What are the feelings about the new Sealife camera, DC600?
Sealife DC600
- Thread starter Mike D
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Divemaster
Great camera...They took an already superb camera and made it better....shorter shutter lag time, spy mode, etc.....Excellent camera
Diver_C
Registered
I have removed my post.
GOBUCKEYES
Registered
I have to tell you that I'm new to diving and me and my wife just got back from Crystal river last week.An with being only are 2nd dive this camera was so easy to use and it took some good pics.I do have to tell I still have some work to do on taking some great pics.All we have is just the camera no strobs. Was very happy with the camera!
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Isn't that like a 6. megapixel. Do they have one like 8.0? Time to switch to Digi.
fmw625
Guest
Got a DS600 for Christmas. Haven't used it under water yet but it makes good pics above water. Can't wait to use it under water.
CheddarChick
Contributor
I know I love my DC500....Especially the tech support offer by the company...
Diver_C
Registered
I was asked why I removed my post, the following is my response. Once I finished writing it, thought others might benefit. Good luck!
Well, one my biggest initial disappointments turned out to be incorrect. After re-reading the manual, I discovered a footnote. Only in sea or ext. flash mode can one switch from stills/video/playback by pressing a certain button. In any other setting, one has to use a switch on top of the camera, but there is no way to use that switch with the housing. So before I saw that footnote, I couldn't believe this camera would be designed such that one can't switch between the settings. It is not obvious or intuitive to figure that out.
I have other issues. The battery is ever so slightly different, but enough to inhibit using the DC500 batteries. I had recently found some 1000 mAh batteries for my DC500. I was looking forward to using them in the 600. SeaLife batteries are spendy, $30. Bought two of them, so now I have three. I am skeptical if they will last as long as I need them. Not very happy with this battery switch. Think it is SeaLife's way making more money. Why make special batteries?!!?
Since I wrote the above, I found out Sealife doesn't make the batteries, and what the generic battery number is, Li40/Li42B, which are for Olympus cameras. I just bought four 1000 mAh new batteries on Ebay for a total of $33, including shipping and insurance. The shipping is where the money is being made, as the batteries were actually $0.97 each. So if you buy the DC600, I would suggest doing what I did - look for Li-42Bs.
On a power related note, the camera cannot be plugged into an electrical socket. The batteries have to be taken out to be charged. To download from the camera, have to either take out the memory card, or use battery power. The camera does come with a charger.
There is no sleep mode any longer. This could be because the start-up time for the DC600 is much faster than the DC500. I would set my 500 for sleep in the 30 seconds, but always on. It will be interesting how it dives (hopefully tomorrow) turning it off and on. So, not sure if this is good or bad. Since I wrote this, I have dove with it. I simply turn the camera off/on, and have it set to auto turn-off after one minute. So far, so good. The 650s still do okay, but haven't really given them a long dive and/or lots of pictures test. I will feel much better once the bigger batteries arrive. The start-up is really fast.
The shutter/focus button is a little on the sensitive side, at least compared to the 500. I have dove with it twice, and sometimes it take a picture before I expect it. Although, now I think I know what to look for as I am pressing the button before it takes a picture.
The camera has some cool and very useful focus and flash modes. There are three of each. One for close-up, distance, and auto. If it can't seem to focus, push the button until get distance and the camera automatically goes to infinity focus. It focuses better for close-up on close-up. I was skeptical about the flash modes, especially since my digital strobes are adjustable, but they really do work (I tested it in my home - the distance mode too bright of flash, but the auto and close-up were very similar). The buttons are much like the 500's, which are tad small for dry gloves, but pushing the focus and flash modes still possible. Oh yes, the power and shutter buttons are reversed, which is better, although, I accidentally forgot for one picture and accidentally turned off the camera instead of taking a picture. Luckily, I was able to turn it back on, and get the picture.
The bigger view screen is very nice. The brightness of the screen can be controlled.
Cannot shoot TIFF pictures, but I guess that isn't the biggest of deals. 6.1mp is better than 5.1.
