It’s a situation many aspiring underwater photographers face: you have a capable camera like the OM SYSTEM TG-6 or TG-7, perfect for snapping shots topside, but you’re itching to capture the vibrant world beneath the waves. The thought of exposing expensive electronics to saltwater is daunting, and you know that while the camera itself is rated for basic depth, truly exploring coral reefs or diving deeper requires serious protection. Failing to solve this problem means missing out on stunning opportunities and potentially damaging your equipment. Finding the right gear to bridge this gap is crucial for exploring the underwater realm without worry.
- This underwater housing, made exclusively for the TG-6 and TG-7
- The housing supports the use of two external flash units
Key Considerations Before Acquiring a Camera Housing
Purchasing a dedicated camera housing is a significant step for anyone serious about underwater photography or videography. These specialized enclosures are designed to protect your camera from water pressure and leaks, allowing you to explore depths far beyond your camera’s native waterproof rating. They also provide access to crucial camera controls, often via sturdy buttons or levers that are easy to manipulate even with gloves. Someone who frequently dives, snorkels, or engages in watersports and wants to capture high-quality images or video would be the ideal candidate for such a product. However, if you only plan on shallow, occasional dips or are perfectly happy with smartphone pictures, a housing might be overkill or an unnecessary expense. Those needing extremely deep technical diving protection might require more specialized or robust (and expensive) options, but for recreational diving and serious snorkelling, a good housing is essential. Before buying, consider the maximum depth rating you need, the type of control access provided by the housing, its compatibility with your specific camera model, potential for external accessories like strobes or wide-angle lenses, the material and build quality, and ease of use and maintenance.
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Introducing the OM SYSTEM PT-059 Enclosure
Enter the OM SYSTEM PT-059 Underwater Camera Housing. Specifically crafted for the OM SYSTEM TG-6 and TG-7 cameras, this housing promises to extend your photographic capabilities down to 45 metres (approximately 147 feet). It’s a sturdy polycarbonate shell designed to encase your compatible camera, providing reliable protection against water, sand, and dirt. When you purchase the PT-059 housing, you typically get the housing itself, along with necessary accessories like an O-ring, silicone grease, and a silica gel packet to prevent internal fogging. While not revolutionary compared to other brand-specific housings on the market, the OM SYSTEM PT-059 is tailored precisely for the TG series, ensuring a snug fit and optimal control access that generic alternatives might lack. It’s made for the TG-series user who wants to push their camera’s capabilities deeper and longer than its built-in waterproofing allows. It’s not for cameras other than the TG-6 or TG-7, nor is it a universal solution.
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
* Depth rated to 45m, significantly extending the TG-6/TG-7’s native rating.
* Designed specifically for the TG-6 and TG-7, ensuring full access to controls.
* Supports up to two external flash units for better underwater lighting.
* Robust polycarbonate construction.
* Easy to handle and operate underwater.
Cons:
* Camera battery/card access requires removal from housing.
* Lens cap management can be a minor inconvenience.
* Adds significant bulk and weight to the camera.
* Limited to specific camera models.
Exploring the Capabilities and Advantages
Having used the OM SYSTEM PT-059 Underwater Camera Housing for quite some time now with my OM SYSTEM TG-7, I can genuinely share what makes it a vital piece of gear for anyone looking to dive deeper into underwater photography. It fundamentally solves the problem of depth limitations inherent in the camera’s standalone design.
The most critical feature is, of course, its depth rating. The PT-059 housing is certified waterproof up to 45 metres (147 feet). The TG-6 and TG-7 cameras themselves are rated to 15m (50ft), which is great for snorkeling or shallow free dives, but limiting for scuba diving. This extended depth capability opens up entirely new possibilities for exploring reefs, wrecks, and marine life at greater depths where different species and light conditions exist. Knowing my camera is safe and sound at recreational diving limits is the primary benefit this housing provides. The peace of mind it offers means I can focus on getting the shot rather than worrying about leaks.
The build quality feels substantial. Made from Polycarbonate (PC) Aluminum Stainless Steel, the OM SYSTEM PT-059 Underwater Camera Housing is durable and feels like it can withstand the rigours of dive boats, sandy beaches, and underwater bumps. While it adds noticeable bulk, which some might find toy-like, this chunkiness actually translates to easier handling underwater, especially when wearing gloves. The materials used are designed to be resistant to saltwater corrosion, although rinsing with fresh water after each use is still essential for longevity. The approximately 454g item weight means it’s not feather-light, but this contributes to its solid feel and neutral buoyancy when submerged, making it stable to hold.
