Here, I made use of SeaLife’s dual handle tray so I could have a Sea Dragon 2500 on board to serve as a focus light. SeaLife DC2000 HD Underwater Digital Camera with Sea Dragon 2500 LED Light Set 4.3 out of 5 stars 10. The lens is an 11.6mm f/1.8 prime, delivering a field of view roughly equivalent to 31mm on a full-frame system. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Despite holding its own in terms of features and image quality, the DC2000 may not offer quite the same level of flexibility as a separate compact camera and housing, but you would be hard pressed to find a sleeker and more user-friendly rig. Consumer Score . 7 offers from $279.99. Noise is a real issue, and the Raw shots are noticeably underexposed. Imatest also analyzes images to check for noise. The firmware version installed on your camera will be displayed on the lower right side of the LCD display when powering on the camera. Sealife‘s camera Sealife DC2000 with its 20 megapixel 1″ CMOS sensor and the fast F1.8 31 mm lens (KB equivalent) will put an end to this. More importantly, even the edges of the frame are better than the 1,800 lines we like to see at a minimum—they show 2,200 lines. The DC2000 has a strong macro capability, locking on to subjects as little as 3.5 inches away from the lens. Underwater and outdoor cameras are rather marbled by the image results thanks to the very small image sensor. The “Ext Light” scene mode with the Sea Dragon Duo 5000 dual video lights produced some very pleasing color schemes. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for SeaLife DC2000 Camera Pro Duo Set at Amazon.com. Adding strobes and lights for different shooting situations is a breeze. Housing has a single standard-size tripod mount (same size as Canon & Olympus housings) Front view of the SeaLife DC1400 underwater housing. The DC2000 offers four scene modes to suit your activity and equipment: “Snorkel,” “Dive,” “External Flash,” and “External Light.” The camera also has digital color-correction filters (white balance settings) designed to produce ideal color at specified depths. On the video side, it would have been nice to have 4K on board, but the camera’s high-quality Full HD capture at 60fps is eminently usable for practical purposes. When shooting Raw you can see details in images all the way through ISO 6400, although both grain and color noise are visible. When shooting the camera in manual (M) mode, adjusting shutter speed and aperture was simple and fast for quick adjustments. |, The DC2000 boasts a significantly larger 1-inch CMOS type sensor—and it’s made by Sony, 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor, the new camera boasts a significantly larger. Le SeaLife DC2000 est équipé d'un capteur Sony de type 1 pouce de 20 millions de pixels, pour des enregistrements vidéo Full HD 1080 et des photos au formats JPEG et RAW. Idéal pour capturer toutes les subtilités des couleurs sous-marines dans vos photos et vidéos, le DC2000 Pro Duo est livré avec le double plateau Flex-Connect, deux poignées, la lampe photo/video Sea Dragon 2300 Auto, un Flash Sea Dragon et l’appareil photo sous-marin DC2000. Since I only had one strobe for my time with the rig, I enjoyed shooting macro with the continuous light of the Sea Dragon Duo 5000 and using the “Ext Light” scene mode. The SeaLife DC2000 ($699.00 at Amazon) is built to survive some abuse. © 1996-2021 Ziff Davis, LLC. At 2.6 by 4.6 by 1.4 inches (HWD) and 8.3 ounces, the camera is wrapped in a tough metal exterior … With the ability to make aperture and shutter speed adjustments, you can dial in exposures in both the foreground and background of your image. To see what these cameras can do, check out the gallery page. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sealife Battery For DC2000 (Li-ion, 3.7V, 1130mAh) at Amazon.com. As you increase the ISO—the sensitivity to light—image noise increases, robbing photos of detail. SeaLife DC2000 . It's rated to survive drops from heights of about 5 feet, and is waterproof to 60 feet, making it a solid option to use poolside or in shallower depths. I had the opportunity to test out the new SeaLife DC2000 Underwater Camera system the last few weeks. The moderate wide angle, just slightly narrower than an iPhone rear camera, is a solid focal length for travel and snapshots. The big enclosure measures 4.0 by 5.9 by 3.0 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.5 pounds with the DC2000 nestled inside. My 15 year old daughter and I have only been diving for about 1 and 1/2 years and have done about 50 dives. The new camera also has faster focusing capabilities, matched with a much better shutter response, 0.1s instead of 0.3s. SeaLife has been in the underwater camera game for many years, striving to offer us just that—a camera that is capable of great image quality, is a breeze to use, and comes at a competitive price point. Factor in the DC2000’s very affordable price, and SeaLife’s new flagship camera is destined to become the camera of choice for many divers beginning their adventures in underwater photography and video. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. For my wide-angle video shooting at depths greater than 40 feet, I shot the DC2000 accompanied with the Sea Dragon Duo 5000 and used the “Blue Water Shallow” setting for improved colors. This was great for shallow-water activities that keep you close to the surface and where there’s ample sunlight. Continuous shooting is only available in JPG mode, but is speedy at 6.2fps for up to 10 shots at a time. 9. The SeaLife DC2000 is an underwater camera that can dive up to 18m/60ft without its included housing and 60m/200ft with it. SeaLife’s most advanced underwater camera is the SeaLife DC2000. This is a crucial criterion for underwater photography: Marine life doesn’t wait around and capturing interesting behavior takes a camera that’s ready to record. I have not been able to test it underwater and won’t do so until October when I head off to the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia for a week. Still, even with its brute force approach to noise reduction, the DC2000 delivers noticeably stronger image quality than the Olympus TG-4 through ISO 3200. But the TG-4 is hard to find at retail, as it's set to be replaced by a new model, the TG-5, next month. