I the 2024 model, they redesigned the back plate, which clears completely the lens path for an iPhone 13 Pro Max. No vignette to be seen anymore. However, the 1x lens is no where near the center if the window… no external lens can be use in that context.
Ive always said, folks who make these housings, but aren’t divers, aren’t worth the time. From the reviews that I’ve seen, Sealife continues to have the best solution.
I use one of these cases but for Android phones. Dived with it around 20 times, always with 5 pumps of vacuum, no water entered or fog apeared. My mouse works fine but it is a pain to use buttons to move the cursor to unlock the phone or use camera functions underwater, this is not point and shoot... It is fine if you dive freely and can spend some time seting it up for the shoot.
From experience with other SeaFrogs housings, the vacuum is to test the main o-ring prior to diving, and the vacuum should be released before taking the housing underwater. After speaking with SeaFrogs their explanation was that the vacuum allows for leak testing in air, but additional pressure differential between the water and internal vacuum inside the housing at depth may stress the integrity of the housing/seal. I think that’s what the badly worded email (i.e. for testing and “not to use waterproof”) was supposed to mean!
Appreciate the input. I contacted Seafrogs 5 times, nowhere in any of their explanations was that evident. The user manual actually infers that the vacuum is applied prior to diving, meaning its needed to dive. Additionally I have tested other housings where a vacuum is required. In each of those, the purpose was at least moisture and fog control. If the vacuum is to simply test the main o-ring's water resistance capability, I would have thought, that would have been done in development, during stress and material testing. I have tested other housings similar to Seafrogs, where a vacuum is not required, they go to similar depth as the PH-02, and have no issue with o-ring seal. My problem with Seafrogs PH02 wasn't really the vacuum. It was the fixed camera opening, that did not allow usage of an external macro or wide angle lens, or of the internal ultra wide lens on the iPhone, without vignetting or blurred images. Thanks again for the input. All pertinent info is always appreciated.
@@watertrek360 Looking at the video at @14:24 where you mount the phone without the factory sleeve, would it feasible to 3D print a sleeve that would lift the three iPhone 13 Pro lenses more centrally? With the aim to avoid the vignetting with the 0.5x lens and avoid the modifications to the housing from earlier in the video? Thanks again for all the detailed information, it's invaluable
@@cyanobacteriaone Well I basically did that. Look at this follow up video showing exactly that. I made a modified sleeves. ruclips.net/video/1shvFbO77K0/видео.html one to enable a wide angle lens, and one to enable use of the internal ultra-wide .5 lens. You'll find those at roughly minute 4:26 and the other at minute 5:20.
@@watertrek360 The vacuum is used to test the seal for leaks. These could come from a hair/ dust on the o-ring etc, so nothing to do with development but the actual user. By removing the air and causing a vacuum in the housing, you can then monitor this after some time to see if the vacuum remained and the seal is good. The test of the vacuum in this housing is to release the vacuum, some housings will have an LED indicator etc. If you dive with the vacuum, you are increasing the force on the housing as the inside of the housing has an even more negative pressure when compared to the outside. If you think that air pressure on the surface is equivalent to 10m underwater, then you're essentially adding 10m of extra pressure to the housing as you dive....
@@kristianjohns752 The vacuum was the least of the issues. The vignetting with a .5X lens and inability to use an attachable wide angle lens, were the killers.
Isn’t the top left lens on the iphone 13 the tele lens (77mm equivalent)? I ask because I am looking for a phone housing with dome port that will work with the 1x (24mm equivalent) lens on the iphone 14 Pro which is the bottom left lens. It does not look like you can align the bottom left lens in the Seafrogs housing with the centre of the port (also a problem with the AxisGo). Second question, is the dome accessory a dry or wet port for the SeaFrogs housing? I love my seafrogs housing for my big camera … I just want to try a housing that can make the most of the iphone 14 Pro 24mm equivalent lens too. Thanks for all the comprehensive tests.
On both 13 and 14 Pro the top Left is the Zoom camera, On the 14 at 3X. 12MP 77 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture.. at 2X it's 48 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture. You are correct. with seafrogs if you want to use the 1X lens, it will not align properly if you are using an external wide angle. The seafrog external WA I was using, is wet. The new iPhone 14 Pro has a 48 megapixel primary 1X lens which is awesome. I am aware Axisgo has issues with vignetting with internal WA lens, since it only goes to 33 feet, I had no interest in buying it. Take a look at my latest video, it outlines 20 housings for iPhones. It should answer your question on which one I would recommend.
@@watertrek360 Many thanks. And thank you for the comprehensive 20x housing review. My search (like yours) continues … a slightly larger AxisGo surf housing which could align more lenses would suit me, but not a diver. The Gdome would do the job for me, but I find it hard to trust. I have a Seafrogs housing for my main camera, which is great. I hope Seafrogs make a slightly better housing soon!
