underwater photgraphy

What is the Best Underwater Camera Housing?

Underwater photography can only happen when the workings of the camera are dry. Some compact cameras have been designed to be waterproof to a degree to relatively shallow depths. If you want to go deeper or take a high-performance professional level camera to depth, you will need a waterproof housing for protection.

There are a variety of cameras and housings out there to choose from. Here we will present some guidelines to help you choose and introduce top housing models that fit popular cameras in different categories for your consideration.

Underwater Camera Housing Buying Guide

When you embark on the idea of underwater photography, pricing can be a major concern. Budget and compact cameras can be fairly low priced. As you move to more professional level DSLR and mirrorless cameras the price goes up considerably. When you add a housing to your costs, the expense usually doubles at a minimum. The price of budget and compact camera housings are likely about the same price as the camera, with a few exceptions. For the professional level camera housings, the price is probably double or more the price of the camera. You would be wise to plan on the combined price when deciding on the camera to begin with.

Availability – Some camera models only have matching housings offered by the camera maker. Others have housings made by other companies with some different features and pricing. Popular cameras will offer a bigger choice. This is an additional factor for considering the combination before buying.

Access to Controls – The most suitable housing will allow complete and easy access to the controls. Some models are cheaper, trying to cut costs, or just poorly designed not allowing full access and making the camera/housing combo more difficult to use. Symptoms are hard to reach or difficult to access controls. Ideally, controls like buttons are large and ergonomically positioned. It would be useful to check reviews of the housing on Amazon or Google or a forum like this one before purchase:

Camera Gear Forum

Ergonomics – This refers to how well laid out for ease of use the design is. The underwater world can be a little disorienting and the use of gloves can make activation and usage more complicated. The sort of fine control needed to effectively activate the shutter is a good example. Large buttons or a lever can make this easier. The size of the housing and ability to use it with one hand are also factors. For a few pointers on this issue, please go here:

Underwater Photography Guide

Depth Rating – Housings are rated for how deep they can go before the pressure starts to cause leakage or damage to the system including malfunctions. Most housings are rated to go to at least the recommended maximum recreational limit of 130 feet (40 meters). If you are a technical diver and want to go deeper you will need to make sure your housing is rated to handle the pressure at your planned depth.

Material – Underwater housings are generally made from aluminum or a durable form of plastic, polycarbonate. Polycarbonate housings are cheaper, lighter in weight, more buoyant, and rated for shallower depths than aluminum housings. Aluminum housings are more durable, bulky, rated for greater depths, and generally better quality. In addition, they can be much more expensive.

Expandability -This refers to accessories that can be added to enhance or change the performance of the camera. The housing you select will determine which add-ons are possible. The add-ons can be placed into three categories, strobes, wet lenses, and trays and arms.

Strobes are flash units that emit a brief very bright burst of light. The light is brighter than alternative continuous sources and is an effective means of bringing back the color lost as you go deeper. There are two means of triggering the strobe. One is through the use of an optical link which relies on the camera’s flash unit. The other is an electronic link using a hot-shoe to activate the strobe. The system used will be a factor in the selection of your housing or strobe.
Wet Lenses – These are attached outside the housing on top of the port and include macro, wide-angle and others. Wet lenses can be added in the middle of the dive providing the freedom to change to different styles of photography without having to open the housing.
Trays and Arms – A tray fits underneath the camera and can have flexible arms to attach strobes to permitting best positioning. There are also housings that have handles the arms can be attached to.

Best Underwater Camera Housing List

Ikelite Nikon D810

Key Features:

Polycarbonate construction
Depth rated to 200 feet (60 meters)
Housing and tray have dual quick release handles
Slight negative buoyancy
Compatible with Four Lock system lens ports
The built-in flash cannot be used with this housing
Allows use of wet lenses
Summary: quality at a moderate price with easy access to important camera functions

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Ikelite Olympus EM5 Mark II

Key Features:

Clear polycarbonate construction
Depth rated to 200 feet (60 meters)
Tray and handle have a quick release function
Slight negative buoyancy
Easy access to all important camera functions
Ikelite bulkhead connector with built-in TTL circuitry for strobes
You need to provide a compatible mirrorless port for the lens you choose
Summary: quality at a moderate price with easy access to important camera functions

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Olympus PT-EP13

Key Features:

Polycarbonate construction
Depth rated to 150 feet (45 meters)
Port adapter compatible with a number of wet lenses
Fiber optic strobe connection
Summary: moderately priced housing with a range of accessories, easy access to all camera functions

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Sea & Sea Nikon MDX-D500

Key Features:

Body and ergonomic handles made of corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy
Depth rated to 330 feet (100 meters)
Controls glow in low light
Leak sensor
Diopter adjustment dial
External port lock and lens release
Summary: high-quality housing, probably the best for the Nikon D500, pretty expensive

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Ikelite Panasonic LX100

Key Features:

Clear polycarbonate body
Depth rated to 200 feet (60 meters)
Ikelite 5-pin bulkhead strobe connector
Summary: brand name housing for this popular compact camera at a moderate price

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Sony RX100

Key Features:

