Why Own a Waterproof Camera When Your Phone Is Waterproof?

 

Why Own a Waterproof Camera When Your Phone Is Waterproof?

Sometimes the photograph exists precisely because you were willing to get the camera wet.

There is a moment familiar to anyone who takes photographs outdoors. Something interesting happens, you reach for a camera, and then hesitate.

Perhaps rain is blowing across the sailing boat. Perhaps your hands are sandy. Perhaps the photograph would look much better from just above the water, but your expensive phone suddenly feels rather slippery.

By the time you have decided whether it is worth the risk, the moment has gone.

That is why waterproof cameras still have a useful place in my equipment collection. I have an older Olympus Tough TG-5 and a newer OM SYSTEM Tough TG-7, both in black.

Their appeal goes beyond surviving an accidental splash. They change the situations in which I feel comfortable taking photographs, whether I am sailing, exploring a beach or investigating tiny details in the garden.

First, Is Your Phone Actually Waterproof?

The word “waterproof” needs care, whether we are discussing phones or cameras.

Many phones have a water-resistance rating based on specified laboratory tests. That does not automatically mean their manufacturer recommends swimming with them or repeatedly immersing them in seawater.

Apple, for example, explains that water resistance can decrease with normal wear and advises against intentional submersion, swimming with an iPhone and exposure to high-velocity water. Other phones have their own conditions, so check the guidance for your particular model. Apple Support

The TG-7 is designed for underwater photography without a separate housing, within its stated limits: up to 15 metres deep and no longer than 60 minutes. Those limits depend on the camera being maintained correctly, with its covers securely closed and seals in good condition. my.omsystem.com

The useful question is therefore:

“Is this device designed for the way I intend to use it?”

Surviving an accidental dunk and being suitable for a planned underwater photography session are different requirements.

Rain Can Be Part of the Photograph

Rain encourages many photographers to put their equipment away. Unfortunately, that can mean missing some of the most interesting conditions.

Wet surfaces reflect light. Raindrops collect on ropes and leaves. Clouds soften the illumination, while a sudden shaft of sunshine can transform an otherwise grey scene.

For sailing photography, the weather is part of the story. A photograph of wet sails, dripping rigging and a determined crew can communicate the experience far better than another sunny view from the shore.

With a waterproof compact, I can make a different decision about taking the camera out in those conditions. There is less preparation between seeing something and photographing it.

Try this: photograph the same subject before, during and after a shower. A garden chair, boat fitting or leaf will do. Look for changes in reflections, texture and colour.

Check the front of the lens regularly. A waterproof camera can still produce a blurred photograph when a large droplet sits directly in front of it.

On a Sailing Boat, Practicality Matters

A sailing boat is a demanding place for photography.

The platform moves. Ropes need attention. Spray arrives unexpectedly. There may be nowhere convenient to put down a large camera.

With boats such as Champagne, the RS Toura and Whaly Coyote, I can see several useful roles for a small waterproof camera:

• Recording a crew’s view along the boat.
• Photographing a fitting before and after maintenance.
• Capturing details of sheets, blocks and rigging.
• Taking low viewpoints close to the water.
• Recording short clips of sailing techniques when someone else is safely handling the boat.

The TG-7 has a physical shutter button, which gives a clear control to locate when working quickly. Practise operating it with the gloves you actually wear; small buttons can still be awkward.

A suitable floating strap is also worth considering. Waterproof does not mean it will float. Check that the strap supports the camera and any attached accessories, and keep it clear of moving equipment.

Photography must fit around sailing. A good picture is never worth losing awareness of another boat or neglecting a manoeuvre.

Beaches and Mud: The Places Where You Hesitate

At the beach, water is only one concern.

Sand gets into bags, sticks to fingers and finds its way into small gaps. On a muddy walk, even reaching into a pocket can become an exercise in transferring dirt.

A rugged compact is useful because it suits these surroundings. You might photograph patterns left by a retreating tide, wet pebbles, a muddy boot or the intricate surface of a piece of driftwood.

There is a creative advantage here: you become more willing to get down to the subject’s level.

Instead of photographing a shell from standing height, you can crouch beside it and make the beach stretch away behind it. Instead of a general view of a puddle, you can explore the reflection from almost ground level.

