Question What should I get: GoPro or TG7 for Beginner with no Video experience

[BoltSnap]

It all depends on where you think this will go. If you want to just stick to doing video, the GoPro is a really good option. If you have any desire to get into photography … then the TG7 is the way to go.

I have been doing u/w still photography on and off since circa 1995. I know what I am doing most of the time. I am a fairly experience u/w still photographer. I consider myself an "advanced-intermediate" photographer. I have won two u/w photography medals, bronze and silver, recently. Not an international expert but have the basics covered.

 

[living4experiences]

I have a TG6 and it's a really good camera for microscopic and macro as well as wide angle. The wide angle and the video quality is not as good as a GoPro, though. The TG6 sucks a lot of battery when doing video, so that's a downside. You might do well getting both a TG6 or 7 and mount the GoPro to the top of the TG housing.

 

[BoltSnap]

I think that depends on what you do above water. If you're in to adventure sports, then a small, mountable camera like a GoPro is very handy. Otherwise I use my phone for video. Quality is comparable and it's always in my pocket.

The kit I am getting is primarily for U/W video.

 

[BoltSnap]

You might do well getting both a TG6 or 7 and mount the GoPro to the top of the TG housing.

Why so?

 

[living4experiences]

I just reread your original post, and your OLY OMD5 is just fine for stills and no good for video. So if you're not looking to replace your OLY, perhaps the GoPro is best for video. I don't have the UW photo experience you do, but there could be a setup out there that has outstanding still AND video capabilities in one camera. If there is, I'd be interested in buying it.

 

[BoltSnap]

So if you're not looking to replace your OLY, perhaps the GoPro is best for video. I don't have the UW photo experience you do, but there could be a setup out there that has outstanding still AND video capabilities in one camera. If there is, I'd be interested in buying it.

I need to upgrade my OLY camera and get a better still/video camera but I can't afford it now at all. That's why I am considering the GoPro or TG7 now. Just something to get into U/W video and still be decent. The OLY replacement will come later when I have the $$. I'll get the top end for OLY/OM when I can and decide to upgrade.

 

[CWK]

Check out my YouTube videos at WK’s Gone Diving.

Socorro in March 2024 and Galapagos in April 2924 were shot with GoPro 11 using only ambient light.

Tubbataha in May 2024 was shot with Sony A1 using only ambient light.

Semporna in May 2024 was shot primarily with Sony A1 and a single 1,300 lumen video light that was usually at the lower power settings. Even in this video, there was ambient light work in the clip of the sea snake.

For complete disclosure, the topside shots in the Tubbataha and Semporna videos were shot with a GoPro 11, not the Sony A1.

I now generally use video lights only for night dives and macro shots as I prefer ambient light work.

 

[BoltSnap]

Check out my YouTube videos at WK’s Gone Diving.

Socorro in March 2024 and Galapagos in April 2924 were shot with GoPro 11 using only ambient light.

Tubbataha in May 2024 was shot with Sony A1 using only ambient light.

Semporna in May 2024 was shot primarily with Sony A1 and a single 1,300 lumen video light that was usually at the lower power settings. Even in this video, there was ambient light work in the clip of the sea snake.

For complete disclosure, the topside shots in the Tubbataha and Semporna videos were shot with a GoPro 11, not the Sony A1.

I now generally use video lights only for night dives and macro shots as I prefer ambient light work.

Will do, thank you. I am a subscriber to your YT channel already.

 

[Sure Squintsalot]

I second that suggestion: put the GoPro on your current Olympus and have the best of both worlds.

If you're planning to upgrade from the TG5 later on, why go through that step at all? Save that money and put it towards the better set-up. You'll need it, plus an extra kidney to sell on the black market. Have you seen the prices on housings for modern high-end full frame cameras? Plus the cost of a decent desktop and graphics card to process 50Mb full frame images and 8K video?

 

[MB NZ]

Re: Combined photo and video rigs, let's say good quality still camera with GoPro on top plus two strobes and two video lights. At one point, I found the idea appealing, in practice, not so much. Too big and heavy and two awkward to switch from one format to the other. If you ditched the video lights and filmed in ambient light, it becomes more usable, but you are limited in what you can shoot*.

*Obviously, you can point a GoPro at anything, anywhere and hit the record button, whether the output is up to your standards, only you can decide.