Clear polycarbonate construction
Depth rated to 130 feet (40 meters)
Rotary lens-ring dial, large shutter button lever, zoom lever
Allows use of camera’s built-in flash
Comes with a detachable diffuser for minimizing vignette
67 mm filter thread for lens and filters color correction
Detachable diffuser
Allows use of the camera’s flash
Summary: housing made by the camera manufacturer, very low priced, easy to use, with many functions on this compact camera

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Olympus TG-5

Key Features:

Polycarbonate construction
Depth rated to 150 feet (45 meters)
Full functionality
Optional adapter for other lenses
Summary: this budget, compact, waterproof camera has its depth range extended with this low priced housing, easy access to all camera functions

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GoPro Hero7

Key Features:

Polycarbonate construction
Depth rated to 200 feet (60 meters)
Summary: for use with the GoPro Hero5, 6, and 7 budget compact models, extends the depth with the same functionality at an extremely low price

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Comparison Table – Best Underwater Camera Housings

Picture	Housing	Material	Depth Rating	Rating	Price
	Ikelite Nikon D810	Polycarbonate	200 feet/60 meters	4.8	$$$
	Ikelite EM5 Mark II	Polycarbonate	200 feet/60 meters	4.7	$$$
	Olympus PT-EP 13	Polycarbonate	150 feet/45 meters	4.6	$$$
	Sea & Sea MDX-D500	Aluminum Alloy	330 feet/100 meters	4.9	$$$$
	Ikelite Panasonic LX100	Polycarbonate	200 feet/60 meters	4.7	$$$
	Sony RX100	Polycarbonate	130 feet/40 meters	4.6	$$
	Olympus TG-5	Polycarbonate	150 feet/40 meters	4.5	$$
	GoPro Hero7	Polycarbonate	200 feet/60 meters	4.0	$
Picture	Housing	Material	Depth Rating	Rating	Price

For more information concerning underwater photography, please check these reviews:

Comments and Feedback

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The Best Lens for Underwater Photography

10:34 am by Joe Leave a Comment

As your interest and skills develop as an underwater photographer, you will look for ways to increase your capabilities and move up to the next level. A more sophisticated or specialized lens for your camera is a great tool to help achieve this. Because you will be working underwater there are also some special issues because of that fact. You need to consider which lenses are appropriate for your camera of choice whether it is a compact, mirrorless, or DSLR model, any housing or accessories needed, and what sort of shots you are interested in, whether it be close-up or wide-angle. In order for you to get your head around what the options are and what best suits you, I’ll take you through a brief buying guide and introduce you to 10 different lenses covering the basic range. After that is a table comparing the reviewed models and a tip on lens maintenance.

What is the Best Lens for Underwater Photography? Buying Guide

Compact Camera Lenses – Compact cameras are the least expensive models, have built-in lenses and don’t necessarily use a housing. When you add a lens it is a wet lens installed on top of the existing one to achieve the desired effect. They lack versatility but can be added and removed underwater.

Mirrorless and DSLR Lenses – These lenses are for higher-end professional level cameras, more expensive, flexible, and take better quality pictures. They are switched out with the original and are always kept dry within the housing.

Type of Photography – Before selecting the lens to use you first want to clarify what kind of photos you would like to take. The most common lenses in use are macro and wide-angle. Macro lenses best capture closer targets such as individual fish and details, whereas wide-angle lenses are better at getting the broad picture from a distance like a school of fish or a seascape.

Type of Lens

Rectangular – With a rectangular lens straight lines or features appear straight, as in real life, without distortion.
Fisheye – This is a type of wide-angle lens. It provides a curved perspective like that of a fish which captures the up-close subject as well as the background. A fisheye lens allows you to get closer to your subject for better colors and a sharper image.
Macro – These lenses are also rectangular with a long barrel for close focusing and a continuous autofocus system. Top macro lenses are non-zoom fixed focal length lenses.

Focal Length – A lens’s focal length is expressed in millimeters. Wide-angle lenses have a smaller focal length in the range of 10-20mm. Macro lenses have focal lengths that are larger more like 60-100mm.

Budget – The top brand names, Nikon, Canon, and Sony are more expensive than some other lesser-known brands for the same or similar specifications. Usually, the brand names are more reliable and better quality, but not always. Price differences can be substantial. The models reviewed below range from a few hundred dollars to well over a thousand. It’s a major consideration for many.

Underwater Lens Reviews

Sony FE 90mm Macro

Key Features:

Macro photography lens
Use with 35mm full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Focal length: 90mm
Direct Drive SSM for silent focusing and shutter
9 blade aperture, corner to corner sharpness
Pros: excellent image stabilization, nano-coated lens minimizes lens flare or reflection
Cons: expensive, big, and heavy

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Canon EF 100mm

Key Features:

Macro photography lens
Use with full-frame DSLR cameras
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Focal length: 100mm
Image stabilization
Near-silent ultrasonic focusing
Pros: life-size close-up capabilities without an adapter
Cons: big and heavy, one user indicated the autofocus doesn’t always function smoothly

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Nikon 16mm Fisheye

Key Features:

