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Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 4:48 pm
by JJHACK
Well, there was certainly a bit of learning curve. However after the near two hours of dive time Saturday ( thanks JT) I learned quite a bit about this combination. First everything worked as planned and designed.

Second, manipulation with the 5mm gloves was no problem at all. Certanly not as easy as bare fingers but easily workable. The education was mosly about the amount of light used. Initially I was way over exposing and washing out everything. I assumed the flash was way to direct. This YS-3 flash had the white opaque deflecter cover on too. Turns out it was the very powerful focus light that was the problem. The flash is about perfect combination for this, at least for my use. From 2-3 feet away, to the macro close photo's of shrimp.

Upon finding a photo worthy item I had to turn the arm with the light up and away from the camera and then only use the flash. At which point the pictures were nothing short of spectacular from such a small and relitively inexpensive system.

A benifit of the focus light is that it's doubles as a navigation dive light. I never turned it off the whole time. It burned for about 80 minutes before the red low battery light came on. Since we dove about 100 minutes its use fell short of the total dive time. Easy fix for next dive, Battery swap when I swap tanks now.

The floppyness of the flash and focus lights on the extended arms was a non issue under water. They stayed more or less where they were placed. Also the length of the arms is nice using them to peek under and into holes and crevices. People with more experience then I have clearly designed this.

Another shortcoming of mine was completely forgetting the video is a one button function which is so easy to use. Just push the single button and it's taking video. I had completely forgotten this button. The Octo I took photo's of was in the open and walking along the bottom, I forgot all about video! Oh well next time. Hear that JT, we are going to have to do this again!

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 9:30 pm
by theonly_JT
Cool pics! We certainly will have to do that again and hope for better viz!

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 8:47 am
by ScubaJess
looks like fun! :)
Glad you got to try out the camera. It's a whole new addiction, now it's hard for me to dive without one.

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 9:01 am
by Scubak
Great pics.
Kirsten

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 9:54 am
by Gdog
Nice work! As you are learning, lighting is the key. Keep at it!

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 12:16 pm
by YellowEye
Cool! Nice separation on the crab shot. :popcorn:

Now you need a second camera so both you and your wife can go. I recommend one wide angle, one macro :partydance: :taco: :smt064

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 1:28 pm
by JJHACK
My job is going to be PSI watcher. Left to herself she would prioritize pictures over gas!

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 8:58 pm
by Steiger
Looks good! How cold was it?

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 6:22 am
by JJHACK
49-52 deg we were averaging around 30-40fsw I think the 49 was probably at the 70ish fsw mark

Being in a wetsuit I could feel the warmer water as we got closer to the surface. Ha ha.... warmer!

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 9:02 pm
by Steiger
I'm sure it's been said before, you're gonna love a drysuit. :)

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 10:02 am
by JJHACK
A dry suit may actually be in my future. The two key factors are how cold it is once out of the water when changing into dry clothes after the dive. Everyone has a different cold tolerance. To this point in my Puget sound diving the 7mm full jumpsuit and the step in hooded vest has been fine under water for a couple hours, or two back to back tanks. I've sat out an hour between dives and at about that point it's a little chilly, I'm anxious to get back in and warm up.

I do believe if I wanted or had to dive a third dive, It would get too cold by the end of that third hour. RIght now I'm solid warm and having a great time for two back to back dives with that 7mm full, plus 7mm step in wetsuit/vest and hood.

The greatest struggle with this much neoprene is boyancy control. I need a fair bit of weight to sink, then I must tinker with the BCD inflation for bouynacy, it's a little challenging to get just right. This is only a that depth. With air in the BCD and moving shallower, volume increases and the feeling of lift is strong, back to tinkiering with the dump valve and the refill.

So at this point the cold is less of an issue for me then the bouyancy. I need to remain properly situated for nice photo's without bumping bottom and stirring up silt. JT suggested I would need a couple dozen dives with this much neoprene to really get a feel for the quick adjutments needed. Then he added "when you change a single thing as part of your dive gear, you start over! "

Re: Olympus TG-4 First use at Cove 2

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 10:15 pm
by jmartel
What focus light are you using? It shouldn't have that much of an effect on your photos. The camera is probably automatically adjusting your ISO really high since the water is so dark which is causing the blowing out.

And I dive in a wetsuit in the sound. You're not alone. It's not too bad, except for in the winter when the air temp is 30 and it's raining. I put all my drysuit money (several times over) into my camera rig. It helps a lot if you bring a cooler with a couple gallons of hot water in it.

I dove once 2 weeks ago without my camera for the first time in a year. Didn't know what to do with my hands.

Your first shots are already way better than my first ones.