Updated May 21, 2025—I’ve shot undersea images with an Olympus TG-5 since 2019. Along the way, I’ve learned a few things that may help you get the most from your TG-5, TG-6 or TG-7, especially if you are a new user.
Why shoot with an Olympus TG-5?
The TG family of cameras from Olympus (now known as OM System) has a solid reputation among underwater photographers.
The TG series lets you shoot RAW images, is ruggedly built and has very good macro capabilities. TG cameras let scuba divers capture decent images without spending thousands of dollars.
Here are some tips for making a good camera even better.
Disable the GPS log
On top of the camera, there is a switch that enables GPS logging. This feature uses a lot of battery power, and is very easy to accidentally activate, resulting in a dead battery.
A dab of Sugru moldable glue will lock the GPS switch in the “off” position and prevent a flat battery. Sugru can be removed if you sell the camera or want to use the GPS logging feature.
Improve Olympus housings
The Olympus TG-5, TG-6 and TG-7 benefit from an underwater housing. A housing extends the camera’s maximum operating depth and offers a second line of defense against flooding. Even if the housing floods, there’s a good chance the camera will survive. Finally, a housing lets you use an external strobe or video light, both of which will help you create better images.
I use my Olympus TG-5 in a PT-058 housing with a UFL-3 strobe mounted on a cold shoe adapter. The combination works well, and is compact and relatively lightweight. (On a recent trip to Indonesia, I packed the above, along with regs, fins, wetsuit and a BCD, in a Pelican Air case and met the airline’s 20-kilogram luggage limit.)
The Olympus PT-058 housing works well, but it has one flaw. The optical fiber cable adapter (PFCA-03) that connects the strobe to the housing—and lets you trigger the strobe with the camera’s built-in flash—is attached to the housing using a friction fit.
Without the PFCA-03, which is a small piece of plastic that can easily get bumped off the housing, there’s no way to trigger the strobe. After losing an adapter on a liveaboard in Thailand, I used Gorilla Glue to permanently attach the PFCA-03 to my housing. (This tip also applies to the PT-059 housing for the TG-6 and TG-7.)
Build your own fiber optic sync cord
I have two issues with fiber optic sync cables. First, they are too long for my setup, and get tangled in other equipment. Second, at US$50–$100 a piece, they are absurdly expensive.
I cut the connectors off a pair of old sync cables, used a drill to remove the old cord, and built custom-length versions using fiber optic cord from a stereo store. The homemade cables are cheap, neat and work as well as store-bought ones.
Update: I’ve experimented with several adhesives for attaching the fiber optic cable to the plugs, including regular epoxy, cyanoacrylates (aka Crazy Glue), Gorilla Glue, RTV silicone and Sugru. The winner has been “Devcon home H2 Hold,” which is a waterproof, flexible epoxy. I’ve added a couple of centimeters of heat-shrink tubing as a strain-relief.
The cable must transmit light efficiently, so ensure the ends of the cable are unobstructed. You can check this by holding one end of the cable up to a light or a window. If you can see bright light, you’re good.
Discount diffusers
A diffuser is essential when using an underwater strobe. I like the OM System UFL-3, but the supplied diffuser (UFLDP-4) is a second friction-fit accessory. It’s easy for the diffuser to fall off, or get lost in the rinse bucket on a busy dive boat.
Like all accessories, a replacement UFLDP-4 is (for a simple piece of plastic) expensive. And it may not be in stock. A cheap, serviceable replacement can be fashioned from a stretchy silicone can lid from your local discount store. The soft, translucent lid is just the right size, doesn’t add a color cast, and softens the strobe’s output nicely.
Worthwhile accessories for the Olympus TG-5
An external charger will recharge your battery faster than plugging your camera into a USB power source. Many chargers now include a display showing the battery’s condition.
A spare battery is also a good idea, as the battery meters on the TG cameras are not terribly informative.
Finally, a lanyard ensures your camera and precious images don’t become a gift to Neptune.
Christopher Dillon chaired the Hong Kong–based South China Diving Club from 2018 to 2020.
This post was originally published on October 13, 2023.
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