Wide-angle photography fisheye lens
Use with full-frame DSLR cameras
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Focal length: 16mm
Photo capture to a 180-degree angle
Auto-focus
Image stabilization
Nikon Super Integrated Coating for minimized flare and ghost
Pros: Close-Range Correction (CRC) system performs well for close and distant focusing
Cons: not zoomable

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Canon EF 8-15mm Fisheye

Key Features:

Wide-angle photography fisheye lens
Use with full-frame and cropped sensor DSLR cameras
Maximum aperture: f/4
Focal length: 15mm
Photo capture to a 180-degree angle
Fast and quiet autofocus
Pros: at 8mm has the full circular fisheye effect
Cons: quite expensive

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Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm

Key Features:

Wide-angle photography
Use with rectilinear full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras
Maximum aperture: f/4
Focal length: 16mm
Built-in optical steady shot image stabilization
Seven-blade circular diaphragm for smooth, rounded bokeh
Fast and quiet autofocus
Pros: a constant f/4 maximum aperture offers consistent performance throughout the zoom range
Cons: quite expensive, heavy

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Sigma Diagonal Fisheye

Key Features:

Wide-angle photography fisheye lens
Use with full-frame DSLR cameras
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Focal length: 15mm
Autofocus
Photo capture to a 180-degree angle
Multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting
Pros: reliable, good in low light, a good lens for a novice, reasonably priced
Cons: let me know what you think

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Inon UWL-H100

Key Features:

Wide-angle photography
Use as an interchangeable wet lens for compact cameras
Maximum aperture: NA
Focal length: 67mm
Universally compatible
Ultra-wide angle photo capture
For use under or above water
Pros: good quality images, reasonably priced
Cons: heavy on a small compact camera

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Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye

Key Features:

Wide-angle photography fisheye lens
Use with cropped sensor DSLR cameras
Maximum aperture: f/3.5
Focal length: 10-17mm
Comes with Nikon or Canon mounts
Photo capture to a 180-degree angle with close focusing ability
Rotary zooming system
Pros: simple lightweight design, reasonably priced
Cons: autofocus may be slow in low light environments

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Canon 60mm Macro

Key Features:

Wide-angle photography
Use with cropped sensor DSLR cameras
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Focal length: 60mm
Can focus down to 1:1 magnification
Quiet autofocusing over a large range
Manual adjustment
Pros: versatile lens, good in low light environments, reasonable price
Cons: lens not zoomable

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Inon UCL-165M67 Close-up Lens

Key Features:

Macro photography lens
Use as an interchangeable wet lens for compact cameras
Maximum aperture: NA
Focal length: 165mm
Compatible with a universal wet macro lens
Can be stacked on mirrorless and DSLR lenses, as well
For use under or above water
Pros: good quality images, low priced
Cons: let me know what you think

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Picture	Lense	Camera	Wide Angle or Macro	Rating	Price
	Sony FE 90mm Macro	Mirrorless	Macro	5	$$$
	Canon EF 100mm	DSLR	Macro	4.9	$$$
	Nikon 16mm Fisheye	DSLR	Wide Angle	4.8	$$$
	Canon EF 8-15mm Fisheye	DSLR	Wide Angle	4.5	$$$$
	Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm	Mirrorless	Wide Angle	4.4	$$$$
	Sigma Diagonal Fisheye	DSLR	Wide Angle	4.6	$$
	Inon UWL-H100	Compact	Wide Angle	4.5	$$
	Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye	DSLR	Wide Angle	4.3	$$
	Canon 60mm Macro	DSLR	Macro	4.5	$$
	Inon UCL-165M67 Close-up Lens	Compact	Macro	4.5	$
Picture	Lense	Camera	Wide Angle or Macro	Rating	Price

Underwater Lens Maintenance

Taking good care of an expensive and easily damaged item like your lens is imperative for a long productive life. After use, make sure to rinse the lens in warm water to remove salt and debris. Any remaining bits can be abrasive and damage it. Dry it with a soft cloth and store it in its own case or some other protective container.

For more information concerning underwater photography, please check these reviews:

Comments and Feedback

I hope you found this post on lenses for underwater photography interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<

What is the Best Waterproof Camera?

7:26 am by Joe Leave a Comment

In today’s world having a camera to record life’s precious moments is practically a continuous necessity for many as evidenced by the number of people using their cell phones for selfies and other shots of the environment and people around them. A number of iPhones and high-end Android models can be used for fairly sophisticated photos and video and are even waterproof to a degree. However, if you plan to take your camera into the water for extended periods for a sporting activity like snorkeling or scuba diving you will have a better chance of maintaining the integrity of the device and creating quality output if it has been designed for underwater use. With a properly fitted housing, most cameras will serve underwater.

This post is concerned with compact, for the most part relatively inexpensive cameras, that are significantly waterproof without having to use a housing. There are so many models on the market today it may be a little daunting to make the appropriate selection for your own needs. To assist in the process a simple buying guide is just below to introduce key considerations. After that is a review of many of the best waterproof cameras. At the bottom, they are compared on several key features on a table.

