iPhone 13 Pro with Waterproof Housing, vs TG6?

SafariBob wrote:

Camrarat wrote:

SafariBob wrote:

ulrichsd wrote:

Barmaglot_07 wrote:

Most waterproof cameras are only waterproof to a limited depth, so they still require a housing. Even more, their waterproofing, such as it is, relies on very thin o-rings and gaskets, which are very easy to damage and wear out quickly - Olympus, for example, recommends yearly servicing for the TG series cameras. SeaLife Micro series is a notable exception, being fully sealed (internal memory, internal battery, no openings whatsoever), but with a tiny sensor, fixed lens, and no ability to trigger strobes, it isn't much of a camera.

The TG-6 is rated for 45 meters (147 feet) and the OP is snorkeling - if he is going deeper than that while holding his breath, then I'm impressed! Even the Gopro8 is rated at a depth of 33 feet, more than enough for snorkeling without a dedicated housing.

If we were talking about high-end scuba rigs, then it would be a different discussion. I'm just saying that given how much I rely on my phone, I would not want to take it underwater on vacation and risk a housing failure

There is typically a time limit as well, and it’s never entirely clear whether it is for intentional submersion or accidental submersion. Ie. Whether it is more or less certain to make it or likely to make it. With the iPhone it is the latter, and I don’t think any of the GoPro or tg can really do scuba without housing. Snorkeling I think the answer is yes. The seals will wear out over time etc as well.

Yeah I decided on skipping the 13 Pro and getting an iPhone 13 regular and likely a TG6 (or 7 if they release it before summer) for this kind of P&S photography. In addition to the factors you mention about losing the phone and relying on housings, and the extra controls people mentioned with the tg6, the clincher for me was that as far as I can tell from fooling around in the store, and from insta photos, the 13pro macro has a LOT of distortion around the corners of photos taken very close from subjects, and macro was going to be a key selling point for me. Focus stacking in the tg6, noticably less distortion, and my plans to buy a true macro lens in the near future also helped make up my mind. Even basic macros on basic cams like 60mm on em10 seem to produce reliably better pics than the 13 pro macro. It just isnt there yet.

I find the iPhone camera a bit useless without the “pro” tele unit. The challenge with the tg6 is that even under optimal conditions the iq is a let down. The GoPro and iPhone are at least a notch above best case.

Yeah the telephoto is one thing i miss…im looking for a compact p&s instead, continuous optical zoom is a dealbreaker for me, tho the 3x fixed is pretty good. Id like something that goes at least to 4 max and can do 1.5 or 2x optical as well