Best image quality for OpenWater Swimming and Diving

Hello all of you,

please find enclosed my attempt to put my "problem" into words

the project:

• taking photos over and under water during a SwimTrek (this means: being in the water, swimming 2-3 km, having a break on a ship, swimming again)
• diving without any diving gear, so maximum 5 - 6 metres and take photos
• relying mostly on automatic mode
• maybe a good autofocus to take pictures of moving fishes
• having a camera which is light enough to not hinder myself during swimming

the solution of last year

• borrow a TG5, use the strap to fasten it to swimming trunk (pictures see here : the photos including water were made with the TG 5, all others with my smartphone) and reattach it after taking pictures

the problem

• images were good THOUGH I seem to have not have found the best setting of image-quality, the resolution was 1.500(ish)x2.100(ish) pixels, despite I read that it should be 3000x4000 pixels. This explained why, when I wanted to print a picture in A4, the photo-platform described this as "poor image quality" (but it was allright in the printout)

Possible solutions

• Now I am looking for an ideal option to take great image pictures during swimming.
• Option A) Borrow the TG5 or TG6 and try to get the maximum settings
• Option B) Get a Sony RX100 and a underwater housing compact enough to strap it on my trunks.
• Option C) Any other outdoor camera (Panasonic FT 6 or 7?)
• Option D) Action cams (Go Pro, the new Insta R 360 with the 1-inch Leica optics)
• Option E) Anything you might think of

Looking forward to your feedback

All the best,

Elmar

Any housed camera will be much bulkier than a bare TG-series. If you want a larger sensor in a waterproof camera, look at SeaLife DC2000 - it has the same 1" sensor as Sony RX100 III. Sony RX0 is also an option, but it has very limited controls.

Barmaglot_07 wrote:

Any housed camera will be much bulkier than a bare TG-series. If you want a larger sensor in a waterproof camera, look at SeaLife DC2000 - it has the same 1" sensor as Sony RX100 III. Sony RX0 is also an option, but it has very limited controls.

Thanks for that idea! The RX0 was not one camera I had in mind, but it might fit the description very well. I will take it into consideration. The downside might be the fixed lens.

kelpdiver wrote:

what sort of water clarity are you working with?

A camera option for the San Francisco Bay is very different from Kona bay where the Ironman swim is held.

Would you want to do over-under shots? Though unfortunately, not going to be a viable option when you are a swim participant.

Getting the TG5 to full resolution is a trivial improvement, and having it already makes it your leading candidate.

I do not own the TG5, I borrowed it the swims take place in the Red Sea, Egypt. And yes, over/under shots would also be great

kelpdiver wrote:

well, at least your odds of decently clear water is very high then.

The TGs do have some dome options, but they're not giant ones, more of the 4" variety. This gives you a chance at over/unders, but not a super one. Really want 6 or better 8+.

Maybe shoot a message to Backscatter guys to see if something practical exists.

There are dome attachments for gopros as well for this purpose. But maybe not the feature that should dictate your choice.

The advantage the gopro has over the TG is much less weight, which matters for the swim events. Not as good a still camera, though. But lots of different attachment systems for easily, securely carrying it.

Thanks for the input. I agree, the clarity should not be a problem That's why at the moment I am thinking about the Sony RX0 or the Insta360 One R with the 1inch sensor. Both match the approach I took with the Olympus last year: Use automatic mode (for over/under shots) and at least the Sony has a good autofocus. The picture quality seems to be superior to Olympus, handling is instead a bit more fuzzy. But the RX0 is much lighter than the Olympus.

I 2nd the recommendation for the DC2000. Not with standing a few operational quirks it’s is a great little camera. I have used one in New Caledonia and Tahiti above and below water and it takes great pictures. Didn’t find the fixed lens a problem.