One of the standout aspects for a camera-specific housing is the access it provides to the camera’s controls. The PT-059 features buttons and levers that align perfectly with the TG-6 and TG-7’s controls. These controls are large and easy to press or slide, even with thick dive gloves on. Key functions like zooming, mode changes, and shutter release are readily accessible. This intuitive control layout allows for quick adjustments to settings like white balance or exposure compensation on the fly, which is critical for capturing accurate colours underwater where light changes rapidly with depth. Being able to easily switch between modes or adjust settings without fumbling is a huge advantage when trying to capture fleeting moments with marine life.
The housing also supports the use of two external flash units. This is a significant feature for serious underwater photography. As you descend, ambient light diminishes rapidly, and colours are absorbed by the water. External strobes (flashes) provide necessary artificial light to illuminate subjects and bring back vibrant colours, particularly reds, oranges, and yellows, which disappear first. The ability to mount two strobes allows for more even lighting and creative lighting setups, reducing harsh shadows and backscatter (light reflecting off particles in the water). While I started just using the camera’s built-in flash (which is less effective in a housing), adding external strobes dramatically improved the quality and colour of my underwater photos, making this compatibility a key benefit of the OM SYSTEM PT-059 for those who want to take their images to the next level.
The quick-release mount system, though not heavily detailed in the product description, adds a layer of practicality. While not for the camera itself (which is secured inside), the housing likely has standard mounting points allowing for easy attachment to trays, arms, or handles. This modularity is important for building a complete underwater rig, including lights and stabilisers, enhancing usability and image quality.
On the downside, one minor annoyance, as noted by other users, is managing the camera’s lens cap when it’s off inside the housing. It can sometimes drift or get in the way of the lens port. A simple fix like attaching it to a secure point with a lanyard or d-ring solves this, but it’s something to be mindful of. Another point, which is common to most housings, is the inability to charge the camera or offload images without removing it from the PT-059. While a pass-through port would be convenient, it would also introduce another potential point of failure for leaks. Given the priority of protecting the camera, this design choice is understandable, but it does mean more frequent opening and closing of the housing compared to a theoretical design with external ports. However, proper maintenance, including cleaning and greasing the O-ring before each use, mitigates the risk associated with opening the unit.
Overall, the OM SYSTEM PT-059 Underwater Camera Housing performs exactly as advertised. It provides reliable, deep protection for compatible OM SYSTEM cameras, maintains full control access, and supports external lighting, which is crucial for serious underwater photography. The robust construction gives confidence, and while there are minor usability quirks common to housings, its specific design for the TG-6/TG-7 cameras makes it a seamless extension of their capabilities in the water.
Voices from Other Users
Looking around online, it’s clear many users share my positive experience with the OM SYSTEM PT-059 Underwater Camera Housing paired with their TG-series cameras. People appreciate how well it works with both the TG-7 and TG-6 models. Many note that even though the camera itself is waterproof, using this housing provides extra reassurance, especially in saltwater or for deeper dives. Several long-term users who upgraded from older Olympus housings were initially hesitant about the transition to OM SYSTEM but found the new housing and camera combination performed flawlessly, even on extensive dive trips. Snorkeling guides specifically highlight its rugged feel, comparing it positively to durable toys, and find the tactile, well-marked buttons easy to use underwater without needing to see them clearly. They also confirm its reliability with no reported leaks during numerous extended snorkeling sessions down to around 30 feet, though some mentioned the minor issue of the lens cap floating inside.
Final Thoughts on Solving the Underwater Photography Challenge
For anyone looking to seriously pursue underwater photography with their OM SYSTEM TG-6 or TG-7 camera, overcoming the limitations of its built-in waterproofing is essential. The potential complications of water damage to your valuable equipment are significant, making a reliable protective solution a necessity for exploring depths beyond 15 metres. The OM SYSTEM PT-059 Underwater Camera Housing stands out as an excellent fit for this need for several key reasons. Its robust construction provides trusted protection down to 45m, its design ensures full and easy access to camera controls underwater, and its support for external strobes allows for significantly improved image quality. If you’re ready to take your TG-series camera diving, click here to check out the OM SYSTEM PT-059 Underwater Camera Housing.
Last update on 2025-07-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API