iPhone 13 pro vs Olympus TG-6

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Swedish Scuba Steve

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Location
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Hi everyone!
Finally starting to pick up diving again and is now thinking about getting me something for doing some UW photography or videography.

I have an iPhone 13pro which I’m really happy with the cameras on and was thinking about a underwater housing for it or if I should just get myself a Olympus tg-6 with the Olympus housing for it. Does anyone has some good recommendations about which way to go?

Cheers!
 
We have both (well TG5) and the iphone housing .. After buying both, we always opt for the TG-5 and rarely bring the iphone case. We've also setup the TG-5 setup with a variety of lights and strobes. The Iphone case I think can also mount on a frame but it's a fair bit wider. The TG is amazing for Macro with it's microscope mode, and other underwater modes.

Perhaps it's just me but I also have a lingering fear of something happening to the phone as it has so many other uses and could mess me up more should it flood. I mean the case is solid and has always worked, .. but ...

Good luck what ever you decide. I must admin the 13 has great photos (especially night time ones!) and I have seen many people shoot underwater with it and post spectacular pictures.

So ... maybe get both like we did ... hahaha.
 
TG6 is far superior as a camera with more options and accessories available for the camera than a mobile phone in a housing. You can add strobes and u/w lights to work with the TG6 when I doubt very much that you can do that with the phone housing. No contest between the two, TG6 is the better choice.
 
We have both (well TG5) and the iphone housing .. After buying both, we always opt for the TG-5 and rarely bring the iphone case. We've also setup the TG-5 setup with a variety of lights and strobes. The Iphone case I think can also mount on a frame but it's a fair bit wider. The TG is amazing for Macro with it's microscope mode, and other underwater modes.

Perhaps it's just me but I also have a lingering fear of something happening to the phone as it has so many other uses and could mess me up more should it flood. I mean the case is solid and has always worked, .. but ...

Good luck what ever you decide. I must admin the 13 has great photos (especially night time ones!) and I have seen many people shoot underwater with it and post spectacular pictures.

So ... maybe get both like we did ... hahaha.
Thanks for the input! Always nice to hear from someone tried both!
And honestly I would probably also be a bit worried regarding flooding it with the iPhone.

I think I will just have to go for the tg-6 and then maybe also the iPhone case since I think they can fill different needs. Or I just keep enjoying the iPhone pictures on land :)

And one big pro for the tg-6 is the macro mode, since I’ve been to lembeh once and would love to go back I think the tg-6 then would be perfect.
 
TG6 is far superior as a camera with more options and accessories available for the camera than a mobile phone in a housing. You can add strobes and u/w lights to work with the TG6 when I doubt very much that you can do that with the phone housing. No contest between the two, TG6 is the better choice.
Yes I think you are right. Most likely I will go for a tg-6 and housing to start out and then add strobes or lights.

Thanks for the input!
 
Underwater is a hostile environment for electronics.

Never take anything that relies on electronics underwater that you are not willing to lose or throw away. No matter how meticulous you are in maintaining your o-rings, accidents happen and leaks can occur. Are you willing to lose your phone and everything stored on it if your housing floods or if you drop in and it sinks into the abyss?
My recommendation would be to leave your iPhone safe & dry and buy a camera which you can view as expendable. As an example, I shoot a Sony A6000 underwater and use it as my Back-up body above the surface. My "real camera" is a Sony A7R3. Although I have little doubt that my A7R3 would give me better images underwater, I do not view it as expendable so it stays at home on dive trips.

Keep in mind that this is nothing more than my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.
 
Underwater is a hostile environment for electronics.

Never take anything that relies on electronics underwater that you are not willing to lose or throw away. No matter how meticulous you are in maintaining your o-rings, accidents happen and leaks can occur. Are you willing to lose your phone and everything stored on it if your housing floods or if you drop in and it sinks into the abyss?
My recommendation would be to leave your iPhone safe & dry and buy a camera which you can view as expendable. As an example, I shoot a Sony A6000 underwater and use it as my Back-up body above the surface. My "real camera" is a Sony A7R3. Although I have little doubt that my A7R3 would give me better images underwater, I do not view it as expendable so it stays at home on dive trips.

Keep in mind that this is nothing more than my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.
Yes I agree with what your writing and yeah it would suck to loose the phone due to malfunction or a mistake. I'm pretty sure i'll go for a TG-6 or similar since it's way more "affordable" to loose in worst case :)

And thinking about it, at least i kind of want to pick up diving on a more regular basis again just to get away from the phone and all other noise!

Thanks for your input.
 
Underwater is a hostile environment for electronics.
That is the beauty of the recommended TG-6 with housing. The camera itself is waterproof (to about 30') so that if your housing leaks nothing is lost...
 
 

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