Question want to step up from TG6 , but bit confused!

[thesaltyfins]

Hello folks
I categorize myself as an Enthusiast uw photo/video person.
So far i have been/still use Tg 6 for the purpose. Now looking at taking a step up with going mirrorless route. But which one? Options are overwhelming.
Rather in my case the dilemma is, in which housing should i put my money? Reason, i can rent cameras and even lenses but not housings. So the money that will be saved in buying a camera , i can use to buy lights/strobes/ports. And just because i can rent cameras, i cannot go out and purchase a separate housing for a camera that's good for macro and another one good for video.
Another thing to consider is the travel aspect as every scuba trip of mine is out of the country.
So experienced people of the board, pls help in selecting a camera that will do a decent job of photo as well as video with required ports. If this gets answered my housing selection will automatically get sorted.
In my general study(read blogs/YT ), i have come across options like R10, some from Olympus.

What are your thoughts

Thanks

 

[Barmaglot]

What exactly do you have right now, just a TG-6 with housing, or a full kit with strobes/lights?

What is your approximate budget?

Where do you feel that your current kit is inadequate and that you want to improve?

Between photo and video, what is more important for you?

What do you shoot underwater? Reefscapes, wrecks, big pelagics, macro, something else?

 

[thesaltyfins]

What exactly do you have right now, just a TG-6 with housing, or a full kit with strobes/lights?

What is your approximate budget?

Where do you feel that your current kit is inadequate and that you want to improve?

Between photo and video, what is more important for you?

What do you shoot underwater? Reefscapes, wrecks, big pelagics, macro, something else?

Thanks for responding

So to answer you,

At present i just have the Tg6. No strobes, no video lights

If you are asking budget for the housing then on an average any beginner/mid level mirrorless camera housing is on average 3000-3500$ (Nauticam / Marelux). I am not considering Ikelite here. Am open to used ones as well.

Tg6 is good enough as of now but that manual mode capability is missing to an extent. So if learning and getting better at the game is to look at, at some point will need to upgrade.

Between photo and video, i have been doing more of photo(maybe coz didn't have any artificial light) but at times there comes an opportunity where it feels should have had video lights & /or decent video ability camera.

At the moment shooting as per ability of Tg 6. So macro. But would love to shoot wrecks, pelagics etc

Thanks

 

[Barmaglot]

At present i just have the Tg6. No strobes, no video lights

A good pair of strobes and a wet wide lens will give you a massive boost in capability without the cost of a new camera + housing + lenses. If you pick the right parts and then opt to upgrade to a bigger camera later, you can preserve your investment - i.e. a WWL-C will work just as well with a full-frame mirrorless as it would with a TG-6.

 

[arew+4]

What is your end use of the images? Computer screen, printed 8X10s, or 48" posters? This, along with subject size/distance should guide your sensor choice, thereby camera choice.

 

[thesaltyfins]

A good pair of strobes and a wet wide lens will give you a massive boost in capability without the cost of a new camera + housing + lenses. If you pick the right parts and then opt to upgrade to a bigger camera later, you can preserve your investment - i.e. a WWL-C will work just as well with a full-frame mirrorless as it would with a TG-6.

Noted.
Now that brings me to my another dilemma . Should i opt for a Hybrid flash like say Retra Maxi or stick with dedicated strobe like Retra Flash Prime+.

Since i do not have any hands on exp with either of hybrid flash or a strobe, size wise will it be difficult to maneuver under water. ? Retra Maxi is almost as big as Backscatter's Hybrid and the Retra Flash Prime+ is half the size of Maxi.

Lastly is the incorporated video light really worth the size or separate video lights are better?

Retra Maxi has 6000lumens of video light along with strobe. So a pair of Maxi's would mean 12k lumens.

 

[thesaltyfins]

What is your end use of the images? Computer screen, printed 8X10s, or 48" posters? This, along with subject size/distance should guide your sensor choice, thereby camera choice.

Thanks for writing

End use would be limited mostly to computer screen.

Thanks

 

[arew+4]

Thanks for writing

End use would be limited mostly to computer screen.

Thanks

So if it's mostly on screen and computer monitor you don't need the worlds biggest sensor. Sticking with a compact might make more sense. I have a TG 5 and some of the best pics I've taken with it were unhoused in 30-40 feet of water. The key to getting better as photographer is understanding the physics of light and tools used to capture it, and practice. Chasing the latest gear will lead to frustration. Start simple learn it inside and out and leverage it's capabilities.

 

[Barmaglot]

Now that brings me to my another dilemma . Should i opt for a Hybrid flash like say Retra Maxi or stick with dedicated strobe like Retra Flash Prime+.

Since i do not have any hands on exp with either of hybrid flash or a strobe, size wise will it be difficult to maneuver under water. ? Retra Maxi is almost as big as Backscatter's Hybrid and the Retra Flash Prime+ is half the size of Maxi.

I don't think the difference in size is that great. I took side profile photos of Retra Maxi and Retra 4th gen, scaled them to the same height, and there isn't that much difference in length:

Keep in mind that with AA-powered Retras, you really want to have the supercharger/booster mounted - I have the original Retra Pros, and I never use them with 4xAA; the recycle time and battery life are just too annoying. This adds both to underwater weight and bulk (4th gen booster is more compact than 2nd and 3rd gen superchargers, but it still sticks out a fair bit) and to your luggage - I travel with 40xAA batteries and two 8-bay chargers.

Lastly is the incorporated video light really worth the size or separate video lights are better?

Retra Maxi has 6000lumens of video light along with strobe. So a pair of Maxi's would mean 12k lumens.

The combined video light/strobe thing is rather a niche application. There used to be the iDive/iTorch Symbiosis line of combined video lights/strobes, and from what I understand, they were reasonably popular with dive guides taking pictures and videos of their customers. Normally you do either photo or video on a given dive, as the two tasks require a different mindset, so having both sets of lighting available isn't that much of a bonus, but with HF-1 it's built-in, and with Retra Maxi it's a $100 add-on - much less than a comparable standalone video light - and if nothing else, it saves you some packing weight. 2x5-6k lumen is middling for a video light, but it should be plenty for a compact camera. If, in the future, you upsize to an APS-C or full-frame ILC, and you decide to seriously pursue underwater video, then you might want to upgrade to dedicated lights like Scubalamp V6K series or Keldans.

 

[thesaltyfins]

@Barmaglot
Thanks for that detailed explanation outlining the size differences of both the Retras.
The AA battery aspect of the Retras is a concern for sure , which is also one of the reason for increase in size and weight. There would be bit of expenses included in the purchase of numerous batteries and the charger as well.

The very reason i asked about the advantages of a built in video light is mainly the cost. If i am out to buy pair of video lights that will throw in similar 12k lumens it will cost me another 1200-1400$. Second the rig immediately becomes bulky with a dedicated pair of video lights. The added travel items is topside thing to account for. Having a video light and shuffling dives between photo and video is a choice. And it's always good to have a choice.

Also after Inon's most sought after Z330 being discontinued, i suppose there is nothing much left in compact strobe bracket except for Retras. But they come with a $$$$ tag. And if one wants to keep it low then it has to be compromised with the size, BS, Marelux etc.

So looking at all this and going lot by what you have highlighted, i think i will settle down with a pair of Retra Maxis.

Still if you feel anything needs to be looked into , pls feel free to suggest. Will appreciate

Thanks