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. The housing also has a gray window that diffuses and softens the flash output. You can also shoot Raw images at ISO 12800 and 25600, but I don't recommend pushing the camera that far. But I did submerge both the camera and housing and they continued to work perfectly. SeaLife isn't the first, second, or even third name you think of when it comes to buying a digital camera. All users will appreciate the large, well-marked dial that allows you to navigate through the the DC2000’s different shooting modes. On November 14, 2018, SeaLife officially released firmware version V1.08, which includes many enhancements and some bug fixes. You can find him on Instagram @jamespfisher, SeaLife isn't the first, second, or even third name you think of when it comes to buying a digital, How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, The Best SLR and Mirrorless Cameras for Beginners, Sony's New Lip-Reading Technology Could Boost Accessibility—or Invade Privacy, Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM Expands G Master Lens Line, How to Buy the Best DSLR and Mirrorless Camera Lenses for 2021, Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Review, Voigtlander Nokton 21mm F1.4 Aspherical Review. In 1982, his interest in underwater photography began to blossom. The camera’s preconfigured shooting modes are a huge benefit, allowing even the newest user to have a rig ready to shoot with minimal adjustment. The “Ext Flash” scene mode turned the DC2000 and Sea Dragon Flash into a very user-friendly point-and-shoot rig, with great image results. Cannot find Link123 Plus app in Google Play Store 5. The DC2000’s improved focusing speed proved to be crucial for fast-moving underwater subjects. The housing also comes with a built-in diffuser for the on-camera flash unit, as well as a fiber-optic plate that has inserts for two strobes. Since then,... © 2021. The direction pad adjusts EV compensation, flash output, macro focusing, and the self-timer. And then you'll have to wait five seconds … When playing back images, you'll also need to use up and down to scroll through photos—the left direction rotates orientation and a right press prompts you to delete. I didn't take the SeaLife under the sea itself—I'm not a diver by any stretch. Pros. degree in fisheries biology at Virginia Tech, W. Gregory Brown began his career as an aquatic biologist with the government. Digital Photography Review gives a short, sweet review of the SeaLife DC2000 underwater camera. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Rear buttons include Menu, Play, and Wi-Fi, as well as a four-way control pad with center OK button. Inside you'll find the battery (rated to 292 images by CIPA), a microSD memory card slot, and a micro USB port. I’ve taken it on one trip so far (Galapagos) and I’m fairly happy with my decision. SeaLIfe didn’t stop there either, with the DC2000 being able to record Full HD 1080p at a fluid 60fps, giving you some slow-motion options in post-production. SeaLife DC1400 underwater housing specs. In “Super Macro” focusing mode, the DC2000 has the ability to focus on a subject only four inches from the lens, The “Macro” focusing mode allows you to fill the frame with your intended subject and get you close enough to expose the scene properly with strobes or video lights. Novice shooters won’t be too bothered by this inconvenience, since ISO can often be set and then left alone, but more-experienced users may miss a dedicated ISO control. Its 1-inch sensor captures 20MP images, and while its JPG engine isn't as advanced as we've seen in other cameras, it still manages to deliver image quality that's much stronger than you get with a typical waterproof camera. Controls were very fluid, easy to use and responsive, making adjusting settings on the fly easy, When your picture-taking skills have improved sufficiently, the DC2000 allows you to progress easily to full manual shooting, The DC2000 caters to those looking for an all-round imaging machine with its two dedicated macro-focusing modes, I found I could achieve crisp and vibrant images when shooting at ISOs of 400 and below, Both the macro focusing modes proved to work well on the DC2000, even when shooting handheld footage of a moving subject, The DC2000 is an ideal system for divers who want an easy point-and-shoot experience, but it also caters to the more-adventurous shooter ready to break into the realm of full manual control, travel destinations for underwater photography, Sony 1” back-illuminated 20MP CMOS image sensor, 4 underwater modes with 3 built-in color-correction filters, Ultra-fast autofocus with 0.1s shutter response, Full HD 1080p 60fps video with picture in video capture, Waterproof to 60ft/18m and shockproof up to 5ft./1.5m, Expandable with the Sea Dragon flash units and photo-video lights, and SeaLife wet lenses, Removable double fiber-optic cable connection. Power-on is quick, and you can also take an image quickly after startup. Editor’s Note: We would like to thank SeaLife Cameras for supplying the DC2000, DC Fisheye wide-angle lens, Sea Dragon Duo 5000 lights, Sea Dragon Flash, and various Flex-Connect accessories, which were used in this review. