a pop-up built-in flash, creating more opportunities to really nail the perfect frame in a quick-burst fast action sequence. This camera will fire as fast as the paired strobe can recycle, so at lower strobe power it can do some pretty astoundingly fast rapid shooting. This also has the benefit of keeping the housing small because there does not need to be room to accommodate the pop-up flash. The tradeoff of this rapid-fire benefit is that there is no automatic TTL strobe exposure. Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 8mm | 1/200 | ISO 200 | ƒ9Responsive Autofocus for All Situations Autofocus speed is snappy and accurate in both wide angle and macro scenarios. Whether tracking moving a subject through the frame or 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. 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 simply 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 SLR-like operation of the tiny Olympus E-PL10.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 8mm | 1/125 | ISO 500 | ƒ81/250 Sync Speed for Maximum Exposure Control The Olympus E-PL10 can sync with strobes at up to 1/250 for a wider range of shutter speed control than even some full-frame mirrorless and SLR cameras. Many comparable (and even some much higher performance) cameras exceed their sync speed with strobes at slower shutter speeds than 1/250, preventing the user from having as wide of a range of ideal exposure settings to match their underwater conditions. Balancing exposure between a sunball and shadowed reef is easy thanks to the 1/250 shutter sync speed. Use the fast shutter speed to capture the sun while using strobes to light the foreground for easy and effective wide angle compositions.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | Olympus 8mm | 1/250 | ISO 200 | ƒ11Simple Exposure Control Operation The camera and housing controls are intuitive and easily ergonomically accessible. The Olympus E-PL10 only uses one control dial which can be assigned to shutter speed or aperture, but we prefer to adjust these by using the multi-function directional control pad. Just press ‘up’ to toggle the aperture and shutter speed settings, then use ‘left’ and ‘right’ to adjust aperture and ‘up’ and ‘down’ to adjust shutter speed. The simple exposure controls make it easy for even novice shooters to dial-in the ideal settings for any scene.Olympus E-PL10 | Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing | AOI UWL-09 PRO | 1/40 | ISO 400 | ƒ7.1Backscatter recommended wide lens setupRecord Video in Either 4K 30p or 1080HD 60p The Olympus E-PL10 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 work with than 4K for most amateur and hobbyist editors and offers more flexibility for slow-motion effect, 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/AOI Underwater Housing We teamed up with AOI to produce the Backscatter Limited Edition Octo housing. As if the simple operation, compact and well-laid out ergonomics, affordable price point, and 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. The housing works with both Olympus E-PL9 & Olympus E-PL10, so no matter which camera you use the same housing will support either. The size of the housing overall is barely larger than most compact cameras and is significantly smaller than similar Micro Four Thirds underwater rigs. When compared to systems like Panasonic GH5 and Olympus OM-D E-M1 III the Olympus E-PL10 really stands out as being easy to handle and small enough to easily 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 small hands or thick dive gloves. The housing includes an alternate shutter lever extension so that no matter whether you prefer to hold the housing directly or prefer to use a handle grip, you can easily access the shutter without moving your hand. The shutter lever can be swapped to accommodate operation while handheld or while using a tray and grip.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 Multi-Control Device. This USB-rechargeable unit is what controls not only the LED flash trigger but also the vacuum and moisture detection for peace of mind while underwater. Just connect the device to the cameras 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 and it can be taken underwater with the 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. The USB-rechargeable Multi-Function Device provides both rapid-fire LED flash sync and a leak-proof vacuum for peace of mind.Use Your Existing UMG Viewfinder Accessories The housing is also compatible with UMG magnifiers, which many TG shooters are sure to have for their Olympus PT-059 housings. Both the AOI UMG-01 and AOI UMG-05 are compatible with the Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing, meaning that they can carry right over from a TG rig to this one. The AOI UMG-01 makes it easy to see the LCD screen in bright conditions by creating a loupe-style 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 also great for getting down in the sand to shoot a macro subject face to face and still being able to actually see the screen. AOI UMG-01 Straight LCD Viewfinder $189.00BUY NOWAOI UMG-05 90° LCD Viewfinder $135.00BUY NOWUse one of the UMG viewfinder accessories to gain an advantage when shooting in bright conditions or getting down in the sand.OUR RECOMMENDED CONFIGURATIONS The versatility of lens choice is one of the key things that makes the Olympus E-PL10 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 on to for the future. Start out with what you need for your next dive and add on more capabilities later. Most Versatile Package | Backscatter Recommended Setup