TG-6 Housing

[Claude Hastert]

Hi,

I intend to buy a TG-6 and was wondering if you could help me decide on which housing to get? I am interested in the Olympus PT-059, the SeaFrogs one and the one from Ikelite. Here are my thoughts so far, without having handled the housings in person.

Olympus:
PRO: good front grip, cold shoe mount, good LCD hood, all functions accessible
CON: no leak detection sensor, most expensive of the 3

Sea Frogs:
PRO: good front grip, cold-shoe mount, leak detection sensor, cheapest, vacuum pump system available
CON: bad LCD hood

Ikelite
PRO: side-mounted shutter, sleekest form factor
CON: no cold shoe mount, no front grip

One important aspect which I have no answer for yet is if the AOI/Backscatter Wide Angle Air Lens will fit the Sea Frogs housing. The Sea Frogs has both 52mm and 67mm threads but the AOI/Backscatter Wide Angle Air Lens seems to be fairly slim in design so I am not sure if the lens is compatible. There is a similar Wide Angle Wet Correctional Dome Port Lens Version II from Sea Frogs available but I wonder if it is the same quality as the AOI/Backscatter one and has the same attributes (improved sharpness/no vignetting).

Looking forward to your input and already many thanks in helping me decide ;-)

Claude

 

[peterak]

A few thoughts:

I would not put a lot of value on having a leak alarm, since the camera itself is waterproof. I've had my old TG-4 sans-housing down to over 80 feet with no damage to the camera. It quit working at about 70 feet but resumed working when I got back up to 60 or so. In the case of a catastrophic failure at deeper than 80 feet a leak detector isn't going to help much anyway.

As indicated on the Meikon web site, the flange on the SeaFrog housing that accommodates the 67mm threads will interfere with the camera's internal flash when shooting at macro distances. I find the internal flash to be quite useful for macro shooting with this camera (attached photo). Of course this is moot if you plan to always use an external flash.

The Olympus housing accepts the AOI LCD magnifier if you have any interest in this.

All the above said, I've had a couple of Meikon/SeaFrog products and they are a very good value.

The good news is than any of the three housings you're considering will likely work well.

 

[LaniCrofts]

A few thoughts:

I would not put a lot of value on having a leak alarm, since the camera itself is waterproof. I've had my old TG-4 sans-housing down to over 80 feet with no damage to the camera. It quit working at about 70 feet but resumed working when I got back up to 60 or so. In the case of a catastrophic failure at deeper than 80 feet a leak detector isn't going to help much anyway.

As indicated on the Meikon web site, the flange on the SeaFrog housing that accommodates the 67mm threads will interfere with the camera's internal flash when shooting at macro distances. I find the internal flash to be quite useful for macro shooting with this camera (attached photo). Of course this is moot if you plan to always use an external flash.

The Olympus housing accepts the AOI LCD magnifier if you have any interest in this.

All the above said, I've had a couple of Meikon/SeaFrog products and they are a very good value.

The good news is than any of the three housings you're considering will likely work well.

View attachment 536066

Does the internal flash still work with the PT-059 Olympus housing?

 

[peterak]

Does the internal flash still work with the PT-059 Olympus housing?

Indeed it does. I just tried it with my new PT-059 and it works quite well at distances ranging from a few inches to at least six feet (out of water). The housing has a pretty dense built-in diffuser that I estimate reduces the flash's output by a full stop.

 

[LaniCrofts]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your reply

Indeed it does. I just tried it with my new PT-059 and it works quite well at distances ranging from a few inches to at least six feet (out of water). The housing has a pretty dense built-in diffuser that I estimate reduces the flash's output by a full stop.

 

[Chris Ross]

The Olympus housings are quite well made, we have a TG-4 in the Oly housing. One nice feature is that they are neutrally buoyant with camera installed, Sea frogs indicate theirs is extremely positive which can be a pain to use UW, you can always weight it though. Looking at the Backscatter wide lens, the 52mm thread is right on a large boss and may have trouble engaging with the 52mm threads on the sea frogs housing?? I think you would need to physically try it. Backscatter have a rear-on photo on their site and it appears right on life size on my screen, measuring the diameter of the boss it appears to be about 75mm diameter so would probably not fit inside the 67mm thread on the Sea Frogs. If I were looking to get a housing and wanted to use that lens I think I would get the Oly as you know it will fit.

 

[sunnyboy]

I really like my PT-059 housing. So far I've used the on-camera flash, and it's great for macro photography but has limited range in our murky PNW waters for anything else. But I really do like the housing.

Watch for housings that do not offer any way to plug in an optical sync cord. That will limit your options down the road.

 

[Blackcrusader]

I added two Big Blue VL4200P video lights to my TG6 and housing. Camera platform DIY

 

[tursiops]

The Olympus housing accepts the AOI LCD magnifier if you have any interest in this.

After a strobe and a wide-angle lens, THIS is the best accessory you can get for the TG series.
AOI UMG-01 LCD Magnifier for Olympus Compact Camera Housings