Olympus TG-6 | The Easiest Compact Camera for Underwater Photography

[@ShelleyAR4487]

Went to my camera shop yesterday to see if they could look at my super generic underwater camera. Was having air bubbles coming out of the casing. There was no way for them to actually check that. So of course my next question was what underwater camera would they suggest purchasing instead. They showed me the TG7, but I hadn't planned on spending that much money. I asked if they had a prior model and they told me they had the TG6. I then asked if they by chance had a refurbished one? He said he did. So I am now the proud owner of the red TG6. I am so glad to have found your video and to know that it was a good choice since I am a novice on digital cameras. I have 2 weeks to figure this out before I go to Aruba with my friends! I will check out your other videos as well. Thank you very very much! ❤

[@creativeplanet5217]

This review is the perfect. The C1 mode once set up is my go to for underwater and it only takes light tweaks from there. I just cannot believe it doesn't come with a lens cap as standard

[@anthony713712]

They make a lot of money on those accessories, the cap is $50.00 and everything else goes up from there.

[@pretenderfishing]

I used the TG-5 for a year and loved it. That was before I learned about the "manual focus" option. Now it's even better! Just sold my TG-5 and ordered a TG-6 on Black Friday and am excited for the new options for focus stacking.

[@PrimozP]

A lot of testers compare the TG-5 and the TG-6, but no one noticesed that the glass over the LCD screen at TG-6 is thicker than that of the TG-5. And it's, for a whole 40%. That means that at deeper depths (12+ meters) there will be much less bending!

[@awhalerider]

This review video is what I’m looking for! Thank you so much!

[@istevid7609]

Robin you’re the man, another excellent review. Can’t wait to upgrade from my current setup to the TG-6 🤗

[@backscatteruw]

Thank you!

[@libbysterling4162]

Great review! Thank you, pretty blown away for what it can do...

[@johntomasik1555]

Was at Curacao over the holidays and got really disappointed in the lack of quality of the videos and pics I've been getting out of my Go Pro 3 (yes, it's that old). Decided to up my game and get something that could capture some of what we divers experience first-hand. Ordered mine during my visit, and with my impeccible timing, it arrived today, the first day I'm back home in Colordao. LOL Looks like I better plan a trip soon to try this out.

[@jolanklijnjan2698]

Rocking the tg-6 with all of the backscatter recommended accessoires 😎 you guys have been quite a teacher for me concercing the tg-6!

[@backscatteruw]

Thank you very much! Hope you're getting some awesome shots!

[@mohammedakram4687]

I love this camera specially for macro use

[@herno1]

Awesome review!! Question, the finepixxp140 is half price of the tg6 . Would you say that is worth it?

[@YvesLendl]

Hey man. Great revuew! Makes me want to purchase it. I'm actually looking for a nice camera I can carry for my travels and outdoor adventure like scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain hikes, and all around travel. Do you think this is a good choice for that purpose, or should i stick with go pro or dji osmo and the like. Hope someone cash answer. Thank you!

[@backscatteruw]

The TG-6 would be an ideal choice! The GoPro would be a great way to capture 4K 60p video, so ideally one of each is the way to go. Different tools for different purposes, ya know?

[@AaronSmith-sx4ez]

TG-6 video/photos seems slightly darker than TG-5. Does that match your experience? Not sure if that is a good thing or not for UW shooting. I wonder if this is because of those new anti-glare coating they use on their internal lens. Also, are you sure the TG-6 has a new sensor (2:03)? There was some speculation that it was using the same sensor the TG-5 (perhaps still the IMX377).

[@backscatteruw]

Can't say that we have specifically noticed that.

[@rishbag6]

Sold I'm buying one I'm only getting into UW photography and this seems like the way to go

[@backscatteruw]

Awesome! Feel free to email or call us and we will be happy to help set you up!

