There are not too many differences between the Olympus D-575 and D-580 digital cameras and their cases are not one of them. For this reason, they can both fit into the Olympus PT021 Underwater Housing.
Although officially called an Underwater Housing because it is capable of bringing these two fine Olympus digital cameras underwater, its area of protection is wider than that. On land, it also shields the camera from dust and snow as well as bumps, falls, and knocks.
The housing is made of clear polycarbonate with red highlights in front of the lens, the hinges and clamps, and on some of the levers and buttons that access camera functions. There is also a diffuser in front of the built-in flash, and a detachable hood for the LCD monitor. Since polycarbonate has good optical qualities, the camera’s 1.8-inch LCD monitor is clearly visible through the housing.
As far as underwater protection is concerned, the Olympus PT021 can withstand water pressures up to depths of 130 feet. A rubber o-ring seal runs the full length of the shell’s joints to prevent water seepage. When on terra firma, the impact-resistant polycarbonate shell absorbs the shock of falls and bumps keeping the camera untouched.
A mounting for converter lenses and filters are incorporated in the PT021 for more creative photography. Should the internal flash prove insufficient to provide proper lighting under the water, it can be used to trigger a slave flash. All camera controls are fully accessible.
One of the differences between the D-575 and D-580 is their image sensors. The D-575 sports a 3.2-megapixel sensor while the D-580 boasts of 4 megapixels. Both have 3x optical zoom lenses. As for their digital zoom, however, the D-575’s is less at 3.3x to the D-580’s 4x.
They also have seven shooting modes you can choose from that would cover most shooting situations. These include landscape, portrait, night scene, and a movie mode with audio.
When joined, the Olympus PT021 and D-575 or D-580assure you of great photos while playing in the rivers, lakes, and oceans, whether on or below their surfaces.