Compact and Convenient
For anyone seriously interested in underwater photography, a word of warning: DSLR cameras in underwater housings are expensive, heavy, and awkward to pack. There’s no denying that my DSLR Nikon in a Nauticam housing takes better photos than the SeaLife Micro 3.0, but the SeaLife Micro 3.0 is far more convenient and comfortable to carry.
The large piano-key buttons are easy to use, whether I was wearing bulky dive gloves or on a rocky boat. The three-button setup makes navigating and operating the camera very straightforward. As soon as I turned on the camera, I could take a photo—no adjusting this or setting that.This simple point-and-shoot made photography easy.
Ergonomic Design
The SeaLife Micro 3.0 has a robust rubber casing and a rubber lens cap. The camera is somewhat shockproof and can withstand drops from 3 feet (1m), so it can handle some of those bumps and bruises that are inevitable with diving.
The camera weighs 11.6 oz. (329 g), which is just a little less than your average soda can. It is one of the heaviest underwater cameras we’ve tried—not that 12 oz is “heavy.” Having a little weight in a camera helps to keep it steady, and with its ergonomic shape, the SeaLife Micro 3.0 sits nicely in your hand.
Gateway to Underwater Photography
Nowadays, it might seem that every diver has an underwater camera, whether it’s a GoPro or the latest Insta360 X4. Even though they do still photos, many of these action cameras are made with video in mind. With a focus more on still photography, the SeaLife Micro 3.0 differentiates itself from the pack. The Micro 3.0 can also take a photo while you’re video recording.
To use the Micro 3.0 straight away, you can select from five Land & Sea scene modes in the “Easy Setup menu.” Land mode splits into Land (auto) or Sports/Action, and the Sea mode features three options: Dive, Snorkel, or External Light. These scene modes automatically adjust one or more image settings for the best possible image and video according to that pre-set environment.
If you’d rather, you can visit image settings in the menu to adjust your own settings. There are various white balance options, including manual. Choose from specific ISO values, different capture modes (single, continuous, timelapse, burst, and AEB- auto exposure bracketing), a 3- and 10-second timer, and the option to save in both the *RAW format as well as standard JPEGs, among a few others.
I was pleased to see that the Micro 3.0 can grow as a camera along with the user as their photography skills grow. Once I got more comfortable, I liked that I could alter the settings. Anyone with an interest in underwater photography will find that the SeaLife Micro 3.0 is a good compact camera for experimentation and development as a photographer.
*RAW is a photography file format of unprocessed data taken directly from a digital camera’s sensor. Unlike JPEG or other compressed formats, RAW files retain all of the information captured by the camera, which gives photographers greater control over editing.
Made for Wide-Angle
An important note for fellow underwater photographers: the lens, with its wide, 100-degree field of view, is only effective from a distance of 15 inches or more. This means that any photos I took of close-up macro, less than 15 inches away, were blurry. All other mid- to wide-angle scenes, such as divers, a school of fish, or a wreck were sharp.
If you are interested in capturing close-ups of critters, SeaLife offers various mountable, close-up lenses, which alter the focus range from 4 inches to 6 inches (10 cm to 15cm).
Accessories
Keeping with the theme of convenience, the strobe comes with a tray and arm that camera can attach to. The strobe, the arm, and the tray very easily click together and the camera is attached with a ¼-20 mounting screw, which is compatible with other cameras, including their SeaLife SportDiver Underwater Smartphone Housing.
The SeaDragon Dual Power Beam comes in a medium nylon case, similar in size to a school lunchbox. Inside there are international plug adapters (US/EU/UK/AU) since the strobe is charged with a removable battery. The case has pre-cut styrofoam to keep the strobe and the camera in place.
Price/Quality Ratio
The SeaLife Micro 3.0 is currently on the market for $599, which skews a bit high. The Insta360 X4 films 360 8K footage and takes 72mp photos for the same price. Of course, keep in mind that with the X4, you will need to buy an additional underwater dive housing and an SD memory card, which makes it cost far more than the Micro 3.0.
Do we recommend the SeaLife Micro 3.0?
If you are looking for a camera that’s a great starting point for underwater photography, the SeaLife Micro 3.0 is an ideal choice. It’s permanently sealed with internal storage and no O-rings, which takes one more worry off your plate when you’re learning to shoot.
If you’re searching for an all-round action camera that captures dynamic footage above and below the water, the SeaLife Micro 3.0 may not be the best choice. The strengths of this camera lie in its compact size and still photography focus. The SeaLife Micro 3.0 will allow any diver to learn the basics and experiment further down the line.
Specs & Features
| Dimensions | 2.1” x 2.9” x 4.2” (5.4cm x 7.4cm x 10.7cm) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 11.6 oz. (329 g) |
| Image quality | Both JPEG and RAW; from 16mp (4608×3456, 4:3) down to 2mp (1920 ×1080, 16:9) |
| Video quality | 4K at 30 fps (frames per second), 1080p at 30/60/120 fps & more |
| Depth rating | 200 feet (60 m) |
| Display | 2.4-inch 260K TFT LCD color display |
| Bonus features | Shockproof from 3 feet (1 m); wireless connection to phone or laptop; permanently sealed with no waterproof door or O-rings to maintain. |
Take a moment to look at this.
