Nowadays I don’t at all times want cumbersome and costly digicam housing to have the ability to shoot greater than satisfactory high quality stills and video underwater. Within the final ten to fifteen years there’s been a handful of rugged consumer-targeted compact digital cameras that can be utilized for going snorkeling with. These can then be run below the faucet to wash in the event that they get lined in sand or grit. I simply want to ensure the rubber-sealed latch prevents water ingress to the reminiscence card and the battery compartment is clamped tightly shut earlier than coming into the ocean or swimming pool.
Not like such standalone examples, nonetheless, the SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K contains two elements. Sure, it’s a compact digicam – very compact actually, because the digicam part is not any larger than a matchbox and suits snugly within the palm of my hand. However the digicam must be secured inside an exterior plastic housing, right here merely fixed into place and made watertight by way of a hand-turned chunky plastic cog. The rear of the housing is translucent, so I can view the digicam’s again display screen to assist composition, whereas there’s a transparent round window offered for the lens on the entrance. Fittingly sufficient, given the digicam’s supposed use, this 14mm equal lens provides us a wide-angle ‘fisheye’ lens, the impact getting noticeably extra pronounced the nearer I am taking pictures to a topic.
Inevitably, since this can be a specialist software, I am paying a premium over a non-waterproof point-and-shoot digital compact. That’s if I would capable of finding one in an period during which the smartphone has largely killed off non-ruggedized examples, although demand on the secondhand market is reportedly constructing.
Needing to be set towards such pricing is at all times the truth that this specialist setup will allow us to seize pictures that will not ordinarily be doable. Finally then, does the SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K supply depth-defying qualities price paying that little bit further for? Learn on to seek out out…
SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K: Specs
| Sensor | 14-megapixel CMOS sensor |
| Sensitivity vary | ISO100 to ISO3200 |
| Video | 4K most decision at 30fps, or HD video at 60fps |
| Lens | 14mm equal in 35mm phrases |
| Monitor | 2-inch, fastened 230K-dot decision LCD |
| Viewfinder | No |
| Battery life | Two hours of video or 500+ pictures |
| Dimensions | 4.9 x 10.5 x 2.6 cm / 1.9 x 4.1 x 2.6 in (underwater housing) 3.3 x 5.8 x 4.1 cm / 1.3 x 2.3 x 1.6 in (digicam alone) |
| Weight | 202 g / 0.45 lbs |
SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K: Key Options
The SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K arrives out of the field with its vital standalone housing and a USB cable, one finish of which is hooked up to the digicam to cost its inner battery, whereas the opposite slots into an ordinary smartphone mains adapter plug. Additionally within the field is a pair of sentimental drawstring pouches, presumably to guard the digicam and housing when carrying them round unboxed.
Key options of the digicam itself embody a 14MP CMOS sensor which I am instructed has been sourced from Panasonic, offering the flexibility to seize JPEG stills plus the flexibility to shoot video clips at 4K decision as much as an ordinary 30fps or barely decrease decision 1080P HD video at as much as 60fps. On the entrance is a 140° fisheye lens, equal to an ultra-wide 14mm in 35mm phrases. Delve into the taking pictures menu on the digicam and this vary might be adjusted to an ultra-wide 156° equal or narrowed to a 100° equal. The benefit right here is I can near a sea-dwelling topic and nonetheless be capable to match all of it into body, or just chill and take within the wide-angle view. With the main target fully computerized, any topic from 30cm to infinity ought to be sharply rendered. Shade correction modes are additionally built-in, compensating for both shallow or deeper water, whereas in fact it may also be used as an everyday digicam on the floor throughout daylight.
Whereas the tiny digicam part finds room for a slot for a detachable microSD card of as much as 128GB capability, in addition to additional slots for a USB lead and HMDI cable, there’s an extra skill to share footage and movies wirelessly if downloading a SeaLife ReefMaster app and thus pairing my smartphone or pill with the gadget.
There’s no room on the tiny digicam again to squeeze on something higher than a 2-inch, 230K-resolution shade LCD display screen, the form of specification finest described as sufficient slightly than fascinating. As soon as charged I am instructed the digicam’s battery is nice for over two hours of video or 500+ nonetheless pictures, which is extra spectacular, given its diminutive nature.
A small measurement does produce other benefits, nonetheless. Even when it’s sitting within the offered underwater housing the setup right here is unbelievably light-weight at 202g, so there’s no probability of feeling weighed down or compromised by a cumbersome or weighty digicam when within the water.
Like different fashions in its producer’s vary such because the SeaLife Micro 3.0, I can add an elective accent within the 2000 lumens SeaLife ‘Sea Dragon’ exterior LED mild if I actually wish to get extra severe with my picture taking, although this does practically double the worth of the general arrange.
The exterior underwater housing offered for the tiny digicam part not solely maintains visibility for the consumer when screwed on tightly but additionally gives entry to the digicam’s 4 perform buttons by way of bigger exterior metallic ones that require a particular press and a level of stress exerted to function. This implies I am much less prone to by chance hearth off a shot or swap features simply within the means of dealing with the digicam. Surprisingly maybe, as this gadget is designed to be used within the water, a screw thread for a tripod is offered on the base of the housing. On the digicam itself, the bottom of the unit is the place the battery is saved.
SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K: Design & Dealing with
On the SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K, as soon as the digicam mode I would like has been chosen by way of the massive energy/mode button – helpfully the perform of the button is carried by means of to and marked on the outer housing, simply as it’s on the digicam unit that matches snugly inside – by way of dealing with, type, and performance, the operation is just about level and shoot all the way in which. Expectedly, the fastened focus lens digicam determines focus and publicity by itself. That is correctly. I wish to be observing the place I am swimming and what’s round us greater than what the digicam itself is doing.
For a similar cause, it is going to pay to familiarise myself with its admittedly pretty rudimentary options earlier than embarking on any snorkel or dive. The LCD again display screen is vibrant and permits us to broadly and competently body my shot. If I’ve a gripe it’s that the LCD’s small 2-inch measurement and low-ish by present requirements 230K dot decision don’t allow us to observe a lot in the way in which of important element, both earlier than squeezing the shutter launch or subsequently reviewing the shot on the identical display screen. So it’s a case of level, shoot, and hope for a profitable consequence.
Regardless of the toy-like seems to be, the housing does really feel fairly sturdy and like it might stand up to the odd unintentional knock or drop – formally it’s shock-proofed towards a dry-land fall from a meter in peak. Helpfully there’s a loop to at least one aspect by means of which to feed a strap ought to I wish to (advisedly) connect it to my wrist whereas within the water.
There’s not a lot of a grip on the underwater housing that envelops the internal digicam, however what’s there’s a rubberized strip to assist buy for moist fingers. Additionally aiding use within the moist, there’s an area to the precise of the display screen when the digicam is ready inside its housing to stash a vial of moisture absorbing ‘Moisture Muncher’ crystals, mentioned to forestall fogging.
SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K: Efficiency
Urgent the ability/mode button not solely prompts the SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K, permitting us to be able to shoot inside three seconds or so, with a 0.3-second shutter lag, but additionally as soon as the digicam is on affords the number of a handful of taking pictures or assessment modes. Tabbing from left to proper, utilizing giant and cartoonish on-screen icons as my information, I can bounce between stills and video settings, separate video and stills playback modes, and the settings menu, denoted by the acquainted cog icon. There are solely 4 buttons on the gadget, which feels about proper.
As soon as I’d familiarised myself with what they supply entry to, it means I can focus extra absolutely on the duty at hand. Turning the digicam off entails holding down the ability button for a few seconds till the display screen goes clean. There’s an operational indicator lamp on the digicam itself, however that is hidden as soon as it’s positioned inside the housing, which means the again display screen will get my full consideration.
When it comes to picture high quality, right here a 14-megapixel stills decision produces broadly a 5MB file measurement. Get inside a couple of ft of your topic and the picture on display screen shows the acquainted, anticipated fisheye-like distortion, however in a approach that’s good for the supposed material.
As a result of the waterproof housing requires the consumer to screw it tightly in place, there’s some potential right here for consumer error and potential leaks. Ideally, we’d have most well-liked the belt and braces of clamps/ lever locks simply to make doubly positive all the things is reassuringly watertight from the off.
SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K: Verdict
In search of an underwater digital digicam setup however afraid of the perceived bulk, complexity, and worth that may entail? Fear not; the SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K is a stress-free starter choice that, whereas priced at a premium in contrast with an ordinary non-waterproof point-and-shoot digital digicam, received’t break the financial institution. Extremely compact and light-weight with it, this one received’t get in the way in which of a snorkel or dive. Make doubly positive the housing’s again is screwed on water-tight, connect it to your wrist and also you’ll barely take heed to the digicam till it’s worthwhile to deliver it into motion for capturing a watery souvenir.
Options
The obvious various to what I am provided right here is identical producer’s SeaLife Micro 3.0, as talked about above. That compact digicam, reviewed by us again in 2022, is appropriate to be used at even deeper depths of as much as 60m, presents 4K video decision with seize velocity as much as a most of 120fps, and boasts a barely higher 16-megapixel stills decision with it. Not like that digicam, nonetheless, the SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K options the flexibility to shoot to detachable storage media, right here a microSD card.
Additional options to take a look at from rival producers embody the 5x optical zoom, 16 megapixel Nikon Coolpix W300, waterproof to 30 meters, and is a catch-all for many who desire a point-and-shoot digicam for eventualities during which you wouldn’t in any other case danger it. This mannequin nonetheless is lengthy within the tooth on the time of writing.
A greater thought maybe is to research the ‘TG’ sequence of compacts below the Olympus model, akin to its TG-6 or Olympus TG-7. Or, alternatively Ricoh’s equally numbered, all-weather WG-7 or Ricoh WG-80. As soon as extra these waterproofed and shock-proofed point-and-shoots, with small-ish 1/2.3-inch sensors price a premium in contrast with non-toughened, general-use compacts that can not be splashed about inside the water.
As ever, it seems that the deeper we wish to swim with my digicam, the deeper I’ll must dig into my pockets.