The TG series is compact and lightweight, with built-in waterproofing —
it has always been one of the best options for underwater photography.
The one drawback, however, is that there is no dedicated M mode,
which is a bit of a shame for more advanced users.
This video will show you how to unlock the hidden M mode.
Want to know exactly how it works? Watch this episode to find out!
3 Steps to Operate the TG-6:
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Step 1: Set the camera to A mode. This gives you control over the aperture. Although there are only three stops, they are sufficient for most situations.
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Step 2: ISO Auto → Minimum Shutter Speed setting. This is a newly added option in the TG-6. From here, you can specify the shutter speed. Without this new feature on the TG-6, the M mode workaround simply wouldn't be possible! ※ For the older TG-5 and TG-4, I still have a method to unlock it — feel free to join my photography class!
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Step 3: Set ISO to ISO-AUTO. Please note that you must complete Step 2 (setting the minimum shutter speed) before doing this. When you specify the minimum shutter speed, the minimum ISO will automatically jump to 100. Since our main goal is to increase the shutter speed (the camera default is very slow), exposure will be insufficient, and the camera will naturally prioritize the ISO upper limit we have set — so that upper limit value can be treated directly as our desired ISO setting.
The above is my method for adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. While the process is a little cumbersome because it isn't a true M mode, it's better than nothing, and it genuinely satisfies more than 95% of my photography needs.
Sharing this especially with advanced users who haven't yet discovered this update — if you're using a strobe, you no longer need to complain that you can't set the shutter speed (i.e., can't control ambient light suppression)!
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