Olympus E-3 User manual

The Fascinating
World of
Underwater
Photography

The
Fascinating
World of
Underwater
Photography
Olympus Underwater Library Vol. 1
Disclaimer: While every endeavour has been
made to provide accurate information, no
liability will be assumed for typographical
errors and omissions or technical inaccuracies.
Concept, editorial and production: united communications
GmbH, Berlin • Print: Druckhaus Haberbeck, Lage/Lippe

3
Introduction 4
The equipment you need 6
Underwater photography tips 8
Differences between photography
on dry land and under water 10
Light 10
Colours 10
Particles 11
Using the flash 12
General shooting 14
Getting captivating macro shots 16
Taking wide-angle photos 18
Capturing fish and other fast-moving marine life 20
Creative aspects 22
Make a check and don’t forget 24
Make a check before you get wet –
preparation of camera and
underwater housing 24
Don’t forget 24
Maintenance & support 25
After each dive 25
Avoid storing the case
in the following locations 25
What to do if a leakage is detected
or the case breaks and needs repair 25
Maintenance 25
Olympus Support 25
Taking pictures underwater has become easy! 26
Olympus outdoor & underwater products 27
Outdoor Cases 27
Underwater Cases 27
D-SLR Underwater Cases 28
Further underwater accessories 28
2
Contents

54
Introduction
The realm found below the water’s surface has
captivated people throughout the ages. It’s host
to a seemingly endless variety of marine life
that comes in all shapes, sizes, and colours.
Luckily, scuba diving and snorkelling are today
more accessible than ever. And thanks to new
technology, even hobby divers now have the
chance to capture images of those unforgettable
sights and share the unique experiences with
those who stayed above the water’s surface.
To help you to make the most out of your under-
water photography experience Olympus has put
this short guide together.

76
The equipment you need
What you need depends largely on what you
aim to achieve. If you just want to take snapshots
while snorkelling, an outdoor case from Olympus
will be the thing to fit the bill. They are water-
proof up to several metres and also protect your
camera from other contaminants. Alternatively,
you could go for one of the waterproof and
shockproof Olympus cameras, which can be
taken up to several metres underwater, even
without a special protective case.
For scuba divers, an underwater case will be
required because of the greater water pressure
the cases will need to withstand. Underwater
cases from Olympus are waterproof up to 40m
or 60m* and allow the camera to retain its full
scope of functions. Olympus offers at least
one solution in every price and performance
class for underwater photo graphers – from
snap shooters to professional D-SLR users.
*depending on the model

98
Underwater photography tips
4. Shoot upwards – Alter-
natively, you can make
good use of available light,
by aiming the camera
slightly upwards while
taking care not to shoot
directly towards the
lighting above.
2. Move slowly – This will prevent you from
stirring up the water and agitating the
floating particles. Furthermore, fish are
rather shy animals, so moving slowly
around them decreases the risk of scaring
them away.
3. Use light from the back – Generally, better
results are possible if the light comes from
behind the photographer (unless you want
silhouette shots).
1. Get close – Less light is available under-
water. This means you have to get closer
to your subject for optimal exposure.
With increasing distance floating particles
can diffract light beams and affect picture
quality.
5. Stay shallow – Taking pictures at low depths
generally yields better results, as more natural
light is available and colours generally come
out better.
6. Stay off the ground – Disturbing the ground
causes unwanted particles to float up, which
could spoil photos. Furthermore, it may be
harmful to marine life.
7. Hold your breath when taking the picture –
The air bubbles caused
by exhaling can scare
fish away and holding
your breath also gives
added camera stability.
8. Keep the camera steady
– To minimise the po-
tential effects of camera
shake, try holding the
camera with both hands while
pressing your elbows to your body.
9. Enter the water slowly – Don’t jump
into the water with your camera as
it puts an unnecessary amount of
mechanical strain on your camera
and the outdoor or underwater case.
10. Prepare the camera before going under-
water – Do this in a dry area well in
advance and have the silica gel pack
in the outdoor or underwater case for
some hours before underwater use.