The camera still needs care. Keep grit away from seals, and leave battery and card compartments closed until you are somewhere clean and dry.

Underwater Photography Begins in Shallow Water

You do not need to be a diver to find an underwater subject.

A clear rock pool or safe, accessible patch of shallow water can reveal a world that looks quite different from beneath the surface.

Useful subjects include submerged stones, aquatic plants, shells and the patterns of light moving over the bottom.

A simple starting method is:

1. Choose calm, clear water with secure access.
2. Use the camera’s appropriate underwater mode.
3. Start with a stationary subject in good daylight.
4. Move close enough to reduce the amount of water between camera and subject.
5. Take several frames and check them before moving on.

The newer TG-7 is designed for underwater photography without a separate housing, within its stated limits: up to 15 metres deep and no longer than 60 minutes underwater. Those limits depend on correct maintenance, securely closed covers and seals in good condition. An older waterproof camera, such as my TG-5, deserves particular attention to its present condition before being submerged. 

For both cameras, preparation and maintenance matter. Check the seals and compartment edges for contamination, close and lock the covers correctly, and follow the relevant manual’s freshwater cleaning and drying instructions after underwater use. Keep the compartments closed until the camera is clean and dry. With my older TG-5, I would pay particular attention to seal condition rather than assume that its original waterproof rating guarantees its condition today.

The Surprise Benefit: Remarkable Close Focusing

For me, close-up photography is an important part of the argument for owning a waterproof compact.

My newer TG-7 can focus as close as approximately 1 cm from the front of the lens in microscope mode. It also offers focus stacking, taking photographs focused at different distances and combining them to show more of a stationary subject sharply. learning.omsystem.com

That opens up subjects such as rope fibres, corrosion on a boat fitting, leaf veins, shell ridges and droplets on moss.

This connects photography with my interest in science and teaching. A familiar object becomes a starting point for questions.

Why does that leaf hold droplets? How is the rope constructed? What does corrosion actually look like close up?

Try this: take three photographs of one object: its surroundings, the whole object and its smallest interesting detail. Together, they tell a much richer story.

At very close distances, avoid shading the subject with the camera. For focus stacking, choose something still and support the camera; movement can spoil the combined result.

Does It Take Better Photographs Than a Phone?

Sometimes a phone will produce the more pleasing image with less effort, particularly when its automatic processing handles a difficult scene well. It is also convenient for editing and sharing.

A larger camera offers its own advantages, including lens choice and greater scope for demanding photographic work.

The waterproof compact earns its place through a combination of access, handling and specialist features. The TG-7 also offers a 4× optical zoom and RAW recording for those who want more editing flexibility. OM SYSTEM

There is another practical consideration: my phone has several jobs.

It is a communication device, a source of information and potentially a means of calling for help. Keeping it protected while using a separate camera can be a sensible arrangement.

The compact has its own battery too. A photography session need not consume the phone power I may want later.

Waterproof Equipment Still Needs Looking After

Confidence comes from preparation and maintenance.

For the TG-7, the manufacturer’s guidance includes checking for dirt and sand, securely locking the compartment covers and keeping them closed in wet or dusty surroundings. After seawater use, it specifies a freshwater soak of about ten minutes with the covers locked and the lens ring removed, followed by drying in a shaded, ventilated place. Follow the full manual for the procedure. my.omsystem.com

An older camera deserves particular attention. Do not assume that its original depth rating proves the present condition of its seals.

Before a planned underwater session, check its condition and maintenance requirements. If there is damage or uncertainty, have it assessed.

A Small Camera Can Expand Your Photography

The photographic value of the TG-7 is easy to underestimate when comparing specifications indoors.

Its purpose becomes clearer beside a wet boat, on a beach or in a muddy garden. These are places where convenience and confidence influence whether the camera comes out at all.

For my mixture of sailing, photography and practical science, that makes a waterproof compact a useful tool. It encourages lower viewpoints, closer observation and photographs in conditions I might otherwise avoid.

The best result may be a dramatic sailing picture. It may be a tiny detail on a leaf. It may simply be a useful photograph of a boat fitting before I take it apart.

Sometimes the photograph exists precisely because you were willing to get the camera wet.