Sealife DC1000- Reviews/Questions

[DevilDiver]

I thought we could start one thread for reviews & questions for the new (March 2009) Sealife DC1000 camera. If you have had the chance to use this camera or just have questions and/or opinions please post here...

NEW for March 2009
DC1000 Digital Camera - (Item #SL100)

Special Features

• NEW Easy Set-up mode – Easy 1-2-3 graphic on screen guide –takes the guess work out of setting up the camera for great pictures
• Sea mode with 4 UW color correction settings for blue and green water conditions at shallow or deeper depths).
• Ext Flash Auto mode for automatic exposure settings when using one or two external flash accessories. Ideal for beginner and intermediate UW photographers.
• Ext Flash Manual mode for manual aperture and shutter speed exposure controls when using one or two external flash accessories. Ideal for advanced UW photographers.
• Snorkel mode with color correction setting matching shallow water light conditions.
• Spy Mode – The camera automatically shoots continuous pictures at set time intervals. Ideal for wildlife photography or other hard-to-shoot subjects.
• Plus 11 Land modes – Automatically pre-sets the camera for the type of scene. Includes Anti-shake and aperture/shutter priority.
• Expandability with SeaLife wide angle lens (SL970) and up to two Digital Pro Flashes (SL961)
• Removable inner camera for use on Land & Sea
• Rubber armored for durability and sure grip.
• Big shutter button and widespread controls for easy access, even with dive gloves on.

Technical Features

• 10 megapixel CCD for sharp, high-resolution pictures.
• Large 2.7" LCD for easy on-camera viewing
• Depth tested to 200 ft (60m) - Guaranteed
• 25X Zoom. 5X optical plus 5Xdigital zoom
• High capacity rechargeable lithium battery 1250mAh for 2 tank dive+ (2+ hours or 200+ pics)
• Auto focus to 2" (5cm)
• Fast shutter response time* and quick start-up for fast action photography. *(As fast as 0.1 sec in Ext Flash mode and infinity focus)
• 640x480 large format Video mode with Sound
• SD and SDHC memory Card compatible up to 8GB

Sealife DC1000 webpage: SeaLife Cameras - Underwater Digital Camera - DC1000

[FishFood]

My First Question -

Is this a real camera, or another one of Sealife's $50 Vivitar cheapos shoved in a fancy case and sold for $700?

[jeepbrew]

Originally Posted by FishFood

My First Question -

Is this a real camera, or another one of Sealife's $50 Vivitar cheapos shoved in a fancy case and sold for $700?

My guess is Vivitar POS.

[DevilDiver]

Well.... That is why we post threads like this, so people can give thier opinions.

[Inka26]

Actualy, it ' s a Minox ( german camara)

[FishFood]

Minox, Vivitar.... all cheap crap that SeaLife uses to scam unsuspecting picture takers.

[DevilDiver]

Originally Posted by FishFood

Minox, Vivitar.... all cheap crap that Sea Life uses to scam unsuspecting picture takers.

FF- I know you have had issues with (I believe) the DC 500. I used one in the past and was happy with it at the time. I know the SL cameras are not top of the line but equipment is only half of the picture and these are entry level cameras.

There are plenty of people who use these cameras and are very happy with them so if there is a particular issue that you feel your camera is week in what did you do to overcome it?

All cameras have limitations, especially underwater, and part of the challenge is to know this and work with in these limitations and get the best results possible. There is a local (Dallas/Ft.Worth, Texas) diver who does articles for Dive Training Magazine and uses a SL DC600 with results good enough to be printed.

I have shot the DC 500 & the DC 600 with good results, they were not the best for every type of U/W shot but they preformed as advertised and on par for P&S digital at the time.

If you had mechanical issues or defects that is one issue. If you could not "get the shot" that you expected there could be other issues. U/W photography is difficult and the pro's are not pro's because they purchased a certain piece of equipment.

The Sea life line is designed for beginners and divers who want a easy to travel with simple setup with out all of the guess work about housings, strobes and connections, lenses, ect... The Sea life systems are pretty much plug and play and the cost reflects this.

If you go to put your own P&S system together and go high end because this is the results you expect you would be looking at spending a lot more $$ and doing a lot more research to get what you are looking for. If your issues have to do with focus lag, fish butts, blurry photos or color this could have to do with technique vs. equipment. Not to say more advanced cameras would not help with this but for the price range you will most likley have the same issues.

I know this does not help you or your opinion of Sea life cameras but I just wanted to try to be fair....

[sabbath999]

Well... I should have one soon (hopefully later this week) because SeaLife is replacing my 3 times defective DC800 with one.

I hope that this thing can take clear pictures on land, unlike my previous DC800.

I got the DC800 kit because I want something simple, compact and easy to carry. As long as the camera can take sharp pictures (i.e. there are no defects in the lens) then the ability to take excellent pictures lies with the photographer, not the camera.

I have a bachelor's in photojournalism, shot newspaper and wedding stuff for 20 years and currently have several ongoing projects including my NEWEST website that I just put up over the weekend and which is still being developed: My Blue Hawaii.Although I am a newbie at underwater photography, I do know at least a little bit about photo equipment

A camera is nothing more than a tool, and if the camera functions properly then it is all about technique and working within the limitations of the equipment.

[jeepbrew]

I guess I should have put another note with my "Vivitar POS" comment. I myself have a DC600 and have been quite pleased with the results. Who knows, I may step up to the DC 1000

[FishFood]

DD - When my DC600 works, it is a good entry level camera. I have no complaints. The problem, however, is that it works every third dive. I contacted Sealife and they sent me a new camera and battery, however, after 2 dives it started doin the same damn thing, only out of warranty of course. Other divers that I have talked to that owned a DC600 described the same problems I am having.

Oh, and thse problems include -

Incomplete charge
Dead battery after charging
Battery WONT charge


Infact, now I can't even use this camera w/o a small object inserted into the battery compartment to put pressure on the battery. I can't charge the battery w/o manually holding it in the charger at an angle. Sometimes I can get 100shots a dive, other times I can get a max of five.

I beleive the problems lies with faulty batteries. The contacts are made of cheap metals that either corrdoe, or somehow become otherwise unusable.

My "save-a-dive" kit now includes contact cleaner that must be applied to the battery DIRECTLY before the dive, or else the camera is useless.

Again, this has happened to two Sealife cameras, personally, and many others that I have talked to.

For those that are thinking about purchasing a Sealife - be warned. It may be a great camera, or it may give you pure hell


Anyhow! Back on topic - I hope they get the battery issues resolved for this camera. What is the expected capacity? Previously they have been quite low.