11
colour will be completely washed out. Bear in
mind that if using the flash, the light must travel
to the subject and back, thereby effectively
halving the maximum distance.
Particles
Water is more or less full of floating particles.
The amount of these depends on various factors
including how clean the body of water is, the
time of year and the current or turbulences at
a given time. The particles are generally larger
than those present in the air and are therefore
more likely to have an effect on the outcome of
shots. Most common effects are reduced contrast
and clarity (dots showing
up in the photo) as well as
a decrease in the available
light, as the floating particles
also diffract light beams.
General tips:
• If possible, go diving in
clear weather
• Bear in mind the filtering
effect on colours as
distance increases
• Make use of your camera’s
exposure bracketing
function (if available)
• It is often indispensable
to use a flash
10
Differences between photography
on dry land and under water
Colours
The further light travels down in the water, the
more colours of the spectrum get lost. This starts
with colours that have long wavelengths (red at
a depth of around 3 – 5m)
and proceeds to colours with
short wavelengths (blue at
a depth of around 20m).
The loss of colours not only
happens vertically, but also
horizontally. So if you are
taking a photo of a red
subject from a distance of
over 5m – even if you are
close to the surface – the red
Light
Because part of the light beams are reflected
when they hit the water’s surface, less light is
available underwater than on dry land. The lower
the angle at which they hit – such as during early
morning or late afternoon – and the rougher the
water surface, the more the light beams will be
reflected. Best results are therefore achieved
during calm seas and around noontime when
the sun is at its highest. Also, don’t forget that
due to the density of water, the deeper you go,
the darker it gets – right up to the point of
complete darkness.
The altered conditions
underwater make distances
appear shorter by a fourth.
This means something that
seems like it is 3m away is
actually 4m away. Remember
to take this into account
when using the flash under-
water and judging the
distance to the subject.

13
Tips: • For mixed-light shots (using a combination
of both the natural light and flash), aim the
camera slightly upwards toward the subject
to use natural light for the background and
the flash to light up the main subject
• When photographing subjects just below the
water surface, the flash can generally be turned
off because a lot of natural light is available
at these shallow depths
12
Using the flash
Unless you are only taking photos at shallow
depths where a lot of ambient light from the
sun is available, you will most likely have to use
the flash to take well-exposed pictures. Luckily,
most cameras nowadays feature a built-in flash.
Even those found on compact cameras are gene-
rally sufficient for the most common shooting
situations. However, under special circumstances,
such as night diving, wide-angle photography,
shooting at large depths, etc., it’s often necessary
to use an additional source of lighting (such
as an underwater torch) or, if available for your
camera, an external flash unit.
While various Olympus cameras can be con-
nected to an external flash (if a corresponding
underwater case is available), the option of using
a slave flash is also available for models not
having a regular external flash connection.
The slave flash is triggered by the built-in flash.
It attaches to a lighting tray which can be
connected to the standard tripod socket found
on the bottom of Olympus underwater cases.
• A diffuser for the flash helps improve results –
all Olympus underwater cases and most out-
door cases feature this
• When purchasing a slave flash, remember to
check that it is designed for use with digital
cameras (called digital slave flash) and works
with yours (many digital compact cameras
emit two flashes each time – one for setting the
white balance, the other as the actual flash –
and the slave flash must be able to handle this)

15
camera systems enable photographers to change
the lenses they are using to perfectly suit their
specific needs.
Tips: • Optimal shooting distance in most cases is
from 60cm to 120cm
• Use your camera’s pre-defined underwater
scene modes as often as possible (if available:
Underwater Wide, Underwater Macro, Under-
water Snapshot, etc.)
• Zoom in or out to frame your subject (but
bear in mind the issue of colours diminishing
the further away you are from the subject)
14
General shooting
Most compact cameras today come with a stan-
dard zoom lens that’s able to deal with a good
variety of shooting situations. Besides sponta-
neous snapshots, you can also capture motifs
such as portraits of single marine creatures,
small schools of fish, pictures of other divers
or a colourful coral reef to name just a few of
the possibilities. For the great majority of shots
this will be sufficient – especially if using the
camera’s underwater scene modes (if available).
Nevertheless, there
are several shooting
situations where
specialised techni-
ques and even extra
equipment could
come in handy.
For such instances
some underwater
cases allow for
the attachment of
conversion lenses
to facilitate better wide-angle or macro shooting.
For even more professional requirements, SLR

