"Dropping down" from EM-5 to TG6?

[Rev 0]

Used to shoot Oly 5050 then moved to DSLR, then moved to a mirrorless OM-D EM-5 original, not even a Mark whatever.  I've always missed the versatility of the 5050.  Recently ought my wife a tg6 and housing for a Lembeh trip, and I'm pretty jealous of how compact it is, and that she could switch macro to WA (never liked to the Oly 9-18 WA).  So, thinking about maybe getting a housed tg6 for me for the trip.  

Anyone moved "down" from a DSLR or EM-X to a TG6?  Pretty impressed with the photos people have posted online.  

[ChrisRoss 150]

It can take decent photos but it's not a DSLR  by any means and there are kludges needed to shoot with 100% strobe light.  You shoot in Av and accept the shutter speed, I think it's a minimum 1/100 at full zoom and f6.3.  It basically has two apertures f2/2.8 wide and f4.9/6.3 -   f8/18 are achieved with an ND filter and only function to let less ambient light in with no improvement in depth of field.

As there is no manual mode you have rely upon setting -2 eV exposure compensation on ambient and the minimum shutter it will drop to in flash mode to stop ambient light from from being significant enough to cause motion blur.  You can't dial in a shutter speed.

As you know the sensor is a lot smaller than your EM-5 so you really need to be in base ISO and nail the exposure to get the quality you see posted online.  A lot less headroom for posting.   So if you are good with the compromises it's a nice unit particularly for macro. 

An alternative which is pretty compact is the AOI EPL-10 housing with a wet macro lens and something like an INON wide angle wet lens to use with the 14-42 lens

[alcina 4]

I have been doing this for a few months.  From my Canon 7dmkii in a Nauticam that's lounging in the closet for now to an Oly TG5 in an Oly housing.  I was using a single Inon strobe, until the sensor flooded so did the last three days of my recent Bali trip with just the camera & housing.  Something I would not have been able to do with the big rig

As above, they are extremely different beasts and there are plenty of trade offs.  I am totally loving it, though there are moments when I have a love hate thing going on.  Honestly, many of those moments are user error as I learn how to make the most of what the camera can offer. 

I recently did a week diving on Ningaloo and a week+ in Bali with only the TG set up, didn't even bring the Canon/Nauticam as a back up in case I got frustrated with the lesser system.  I didn't regret it at all.  If you like the range of images you see and they are suitable for your needs/wants, I can't see why it wouldn't work for you.

I would say grab a system and go for it. Do a little reading and talking to those who are using them to get the best starting places for settings.  Can you test how you love your wife's system before you go?  Otherwise, you'll likely want to drag both with you just in case you end up not being able to cope with the limitations.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

Having such a small easy flexible system has been overall fantastic and I don't see my dragging the Big Rig for my next dives...

[Dann-Oh 40]

I would also recommend trying to dive with your wife's camera a few time before you buy it.  The biggest thing I enjoy abouy my EPL10  is that it forces me to pick macro or wide angle type of photography before the dive.  I was getting poor images when trying to photograph both types of images on the same dive.

 

Where are you located? I might be putting my EPL10 kit up for sale in the near future as I dont have the time availability to dive often enough to justify an underwater rig. Shoot me a PM, if intrested.