Thanks for the feedback. Frankly the Seafrogs if it can create an camera opening, that can f8t multiple cameras, and use a flexible arm so it moves to fit the camera lens, it would be fine. It didn't do anything to impact the camera's AI. It was all positional issues. Good luck, send some photos.
Why would you want to pump a vacuum? Nobody did that in the past either! An overpressure would still be plausible if you absolutely want to test the tightness, but you can immediately see if water penetrates and the iPhone is well water-protected.
@@watertrek360 I have the previous model for a pro Max 11, the shots are fantastic but even there you had to help a bit to avoid reflections on the front glass when the sun was shining from behind. I did it with a piece of bicycle inner tube, which works very well and is also very flexible. How long do they need from a new iPhone release to the finished case? Half a year? The Dive Volk would be a bit too big and heavy for me.
So I bought the housing, red filters and dome port. It doesn't arrived yet, so I'm watching some reviews online. I was planning to take some over under shots of people, but this terrible vignetting and poor position of the glasses made me wonder In your opinion what's the best model to get considering lens arrangements and mainly using it for portraits in the water/over under shots/scuba dive video. I'm already disappointed with It. Matter fact this was the best review I found. Unfortunately it came out after my purchase
If you are referring to a Model of SEAFROGS, then I don't know. The PH01 is for non-iPhones and I have not tested that. If you are referring to other housings, by other manufacturers, at this point I say Divevolk, but I am not done searching.
@@watertrek360 I was talking about the iphone model that most likely is gonna be better for photos over/under water depending on the camera design (to be able to use it with the main lens right in the middle of the dome glass). Which iphone model do you think I can do that?
@@gabmoura Apologize for the delayed response, I didn't see this question until now. I am not sure. I have to assume it would be an earlier model of iphone possibly the XS or 11.
I have this housing. You went to a lot of trouble for this review - Super helpful, thank you.
I the 2024 model, they redesigned the back plate, which clears completely the lens path for an iPhone 13 Pro Max. No vignette to be seen anymore. However, the 1x lens is no where near the center if the window… no external lens can be use in that context.
Ive always said, folks who make these housings, but aren’t divers, aren’t worth the time. From the reviews that I’ve seen, Sealife continues to have the best solution.
A Sealife Review is in the works.
I use one of these cases but for Android phones. Dived with it around 20 times, always with 5 pumps of vacuum, no water entered or fog apeared. My mouse works fine but it is a pain to use buttons to move the cursor to unlock the phone or use camera functions underwater, this is not point and shoot... It is fine if you dive freely and can spend some time seting it up for the shoot.
From experience with other SeaFrogs housings, the vacuum is to test the main o-ring prior to diving, and the vacuum should be released before taking the housing underwater. After speaking with SeaFrogs their explanation was that the vacuum allows for leak testing in air, but additional pressure differential between the water and internal vacuum inside the housing at depth may stress the integrity of the housing/seal. I think that’s what the badly worded email (i.e. for testing and “not to use waterproof”) was supposed to mean!
Appreciate the input. I contacted Seafrogs 5 times, nowhere in any of their explanations was that evident. The user manual actually infers that the vacuum is applied prior to diving, meaning its needed to dive. Additionally I have tested other housings where a vacuum is required. In each of those, the purpose was at least moisture and fog control. If the vacuum is to simply test the main o-ring's water resistance capability, I would have thought, that would have been done in development, during stress and material testing. I have tested other housings similar to Seafrogs, where a vacuum is not required, they go to similar depth as the PH-02, and have no issue with o-ring seal. My problem with Seafrogs PH02 wasn't really the vacuum. It was the fixed camera opening, that did not allow usage of an external macro or wide angle lens, or of the internal ultra wide lens on the iPhone, without vignetting or blurred images. Thanks again for the input. All pertinent info is always appreciated.
@@watertrek360 Looking at the video at @14:24 where you mount the phone without the factory sleeve, would it feasible to 3D print a sleeve that would lift the three iPhone 13 Pro lenses more centrally? With the aim to avoid the vignetting with the 0.5x lens and avoid the modifications to the housing from earlier in the video? Thanks again for all the detailed information, it's invaluable
@@cyanobacteriaone Well I basically did that. Look at this follow up video showing exactly that. I made a modified sleeves. ruclips.net/video/1shvFbO77K0/видео.html one to enable a wide angle lens, and one to enable use of the internal ultra-wide .5 lens. You'll find those at roughly minute 4:26 and the other at minute 5:20.