17
Tips: • Use the appropriate scene mode on your
camera, if available (many Olympus compact
cameras have a special macro mode, some
even have an underwater macro mode)
• Take note of the minimum focusing distance
of your camera and don’t go any closer
(otherwise you will only get blurred results)
• If your camera offers manual aperture control,
close the aperture as far as possible (high
F-stop, e.g.: F5.6) to obtain a larger depth
of field (which means a greater area of the
picture will be in focus)
• For macro shooting of moving subjects, it’s
best to use the continuous autofocus mode
(if available)
• Macro photography is a good choice in bad
weather
16
Getting captivating macro shots
Taking frame-filling shots of subjects at close
range is referred to as macro photography.
In most instances it is comparably easy to get
good close-up underwater pictures. The relatively
short distance between photographer and subject
means that the colours will be rich and there will
be fewer particles floating in the water affecting
clarity. Furthermore, use of the flash will ensure
a good level of exposure and correct colour
reproduction.
But while it is fairly easy to take the macro shot,
it may take a lot of time to find the perfect motif.
However, considering that the subject of a macro
shot will take up most of the frame and is there-
fore unquestionably the star of the composition,
your patience in finding the right subject will
certainly bring rewards!

19
Lighting plays an important role when taking
wide-angle shots and it is recommended to use
the available ambient light for the background
(by shooting slightly upwards at a shallow depth)
and use the flash to light up the subject.
Tips: • If available, use the appropriate scene mode
on your camera (some Olympus models feature
an underwater wide-scene mode)
• Wide-angle photography should preferably
be done on sunny days (more ambient light)
18
Taking wide-angle photos
Wide-angle shots are created by zooming out
as far as possible (reducing the focal length).
As on land, this lets you get more into the
picture, making it particularly useful for providing
photographers with the ability to get close to their
subject and still fit the motif within the frame
limits. Furthermore, it is great for taking shots of
large subjects such as manta rays and sharks.
Unlike on land, however, using the wideangle
to take underwater panorama shots will generally
not yield good results due to the problem of
colours losing their vibrancy with increasing
distance and the floating particles that can affect
image quality, as explained earlier.
• Try to get dimension into your compositions
by including a foreground and background
in your photos
• Don’t be disappointed if your first shots
don’t work out as expected – keep trying.
Getting good underwater wide-angle photos
takes practice and patience!

Tips: • The subject should take up 2/3 of the picture
• Try to approach fish from the front – they won’t
be scared off so easily
• Patience and quickness are virtues that pay off
when wanting to take photos of fish
• Some background knowledge about the
behaviour of fish increases your chance of
getting them on camera
Capturing fish and other
fast-moving marine life
Most fish are curious, yet shy animals. Fortu-
nately, two basic things can greatly improve your
chances of capturing them on camera: a) not
getting too close, and b) adjusting the camera
settings before approaching the subject so you’re
ready to shoot immediately. The zoom level
you select on your lens should depend on the
size of the fish: zoom in for small fish (close-up)
and zoom out for larger fish (wider angle).

23
Tips: • Make use of different types of lighting and try
mixed lighting effects
• Try to shoot from strange angles to obtain
interesting perspectives
• Use the camera’s exposure bracketing function
(if available)
• Shoot your subject with the light behind it to
obtain a silhouette effect
• Use your diving partner as a subject to practice
your creative shooting techniques
• Feel free to experiment
22
Creative aspects
The underwater world provides a great opportu-
nity to give your creative impulses free reign.
Due to the different possible light sources
(natural, flash, artificial) the ideal framework is
available for experimentation. When working
with ambient light, for example, fascinating
results can be obtained by photographing from
the bottom up with a long exposure time – that
way you can see the path of the light beams in
the water. Shooting places with artificial light
sources, such as ports or landing stages, can also
produce very creative results. Don’t be afraid to
break some photographic rules – this is the time
to do it! And don’t forget you are not limited to
just 36 pictures – using a high-capacity memory
card will give you the chance to take literally
hundreds of shots before needing to surface.

