Rx100 M2 Vs M4 Purely For Underwater Photography

[suricatasuricata]

Hi Folks,
I am new to diving (~ 50 dives). I am researching building a rig around a compact; this would be primarily for underwater photograpy. I have an SLR (Nikon D7000) for other uses but getting an UW housing for it is way too expensive.

My research online shows that a favored compact in general is the Sony RX100 series. Assuming that I am not interested in video, what am I gaining by bumping to an RX100 M4 from an M2 or M3? This link claims that an M4 is their best recommendation, however it appears from here that M2 would be a better option especially for Macro Wet Lenses?

Can someone more knowledgeable please clarify?

 

[Pillpusher]

I own neither, but I previously researched the same and came to the same conclusion as you. I'd be interested to hear what others have to say.

 

[mattia_v]

Check out Interceptor121 Underwater Photo & Video Blog (he's a poster here and at wetpixel), specifically this post:

Sony RX100 Mark III – Is it worth upgrading?

The mk III and mk IV share the same lens; the mk I and II share the same lens. Other than macro, for wet lenses, the 24mm at the wide end isn't really a big advantage, as many (most?) will already vignette at 28mm equivalent (mk I and II). Assuming you'll be shooting with a strobe (which makes a huge, huge difference in quality; resisted it for a few years, now I'm saving for a second strobe), you will rarely need to move out of base ISO or maybe ISO 400 or so, at which point there is little difference in sensor output.

I have no desire to upgrade my mk 1 to a mk III or IV at this moment; a mk II would be nice for flash recycle time, but since I can't fit it into the housing I have, I'll settle for buying an occasional extra backup RX100 mk I for as long as they remain available, and while prices continue to drop. It's also a sweet spot in terms of 'travelability' and cost; I'd love to 'house' and dive my A7R (or a mark II), but for the cost of the housing (without any ports) I have a full system including wet lenses, strobe and arms. For some shameless self-promotion / what a reasonably experienced land-based photographer who's now done about 60 dives with a camera, and 30 dives with a strobe, you can check my recent pictures from Raja Ampat:

Raja Ampat - April 2016

Short version: if I was building a 1" sensor system from scratch right now, I would buy an RX100 mk II, acquapazza housing, Inon strobe, and some wet lenses (Inon or Nauticam).