The wide angle zoom range of the Olympus 14-42mm EZ and AOI UWL-09 PRO alongside the macro power of the Olympus 60mm Macro Lens will provide you with just about everything you need for shooting underwater. Add on an optional wet macro lens (such as the AOI UCL-09) to the Olympus 60mm Lens and you’ll be able to get 2:1 macro magnification for shooting the smallest critters in the ocean. While it is possible to use an extension ring with the stock port to accommodate the Olympus 60mm Lens, it’s best to get the dedicated 60mm port and the macro lens flip holder to use with the wet macro lens, and leave the quick-release bayonet mount installed on the stock port for the wide wet lens. *Note: Add the Panasonic 8mm Fisheye lens and dedicated port for the ultimate wide angle shooting experience, making this a rig that can capture every shot imaginable. Wide Angle Lens & PartsAOI UWL-09 PRO 130° Wide Angle LensAOI UWL-09 Pro Float CollarAOI QRS UWL-09PRO Lens AdapterAOI QRS Mount Base for M67 PortsMacro Lens & PartsOlympus 60mm LensOlympus 60mm Focus GearAOI FLP-02 Flat Port for Olympus 60mm LensAOI UCL-09 Close-Up LensAOI M67 Flip AdapterLEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PACKAGEShoot it like a Compact—Wet Lens Package This package is best for wide angle shooters who want zoom flexibility and those interested in larger macro subjects but don’t want to deal with port swaps or traveling with extra ports. By going with all wet lenses, the front port of the housing never needs to be removed and the 14-42mm lens that comes with the camera is the only one you need for macro and wide angle shooting. Wide Angle Lens & PartsAOI UWL-09 PRO 130° Wide Angle LensAOI UWL-09 Pro Float CollarAOI QRS UWL-09PRO Lens AdapterAOI QRS Mount Base for M67 PortsMacro Lens & PartsAOI UCL-09 Close-Up LensAOI QRS 67mm Lens AdapterLEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PACKAGEThe Professional Package This setup will shoot the widest of wide angle and split shots, and the tiniest of tiny macro. The Panasonic 8mm fisheye lens will match the 180-degree angle of coverage that can be had from a fisheye lens on an SLR. The Olympus 60mm Lens with its razor-sharp optics, fast focus, and super macro range can do a 1:1 reproduction ratio without any additional lenses. Add on a wet macro lens for even more magnification to shoot the smallest critters in the ocean. Wide Angle Lens & PartsPanasonic 8mm Fisheye LensAOI DLP-06 Dome PortMacro Lens & PartsOlympus 60mm LensOlympus 60mm Focus GearAOI FLP-02 Flat Port for Olympus 60mm LensAOI UCL-09 Close-Up LensAOI M67 Flip AdapterLEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PACKAGEUltimate Macro Package If you’re strictly a macro critter hunter and don’t need any wide angle capability then this will get you the ability to shoot subjects ranging in size from a basketball down to a grain of rice. The stock port can be used with an extension ring for the Olympus 60mm Lens so only 1 port is needed, reducing travel size. The Olympus 60mm Lens with its razor-sharp optics, fast focus, and super macro range can do a 1:1 reproduction ratio without any additional lenses. Add on a wet macro lens for even more magnification to shoot the smallest critters in the ocean. Macro Lens & PartsOlympus 60mm LensOlympus 60mm Focus GearAOI 34mm Extension RingAOI UCL-09 Close-Up LensAOI M67 Flip AdapterAOI UMG-0590° LCD ViewfinderLEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PACKAGE The Olympus E-PL10 & Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing system features a full suite of accessories that allow any shooter to create their ideal rig. Click the image to download this system chart as a PDF.CONCLUSION The Olympus E-PL10 and Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing are the “best bang for your buck” in underwater photography. Together they can be operated as easily as a compact camera by utilizing wet-mount conversion lenses. Alternatively, the system can be set with dedicated lenses and ports for either wide or macro just like an SLR, but at a mere fraction of the overall SLR system price, Starting at $1,349.99 for both the camera, lens and housing. The image quality produced by the camera is just as good as any other current Micro Four Thirds sensor camera, with sharp detail, vibrant colors, and great dynamic range detail. This rig is both an ideal fit for new underwater shooters seeking their first rig, or as an upgrade for someone who desires the next step up on the performance scale from a Olympus TG-6 or similar non-interchangeable lens camera. The custom tentacled graphics of the Backscatter Limited Edition UH-EPL10 Housing are sure to turn heads and get some cool points, as well as serve as an easy way to pick your rig out of a crowded camera table. This is our favorite system for striking an ideal balance between affordability, high-end performance, and simple ease of operation. ProsBest bang for your buck in underwater photoCompact-like size and simplicity with SLR-like performance at a competitive priceShoot it like a compact with wet lenses, or like a pro with interchangeable lensesOffers an ideal upgrade path for new shooters, or those moving up from a beginner rigBackscatter E-PL10 Octo Housing has cooler graphics than your buddies housingConsRelatively shallow ambient light white balance limit for wide angle video shootersCamera Options & HousingOlympus E-PL10 Camera Mirrorless Camera Body $599.99BUY NOWOlympus E-PL10Camera and 14-42mm EZ Lens $699.99BUY NOW Backscatter E-PL10 Octo Underwater Housing $649.00BUY NOW

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