Underwater camera: I am looking for a decent underwater camera, I am considering the Nikon W300 or the Olympus TG-5, does anyone have any pros or cons on these? Any recommendations?

jlstasyszen

I am looking for a decent underwater camera, I am considering the Nikon W300 or the Olympus TG-5, does anyone have any pros or cons on these? Any recommendations?

Thanks
Jerry

RobertW Loc: Breezy Point, New York

The Nikon system is Pro, the Olympus, while very good, is amateurt

Unclehoss

RobertW wrote:

The Nikon system is Pro, the Olympus, while very good, is amateurt

How is that determination made?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I have a TG-5 and use it as a "rugged" weather proof camera. I've not taken it under water.

I can post images from it if you want to pixel peep. I'm consistently amazed at how good the images and prints are.

Download the manual and skim through it. You may be surprised at all it does for such a small size.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

bsprague wrote:

I have a TG-5 and use it as a "rugged" weather proof camera. I've not taken it under water.

I can post images from it if you want to pixel peep. I'm consistently amazed at how good the images and prints are.

Download the manual and skim through it. You may be surprised at all it does for such a small size.

Don't know if it is waterproof or not, but, a friend of mine has one of those and it is a very impressive camera for it's size and price. I've thought about getting one myself.

Edit: Just checked. It is waterproof to 50'.

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

I have the Nikon W130 and it is OK. When I bought it, if I had the cash, I would have gone for the TG-5

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

LFingar wrote:

Don't know if it is waterproof or not, but, a friend of mine has one of those and it is a very impressive camera for it's size and price. I've thought about getting one myself.

Edit: Just checked. It is waterproof to 50'.

My wife bought it for me. She thought I needed an extra camera that I wouldn't fuss over so much in less than perfect conditions. I treated it like a joke because the sensor is so small. The camera is small too. You have to use a camera that was a gift. Right? So, I took it on a trip and took some pictures. Now my problem is figuring out why it is so good. Image quality is very good. I've got some wonderful 13x19 prints that, based on sensor size assumptions, shouldn't be possible.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

bsprague wrote:

My wife bought it for me. She thought I needed an extra camera that I wouldn't fuss over so much in less than perfect conditions. I treated it like a joke because the sensor is so small. The camera is small too. You have to use a camera that was a gift. Right? So, I took it on a trip and took some pictures. Now my problem is figuring out why it is so good. Image quality is very good. I've got some wonderful 13x19 prints that, based on sensor size assumptions, shouldn't be possible.

Seems like it would be the perfect camera to leave in my pickup for those times when I don't bother to carry my big camera.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

LFingar wrote:

Seems like it would be the perfect camera to leave in my pickup for those times when I don't bother to carry my big camera.

My big camera frequently has a long lens on it. I've begun to carry the TG-5 on big camera telephoto days.

One fun feature of the TG-5 is the "microsope" or macro mode. It will even do in camera focus stacking or focus bracketing.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

RobertW wrote:

The Nikon system is Pro, the Olympus, while very good, is amateurt

I don't believe reviews or sales support this point of view. At this time, to the best of my knowledge, Olympus and Panasonic are the best sellers for their market. As far as video, GoPro and the Olympus tracker sell very well with GoPro having the lion's share.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

jlstasyszen wrote:

I am looking for a decent underwater camera, I am considering the Nikon W300 or the Olympus TG-5, does anyone have any pros or cons on these? Any recommendations?

Thanks
Jerry

I own and use the Nikon. I have been very pleased with the results.Just maybe you'll get lucky and get that once in a life time opportunity to capture that mermaid.

jlstasyszen

I bought the GoPro Hero when they first came out and still use it today. Probably time to upgrade it. I have seen a lot of copy cats of the GoPro action cameras going for as low as $50.00 from Walmart and Amazon. Got to wonder about the quality of the cameras. Still at that price it is hard not to buy just to test the camera out. As for my original question on underwater camera's it looks like the TG-5 is a good choice. Seems like a lot of people here have experience with it and I am leaning that way too.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Tough cameras -
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-10-best-waterproof-tough-cameras-2017-17302
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-waterproof-cameras,review-2194.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/guide-rugged-and-waterproof-point-and-shoot-cameras
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-10-best-waterproof-tough-cameras-2016-17302
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-waterproof-camera/

jlstasyszen

This is a good site for reviews
https://www.cameralabs.com/

tcthome Loc: NJ

Check out Liesure pro's website. It's a divers warehouse. Back in 2007 I purchased a sea & sea camera with an external flash & bracket for a scuba trip/vaction. Basically it's a point & shoot in a dive housing. It was only 6mp. I think there up to 20 mp now with choices of less mp if you choose to.