Tips on next step Camera rigg for a macro lover

[Singewald]

Hi!

I am a "retired" diving instructor with 1000+ dives with a specific love for macro. Left the industry about 10 years ago for a normal 9-5 job, however my love diving and macro still exist! And I try to do a trip every second year. Nudis, frogfish and harlequin shrimps are my all time favorites! Bought a Canon Powershot S110 for a couple of years ago as a first entry into underwater photography camera. But now I am looking to buy a camera that could take my photography for the next level. Especially one that could be good for macro. I have tough little to now idea what to look for. I do not need to have any superduper fancy stuff with multiple strobes so i look like the next "Deathstar" circling around in the deep. But still looking for something that could be an upgrade to my S110. Guess I need a camera, housing, some sort of lighting and maybe a macro lens?

Thinking of a budget between the range of 1000-2000 Euro
Any kind soul out there that hopefully are better then me on photography that could guide me?

All the best!
/Max

 

[BoltSnap]

Did you look at the TG-7 camera?

 

[Hoag]

Did you look at the TG-7 camera?

From everything I have heard (and read) the TG-7 is an amazing (and simple) camera for macro.
Ikelite have just released a housing for it and a brand new compact strobe.

I think that this might both meet the OP's photographic and budget needs.

Underwater Housing, OM System Tough TG-7 Camera and Ecko Strobe Deluxe Kit

LIMITED TIME Instant Savings $50 off OM System TG-7 until August 31! Buy before the OM System camera price increases due to tariffs. If you want to travel with a system that's extremely small and lightweight, the OM System Tough TG-7 with Ikelite ULTRAcompact Underwater Housing is a perfect...

www.ikelite.com

 

[Nemrod]

Did you look at the TG-7 camera?

A TG would be a step down from an S series Canon, probably several steps down. Smaller sensor, much less dynamic range, no manual control. But the TG series has one thing, macro capability. How you can get a black background in a camera without f stops and shutter control, beats me but some seem to do it okay. But with such a limited budget, that may be the most practical solution for fun macro pics. And one or two Inon S220 strobes or the Backscatter MF-2 strobes (which have RC control).

Thanks to cell phones the compact camera market has died. I think the Canon G7 is still available and it has a one inch sensor. Really, to get a step up from a S series canon you will need to move to a M4:3 or APS-C platform. An interchangeable lens camera system that can mount a macro lens or a housing that can accept a water contact diopter system. And that will run more than 2000 Euro.

 

[BoltSnap]

How you can get a black background in a camera without f stops and shutter control, beats me but some seem to do it okay.

You can control it in TG-7 by specifying a "range" for the f-stop and shutter speed, AFAIK.

with such a limited budget

Yes, can't do much with the budget range he is allocating for this kit beyond a TG-7. Since he is talking about macro, TG-7 appears to be an awesome macro camera.

 

[Nemrod]

You can control it in TG-7 by specifying a "range" for the f-stop and shutter speed, AFAIK.




Yes, can't do much with the budget range he is allocating for this kit beyond a TG-7. Since he is talking about macro, TG-7 appears to be an awesome macro camera.

The TG does not really have f stops, I think it uses a ND filter to get a second stop. He asked for a step up. And with such a constrained budget I am going to say that is not possible. The TG is a good macro camera for fun pics. But it is not a step up from the Canon S series. Which can do macro quite well. I know this because I still have a working Canon S90 and FIX housing.

IMO, the S series is a (much) more capable camera than the TG. The sad fact is that at this time, there is no step up from the S110 for an expenditure of under 2000E.

 

[dirtfarmer]

I shot alot of macro on my Canon S-95 for years happily with add on diopters and duel strobes. I finally upgraded to a used Canon EOS Sl-1 for a few reasons, one the faster shutter response so I didnt miss that frogfish yawn, and of course when shooting wide angle action the muti-shot with servo focus means I have better action capabilities. And adding in the broader f-stop range over most point and shoot also increased my control. My SL-1 is pretty damn old for cameras these days, and am looking at upgrading but I still get lots of great photos out of it.

 

[tursiops]

My wife had both an S100 and an S110. They were not very good at anything. She now has a TG7 in an Olympus housing with a S220 strobe, which she prefers to her Canon G7XII in a Nauticam housing. Canon sent her the G7XII as a replacement for her S110 when they could no longer fix the flash on it. Those Canon S's are OLD, long discontinued, with larger sensors (yes) but also larger pixels, so the resolution is low compared to modern cameras.
Oh, no problem getting a dark background with the TG7 and a strobe; just make sure the camera is set to underexpose the ambient light and let the strobe provide the exposure. Manual strobe makes this easier. Automation (invented for land use and subjects like people) sucks for underwater pictures and subject like shrimp.

 

[Blackcrusader]

This from my TG6 in Super Macro it's not black but is dark. I do have video of black frogfish which are hard to get right.

 

[tursiops]

This from my TG6 in Super Macro it's not black but is dark. I do have video of black frogfish which are hard to get right.

It is hard to get a really dark background in video with a TG7; a strobe is much stronger than a video light and that makes it easier for stills.