What is the Best Waterproof Camera? A Buying Guide

We are looking for a light and compact model that is easy to carry and pack for travel has many capabilities, is waterproof, easy to use, and not too expensive. Most automatic cameras are easy to use, but the auto function doesn’t work all that well underwater. For that reason a camera with a manual mode is desirable. We want a camera that can shoot wide-angle and macro on the same dive with wet lenses. The sensor is generally small on compact cameras, so the bigger the better. Here is a short discussion of some of the characteristics to consider.

Megapixels (MP) – The more you have, the better the resolution of the picture. The compact cameras we are examining have a range from 12 to 20 MP.

Lens – There is not a quality or quantity sort of designation to compare in lenses. It is important to have a good one based on the build quality, reviews, and reputation of the maker. Samples of the photos or videos can also be a guide. For close up work, a macro lens is valuable.

Video Resolution – Many very low priced cameras use the top-level 4K picture which is quite clear. 1080P resolution is a step down, but also very clear. The cameras in this review fit into these two categories.

Waterproof Depth – If you plan on descending more than a few feet below the surface the depth that the waterproofing is effective is a factor. Without a housing, the cameras reviewed here have a depth range of 33-200 feet (10-60 meters). You need to keep this in mind so as not to exceed the capability of the camera. If you want to extend beyond the recommended range, you should consider another model or a housing.

Connectivity – Moving the files from your camera to another storage location is most conveniently done with a Wi-Fi connection. Some cameras also have Bluetooth capabilities.

Other Features – There are more and more special features added to cameras at the compact level all the time. Some of these include motion sensing, time-lapse, slow motion, zoom, microscope mode, music montages, live streaming, and more.

Best Waterproof Camera Review

GoPro Hero7 Black

The Hero7 is the newest in the GoPro line which is geared more toward video but has pretty outstanding performance and features as a still camera, as well.

Key Features

Shoots 4K video at 60 fps or in Slo-Mo mode
2-inch touchscreen display with zoom
Live streaming through Facebook live
HyperSmooth video stabilization
Hands-free voice control feature
Waterproof to 33 feet (10 meters)
12 MP CMOS sensor

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Olympus TG-870

The TG-870 is rugged and versatile suitable for the outdoors and underwater. It is a solid camera with a lot of features and capabilities that is a good model for a beginner to get started with.

Key Features:

16 MP BSI-CMOS sensor
7 fps shooting speed
Maximum ISO of 12,800
Ultra-wide angle 21mm lens, 5x optical zoom
Waterproof to 50 feet (15 meters)
Shockproof to 7 feet (2 meters), crushproof to 220 lbf, freezeproof to 14° F, dustproof
GPS and Wi-fi built-in
Articulating screen
Many optional features
No manual control or RAW shooting

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Fujifilm Finepix XP130

This is another rugged camera with many features for a photographer of action in a variety of circumstances and environments.

Key Features:

16.4 MP BSI CMOS sensor
Maximum ISO of 6,400
10 fps shooting speed
5x optical FUJINON zoom lens (28-140mm)
Waterproof to 65 feet (20 meters), shockproof to 5.8 feet (1.75 meters), freezeproof to 14° F, dustproof
Built-in image stabilization, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth
Anti-reflective coating
Geo-tagging capability
Manual focusing
No manual exposure or RAW shooting
Light body
Low price

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Nikon W300

The W300 is compact, rugged and durable to extremes of temperature, depth, and shock that takes high-resolution photos and has fairly advanced 4K video capabilities.

Key Features:

16 MP BSI CMOS sensor
Maximum ISO of 6,400
7 fps shooting speed
5x optical zoom NIKKOR lens with telephoto power and Hybrid VR image stabilization
High-resolution photos
4K Ultra HD videos, time-lapse videos, super lapse videos, and music montages
Waterproof to 100 feet (30 meters), freezeproof to 14° F, shock-proof to 7.9 feet (2.4 meters)
Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Image stabilization
Compact size
Remote control with a smartphone
No manual focusing or articulation touch screen
Reasonable price

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Ricoh WG-50

The Ricoh WG-50 is very similar to the Nikon W300 in resolution and ISO range. The differences are that the W300 doesn’t support 4K video and is waterproof to a shallower depth. The W-50 does have the enhanced digital microscope mode with 6 macro LEDs providing an even spread of lighting for well-focused smooth images. Currently, the pricing is about the same.

16 MB BSI CMOS sensor
Maximum ISO of 6,400
8 fps shooting speed
Compact
Great microscope mode
Captures video in Widescreen 1080P HD at 30 frames per second
Waterproof to 46 feet (14 meters), shockproof to 5 feet (1.5 meters), freezeproof
Built-in Wi-Fi
No image stabilization or 4K video
Poor display
Reasonable price

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Sony DCRX0

The RX0 is rugged and waterproof, with many creative performance features in a miniature body.

Key Features:

15.3 MB 1.0-type Exmor RS CMOS sensor
Maximum ISO of 12,800
16 fps shooting speed
Super small size
RAW and JPEG shoots
High-quality Zeiss lens for high-resolution images
Super slow motion
Waterproof to 33 feet (10 meters), shockproof to 6.5 feet (2 meters), crushproof to 400 lbf
No in-camera 4K video
No auto-focus or image stabilization
A bit expensive

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Leica X-U (Type 113)

The Leica XU (Type 113) is a professional level waterproof camera made of high-grade materials with a great lens and many top features.

