Review: Olympus PT-043 Underwater Housing for the Olympus 1030SW Digital Underwater Camera

Ahoy divers and snorkel enthusiasts. You landed on my review because you got yourself an Olympus 1030SW didn't you? You spent nearly $500 on the underwater camera and to really ensure your camera is protected you are looking into purchasing an Olympus PT-043 Underwater Housing, right?

Or maybe you just want that extended your dive depth? The 1030SW can go 33 feet down, but when paired with the PT-043, the camera can extend that depth to 131 feet! Oh yeah!
 
I purchased the Olympus Stylus 1030SW last summer before we took our vacation to the Caribbean in the fall. The Olympus 1030SW seemed to have everything I was looking for in a camera. Great photos on land, and the ability to tote my camera along into the sea for underwater photography!

However I always felt uneasy about taking the camera along with me in the water. I always worried about it leaking, or flooding. I worried about it so much, because Olympus has a pretty cruddy warranty when it comes to water in the 'underwater' camera, and at the time I spent a lot of money on it when it was first released.

I bought the Olympus PT-043 so I wouldn't have to worry about all of that garb. Plus the cameras little hatch doors always worried me. I thought I'd hit it by accident and open them up while in the water. The PT-043 pretty much gave me peace of mind.

Out Of The Box:
 
The Olympus Underwater Housing PT-043 comes of course with the gorgeous clear and red plastic housing. Inside of the box you will also have a warranty, instructions, silica gel, a small spare square lens window, a wrist attachment that contains a soft material coating for comfort while swimming, and lubrication for maintenance on the PT-043 O ring.

The case itself is made with a sturdy, rounded, polycarbonate design. It's basic function is to keep your camera dry!

I know, it's a funny concept, considering the camera itself can be plopped into the water. If you are serious about keeping the camera for years to come though, the PT-043 is definitely a must have. Especially if you will be doing a lot of underwater snorkeling and dives.

The camera alone can stay underwater for up to an hour, but pop it into the Olympus PT-043, and you have no worries about time management.

You will notice a new black rubber window frame that is aligned around the viewing frame. I loved this addition, because it allows me to see the screen on the camera much, much easier than before. It provides a shade, which is excellent in areas where sunlight may make it difficult to see the screen.

Appearance:
 
The PT-043 is gorgeous out of the box. Although it is just a simple underwater housing, I must say it glistens like a gem, and I personally love the red detailing added to the case. If the housing were accidentally dropped, it would be pretty easy to spot, considering its bold color choice.

Ease Of Use:
 
Buttons on the PT-043 are all superbly and properly aligned and labeled to make navigating menus easy. Every button works with precision. The larger bulk added around the camera will take a moment to get used to, but all in all everything is pretty straightforward. The buttons you see on the camera itself are all labeled on the housing, so it's all really easy to use.

There are two silver clasps that tightly shut. They work similar to a suitcase buckle, and are very sturdy, and provide a nice air tight seal. They are not flimsy, and will not pop open while in use.

The Olympus PT-043 can have different lenses screwed into place. It is a 52mm, and you can purchase separate special lenses for use with it. Underwater red filter lenses in particular are a good choice.

 They will eliminate the 'blue' effect, allowing more color to come through on your underwater photos.

 Many underwater photos come out looking too blue in color. The filters will keep the real colors as bright and vivid as possible. A lot of people recommend Magic Filters, but I have no personal use with them, so I cannot comment on how well they work.

Anyhow, using the Olympus PT-043 is simple. Before placing your camera into the housing though, it is suggested that you test it out without the camera in first. If you see leaks, then you know there is a problem.

I did as advised, and the PT-043 was leak free. I placed in my camera and went to work.

The housing itself has a neutral buoyancy to it, so it will sink, but for me, it did not sink to the very bottom of the pool. It sort of maintains a mid float in the water, which is cool.

The included packets of silica gel are not meant to be thrown out. You are supposed to place one small packet into the housing underneath the camera. This gel helps keep the housing clear of fog while in the water.

Overall:
 
If you have gotten yourself an Olympus 1030SW Underwater Digital Camera, than I highly, highly suggest the PT-043 Underwater Housing. It allows you to dive deeper, keep the camera in the water for as long as you want, and it provides peace of mind. All in all it is the best investment I made for my camera. I love the housing, and am very excited to tote it along with me for our upcoming vacation to the Bahamas.

Where To Buy:
 
The PT-043 is actually a discontinued model on Olympus, however this was not due to quirks. It was due to the fact that Olympus brought a new inventory of Olympus Tough models, which I have heard nothing but negative reviews (leaking) regarding the models. The 1030SW seems to work better than the new models.

At any rate, due to the housing no longer being made, they are somewhat hard to come by for a decent price. If you look over at Amazon, you will find a bunch of them, but with shady prices.

I did a thorough search online and picked mine up at OpticalOceanSales.com. The pricing here came to $199, and it was well worth it. I also highly recommend the site, as they had my housing packed and shipped to me in 2 days flat, with standard shipping. If you are going to buy it, definitely buy it there.