SeaLife Micro HD Sealed Never-Leak Camera

SeaLife has announced a small photo and HD video camera, The Micro HD, that looks poised to give GoPro some serious competition for underwater use. The Micro HD and Micro HD+ record 13MP photos and 1080p HD resolution video, but the ergonomic housing design is made to be handheld - an obvious advantage for still photographers. SeaLife's trademark piano key controls are very easy to see and operate underwater.

The beauty of the SeaLife Micro HD is it's simplicity. It is fully sealed, which means there are no o-rings to clean, memory cards and card readers to buy or any risk of flooding. The camera is charged via a wet USB port. And while photos and videos are transfered to your computer via USB on the Micro HD, the Micro HD+ can transer images to any of your devices via WiFi. You can also control the Micro HD+ and see the real-time view of the LCD through the app.

Underwater photographers using GoPros must use filters to bring proper color and contrast into underwater scenes. The SeaLife Micro HD has 4 underwater modes specific for diving - no external filters necessary. The other cool function of the Micro HD is that you can shoot stills while recording video, so now you can have the best of both worlds.

The SeaLife Micro HD won't be replacing larger camera systems for serious underwater photographers, but it is a great option for those who want HD video and photos from small, compact and easy-to-operate camera. It is also compatible with the Sea Dragon light system.

SeaLife Micro HD Models:

• Item SL500:  Sealife Micro HD (16GB)

  • MSRP:  $399.95 USD

• Item SL501:  SeaLife Micro HD (32GB + WiFi)

  • MSRP:  $499.95

• Item SL505:  SeaLife Micro HD+ and Sea Dragon Pro Set

  • MSRP:  $899.95 (includes Sea Dragon 2000 lumen light, micro tray, grip and case)

Availability:  Starting September 1, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

Moorestown, NJ   –   Introducing the Micro HD from SeaLife - the first permanently sealed underwater camera that never leaks. There are no O-rings to maintain, no openings or doors that could possibly leak, and no batteries or SD cards. The self-contained camera has no housing and is waterproof down to 200 feet.

Charging the battery or downloading pictures and video is as easy as plugging the USB cable into the camera’s waterproof USB port, and the internal high-capacity Li-Ion battery lasts for 3+ hours of continuous operation with one charge.

Small and ergonomic, the camera operates with three wide “Piano Key” controls that make it easy to handle underwater, even while using dive gloves.

The SeaLife Micro HD is offered in two models: The standard Micro HD includes a 16 GB internal memory for hours of continuous recording and thousands of pictures, and the premium Micro HD+ model features a 32 GB internal memory and WiFi for connecting to smartphones and tablets.

The Micro HD+ can wirelessly download and share images and video to iOS and Android devices through the free Action Cam HD app. The app provides uploading to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox and other online services, perfect for backing up and sharing your photos and videos immediately after a dive or during your vacation. The app also allows for wireless control of the Micro HD+ camera, providing a real time view of the LCD and the ability to capture and review photos and videos all on your smartphone or tablet.

The Easy Setup Guide is a fast and intuitive new way using pictures instead of text menus to select land, dive, snorkel, or external light modes, allowing users to spend more time immersed in their environment rather than scrolling through a menu list.

The Micro HD offers fast one-touch video recording. Bypassing the usual steps, the video key will start and stop videos immediately. While video is recording, pushing the shutter button will take a still picture without stopping the video. Featuring full 1080p HD resolution video and 13MP images, the Micro HD is capable of delivering stunning underwater footage of colorful sea creatures, reefs and other undersea landscapes.

Capturing surprise encounters with sea creatures is made possible with a fast shutter response and sharp focus from one foot to infinity, and the built-in 140-degree wide angle lens helps stabilize videos and capture large objects and wide scenes at close shooting distances.

Color correction filters are not necessary since the camera features four underwater modes with automatic color correction. The Snorkel Mode is perfect for capturing vibrant natural colors at shallow depths, while the Dive Mode restores the red and yellow colors lost at deeper depths.

Since bright lighting is essential to reveal magnificent underwater colors, the Micro HD is expandable with the powerful new Sea Dragon underwater lights and flash. Also available to expand the camera’s capabilities are Flex-Connect arms, grips, trays and accessories. Flex-Connect accessories “click” together in seconds for easy set-up and disassemble equally as fast for compact traveling. 

An exciting way to get close to colorful reef scenes and creatures in caves and crevices is to mount the camera on SeaLife’s extendable AquaPod, a 54-inch extendable camera pole designed especially for use in water.

The revolutionary new Micro HD underwater camera will be available at SeaLife dealers starting September 1, 2014.

Models:

Item SL500              SeaLife Micro HD   (16GB)                                        $399.95 (MSRP)   

Item SL501              SeaLife Micro HD+ (32GB + WiFi)                          $499.95

Item SL505*           SeaLife Micro HD+ Sea Dragon Pro set               $899.95

* includes Sea Dragon 2000 Lumen underwater light, Micro Tray, Grip and Case 

About SeaLife:

SeaLife underwater cameras, lights and accessories are made and distributed by Pioneer Research in Moorestown, NJ.   SeaLife cameras were first introduced in 1993. In 2000 SeaLife made the first digital underwater camera. In 2007 SeaLife developed the first non-housed digital underwater camera, and in 2013 SeaLife introduced the powerful Sea Dragon Lighting system and its innovative Flex-Connect tray, grip, arm and accessory system. SeaLife Cameras, Lighting and Flex-Connect Accessories are sold and serviced in 64 countries around the world.             

Further Reading

• SeaLife Sea Dragon Lighting System Review

• SeaLife DC1400 Review for Underwater Photography

• 10 Tips for Shooing Underwater Video