Hi all,

I have in my possession a TG-7, PT-059 housing, seafrogs tray/handles and some cheap-ish arms/clamps. On the firm advice of members of my local dive club I have two video lights on their way from China (LetonPower L15) and this will at least get me started.

Most of the divers in my club who shoot lean towards what I’d call generic point and shoot, or macro whereas my natural interest leans more towards wide-angle stuff but I don’t know how realistic a goal it is to be aspiring to capture close focus wide angle shots in UK waters and typically those in the North England & Scotland. The reading I’ve done so far (I think) seems to suggest that cfwa is appropriate in poor vis so should be something I can work on but I’d like to check I’m on the right track. I guess my questions are:

1) Am I going to be able to scratch my wide angle itch in my local diving environment (weather permitting)

2) is my setup going to work, at least for now? Long term I’d look at getting either a 120 degree wa lens or the weefine fisheye (I love fisheye)

3) can I get away without strobes for now? again long term I’ll get some, probably backscatter atoms

Thanks,

Jon

I do think CFWA is a good option in poor viz. The setup is based on getting very close to a subject but setting it against a wide background. The poor viz alternative is macro. It could be of course that in poor viz the background isn’t great or at least far from ideal. But that doesn’t necessarily matter.

I’m not sure about using video lights. But maybe others can comment on using them for WA with a TG. I wouldn’t do it with larger sensor cameras for still images.

Thanks @TimG you make some good points. I’ll be using it as sold to start with so I guess I should do the sensible thing and see if I need to go wider before buying a conversion lens 🙂

I’m also not sure about the video lights for still photos. You might consider just getting one strobe to start out. The Atoms sound great, but you can also do all right with used Inon z240s/330s, Retras or something similar. The wide angle wet lens is a must.

Hi @HamsteRfury ,

Very exciting to get a new rig! Check out Kate Jonker (https://www.instagram.com/katejonkerphotography/)

She does quite a lot of discussions and instruction around the TG series and how to maximize the results.

She also just did a post on this very question regarding what is needed to build a new TG or other system. I think you will find this and her other posts quite informative and engaging. She stresses how it's not how much you spend on your rig, but rather how to use it and the strengths that camera model possesses.

Regarding strobe vs video light, definitely a strobe. For photography, video lights do not provide the same amount of light as when a strobe fires. That sudden burst of light is what helps freeze motion. A video light does not offer the same. Also keep in mind that more affordable ( i.e. cheaper) video lights will shift their color and intensity as the battery drains during use. This can introduce color challenges in your photos, even when capturing in RAW.

And yes, starting with 1 strobe is a great idea. There is so much that can be done with a single strobe. Most importantly, having a single strobe will allow you to master that strobe and learn the best positioning before it becomes more complicated trying to balance two. Think of learning to fly a plane with a single engine before the new pilot is allowed to fly a multiengine aircraft.

While the TG has some exceptional macro capabilities, as @TimG said an add-on wide angle that will allow Close Focus Wide Angle (CFWA) will be your best friend in murky waters for those wider views. @Dave_Hicks also does some terrific CFWA in lower vis waters. In both CFWA and macro, the benefit in low viz is minimizing the the water between the lens and your subject, which also allows the best lighting on your subject.

Best of luck!

Cheers,

chip

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by ChipBPhoto

@humu9679 @ChipBPhoto thanks for your advice, I appreciate the insight!

I’ll do as I’m told and take another look at getting a strobe.

I’m continually finding new inspiration and will definitely check Kate Jonker out, thanks again