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Underwater Camera for Scuba Diving The new SeaLife DC500 features a new “Shark Mode” for faster and sharper pictures of moving objects underwater and in sports photography on land. The Shark Mode is activated by simply pushing the camera’s OK button which focuses on the intended subject. The camera will now remember that focus range and take sharp pictures with virtually no shutter lag. Underwater, in diving or snorkeling, everything moves, the diver as well as sea creatures are in constant movement. In addition to the Shark Mode, the automatic Sea exposure mode will shorten the exposure time underwater for sharper pictures.

LetsGoDigital Reviews the SeaLife DC500 underwater digital camera - Ilse Jurrien : July 11th 2005

“Sealife Pioneer Research, the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of SeaLife underwater photographic equipment, introduces the new and long awaited DC500, 5.5 megappixel digital camera with 3x optical zoom to its range of underwater photography products and accessories. Underwater photography has never been so easy.

The DC500 comes fully equipped with a non-slip, rubber armoured housing with advanced button operations, allowing you more control and ease of handling underwater. The DC500 is also complete with a 2.0 colour LTPS Screen, which makes viewing and deleting your images underwater even more easy to do. Giving you the advantage to explore the true beauty the coral and fish have to offer.

Supplying power on demand The DC500 Underwater Digital Camera is an exceptional addition to Sealife. As it boasts power, with techincal excellence. With the DC500 you have no excuse of missing a great shot ever again. The DC500 is all combined Land and Sea water sport dive camera, which gives you more control and power in any situation.

ScubaBoard Forum Members discuss the SeaLife DC500 Camera for Scuba Diving

Here are 2 comments, which I find interesting:

“I haven’t used it yet but we sell it at our shop. My boss uses it and you can really see the difference in the sharpness of the image.
It’s pretty impressive. The underwater pictures are very sharp and we also use it to take certification pictures at the shop. I’m trying to decide if I’m going to buy it or stick with my Canon A85.”

“So far, I am dissappointed with the DC 500. I took it on its first and possibly last dive trip earlier this month. There were issues with the camera not fitting in the housing properly due to inserts not being included with the housing. Because of this, the housing buttons would not work below 20 feet. The manufacturer recently sent new inserts, which do not even fit in the housing, so this is something that has still not been resolved.”

The Press Release on WETDAWG says this about the “Shark Mode” of the SeaLife DC500

“The new SeaLife DC500 is rated to a depth of 200 feet and features a new “Shark Mode” for faster and sharper pictures
of moving objects underwater and in sports photography on land.

SeaLife’s exclusive new “Shark Mode” has been developed based on input from underwater photographers: Many divers using land cameras in an underwater housing reported fuzzy pictures or missed pictures due to “shutter lag”, the time between pushing the shutter button and the camera actually taking the picture. Shutter lag is caused by the time the camera needs to focus and see the object sharp and clear.
Since there is less light and less contrast in water, most land cameras, not specially made for underwater, have a long shutter lag resulting, for example, in a missed fish that moved away. This has been observed to be a particular problem in photographing sharks, which are grey, lacking contrast, and also move along fast. Hence the term, “Shark Mode ”

The Shark Mode is activated by simply pushing the camera’s OK button which focuses on the intended subject. The camera will now remember that focus range and take sharp pictures with virtually no shutter lag. Underwater, in diving or snorkeling, everything moves, the diver as well as sea creatures are in constant movement. In addition to the Shark Mode, the automatic Sea exposure mode will shorten the
exposure time underwater for sharper pictures.”

SeaLife DC500 Underwater Camera for Scuba Diving

The above photo was taken with a SeaLife DC310, the model before the DC500. The pictures are sharp with the DC310 so with the Shark Mode of the DC500 makes it even easier to take great Scuba Diving Photos.

SportDiver Interactive reviews the SeaLife DC500

“Economically priced and user-friendly. A good choice for those who want an all-around camera for land and sea sports.
Pioneer Research has beefed up their DC line with a new 5-megapixel camera and housing package. With its QuickShoot mode, which kills shutter delay, and video mode, complete with sound, it’s ready to capture the action above or below the surface.

Depth-rated to 200 feet, the polycarbonate housing is armored with rubber overmolding and outfitted with stainless hardware. Measuring 3.5 in. x 5.5 in. x 3.4 in. and tipping the scales at a mere 16.6 ounces, it’s easy to carry all day.The housing gives a nice view of the camera’s big two-inch LCD display through an optical-grade polycarbonate window.

There’s access to power, shutter, zoom, LCD, menu, mode, four navigation buttons, OK and delete functions. A fully multi-coated optical glass
lens port makes for sharp images and includes a snap-on ring that accepts accessory lenses. For shooting up-close, the macro autofocus works to 2.3 inches. A 3X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom help reel in subjects that might otherwise be out of range.

A nice complement of preprogrammed exposure modes covers most of the photographic bases. There are modes for land, auto, sports, night, macro, portrait, landscape, window, sea and external flash. Several flash modes are available, and the DC500 will work in concert with SeaLife’s accessory slave strobes, which can be purchased as part of a package.

Internal memory capacity is 16MB, and the camera also supports an SD card. Movies can be captured at 30 frames per second, and the whole system supports both USB2.0 and PictBridge for connecting directly to a compatible printer. Power is provided by an included rechargeable lithium battery (3.7v, 650 mAh), which is good for about 200 pictures.”

SeaLife DC500 Scuba Diving Camera Specifications

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