[@DD-yr6mi]

@backscatteruw love your videos! I don't have any accessories yet and want to play around with custom settings. Do you have a video or can advise on what I can preset C1 and C2 for shallow macro shots with normal sunlight?

[@1asprec]

Very useful video. thank you

[@vbadbee9123]

hey, new to diving. want something to take on vacation to get some great shots. I have a sony a6000. Better off getting the tg6 or just a housing for the sony. The smaller the camera the better. IF the olympus is the one to get how does it do out of the water?

[@StathisTzouvarasPhotography]

Robin great review as always !! I had the TG-4 for years and it was really good. Now it’s time for the TG-6. I have a question: is it possible to shoot RAW in sequential mode or only in a single shot mode ? Thanks a lot in advance! Cheers from Athens Greece 🇬🇷

[@backscatteruw]

Thanks! Yes, it will shoot RAW in sequential.

[@StathisTzouvarasPhotography]

@@backscatteruw Thanks again ! 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@tboy0507]

do you have a training class on this camera.. i am leaving in december for the british virgin isles and want to learn how to use it.. any info would be appreciated

[@backscatteruw]

No need for a class, just check out our Best Settings videos: www.backscatter.com/reviews/post/Olympus-TG-6-Best-Underwater-Camera-Settings After you're familiar with those, give us a call for any other questions or just to walk through stuff. We are happy to help!

[@aumkarborgaonkar9171]

Can you make a comparison video between TG-6 and GoPro Hero9? I am planning to purchase a camera for diving expedition but not sure which one to choose as both the cameras have certain good and unique features.

[@backscatteruw]

We may do so, but for now feel free to give us a call if you want a personalized in-depth comparison.

[@richardnovak7772]

Great video! On your final "question" (i.e., red or black), did you notice any problems with a red body in very close macro? Someone said that the red color can reflect on your subject in that type of work, so they recommended getting only the black body. But that red one looks very cool. Thanks again.

[@backscatteruw]

The red reflection is often more because of the red aluminum port on the housing, not the camera body. It typically only occurs if shooting macro extremely close with a wide beam light. It can be avoided by using a light with a more targeted spot beam, or by masking the front of the housing with an adapter piece or black marker.

[@leolorenzo7622]

Great review Robin! Is there any considerable improvement over the TG5 that will justify the upgrade?

[@backscatteruw]

We cover that in our actual review of the camera, whereas this video is more designed to be an overview of how simple it is to achieve great results.

[@andre1osorio]

Thanks for the video, I would like to ask for some advice about the editing of underwater pictures in Olympus workspace, especially for the white balance, there is a preset for underwater, I would like to know if you recommend me to leave it like that or use the custom white balance? I am not sure because the color of my pictures is too blueish... it's my first time using this software for editing, I was used to using Lightroom, but the format of Olympus is different. Thanks :)

[@backscatteruw]

For that one we're going to have to connect with you directly. Please give us a call or send us an email and we'll be happy to help out!

[@ahmedelshahawy852]

Sir I have hero 9... is tag6 considered a good upgrade for me specially in photo shooting ?!

[@danieldelariva4653]

Do the lenses work like a dome port allowing me to shoot water/land 50/50 shots ?

[@backscatteruw]

Hi, the UWL-M52 (www.backscatter.com/Backscatter-M52-Underwater-0.50X-120-Wide-Angle-Wet-Lens) can shoot split shots with a special No-burp O-ring (www.backscatter.com/Backscatter-No-Burp-O-ring-For-TG-Housings-And-M52-Lenses). Wet lenses are water contact optics, and require water to focus. The No-burp O-ring seals water between the rear of the wet lens element and front of the camera lens, allowing it to focus in air or water. Email us at [e-mail] if you would like a quote!

[@alexjames421]

Can you set the white balance by colour temperature?

[@eulerp4260]

using this camera now for quite a bit, notice, there are more awsome features to it: cleaning for example is supper easy, just put the cammera under a stream of water and it's ready to go.

[@minhaijin5314]

What about ricoh WG-6? Is tg-6 is better than previous one?