25
After each dive
• Wipe off any water drops on the case
• Take digital camera out of case
• Wash case with fresh water
• Dry case
Avoid storing the case in the following locations
• Places with unusually high or low temperatures
or extreme temperature variations
• Places with open fire
• Places with volatile substances
• Places with vibrations
What to do if a leakage is detected or the case breaks and
needs repair
• Please contact a service outlet or your dealer
Maintenance
• Parts and accessories
should be purchased
from the original
manufacturer
• You can also order
parts in large computer
shops and specialised
camera stores
• Only use genuine parts
Olympus Support
Online: http://www.olympus-europa.com
On the phone: 00800 - 67 10 83 00
If you cannot reach the number above from
your country, please dial [phone]
or [phone]
Make a check and don’t forget Maintenance & support
Make a check before you get wet – preparation of camera and
underwater housing
• Check batteries
• Check available memory card capacity
• Check the O-rings of the underwater case
• Check that the camera is turned on,
if necessary, before putting it in the
housing
• Carry out separate checks of both underwater
housing and camera before each dive to
avoid any unwanted surprises*
a) Make sure that the case is waterproof
b) Check the operation of the camera
before loading it in the case
* consult your manual for detailed
instructions
Don’t forget
• Take special care to respect the environment
you are entering – remember that it’s the
natural habitat of other species
• Don’t unnecessarily scare or disturb the
marine life
• Coral reefs are delicate – don’t use them
to steady yourself and/or the camera while
taking photos
• Keep a careful eye on the depth you are at
and the time you spend in the water
• Play it safe – never go diving on your own
24

27
Olympus offers a wide range of products and
accessories to ensure that your underwater
photography experience is both enjoyable and
successful. From outdoor cases for holiday needs,
to underwater cases that fulfil professional
demands in up to 60m depth, there is something
for everyone. What’s more, underwater digital
SLR photographers can now avoid the frustration
of having to frame their subjects using the view-
finder while wearing diving goggles. Instead,
Olympus has introduced the world’s first D-SLR
camera featuring a Live Preview directly on the
LCD – therefore combining the ease-of-use of a
compact camera with the professional quality
of an SLR.
Outdoor Cases
Completely waterproof up to a water
pressure equivalent to 3 metres depth,
Olympus outdoor cases are sufficient
for taking shots while snorkelling or
swimming. Additionally they protect
the camera against sand, dirt and other
contaminants.
Underwater Cases
Made of durable, high-quality polycar-
bonate, Olympus underwater cases
are waterproof up to a water pressure
equivalent to 40 or 60 metres* depth
and are therefore the ideal solution for
scuba divers. The cases allow the cameras
to retain their full scope of functions.
Furthermore, all Olympus underwater
cases feature a screw thread mount
at the lens. This allows the easy attachment of
further accessories like converter lenses or filters.
26
Taking pictures underwater
has become easy!
Olympus outdoor
& underwater products
Dive with your brand new camera in its under-
water housing! PADI makes your descent into the
underwater world easy. Enroll immediately into
the Digital Underwater Photographer Course by
contacting one of the many PADI Dive Centers
or Resorts – listing available on www.padi.com.
The Digital Underwater Photographer Course,
together with its well-founded training material,
will show you step by step how easy it is to take
impressive underwater shots! Visit one of the
many PADI Dive Centers and Resorts for further
information.

28
D-SLR Underwater Cases
Olympus currently offers underwater cases for
a number of its E-Series cameras. The cases are
waterproof up to a water pressure equivalent to
40 or 60 metres* depth and are ideally suited for
professional and semi-professional underwater
photographers. Besides allowing for full availa-
bility of all camera functions, they offer
enormous flexibility as they also enable
many Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses
to be used underwater as well as flash
units (in combination with the
respective underwater ports).
Further underwater accessories
For complete flexibility, Olympus offers a wide
range of underwater accessories, including cases
for external flash units and conversion lenses.
* depending on the model
Olympus outdoor
& underwater products

Olympus is a trademark of OLYMPUS IMAGING
CORP. The names of other companies and products
are the property of their respective owners.
The Fascinating World
of Underwater Photography
2007 OLYMPUS IMAGING EUROPA GMBH
All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part only with permission.
OLYMPUS IMAGING EUROPA GMBH
www.olympus-europa.com
Dealer’s stamp
Printed in Germany - OIME - 02/2007 - E0468180