Key Features:

16 MB APS-C CMOS sensor
Maximum ISO of 12,500
5 fps shooting speed
23mm F1.7 Summilux ASPH lens delivers a 35mm equivalent angle of view performance
Waterproof to 49 feet (15 meters), shockproof to 4 feet (1.2 meters),
Durably built
High-quality display
1080p HD video resolution
Manual focusing
External flash shoe, articulating screen
No true full manual control
No image stabilization or Wi-Fi
Slow auto
Heavy body
Several times more expensive than the others here

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Canon Powershot D30

The PowerShot D30 is a moderately priced camera that is rugged and waterproof to a depth of 82 feet (24 meters) without a housing. It has a fair array of features and options but does have a poor shooting speed to consider.

Key Features:

12.1 MB 1/2.3-inch BSI- CMOS sensor
Maximum ISO of 3,200
1.9 fps shooting speed (very low)
Waterproof to 82 feet (24 meters), shockproof to 6.5 feet (2 meters)
1080/24p HD video and super slow-motion video at 640×480 (H.264)
High build quality
Built-in GPS and image stabilization
Manual focusing
Light-weight body
No 4K video, Wi-Fi or RAW shooting
No articulating touchscreen

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Four other excellent models that I reviewed in another post are:

These 4 are included in the comparison table below. To see my review of them and several other compact and top-end cameras for scuba diving, please go here:

Best Scuba Diving Camera Reviews

Camera	Waterproof Depth	Resolution	Rating	Price
GoPro Hero7 Black	33 feet /10 meters	12 MP	4.6	$$
Olympus TG-870	50 feet/15 meters	16 MP	4.5	$$
Fujifilm Finepix XP130	65 feet/20 meters	16.4 MP	4.4	$
Nikon W300	110 feet/30 meters	16 MP	4.5	$$
Ricoh WG-50	46 feet/14 meters	16 MP	4.4	$$
Sony DCRX0	33 feet/10 meters	15.3 MP	4.4	$$$
Leica X-U (Type 113)	49 feet/15 meters	16.2 MP	4.8	$$$$$
Canon Powershot D30	82 feet/15 meters	12.1 MP	4.3	$$
Sealife Micro 2.0	200 feet/60 meters	16 MP	4.5	$$$
Sealife DC2000	200 feet/60 meters	20 MP	4.5	$$$
GoPro Hero6	33 feet/10 meters	12 MP	4.4	$$
Olympus TG-5	50 feet/15 meters	12 MP	4.7	$$

Comments and Feedback

I hope you found this post on waterproof cameras interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<

Best Underwater Strobe Reviews

2:32 pm by Joe Leave a Comment

The undersea world is a miraculous place with fascinating life forms not to be seen onshore. Creating a record of your time underwater to share with others makes for a satisfying hobby or even livelihood. To get the best photos when light is low as on deep dives, overcast days, or in a sheltered area like a cave or wreck, makes for some pretty colorless and inexpressive shots. Simply put, an effective underwater strobe or flash can bring back the lost colors to give you a chance for some attractive photos.

In this post, I’ll try to make the process of selecting an underwater strobe a bit easier by first presenting information about important selection factors. Then 8 of the best strobes of various capabilities suiting different budgets are reviewed. Afterward is a comparison table and some guidelines for maintenance.

For a review of a range of underwater cameras to go along with a strobe, please check this post:

Best Scuba Diving Camera Reviews

How to Choose the Best Underwater Strobes

Strobe Power – The Guide Number expresses the strength of the light flashed from a strobe, the higher, the stronger. A concentrated beam will have a higher Guide Number than a diffused beam. For further explanation of Guide Numbers, please check here: Guide Number-Wiki

Recycle Rate – This is the time it takes from the strobe firing until it regenerates and is ready to fire again. Obviously, this will impact how soon you can get the next shot. If the recycle rate is slow you will miss shots of moving targets. The power of the strobe affects the recycle rate. A more powerful strobe recovers more quickly than a less powerful one. Low-intensity flashes will allow quicker recovery and more shots. The range for most strobes is between 1 and 3 seconds.

Angle of Coverage – This term expresses how wide the angle is for the coverage of light from the flash. For standard or macro shots, 90 degrees will be okay. For wider shots, an angle of coverage greater than 90 degrees will be needed. A diffuser on the strobe can increase the angle.

Size and Weight – The camera and housing can be large and unwieldy enough, so an ergonomic, small, lightweight strobe is desirable. You don’t want to scrimp on the features you desire just to make it smaller, however.

Battery Power – A powerful battery allows more options in using your strobe. Flashes per battery capacity are usually between 100-300 flashes. The more power you have the more lighted shots you can take. Make sure you use the batteries recommended for your strobe.

Underwater Strobe Review

Sea Life Sea Dragon

The Sea Dragon 2500, an ultra-wide beam light, is designed to accompany cameras like the SeaLife Micro HD, 2.0 or GoPro series. It uses modern LED technology which closely simulates natural light and color. A flex-connect single tray, grip, and fitted case are included with the light.