@@watertrek360 The vacuum is used to test the seal for leaks. These could come from a hair/ dust on the o-ring etc, so nothing to do with development but the actual user. By removing the air and causing a vacuum in the housing, you can then monitor this after some time to see if the vacuum remained and the seal is good. The test of the vacuum in this housing is to release the vacuum, some housings will have an LED indicator etc. If you dive with the vacuum, you are increasing the force on the housing as the inside of the housing has an even more negative pressure when compared to the outside. If you think that air pressure on the surface is equivalent to 10m underwater, then you're essentially adding 10m of extra pressure to the housing as you dive....
@@kristianjohns752 The vacuum was the least of the issues. The vignetting with a .5X lens and inability to use an attachable wide angle lens, were the killers.
Very informative! Thank you for this.
Thanks for the detailed review !
Isn’t the top left lens on the iphone 13 the tele lens (77mm equivalent)? I ask because I am looking for a phone housing with dome port that will work with the 1x (24mm equivalent) lens on the iphone 14 Pro which is the bottom left lens. It does not look like you can align the bottom left lens in the Seafrogs housing with the centre of the port (also a problem with the AxisGo). Second question, is the dome accessory a dry or wet port for the SeaFrogs housing? I love my seafrogs housing for my big camera … I just want to try a housing that can make the most of the iphone 14 Pro 24mm equivalent lens too. Thanks for all the comprehensive tests.
Oh I meant iphone 13 Pro in the first sentence, since I see the iphone 13 top left is 1x.
On both 13 and 14 Pro the top Left is the Zoom camera, On the 14 at 3X. 12MP 77 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture.. at 2X it's 48 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture. You are correct. with seafrogs if you want to use the 1X lens, it will not align properly if you are using an external wide angle. The seafrog external WA I was using, is wet. The new iPhone 14 Pro has a 48 megapixel primary 1X lens which is awesome. I am aware Axisgo has issues with vignetting with internal WA lens, since it only goes to 33 feet, I had no interest in buying it. Take a look at my latest video, it outlines 20 housings for iPhones. It should answer your question on which one I would recommend.
@@watertrek360 Many thanks. And thank you for the comprehensive 20x housing review. My search (like yours) continues … a slightly larger AxisGo surf housing which could align more lenses would suit me, but not a diver. The Gdome would do the job for me, but I find it hard to trust. I have a Seafrogs housing for my main camera, which is great. I hope Seafrogs make a slightly better housing soon!
Thanks for the feedback. Frankly the Seafrogs if it can create an camera opening, that can f8t multiple cameras, and use a flexible arm so it moves to fit the camera lens, it would be fine. It didn't do anything to impact the camera's AI. It was all positional issues. Good luck, send some photos.
Why would you want to pump a vacuum? Nobody did that in the past either! An overpressure would still be plausible if you absolutely want to test the tightness, but you can immediately see if water penetrates and the iPhone is well water-protected.
Vacuum was the least of this housings issues, for iPhone 13 - 14.
@@watertrek360 I have the previous model for a pro Max 11, the shots are fantastic but even there you had to help a bit to avoid reflections on the front glass when the sun was shining from behind. I did it with a piece of bicycle inner tube, which works very well and is also very flexible.
How long do they need from a new iPhone release to the finished case? Half a year?
The Dive Volk would be a bit too big and heavy for me.
Have you tried the DiveVolk with dry gloves?
yes I have used gloves with Divevolk, wet suit gloves. You have to be patient as it doesn't work as well with gloves as it does with bare hands.
What about the Sealife case?
Take a look at my latest video, it outlines 20 housings for iPhones. It should answer your question on housings that may interest you.
will it work with the 13pro max?
yes
Great, Divevolk is still the best choice.
I Can’t. Say I disagree. Divevolk has some issues, but as of today its still my favorite.
So I bought the housing, red filters and dome port. It doesn't arrived yet, so I'm watching some reviews online.
I was planning to take some over under shots of people, but this terrible vignetting and poor position of the glasses made me wonder
In your opinion what's the best model to get considering lens arrangements and mainly using it for portraits in the water/over under shots/scuba dive video.
I'm already disappointed with It.
Matter fact this was the best review I found. Unfortunately it came out after my purchase
If you are referring to a Model of SEAFROGS, then I don't know. The PH01 is for non-iPhones and I have not tested that. If you are referring to other housings, by other manufacturers, at this point I say Divevolk, but I am not done searching.
@@watertrek360 I was talking about the iphone model that most likely is gonna be better for photos over/under water depending on the camera design (to be able to use it with the main lens right in the middle of the dome glass).
Which iphone model do you think I can do that?
@@gabmoura Apologize for the delayed response, I didn't see this question until now. I am not sure. I have to assume it would be an earlier model of iphone possibly the XS or 11.
I dive with it 3 times. and then Bluetooth stopped working!!
Thank you for a very detailed review!
Are you using an iPhone 13 at the moment?