Recommendation?

[TheQuintessentialMan]

I'm a terrestrial photographer but never really taken the plunge to UW photog (PITA factor vs benefit seems high for me.) Can you guys recommend a decent, not break the bank, UW P/S camera? Most of the lakes around here the vis is measured single digit but have a blue water coming up and figured maybe get some UW vacation pics.

 

[tursiops]

Hands down, the Olympus TG-6. Best buy by far. If you want only wide-angle videos, maybe the GoPro or its clones, but the TG-6 is a best-buy.

 

[TheQuintessentialMan]

Thanks for the reply, I looked at it but the 50ft limit kind of gets me. Just seems unnecessarily limiting for scuba gear. I am looking into either getting a new housing for my old Hero 3+ or getting a current Hero 10 (have a thread on the video forum). I just wanted something I could take stills with.

 

[tursiops]

Thanks for the reply, I looked at it but the 50ft limit kind of gets me. Just seems unnecessarily limiting for scuba gear. I am looking into either getting a new housing for my old Hero 3+ or getting a current Hero 10 (have a thread on the video forum). I just wanted something I could take stills with.

Get the Olympus housing for it, go to whatever depth you want.
If you want a cheaper housing I have a slightly used Seafrogs you can get.
For stills you will be MUCH happier with the TG-6 than with the GoPro, especially for things up close.

 

[TheQuintessentialMan]

Missed the part about an optional housing. Will check it out.

 

[bmorescuba]

If you'd like to see what the TG-[x] cameras are capable of, this is a good thread to follow:

TG photos, Show us what you shot.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Thanks for the reply, I looked at it but the 50ft limit kind of gets me. Just seems unnecessarily limiting for scuba gear. I am looking into either getting a new housing for my old Hero 3+ or getting a current Hero 10 (have a thread on the video forum). I just wanted something I could take stills with.

A Go Pro cannot take macro or super macro shots. I have a go pro but bought the TG6 as the go pro I was missing out on so many photos especially of really tiny critters. Also Olympus have a very good free photo editing software and has features lightroom does not offer. This Sea Moth is only maybe 3cm in length the Go Pro cannot get any of the fine detail like this. Sea Horse at 26m depth.

Not everything is macro the lion fish in non macro mode

 

[Blackcrusader]

Thanks for the reply, I looked at it but the 50ft limit kind of gets me. Just seems unnecessarily limiting for scuba gear. I am looking into either getting a new housing for my old Hero 3+ or getting a current Hero 10 (have a thread on the video forum). I just wanted something I could take stills with.

Another thing is the Go Pro also cannot get close up macro video as it loses focus when too close to small things.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

This was shot with a TG-1 in a housing @ 80' without any additional lights. I'm not a photographer at all, so this is about as ammeture as it gets I think.

I dream of a TG-6 one day.

 

[Barmaglot]

I'd say TG-6 if you are interested in macro and are willing to invest in at least one strobe. If you want wide angle with strobes, look for a used Sony RX100 series kit. If you are not going to bother with strobes, then consider a phone housing. Most phones today will beat the pants off a TG in image quality if neither is using strobes. Weefine Smart Housing with pressure sensor also doubles as a dive computer, and it has vacuum test system to prevent leaks.