![[Kyotaro's Underwater Photography School] SONY RX100 or Olympus TG6? How to Choose?](/_images/e994cb963efa-1440w.webp)
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The Editor says: Among today's many underwater photographers, Kyotaro stands out for his ability to produce stunning shot after stunning shot with relatively affordable, streamlined gear. Already an accomplished topside photographer, he has a unique perspective on the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO — and he hopes that through hands-on workshop teaching, he can help everyone avoid the long way around. If you'd like to join Kyotaro's underwater photography workshop, click here! This article has been reproduced in full with the author's permission from the author's Facebook.
This is by far the most common question I get — both in my underwater photography courses and in everyday conversation. As someone who has personally used the RX100 M3 and M5, as well as the TG1, TG3, TG4, TG5, and TG6, I'll do my best to offer a balanced analysis based on my own hands-on experience, for the benefit of anyone struggling to make a decision. 
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The following is a point-by-point breakdown, with items listed in order of what I personally value most.
【Where the RX Outperforms the TG】
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Image quality: Directly tied to sensor size and lens assembly size — this is the single most important factor for those who ultimately choose the RX series.
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Exposure modes: Offers full A (Aperture Priority), S (Shutter Priority), and M (Manual) exposure modes.
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Controls: Uses a dial/wheel system for adjusting aperture and shutter speed — very efficient (on land only).
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Autofocus speed: The RX100 M5's autofocus is genuinely blazing fast…
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Wide-angle end: Every millimetre counts at the wide end, and the RX has a slight edge over the TG series here, with an equivalent focal length of 24mm.
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4K video: The RX100 M4 and later offer 4K recording with excellent image quality, especially for macro video. While the TG5 and later also shoot 4K, they're simply not in the same league — the difference is substantial…
【The RX's Shortcomings】
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Adjusting shutter speed in M mode: Because aperture and shutter are controlled via a wheel-and-dial combination, the system is highly efficient on land — but once you put the camera in an underwater housing, the dial becomes inaccessible. To change the shutter speed, you have to switch to Shutter Priority mode, make your adjustment, then switch back to M mode; if you need to adjust again, you repeat the whole process. This workflow is terrible underwater. ※Some housings do not have this problem.
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No manual strobe output control: On SONY cameras below APS-C, the flash is locked to TTL with no option for manual power — you can only dial in flash EV compensation (±3EV). This has a notable impact on continuous shooting with an external strobe (battery drain, longer recycle times, shutter release lag).
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Size: Because the RX uses a retractable periscope-style lens design, its underwater housing is inevitably much bulkier than that of the TG.
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Battery life: The camera's impressive performance — its lightning-fast autofocus, the forced TTL flash, and so on — comes at the cost of severely limited battery endurance.
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Shutter lag: When shooting with the strobe enabled, the wait for shutter release is genuinely unbearable.
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Macro: The RX series' strength is its 1-inch sensor, but the larger the sensor, the greater the sacrifice in minimum focusing distance and magnification ratio — which means you may need to invest in an additional macro lens (more money).
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Waterproofing: The RX has zero waterproofing. Don't ask me how I know — it'll make me cry…
【Where the TG Outperforms the RX】
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Macro: The TG can shoot macro subjects without any additional lens — one less piece of gear to carry, and a much easier setup. On top of that, beginners tend to achieve a far higher success rate with the TG than with an RX100 paired with a macro lens.
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Waterproofing: I haven't been diving all that long, but I've already flooded NT$140,000 worth of equipment… Having a waterproof body is genuinely reassuring, and even when you do need to pop open the housing to swap batteries, it's far less nerve-wracking.
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Size: With the TG in its housing, I can still easily slip it into my BCD pocket — something the RX series absolutely cannot do. Whenever I'm shooting with a large DSLR as my primary camera, the TG is always my go-to backup. The compact form factor is incredibly convenient and stress-free for divers who want a relaxed dive, or for instructors who need to keep an eye on their students.
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Cost of ownership: Both the TG body and its housing are cheaper than their RX counterparts, and since the RX also requires a macro lens — which is no small expense — the total cost of an RX setup is easily more than twice that of a TG setup.
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Manual strobe output: You can dial the strobe power down to 1/64, which makes a big difference for battery life, burst rate, and power management when shooting with an external strobe.
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Battery life: In my own usage, the TG consistently lasts the equivalent of 1–2 extra tanks compared to the RX.
【The TG's Shortcomings】
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Image quality and resolution: This is the number one reason people leave the TG and switch to the RX… the curse of a small-sensor camera.
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No full manual exposure modes: While I've previously shared a hidden M-mode workaround for the TG-6, the TG genuinely does not provide a direct M mode or S mode. Even in A mode, only three adjustment steps are available — which is genuinely frustrating for more advanced users.
【Other Considerations】 (neither better nor worse)
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Underwater white balance / colour tuning / colour rendering: Both cameras offer underwater white balance, but their colour philosophies are quite different, and each has its loyal following. Personally, I find that SONY's output is easier to colour-correct in post for beginners. OLYMPUS applies heavier in-camera colour processing — straight-out-of-camera shots may look more pleasing without any editing, but serious colour grading requires considerably more effort.
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Sensor aspect ratio: The RX shoots at 3:2; the TG shoots at 4:3. Having shot for many years, I personally have a preference for the traditional 3:2 film ratio.
Conclusion: Every system has its own strengths. What we need to do is accept the limitations of the camera in our hands and make the most of its advantages. ※I have no affiliations with any brand and receive no sponsorship. This is purely a personal experience write-up — brand loyalists needn't come looking for a fight. We don't need to turn camera selection into a political battle.
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