Question want to step up from TG6 , but bit confused!

[thesaltyfins]

A lot depends on what you want to shoot. If it is mostly macro then there is no need for big strobes, if it is mostly wide angle then strobes need to be a bit larger. For me the micro 4/3 are the best option, good IQ lots of lenses, and a bunch of housings and since the lenses are smaller physically, the ports are as well.

Bill

Mind citing some examples to get a perspective?!

Thanks

 

[thesaltyfins]

If the backscatter hybrid was available when I bought the MW4300 I would have had a hard time not buying it instead. Flexibility is priceless, and the weight savings is another thing to consider. I would have two strobes and a video light if the mood struck me. My d200 has a wide coverage, and the modeling light is bright enough for macro video. But having all that strobe available would make me want a wide angle lens, and shooting wide/ultra Wide would make me want a faster sensor, before you know it I'm buying an extra ticket for all my gear and I'm taking less trips because I have to pay for all the gear. LOL.

If a Caribbean dive trip is in your future maybe you can get a layover in NYC or Miami and pick up some gear on the way.

Exactly the reason why i am titled towards hybrid flash over a strobe! Flexibility. Having pair of strobes and a pair of video lights , if not pair even one video light means added gear , added batteries etc etc.

At this point i am looking at something that can be carried fwd if at all i decide to upgrade to mirrorless option down the line.
From the current availability of hybrid flashes Retras are as of now on the top.

Caribbean trip is a wishlist given the amount of travel from India. Sticking to south eastern waters for now.

Let’s see what i end up with. Maxis are out for deliveries only by May 2025.

Thanks

 

[thesaltyfins]

I have a TG-5 and TG-6 and used them exclusively for stills and video for several years. When I decided to upgrade about 3 years ago, with a similar emphasis on a system with a bigger sensor and full manual control, I ended up buying a used Sony RX100M7 with a used Fantasea housing. After a few dives in SE Florida that convinced me the camera was a keeper, I invested in a full Nauticam tray, housing, and wet lenses, and Inon Z330 Type 2 strobes. After three years and five long haul international trips with that gear I'm satisfied with those choices. My surface camera is a Canon R5 mirrorless full-frame, and despite the obvious differences when I compare raw images, I'm glad I didn't go with housing the bigger camera. I end up flying with two hardside checked bags that are usually at or above being overweight and I don't see how I could manage the housing and ports associated with the larger camera without giving up something. I also have two big video lights, and they work fine, but as another poster mentioned I found I don't enjoy video editing to match what nearly every other underwater video shooter produces, so the big video lights have stayed dry for a while.

Thanks for writing. That’s a helpful insight into the choice of gear along with the reason why you chose it
Btw editing either video or photos requires decent amount of patience along with dedicated time especially given the amount of shots we as a diver take underwater. So one really needs to have that inclination to do all that post processing.

Thanks