Question TG6 + Strobe - tips on nailing focus and where the bloody strobe is aiming at!

[Living4Experiences]

Hello all

Started using a TG6+SeaSeaYS03 (with diffuser) in Feb and have been practicing on land as well as in the water (Egypt mostly as its calm and steady) but still struggling withtwo things:
1. nailling the focus (see image of grey eel and clownfish below)
2. getting the strobe pointed in the right direction

Any tips to help with this, specially 2 above as its made me lose a lot of shots.

BTW: Camera is perfectly set up using the backscatter single strobe settings and I run the strobe very much above the camera slightly in front of the camera to reduce backscatter.

I have this same setup along with a Kraken Hydra video light. You'll notice a huge difference in the quality of your photos with a video light.

 

[Saffadiver]

I have this same setup along with a Kraken Hydra video light. You'll notice a huge difference in the quality of your photos with a video light.

thanks laods, will check it out for sure

 

[Saffadiver]

What sort of arm are you using?

Weefine - single arm cradle

 

[grantmac]

Weefine - single arm cradle

This one:

Weefine Single Handle Arm Package

Ready to go single handle package for compact camera housings. Choose the desired arm section length. Includes: 1 x Weefine Single Handle Tray SH 2 x Deepshots clamps and 1 x Deepshots 150mm arm section or 1 x Deepshots 100mm arm section - Full aluminium - 1" ball arm system - 3 different...

www.mikesdivecameras.com

 

[Saffadiver]

This one:

Weefine Single Handle Arm Package

Ready to go single handle package for compact camera housings. Choose the desired arm section length. Includes: 1 x Weefine Single Handle Tray SH 2 x Deepshots clamps and 1 x Deepshots 150mm arm section or 1 x Deepshots 100mm arm section - Full aluminium - 1" ball arm system - 3 different...

www.mikesdivecameras.com

Yes

 

[grantmac]

Doesn't allow much positioning, consider adding another arm section and clamp.

 

[hdtran]

A focus light will help with focusing, but the strobe is still very useful (if not critical) for well-exposed pictures. Don't aim the strobe directly at the target--graze the target with the strobe. Practice on land--lay out things on a carpet and practice shooting pens, keys, coins, etc. on the carpet. If the TG6 is like the TG7, there is a control for where it wants to focus. Hold down the OK button--you'll bring up a grid of squares on the display. You can scroll these squares to make the camera focus not quite dead center. Get close to your target (easier said than done ;-). On dry land, lay out a few coins on the carpet, then, use the OK button to pick which coin you want to focus on. (Easier if you shoot aperture priority and get the widest aperture (smallest number, f2.0). In your practice shots, you'll see some bokeh. I think that makes for nice pictures, makes your target stand out more. Hope that helps!

 

[Blackcrusader]

This taken using a Blig Bllue video light with lowest power as a focus light. So low that the TG6 inbuilt camera flash is used. OK it's not a strobe as the OP posts about by same thing really.

 

[Saffadiver]

A focus light will help with focusing, but the strobe is still very useful (if not critical) for well-exposed pictures. Don't aim the strobe directly at the target--graze the target with the strobe. Practice on land--lay out things on a carpet and practice shooting pens, keys, coins, etc. on the carpet. If the TG6 is like the TG7, there is a control for where it wants to focus. Hold down the OK button--you'll bring up a grid of squares on the display. You can scroll these squares to make the camera focus not quite dead center. Get close to your target (easier said than done ;-). On dry land, lay out a few coins on the carpet, then, use the OK button to pick which coin you want to focus on. (Easier if you shoot aperture priority and get the widest aperture (smallest number, f2.0). In your practice shots, you'll see some bokeh. I think that makes for nice pictures, makes your target stand out more. Hope that helps!

Man, when you said that I was so excited! BUT.... I use custom modes and they (according to chatgpt) do not allow for focus area changing via the OK button.... Ill continue research on this though.

 

[coweyman]

I have z330's and they have a button to turn on a light so you can get an idea of where they are aimed