Guide Number: 20
Recycle Rate: 5 seconds
Angle of Coverage: 120 x 120 degrees
60 minute burn time at full power and constant brightness
Depth rated to 60 meters (200 feet)
Removable 25 W lithium-ion battery with charger and international plug adapters included

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For information on cameras which the Sea Life Sea Dragon supports, click here:

Sea & Sea YS-D2

The YS-D2 is great for wide-angle and macro photography with DSLR, mirrorless or compact cameras. It has an audible confirmation beep when the strobe is ready for another shot and has a dual powered target light with a red filter.

Guide Number: 32
Recycle Rate: 5 seconds
Angle of Coverage: 80 x 80 degrees
Newly designed battery compartment
New ergonomically designed controls
Wing-nut style fixing bolt
Power Options: 4 Alkaline AA or 4 AA Ni-MH
Burn Time on Alkaline Batteries: 150 Flashes, on Ni-MH: Approx. 250
Depth rated to 100 meters (330 feet)

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Sea & Sea YS-03

The YS-03 is more affordable than the YD-D2 with many of the same features that are great for wide-angle and macro photography for DSLR or compact users. The diffuser is standard and it comes with simple controls, fiber optic cable, flex arm, and an anodized aluminum tray.

Guide Number: 20
Recycle Rate: 3.1 seconds
Angle of Coverage: 100 x 100 degrees
Power Options: 4 Alkaline AA or 4 AA Ni-MH Batteries
Burn Time on Alkaline Batteries: 230 Flashes, on Ni-MH: 330 Flashes
Depth rated to 75 meters (250 feet)

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Sea & Sea YS-01

The YS-01 is great for wide-angle and macro photography with DSLR, mirrorless or compact cameras. There is a 10 level manual control function to fine-tune adjustment of light levels and built-in target light. This high-quality strobe comes with a one year Sea & Sea warranty

Guide Number: 20
Recycle Rate: 2.5 seconds
Angle of Coverage: 100 x 100 degrees
Power Options: 4 Alkaline AA or 4 AA Ni-MH Batteries
Burn Time on Alkaline Batteries: 230 Flashes, on Ni-MH: 330 Flashes
Depth rated to 75 meters (250 feet)
Comes with fiber optic cable port

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Olympus UFL-3

The UFL-3 is a lightweight compact strobe which is easy to set up and use and is most effective with Olympus cameras. It is very similar to the Sea & Sea YS-01, but a little more expensive.

Guide Number: 22
Recycle Rate: 2 seconds
Angle of Coverage: 78 degrees
Power Options: 4 Alkaline AA
Depth rated to 75 meters (250 feet)
Diffuser is included

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Inon D-200

The D-200 replaces the D-2000 and is based on the Z-330 design with the same features at a lower price. It is a midrange strobe for compact shooters that comes with a removable rotating shade and built-in focus light. Larger controls make it easier to use and it is much lighter than the D-2000.

Guide Number: 20
Recycle Rate: 1.3 seconds
Angle of Coverage: 110 degrees
Power Options: 4 Alkaline AA
Depth rated to 100 meters (330 feet)
Includes YS mount, fiber optic cable, diffuser

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Ikelite DS-51

The DS-51 is easy to maintain, very affordable, and designed for compact cameras. There are six manual power settings to adjust light levels to customize your shots.

Guide Number: 28
Recycle Rate: 3.5 seconds
Angle of Coverage: 70 x 70 degrees
Power Options: accepts 4 AA cell Alkaline, Li-ion, NiMH or NiCad batteries (not included)
Up to 200 flashes
Depth rated to 90 meters (300 feet)
Comes with 1-inch ball mount

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Ikelite DS-161

The DS-161 is a high-end strobe designed for wide-angle photography and suitable also for close-up, macro, and portrait work. There are 10 adjustable brightness settings and a professional grade round xenon flash tube and powder coated reflector. The light turns off and back on automatically when taking a still photo to avoid over-exposure.

Guide Number: 24
Recycle Rate: 1.5 seconds
Angle of Coverage: 90 x 90 degrees
Power Options: rechargeable NiMH module
Depth rated to 100 meters (330 feet)
Diffuser included

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Strobe	Guide Number	Recycle Rate	Angle of Coverage	Rating	Price
Sea Life Sea Dragon	20	5 Seconds	120 X 120 Degrees	4	$
Sea & Sea YS-D2	32	1.5 Seconds	80 X 80 Degrees	4.5	$$$$
Sea & Sea YS-03	20	3.1 Seconds	100 X 100 Degrees	5	$
Sea & Sea YS-01	20	2.5 Seconds	100 X 100 Degrees	4.8	$$
Olympus UFL-3	22	2 Seconds	100 X 100 Degrees	4.8	$$
Inon D-200	20	1.3 Seconds	110 Degrees	5	$$$
Ikelite DS-51	28	3.5 Seconds	70 X 70 Degrees	4.6	$$$
Ikelite DS-161	24	1.5 Seconds	90 X 90 Degrees	5	$$$$$

What do you need to do to maintain your underwater strobe?

