Made the Jump from GoPro to TG-5: Welcoming Any Advice

[Aqua-Andy]

I haven’t tried it out yet, but I just took a TG-5 class at my LDS. They mentioned that it doesn’t have to be pure white, I think actual white balance slates are more grey. One of the big things is to make sure your internal flash/strobes/lights are off. Only use ambient light. Also you want your calibration shot to be out of direct sun. They mentioned that they will use sand as a custom white balance, but not sand that is directly in the sun. They will look for “shaded” sand.

Also from 0-15 ft you can use auto white balance. Then from 20-40 use a custom white balance. Take another custom white balance at 40 ft, and use it for 40-60. Then take another at 60, use this one for 60+.

They also mentioned to only use custom if you are shooting in ambient light. If you use strobes or video lights use auto white balance.

Again, I haven’t tried this yet, but the owners who put on the class are pretty skilled underwater photographers.

I have found it easier to just shoot in RAW and then adjust the white balance after in processing.

 

[jerrydascorpion]

I have found it easier to just shoot in RAW and then adjust the white balance after in processing.

That is true. Being the previous poster mentioned they were having issues, I thought I would mention it.

Also if they wanted to share pictures from their phone using the Olympus app they need to shoot raw+jpeg. Or if they don’t do editing.

I am sure I will end up using the eye dropper tool in post more than the custom white balances, but I look forward to trying them out

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Have fun, this is a great little camera. I just got back from Bonaire and got some great pics with it.

 

[jerrydascorpion]

Have fun, this is a great little camera. I just got back from Bonaire and got some great pics with it.

Awesome! We are going to the Keys in January, and I am excited to try it out in the open water. I am impressed with the little bit I have used it so far.

 

[krukster86]

I have a multi day dive trip coming up in December which will include (weather permitting) at least one night dive and a blackwater dive. I am curious about some baseline settings to use for the TG-5 and what lighting combination I should use, given my current setup:

• Camera: Olympus TG-5 + Ikelite dive housing + camera tray with handles: one side has Loc Line flex arm and one side has ball and arm linkages
• Video Light Options: Light and Motion SOLA 2000 Video, SOLA 1200 Dive, and GoBe 700 Spot
• Strobe: 1 x Ikelite DS-51

I would be thankful for some baseline camera settings that would be recommended, and an indication of what lighting combination would work best. Honestly, I have never been on a night dive where a diver carried around a camera with strobes (just GoPros and constant on video lights). My experience with night dives has only been shooting video with a GoPro with video lights. My concern would be that the strobe firing would be disorienting to my fellow divers. I appreciate your honesty and if it is best to leave the camera on the boat, so be it.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

I have a multi day dive trip coming up in December which will include (weather permitting) at least one night dive and a blackwater dive. I am curious about some baseline settings to use for the TG-5 and what lighting combination I should use, given my current setup:

• Camera: Olympus TG-5 + Ikelite dive housing + camera tray with handles: one side has Loc Line flex arm and one side has ball and arm linkages
• Video Light Options: Light and Motion SOLA 2000 Video, SOLA 1200 Dive, and GoBe 700 Spot
• Strobe: 1 x Ikelite DS-51

I would be thankful for some baseline camera settings that would be recommended, and an indication of what lighting combination would work best. Honestly, I have never been on a night dive where a diver carried around a camera with strobes (just GoPros and constant on video lights). My experience with night dives has only been shooting video with a GoPro with video lights. My concern would be that the strobe firing would be disorienting to my fellow divers. I appreciate your honesty and if it is best to leave the camera on the boat, so be it.

Olympus TG-5 Best Underwater Camera Settings - Underwater Photography - Backscatter . This should get you started. Night dive with using a strobe is a non isue, have fun.

 

[krukster86]

Olympus TG-5 Best Underwater Camera Settings - Underwater Photography - Backscatter . This should get you started. Night dive with using a strobe is a non isue, have fun.

That's all I needed to know. Yes I have that link bookmarked as it is a wonderful guide.

 

[krukster86]

Recently got back from the Florida diving trip and currently editing photos. Flash is definitely a LOT trickier to use and master, which required a lot of "guess and check" shots. When you get it just right though, the results are very rewarding!

 

[shurite7]

Although the video capabilities seemed awesome, I was a bit less than impressed. Whenever the subject would move or I would pan the camera to track a subject, the camera seemed to "focus hunt", which gets distracting.

Hi Mark,

Have you been able to figure out how to pan with the camera in video mode? I too am looking at the video camera as an upgrade from a GoPro (CGX2 and Intova) style cameras for video.

Chris

 

[krukster86]

Hi Mark,

Have you been able to figure out how to pan with the camera in video mode? I too am looking at the video camera as an upgrade from a GoPro (CGX2 and Intova) style cameras for video.

Chris

It looks like the best option is to ensure that you are zoomed out fully when doing video of a moving subject.