[@robpaule2808]

Great summary. Thanks. Are you looking at a "best settings" series similar your TG-5 series? Or a bridging video?

[@backscatteruw]

Yes, our Best Settings guide will be out soon!

[@robpaule2808]

@@backscatteruw Great work! Thanks.

[@O2Cinematics]

do Olympus tg6 need red filter underwater？

[@gme_to_the_moon-v1p]

What lighting did you use?

[@Siyi97]

If I’m not getting under more than 15m is it require to get the waterproof case?

[@michaelmelling9333]

Wonderful review!

[@backscatteruw]

Glad you liked it!

[@NJ-wv4hh]

I'm having a problem on importing videos to my smartphone. Tried everything including cable transfer, but I can't get into my Samsung 7 edge. Please advice

[@backscatteruw]

Is it possible that the videos are in 4K and your phone can't handle them? We can solve this much faster if we can get in direct contact with you. Please call us or email us at [e-mail] and we'll be happy to help.

[@jimlaughlin8420]

Can you access and change settings with the underwater housing on it?

[@backscatteruw]

Yes, the housing allows access to every control on the camera

[@kristib6983]

I don't have a light yet. Should I set a max iso and/or a min shutter speed?

[@backscatteruw]

It all depends on what you want to shoot. Macro? Not really going to work without a light. Wide angle? Yes, but the camera's flash will have to be on for it the max/min settings to work. Turn the flash all the way down to 1/64 power to improve recycle times. Also watch our Best Settings guide to learn more about this: kzbin.info/aero/PL9HMlbuvthNprlm_TtXBfvJo2raRKvPVK

[@dylanslater83]

What format do you shoot in. I've been using RAW but feels like I lose so much quality and colour when I convert pics to share. I thought I'd try shooting in jpeg but it seems it doesn't have it. It's got LF, LN, MN or SN, are one of these similar to jpeg?

[@backscatteruw]

We pretty much always shoot in RAW. The modes you list are all JPEG, just different quality levels. If anything, JPEG will always look worse than RAW because of the compression that occurs. Give us a call and we can help you with some additional tips.

[@Thalasso_biology]

Very useful video! could you make a video dedicated to different underwater case and have several tools that you can use with this camera?

[@backscatteruw]

Thank you! We will be featuring more content about this camera, including more information about underwater housings and even more accessories and settings information. Stay tuned!

[@Thalasso_biology]

@@backscatteruw Ok! Thank you

[@saschashamkin5557]

Hi I am in the beginning stages of becoming an underwater photographer and wildlife photographer. I am wondering if you guys have any recommendations for a laptop that is perfect for downloading and possibly editing photos and 4k videos from the though TG-6 camera? I am also wondering if you guys know of any photography support groups that I can join for free that are great for just starting out? I am about to move back home to the Caribbean and am planning on becoming scuba certified and going into the career of underwater photography while scuba diving like my mom use to have as her career. I would appreciate any and all advice you can give me about the Though TG-6 camera, photo and 4k video editing, photo and 4k video editing tools, recommended highest quality photo and 4k video editing software, and anything and everything about photography in general. I look forward to hearing from you Have a great, wonderful, blessed, fantastic, and safe day today and always. Sascha

[@backscatteruw]

We'd be happy to help out but that's a bit more than we can answer in a KZbin comment :) send us an email at [e-mail] or give us a call and we can get you all sorted out. Thanks!

[@iantheinventor8151]

There’s one flaw over my SLR cameras in that you can’t fit filters to protect the front glass which means it’s not as tough as Olympus claim

[@pretenderfishing]

Not true. They sell a cheap adapter that adds 40.5mm threads to the front. Then you can add whatever 40.5mm filter you want. I have used it with a clear filter for protection, a CP filter to cut glare (above water), and also use the threads to add a snap on lens cap so I can just toss this tough camera in my dive bag.

