First Underwater Results with the Sony RX100 V – Gardens of the Queen
They keep getting better and better! The most recent addition to the Sony RX100 family is the Mark 5, which effectively enables Sony to remain the market leaders on compact cameras, with the best compact camera to date!
The main highlights of the Mark 5 compared to the Mark 4 are:
- “World’s Fastest  Hybrid AF System, incorporating both phase and contrast detection (It’s really impressive, trust me!)
- New AF-A mode, which locks on a subject and helps you track it while maintaining focus (works great! Especially for sharks…)
- Longer 1000FPS shooting, larger RAW buffer, faster burst speed.
I used the excellent Fantasea Line housing – FRX100IV, which works with the Sony RX100 Mark 5 as well as the Mark 4 and Mark 3.
I alternated between the Nauticam WWL-1 wide angle lens and the new Fantasea – AOI UWL-09. Both were excellent and worked very well with RX100 V.
I couldn’t have picked a better place to test the RX100 V and the Fantasea housing. I went diving with it during our Fantasea workshop at Gardens of the Queen, Cuba, aboard the magnificent Avalon II vessel. As long as you’re testing out new gear, you might as well test it on dozens of Silky and Caribbean Reef Sharks!
Full review on the Sony RX100 V Underwater coming soon!
- Native Lenses vs. Wet Lenses for Underwater Photography – December 20, 2023
- The Complete Guide to Practicing at Home for Underwater Photographers – October 4, 2023
- Best Strobe for Underwater – The Ultimate Strobe Guide (Updated!) – June 29, 2023
8 comments
Hi
I just bought a Rx100v
Nauticam wide angle and macro
Can you give me some tips for underwater photography.
Can you also relate me to some books, tutorial, any material to improve my skills?
Thanks a lot saw your work, look very nice!!!!
Shao
Hi Shao!
Congrats on the purchase! You’re going to love that system 🙂
I recommend reading this article to get you started: https://www.housingcamera.com/blog/guides-tutorials/recommended-settings-underwater-compact-cameras
If you want something more in-depth, try “The Underwater Photographer” by Martin Edge. Excellent book.
I also teach lessons via Skype if you’re interested! Shoot me an email to ran@diveandmore.com for more info!
Hi Ran
I’ve just bought the RX100 V with Nautical housing too.
Can you recommend the best underwater settings please for a beginner?
Many thanks
Peter
Congrats on your new housing Peter!
Of course, check out this article:
https://www.housingcamera.com/blog/guides-tutorials/recommended-settings-underwater-compact-cameras
I wrote it with the RX100V in my hand as reference 😉
Hi Ran,
Great job with this pictures! I’m an amateur photographer myself starting out in underwater photography with the rx100 v. Did you use the continuous AF for these pics or did you have a back focus button for focusing on the subjects?
Thanks, Rohan
Thanks Rohan!
I usually use single shot AF. I find it works better for me to lock focus than to track with AF-C.
But both can work well.
As for back focus, I don’t think you can do that with the RX100. It’s quite easy to find the half-press though with the Fantasea housing.
Good luck with the photos!
Hey! I’m really impressed by the pics.
I am forward to buying the Panasonic LX10 for a cheaper solution. Do you know anything about that camera?
It has the same sensor and I wanted to ask if it would shoot photos as crisp and , qualitywise, good photos as the RX100 V.
Thanks,
Julian
Hi Julian,
As I replied to you on IG, I don’t have personal experience with the LX10, but the RX100 V is far more popular, so you can’t go wrong with it 🙂
If you do want to save a few hundred $$, then yes, the LX10 is a good choice and has been getting excellent reviews. There are less housing options for it unfortunately.