The most exciting box of joy landed on my desk recently - the Aquatech Axisgo iPhone underwater kit. I love you Early Santa!
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With my recent swim with green sea turtles in the Cook Islands still front of mind, this package of photographic gizmos sent me into raptures.
Even if you're not a professional photographer, it's likely you already own one of the world's most popular cameras (in terms of volume of images made): the iPhone. And no-one who's brand spanking new to underwater photography wants to risk damaging their $5000 plus DSLR camera.
Is my iPhone waterproof or water resistant or splash resistant? Does it even matter anymore? Enter the Axisgo, which apparently is not a case, it's a housing.
The first thing I noticed is the heavy and durable properties of this system. It's made of quality polycarbonate and metal - nothing plastic or cheap here.
The heavy click, as I close the housing over my iPhone11, puts Miss Worry-Wart to rest. A big clip locks the backplate and then becomes a handgrip.
The Aquatech team recommends an initial water test at home, in a bucket. I remind myself it promises each unit has been fully tested, but every assurance for my monkey-mind's torments about every tragic phone death possibility is worth it. Test passed with flying colours.
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The Axisgo housing also allows the user to swap out lenses. This photographer appreciates that they are actual lenses, not plastic clip-on guards, but quality glass and metal.
There is also a nifty attachment that to me truly is the most exciting bit of this system - a 6-inch optically correct glass lens dome-port. This increases the surface area of your lens and allows for split shots - you know, for those over-under water shots, showing the silent, slow, wet world in the same frame as the dry, earthy, noisy above-ground space we usually do our photography in.
There's a groovy touch screen element so you can flick around your phone as you normally might but also the designers have made a sensational pistol grip that pushes the volume button as a trigger. It's really ergonomic and allows you to extend your shooting arm in moving water. You can also use it to start and stop video recording. I felt it was an easy and natural way to shoot.
Be warned this system is negatively bouyant - which is a fancy way of saying it will sink. The creators provide a bangle-like wrist strap but you can opt for a more sturdy surf leash for big wave work if your experiments take you down that stream.
Using this housing it says you are safe to dive to 10 metres, so scuba enthusiasts might want more, but for snorkelling queens and land-locked Canberrans like me this will be just perfect. I can vouch it's made for professionals as well as enthusiasts and can bring joy to both.
Everything I've said is glowingly positive, right? So where could I see improvement? I honestly can't see how the Axisgo could be improved. But there is certainly room for more experimentation and personal improvement in my new underwater photography world.
A housing for an iPhone 11 costs $199, and the other accessories are extra. For more information go to aquatech.net