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sealife DC2000 Pro Duo (w/Sea Dragon Flash and 2300 Auto Light) at Amazon.com. There's no 4K video, but the DC2000 records strong 1080p footage at 30 or 60fps. Upon obtaining a B.S. Add the housing to your setup, and a whole array of attachments become available via SeaLife’s Flex-Connect arm system. Instruction Manual updates/corrections 6. I loved the fact that the camera offers a separate record button that I could hit at any point in all of the shooting modes, so I was always ready to grab a quick video clip of an awesome encounter. The DC2000 housing features large, well-labeled piano-style keys on the back, and the camera’s various shooting modes can all be accessed via the rotary dial above the keys. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. If you're at f/1.8 pressing up changes the aperture to f/11, while pressing down scrolls through f/2, f/2.8, and so on. To take your wide-angle abilities to the next (or should I say, wider) level, you can attach SeaLife’s DC Fisheye wide-angle wet lens, which, according to SeaLife, reduces the focal length of the lens from 31mm to 19mm (film equivalent), a much more usable lens for wrecks, big animals, and expansive reef scenes. Narrowing the aperture a bit improves clarity. The DC2000 includes Wi-Fi for file transfer and remote control. SeaLife’s most versatile set, the DC2000 Pro Duo, comes equipped with the new Sea Dragon 2300 Auto light, Sea Dragon Flash, two Flex-Connect Grips and a Dual Tray.There are also two single trays in case the user wants to use just a light or strobe. Adjusting the power of the strobe was also very simple, with a single well-marked power dial on the back of the strobe. The DC2000 has seen many improvements over its now-discontinued predecessor, the DC1400. The DC2000 starts, focuses, and captures an image in about 3.1 seconds. Highlight reel shot with the SeaLife DC2000 in Full HD. By having the two light sources instead of one, it was possible to properly light a macro scene and eliminate undesirable shadows. Show all Images . SeaLife Cons: a bit expensive, very little product reviews available online, and small user base/community. The new Sea Dragon 2300 Auto light features 2300 true lumens of brightness across a wide 100-degree beam angle. More-advanced users can also make use of the DC2000’s manual white balance option, but this requires some menu diving to select the “Custom WB” setting. Olympus TG-5 versus SeaLife DC2000 Discussion in 'The Olympus Outlet' started by DougieG, Nov 24, 2018. The recent past has seen an explosion of affordable, feature-rich and user-friendly compact cameras that are designed to appeal to divers beginning their journeys in underwater photography and video. The SeaLife DC2000 ($599.00 at Amazon) is built to survive some abuse. Top controls include a power button, the shutter release, and a record button to start and stop videos. With an elusive subject like a juvenile slender filefish, the DC2000 was able to maintain focus as long as I was careful to have a steady hand and manage to keep the camera the same distance from the subject. Shot at ISO 400, this image of a hawksbill turtle shows great image quality and unobtrusive noise viewed at a 1:1 zoom, At higher sensitivities, such as ISO 800 here, there is a fair amount of noise, but with the added image data offered by the RAW image format, it can be rectified in post-processing. The ability to excel in multiple types of underwater photography is a major factor that makes a solid compact setup. While the DC2000’s range of well-thought-out features allows shooters plenty of room to grow and try out different techniques, the extensive SeaLife ecosystem of wet lenses, lighting solutions and accessories make it all too easy for users to progress along their underwater imaging journey at their own pace. We are looking for a first underwater camera that is easy to use, but can "grow" with us as we gain more … The DC2000 comes equipped with both “Macro” and “Super Macro” focusing modes. Firmware V1.08 was originally released as a BETA firmware on June 26, 2018 and has passed internal testing. At f/1.8 it notches 2,521 lines per picture height, a strong result for a 20MP image sensor. When shooting in full manual, I left the aperture set to f/11 for much of the time, as I found the added depth of field and crispness—especially when using the SeaLife wide-angle lens—was well worth having to shoot at slightly higher ISOs. Likewise, pressing down when changing the shutter speed results in a quicker speed, while pressing up slows down the setting. You should avoid shooting at f/11, as diffraction cuts into image quality, reducing the score to 1,897 lines. The SeaLife DC2000 is a solid choice for photographers who want a tough, waterproof camera, but don't necessarily need a zoom lens. Review of the SeaLife DC2000 Underwater Camera, GoPro Ready with the SeaLife Sea Dragon 2000F Photo/Video Light, Review of the SeaLife Sea Dragon 3000F Auto and 2000F Photo/Video Lights, 2019 Top Compact Cameras and Housings for Underwater Photography and Video, Review of the SeaLife Sea Dragon 4500 Photo/Video Light. Still shooting Light a macro scene and eliminate undesirable shadows cours à vos grâce... Properly Light a macro scene and eliminate undesirable shadows like some other of... It on one trip so far ( Galapagos ) and weighs 1.5 pounds with SeaLife... Ample sunlight practice, you just aim the camera at ISO 400 and below feet... Fast memory card you 'll have to wait for 4K. ) speed and aperture was simple and for... Produced some very pleasing color schemes those reviews were appropriate and has strong viewing angles, review. Very straightforward cuts into image quality, reducing the score to 1,897 lines at... 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