Follow the instructions in the manual provided by the manufacturer.
After every dive rinse it thoroughly with fresh water like all your diving equipment. Saltwater is corrosive.
Check the battery contacts and use a pencil eraser to clean them, if necessary.
Familiarize yourself with rechargeable battery maintenance and follow prescribed procedures.
Thoroughly inspect 0-rings for any deformities and replace them if they show any weakness, nicks or other imperfections.
Between dive trips store your strobe in a dry, cool place out of the sun and remove the batteries.

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Best Scuba Diving Camera Reviews

2:22 am by Joe 2 Comments

I am presenting here a star’s list of underwater dive cameras that represent the best, ranging from budget compact models specifically designed for underwater use to high-end full-featured cameras.

Each model has a brief description and a more detailed list of featured specifications. At the end is a chart with some basic categories to compare. There are videos introducing and demonstrating each camera to hopefully fill in the gaps left in your understanding of the written information. Digesting a lot of technical data is necessary to make an informed decision about which is right for your photography and video needs. Hopefully, the combination of videos and words on the page do the job for you.

I’ll start with compact cameras primarily designed for underwater use, and proceed to the more versatile and finally to a top-end professional level model. Prices range from fairly affordable to pretty expensive.

Best Scuba Diving Camera Reviews

Compact Budget Cameras
Budget Cameras
Top End Cameras

Compact Budget Cameras

SeaLife Micro 2.0

SeaLife, known for making high-quality underwater cameras specifically for scuba diving, has created this simple 16-MP compact camera with 32 or 64 GB of onboard memory. It is waterproof to 200 feet (60.96 meters), with a sturdy ergonomically designed shock-resistant body that is permanently sealed with no openings or O-rings to eliminate the possibility of flooding. In addition, it has a Wi-Fi-enabled imaging system with a built-in fisheye lens and large user-friendly key controls. Switching to 1080 HD video is possible with a single button.

Key Specifications (from SeaLife)

Key Features: Easy set-up; Large battery; Fast shutter response; Compact Size; Fully rubber-armored shock resistant
Image Sensor: 16MP SONY® sensor
Memory: 32GB or 64GB Internal
Video: 1296@30fps or 1080p@60fps
Underwater Modes: 3 UW modes: Dive, Snorkel, External Light; 3 UW color correction settings: Deep, Shallow, Green Water
Field of View: 130°, 100°, or 80° at 16MP with Auto Barrel Distortion Correction
Time-Lapse Shooting: Yes – saves as video files or picture series
Upside Down Shooting: Yes
Shortcut Mode: Yes
Battery: 2350 mAh Li-ion battery (internal)
Focus System: High-Depth Wide Angle Fixed Focus
Focus Range: 12″ to infinity (3.5″/9cm + with optional lenses)
Tripod/Tray Mount: Yes (standard 1/4-20)
Controls: 3 “Piano Keys” and shutter for easy control
LCD Display Monitor: Large 2.4″ color TFT display
External Power Mode: Yes
Depth Rating: 200ft / 60m Permanently Sealed
Size / Weight: 10.1oz / 285g

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SeaLife DC2000

The SeaLife DC2000 20-MP Digital Camera has an array of advanced features including a high-quality image sensor and super-fast autofocus. It is waterproof to 200 feet (60.96 meters) with eight shooting modes and several advanced features making it a suitable underwater camera for mid-level and advanced underwater photographers.

Key Specifications (from SeaLife)

Key Features: RAW & JPEG imaging formats, Full manual and aperture controls; Waterproof inner camera
Image Sensor: 20MP 1″ SONY® sensor
Memory: Micro SD card up to 64GB
Video: 1080p@60fps
Underwater Modes: 4 UW modes: Dive, Snorkel, External Light and Flash
3 UW color correction settings: Deep, Shallow, Green Water
Field of View: Land: 66° Diagonal (Underwater 50°) WA Lenses Available
Time-Lapse Shooting: Yes – saves as picture series
Upside Down Shooting: Yes
Shortcut Mode: Yes
Battery: 1130 mAh Li-ion battery (external)
Focus System: Electronic High-Speed Auto Focus
Focus Range: Auto Focus: 3.5”(9cm) to infinity (1.5″/3.81cm + with optional lenses)
Tripod/Tray Mount: Yes (standard 1/4-20)
Controls: 4 “Piano Keys” and shutter for easy control
LCD Display Monitor: Large 3.0” 920k color TFT display
External Power Mode: Yes
Depth Rating: 200ft / 60m with housing, 60ft / 18m inner camera only
Size / Weight: 8.3oz / 234g (inner camera) 24.4oz / 691g (camera w/ housing)

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GoPro Hero6

The GoPro Hero6 is the most advanced in the GoPro line. It’s a great option for shooting video in an extremely small and light camera.

Key Specifications (from Amazon):

12 MP sensor
HERO6 Black automatically sends your footage to your phone where the app turns it into a QuikStory
4K60 and 1080p 240 video
Waterproof to 33ft (10m) without a housing
Touch Zoom
2-inch display
5GHz Wi-Fi

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Housing for the GoPro Hero6

Olympus TG-5

The Olympus TG-5 is a user-friendly all-around camera with excellent macro and wide image quality for photo and video which can go to 50 feet (15 meters) without a housing. It has the ability to do wide-angle, macro, and 4K video and has a microscope mode making it a diversely capable compact camera.