[@Mixedpuppy]

What a great in depth review. What do you think Olympus would bring out in their next version?

[@backscatteruw]

It's too early to say! Thanks for watching.

[@dylanslater83]

Would you choose the TG6 over the panasonic lx100?

[@saidabimelec8506]

for macro yes. no questions asked

[@backscatteruw]

It's not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison. They are very different cameras with different strengths and weaknesses. You can check out our full breakdown of both here: www.backscatter.com/reviews/post/Backscatter-Best-Underwater-Compact-Cameras

[@greghelton4668]

What is the sensor size?

[@backscatteruw]

The TG-6 uses a 1/2.3" inch sensor

[@joshbainbridge5086]

Does it come with the lens

[@weathersd]

Once the battery has run out, it will not recharge, tried the wall charger and the USB? Any suggestions? The camera is only a few months old?

[@backscatteruw]

Give us a call so we can help figure it out!

[@kandoo1316]

Do you have to buy the housing to be able to go under water ?

[@backscatteruw]

The camera is waterproof without the housing, but there are a number of benefits to using the housing in water. It will support all the additional accessories that we need to make the most out of this camera underwater.

[@PostedForYou]

9:37 well tell me what i have to press??????!!!!!!!

[@backscatteruw]

The button sequence is the black text on the screen at that timestamp. Hit 'OK' to bring up the Quick menu. Then select the White Balance setting. Choose scroll over any of the 4 Manual White Balance options. While one of the options is highlighted, hit the 'INFO' button to capture a white balance. Then just hit the shutter while aiming at your white balance target and confirm your selection. Now your custom white balance is set for that bank. Check out our Best Settings video series for an even more detailed breakdown: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZnLfJqchdZkptU

[@sketchygaz]

Hey you think this camera would be good for taking photos for textures? I'm a 3d artist and want something to help with textures instead of relying on other photos.

[@backscatteruw]

It's got the best built-in macro of any compact camera, so capturing texture detail would be a good use of this feature.

[@sketchygaz]

@@backscatteruw thank you glad you mentioned that to be honest, kinda thinking the same but wasn't too sure to be honest

[@proudmangingisdangantique8969]

Wow very nice camera 👍🌼🌼

[@kbruff2010]

Great video.

[@miaomiao829]

How is the stabilization for this camera?

[@backscatteruw]

It works great!

[@TripleDeano]

When TG7?

[@backscatteruw]

Not yet

[@shaheenvp7763]

Ijju bayangarum thanne, pakshe GoPro hero7 blackinte hypersmoothundu TG6il, ijju pari, adtha vedio indaaki. Pinne choop filter pidipichaal colorokke goprolum kittum

[@shaheenvp7763]

Anta barthanum kondenne camera vaagipovalodo pahayaaa

[@vincedgarvlogs]

Why should anyone choose this instead of GoPro Hero 8?

[@backscatteruw]

Hero8 is a great tool for capturing 4K video in a compact package. The TG-6 is a photo and video camera with a completely different level of control and built-in macro performance. It's not really an apples-to-apples comparison between those two cameras.

[@jaysun070476]

2023 still no tg 7 yet. Pretty much seems like a abandoned product. Still probably pick up a 6.

[@backscatteruw]

With the turnover of the imaging line from Olympus to OM Systems we're not that surprised to not see any updates to this camera yet. Still waiting on a new Canon G7X, Sony RX100, or Panasonic LX, too, so it's not like Olympus is unique in not updating their compact camera line in the last few years.

[@Ash-vi9mt]

No a single word about stabilization? I guess there is none

[@backscatteruw]

There absolutely is in-body stabilization, and it works very well. We will be covering this more in our upcoming Best Underwater Settings series.

[@ahmedelshahawy852]

Sir I have hero 9... is tag6 considered a good upgrade for me specially in photo shooting ?!

[@backscatteruw]

Yes absolutely. The TG-6 offers much more control over the GoPro when it comes to photo shooting.