How to choose OWD (18m) underwater camera?

Asanoth wrote:

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

When I first started diving, I had a camera from dive 1 pretty much. But it was a Canon point-n-shoot on a wrist strap, and when I wasn't taking a shot, I just let it go and left it dangling from my wrist. A very good thing for me as a new diver since I didn't have to pay any kind of attention to the camera when not taking a shot.

Exactly what we want to do.

I see some underwater cameras, sich as that Ricoh or Olympus, have a led lighting at front surrounding the lens. I guess this is more of a marketing: Or can it really work?

I have not seen that, but for macro or very close distant shots, it could work beautifully.   Just don't expect much range.  (By that I mean inches.)    But if you are jamming the camera into an anemone to get a macro shot of a small crab or shrimp, the lighting might be in the only place it could be to light the subject.

On the other hand, one tends to want shadows underneath your subject to feel correct.

I wouldn't rule it out without trying it.

hi, sorry to barge in , but I also have a GoPro (Hero Black 7 or so) and I really hate it. It constantly overheats and as a result it freezes, sometimes rendering it useless underwater. My solution is to turn it on and off all the time - but it takes so long to boot.

Do you have a newer iteration, please? What would be your experiences then? Looking at Amazon reviews, it does not seem that they really fixed that. And since you seem willing to upgrade, it appears that you are also not really happy with the GoPro.

Not sure if you found this page, they have a fair amount of models reviewed.  I might be interested in the Sony RX VI if it ever becomes available. https://www.uwphotographyguide.com/sony-rx100vi-camera-review (also as a back-up on land)

PS: And I also hate dving in a group where people only focus on their GoPros while forgetting about the reef or the sand.

kelpdiver wrote:

[GoPro freezes]

Can't say I've had this problem with the 7 or the 9, or the 3 /2 before it. My wife is notorious for turning it on when she meant to turn it off (and vice versa) and running it for 15 minutes dangling from her dring.

Check if wifi is left on. Could be a bad unit. Using their housing or a third party?

Thank you, I'll check re: wifi. It's a third party housing, but that should not impact the performance. After a 50 minutes dive, I feel cold - so this environment should cool the GoPro. But looking at the Amazon reviews, it's a regular complaint, so I don't think it's a bad unit. Maybe you got a good one.

So i sort of converged towards a used TG 5. However, what puts me off are those seal replacements. They apparently do it for free here, but when you send the camera and they find any minor defect, it is 200 usd, without asking. Not a model I would be keen on... :-/

Is there any other camera on par with TG 5, which also has a RAW capability?

Thank you.

Sorry, I can't help you with the Olympus or an alternative. But to be honest, I would not limit myself to 18m or even 15m (limit for the TG5 as per Amazon description). Even if you will go scuba diving only during your summer holidays, you'll likely end up diving deeper than that fairly soon.

Well maybe.... But is there a use for a compact camera with no strobe below 20 meters? (TG5 was tested by users to work all the way to.. I dont remember, but rather deep, 25 meters at least, possibly more).