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TG5 for snorkeling: Use flash?

Started Oct 30, 2019 | Discussions thread
kelpdiver Veteran Member • Posts: 5,564
Re: TG5 for snorkeling: Use flash?
1

Hawkmooon wrote:

a. use a diffuser over the flash (hopefully it comes with one), and

The flash is built in to the TG-5 so I don't know of any diffuser that would work (and didn't even know that diffusers were a thing for underwater photography).

they're an essential item for compact cameras, generally built into the camera housing, like the Olympus one. But snorkelers don't need the housing for depth- main benefit would be crash proofing.  People have had levels of success cutting pieces of milk jugs and attaching over the front.

I did see this item though: https://www.adorama.com/iomfd1.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6eTtBRDdARIsANZWjYaCspxontp-lQUkHD9OIfyNUKSSYgJOdDmERXijeP_yjNUKyDhRGHIaAlLdEALw_wcB

But...this is only going to help for short range, say 1-2' max.  A good $600 strobe still only gives you a range of about 6' or so, and the little ones in these cameras don't come close.  And because the flash is so close to the axis of the lens, any particles in the water will reflect and distract from the shot.  This is why strobes are on arms further away, and aimed so the strobe light doesn't illuminate in front of the lens.

You could also just aim an LED light in a separate hand.

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