Best Underwater Cameras, Lights and Lenses

Four great cameras, plus the lights and accessories that help to capture the best underwater images. Take a look at some of the best imaging gear from the Scuba Diving magazine 2020 Gear Buyers Guide.  

Cameras

SEA&SEA DX-6G PRO SET  

The DX-6G can take 16mp images and shoot HD video at 30 frames a second. It features built-in macro shooting and underwater color modes, and is waterproof to 46 feet/15 meters; the compact underwater housing allows it to dive to depths of 180 feet/55 meters. The Pro kit includes a camera tray, wide-angle lens and strobe.
seaandsea.com | $699.99 (camera and housing); $1,299.95 (Pro Set)
 

SEALIFE MICRO 3.0  

SeaLife’s compact, user-friendly camera is sealed and waterproof to 200 feet (60 meters). The ergonomic piano keys and intuitive operation are similar to previous models. The biggest change is the camera’s ability to record 4K video at 30 frames per second. It also has image stabilization and can shoot 16mb RAW images. It has an internal 64gb memory.
sealife-cameras.com | $599.95    

SEALIFE REEFMASTER RM-4K CAMERA  

This powerful action camera was designed to be handheld, or tray-mounted. It is depth rated to 130 feet (40 meters) in the included housing, which uses a pressure-lock thumbscrew. It can capture 14 megapixel still images and 4K video at 30 frames per second. It has a wide-angle fisheye lens, but can be outfitted with an optional macro wet lens.
sealife-cameras.com | $299.95   

SEALIFE REEFMASTER RM-4K CAMERA/LIGHT SET  

This set comes with the powerful Sea Dragon 2000F photo/ video light to capture vivid, natural-looking color when shooting with SeaLife’s new ReefMaster RM-4K action camera. The light’s wide beam angle complements the camera’s field of view; the set includes the RM-4K camera, Flex-Connect Micro Tray, Grip and Sea Dragon 2000F.  
sealife-cameras.com | $599.95    

Lights  

BIGBLUE DIVE LIGHTS VL60000P  

With 60,000 lumens of light, this professional, high-powered video light gives you your own underwater sun. The extra-wide, 160-degree beam angle keeps the lighting in your photos and videos free of any hard edges. It can run up to 11⁄2 hours on high power and comes with rechargeable battery packs. Also included are an adjustable handle, a one-inch ball mount, and protective hardcase.
bigbluedivelights.com  | $2,999.99  

BIGBLUE DIVE LIGHTS VTL8000P MAX  

One light, two beams. Illuminate your videos with a wide, 8,000-lumen floodlight or switch to the narrow 2,600-lumen spotlight for a penetrating beam. The one-button operation cycles between both beams and various power levels; there’s also a 500-lumen red light mode for staging your camera. Made of anodized aluminum, this light is waterproof to 330 feet (100 meters).
bigbluedivelights.com | $787.99   

SEA&SEA YS-D3  

A large-capacity condenser and precision circuitry allow the YS-D3 to fire continuously without any interval time at lower power settings, and with barely any recharge time even when outputting at max capacity. This allows you to take more shots in quick succession. The target light has been upgraded with an aluminum heat diffuser and is now powerful enough to be used as a dive light. The strobe can be outfitted with a dome diffuser, snoot and other accessories.
seaandsea.com | $849.95 

SEALIFE SEA DRAGON 200  

This light delivers up to 2,000 lumens of light in a wide, 120-degree beam that is well-suited to underwater shooting. The light has a natural-looking 5000K color-temperature that gives your photos and videos vivid, realistic color. The corrosion-proof light head is rated to 330 feet (100 meters).
The single push button easily switches between three power modes and features a battery indicator light.
sealife-cameras.com | $299.95   

SEALIFE SEA DRAGON 3000F AUTO  

The 120-degree angle, 3,000-lumen beam cast by this light falls evenly without a hotspot. The simple one-button operation quickly cycles between power modes, including a red “stealth” mode and an emergency SOS flash. The light’s photocell can automatically regulate brightness based on proximity and features three manual power settings. The light uses auto flash detection. When using a rechargeable 3500mAh lithium-ion battery, it will run for 60 minutes at full power or 240 minutes on low power.
sealife-cameras.com | $499.95   
 

SEALIFE SEA DRAGON 5000F AUTO  

This 5,000-lumen light can be used with a strobe thanks to its Auto Flash Detection, which turns off the light for a second when a strobe flash is detect- ed. Brightness can be manually adjusted on the Sea Dragon 5000F Auto to 100, 75, 50 and 25 percent power, or it can be automatically controlled by the built-in photocell light sensor. The COB LED is designed to mimic natural sunlight for realistically-colored images and video. Camera and tray not included.  
sealife-cameras.com | $799.95     

SEALIFE SEA DRAGON MINI 1000F  

The compact Mini 1000F offers an ultra-wide 130-degree angle beam and outputs up to 1,000 lumens. It pairs well with action cameras but it can also be used as a focusing light on larger cameras. A single push-button operation makes it easy to cycle between full power, half power, quarter power, flash and emergency SOS strobe. A built-in power indicator light keeps track of battery life, which will last up to 90 minutes at full power when using a rechargeable 3500mAh lithium-ion battery.
sealife-cameras.com | $149.95    

Accessories  

SEALIFE DC-SERIES 0.5X WIDE ANGLE DOME LENS  

This wet lens provides an incredible perspective on the underwater world. Used with the DC2000, it increases field of view by 100 percent and has a 16mm effective focal length. Precision optics allow maxi- mum light transmission. It fits all SeaLife DC series cameras and attaches underwater.
sealife-cameras.com | $599.95  
 

SEALIFE DC-SERIES 0.75X WIDE ANGLE CONVERSION LENS  

The 0.75x Wide-Angle Conversion Lens compensates for the magnification effect of water to increase the field of view by 33 percent. The universal 52mm wet lens can be mounted underwater and is compatible with all DC series SeaLife cameras and housings with a 52mm lens mount.
sealife-cameras.com | $199.95  

SEALIFE DC-SERIES SUPER MACRO LENS & ADAPTER  

This wet lens can focus as little as 31⁄2 inches away when set to macro and can enlarge your subject by 2.3X. This lens is compatible with all SeaLife DC series cameras and all housings with a 52mm lens mount. The lens features a two-element optical grade lens with anti-reflective coating.
sealife-cameras.com | $129.95  
  

SEALIFE SUPER MACRO CLOSE-UP LENS FOR MICRO & RM-4K SERIES 

Used with SeaLife’s Micro and RM-4K cameras, this allows you to capture details from 3 1⁄2 to 7 inches (9 to 18 centimeters). It features a two-element optical grade wet lens with anti-reflective coating and is made of anodized aluminum. Includes two removable focus distance sticks.
sealife-cameras.com | $99.95  

Text and photos originally appeared in the March 2020 issue of Scuba Diving magazine.