Key Specifications (from Olympus)

Sensor Effective Resolution / Size – 12 Megapixel BSI-CMOS 1/2.3
Processor – TruePic VIII™
Waterproof – 50ft (15m) – IPX8
Shockproof – 7ft (2.1m)
Crushproof – 220lbf (100kgf)
Freezeproof – 14°F (-10°C)
Dustproof – Yes – IP6X
Rear Monitor – 3.0” LCD (460K Dots)
Video – 4K 30p, 4K Timelapse Video, FHD 120fps High-Speed Video
Special Features – Action Track Sensor System, Zero-lag Pro Capture Mode, RAW Capture, Night Time Live Composite Mode, Microscope Modes

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Housing for the Olympus TG-5

Compact Cameras

Sony RX100 V

This compact camera has excellent image quality and fast still image frame rate at 16 frames per second. It shoots 4K video but has a 5-minute clip length limit. This is not a problem for underwater videography, but not a strong point for heavy video shooters.

For still shooting there is no macro mode in-camera, so portrait shots of 4-5 inches or less would require an accessory macro lens stacked to get shots of smaller subjects.

Key Specifications (from Sony):

Depth Rating: 200ft (60.96m)
1in 20.1 MP Exmor RS BSI CMOS Sensor
BIONZ X Processor
24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar Lens with ND Filter
Internal 4K UHD (2160p) Video Recording at 30fps
20 MP Still Image Resolution (5472 x 3648)
2.9x Optical Zoom, 5.8x Clear Image Zoom, 11x Digital Zoom
ISO Range: 80-12800
Up to 24fps Continuous Shooting
JPEG & RAW Image File Formats
3in Tilting LCD Screen (Approx. 1.22m Dots)
Memory Stick PRO Duo / SD Memory Card Slot
Wi-Fi, Micro-USB, USB 2.0, HDMI D (Micro)

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Sony RX100 V Housing

Panasonic Lumix LX100

The Panasonic LX100 combines a super-fast lens with a micro four-thirds sensor. It also has a TTL flash hot shoe, which means you don’t have to rely on the camera’s built-in flash for automatic strobe exposure. The LX100 has a built-in 24-75mm Leica DC lens (F1.7-2.8). Its 4K recording capability delivers fantastic video quality.

Key Specifications (from Amazon):

Effective resolution: 12.7 MP
Manual controls
Multi-aspect micro four-thirds sensor
f1.7-2.8, 24-75mm, Leica DC zoom lens
Eye-level EVF (2,764k-dot). Optical Image Stabilizer POWER O.I.S.
30p 4K Ultra HD video and 4K photo mode

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Housing for Panasonic Lumix LX100

Top End Cameras

Panasonic Lumix GH5

The Panasonic GH5 has many professional-level video and photo features making it a high-level hybrid stills/video camera.

Key Features (from Panasonic):

Professional photo and 4K video performance in a durable magnesium alloy body.
20.3MP Four Thirds sensor with no low pass filter.
4K Video: Internal recording at 4K60/50p (4:2:0 8bit) & 4K30/25p/24p (4:2:2 10bit).
Variable Video Frame Rates 4K: Max. 60fps & FHD: Max. 180fps.
5-Axis Photo/Video Dual I.S. 2.0 up to 5 stops with compatible LUMIX MFT lenses, plus in-body stabilization support for classic non-O.I.S lenses.
Fast and accurate focusing utilizing LUMIX 480 fps DFD focusing system and Venus Engine 10
Full size (Type A) HDMI terminal with cable lock included & twin SD Card slots (UHS-II U3 Compatible).
3.5mm mic & headphone terminals – optional DMW-XLR1 microphone adaptor.
Eye viewfinder 3680k-dot OLED, 21mm, 0.76x.
V-LogL recording with (Optional) DMW-SFU1 paid upgrade

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Housing for Panasonic Lumix GH5

Nikon D810

The Nikon D810 is by far the best camera reviewed here and one of the very best on the market for nature, landscapes and diving, for both stills and HD 1080p video. The D810 is an extremely versatile tool for photographers and videographers.

Key Specifications (from Amazon):

36.3 MP FX-format CMOS sensor without an Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF)
30% faster EXPEED 4 image-processing engine
51-point AF system and 3D Color Matrix metering III with a 91,000-pixel RGB sensor
ISO 64-12,800 expandable to 51,200.Broadcast-caliber audio control right in the camera
Featuring a new RAW Small Size option, which produces 16MP images with much smaller file sizes. Lens Mount: Nikon F bayonet mount
Professional video and audio capabilities

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Housing for Nikon D810

Underwater Camera	Resolution	Price (with Housing)	Rating
SeaLife Micro 2	16 MP	$$	4.3
SeaLife DC2000	20 MP	$$	4.4
GoPro Hero6	12 MP	$	4.2
Olympus TG-5	12 MP	$$	4.5
Sony RX100 V	20 MP	$$$	4.7
Panasonic Lumix LX100	12 MP	$$$	4.4
Panasonic GH5	20 MP	$$$$	4.8
Nikon D810	36 MP	$$$$$	4.9

Comments and Feedback

I hope you found this post on cameras interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<