Pulling the trigger on a tg7 finally, ikelite or PT-059?

[Nemrod]

Again, narrow view or not. The Ike housing is much more robust and heavy duty than the OE. It supports the fisheye lens and dome. It has a greater working depth rating. The buttons and controls are better suited to working at depth and will not stick as do the button controls often on the OE housing. The Ike housing is fully serviceable and comes with very good company (warranty) support. Ikelite has new digital optical strobes that support Olympus RC TTL.

Kraken and Nauticam also make aluminum housings that have a vacuum system, bayonet ports for water contact optics (Nauticam) and are exceptionally sturdy, much more depth rating and are fully serviceable.

 

[Wobbegong_th]

Drawback on Ikelite Housing is that if you change port and add the wide converter lens (Olympus FCON-T02) inside the housing, you can't take it out underwater - hence limit your macro capability.
And changing the port on Ikelite housing for TG series is not that easy. (Just wish they use the same DL/DLM port on TG series housing - much easier to swap, don't need extra tool)

However, Ikelite TG series housing has 67mm thread on the port itself. Meaning you can add wet lens, either wide or dioptor, and switch them underwater. Trigger pull on Ikelite housing is more natural when you grab the housing by its side, or if you use tray with dual handles.

I'm also Ikelite user - been through 5 Ikelite housings, of various cameras, so far. I do appreciate the robustness and simplicity of the housing. I'd say maintenance of their internal parts are 'doable - not so easy'. Their aftersale support were top-notch. (Albeit expensive for me on the shipping cost - Shipping from Thailand to USA and return ain't cheap)

There new line of strobes come with built-in Fiber Optic support, with Olympus RC-TTL compatibility. I'm still waiting to see any review of their new line.

 

[Saffadiver]

PT0059 100% over Seafrog or Ikelite