Even though not supposed to use 1 gb cards in the 500, and can in the 600, I did in the 500 and had no problems. I use a very fast 1gb, something like 166x. That quickens up the shutter speed.
SeaLife does have excellent customer service. Hopefully I will never need to use them. Overall, the 600 is improved over the 500, and am glad I switched.
Well, one my biggest initial disappointments turned out to be incorrect. After re-reading the manual, I discovered a footnote. Only in sea or ext. flash mode can one switch from stills/video/playback by pressing a certain button. In any other setting, one has to use a switch on top of the camera, but there is no way to use that switch with the housing. So before I saw that footnote, I couldn't believe this camera would be designed such that one can't switch between the settings. It is not obvious or intuitive to figure that out.
I have other issues. The battery is ever so slightly different, but enough to inhibit using the DC500 batteries. I had recently found some 1000 mAh batteries for my DC500. I was looking forward to using them in the 600. SeaLife batteries are spendy, $30. Bought two of them, so now I have three. I am skeptical if they will last as long as I need them. Not very happy with this battery switch. Think it is SeaLife's way making more money. Why make special batteries?!!?
Since I wrote the above, I found out Sealife doesn't make the batteries, and what the generic battery number is, Li40/Li42B, which are for Olympus cameras. I just bought four 1000 mAh new batteries on Ebay for a total of $33, including shipping and insurance. The shipping is where the money is being made, as the batteries were actually $0.97 each. So if you buy the DC600, I would suggest doing what I did - look for Li-42Bs.
On a power related note, the camera cannot be plugged into an electrical socket. The batteries have to be taken out to be charged. To download from the camera, have to either take out the memory card, or use battery power. The camera does come with a charger.
There is no sleep mode any longer. This could be because the start-up time for the DC600 is much faster than the DC500. I would set my 500 for sleep in the 30 seconds, but always on. It will be interesting how it dives (hopefully tomorrow) turning it off and on. So, not sure if this is good or bad. Since I wrote this, I have dove with it. I simply turn the camera off/on, and have it set to auto turn-off after one minute. So far, so good. The 650s still do okay, but haven't really given them a long dive and/or lots of pictures test. I will feel much better once the bigger batteries arrive. The start-up is really fast.
The shutter/focus button is a little on the sensitive side, at least compared to the 500. I have dove with it twice, and sometimes it take a picture before I expect it. Although, now I think I know what to look for as I am pressing the button before it takes a picture.
The camera has some cool and very useful focus and flash modes. There are three of each. One for close-up, distance, and auto. If it can't seem to focus, push the button until get distance and the camera automatically goes to infinity focus. It focuses better for close-up on close-up. I was skeptical about the flash modes, especially since my digital strobes are adjustable, but they really do work (I tested it in my home - the distance mode too bright of flash, but the auto and close-up were very similar). The buttons are much like the 500's, which are tad small for dry gloves, but pushing the focus and flash modes still possible. Oh yes, the power and shutter buttons are reversed, which is better, although, I accidentally forgot for one picture and accidentally turned off the camera instead of taking a picture. Luckily, I was able to turn it back on, and get the picture.
The bigger view screen is very nice. The brightness of the screen can be controlled.
Cannot shoot TIFF pictures, but I guess that isn't the biggest of deals. 6.1mp is better than 5.1.
Even though not supposed to use 1 gb cards in the 500, and can in the 600, I did in the 500 and had no problems. I use a very fast 1gb, something like 166x. That quickens up the shutter speed.
SeaLife does have excellent customer service. Hopefully I will never need to use them. Overall, the 600 is improved over the 500, and am glad I switched.
GOBUCKEYES
Registered
Diver_C
I would love to know how the new batteries work out for you I need to get two more all so for my 600. I've looked around and they are as high as $50.00 now thats a mark up if you paid .97.
I would love to know how the new batteries work out for you I need to get two more all so for my 600. I've looked around and they are as high as $50.00 now thats a mark up if you paid .97.
427Dave
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I also got a DC 600 for Christmas. I have had great luck with it and like it very much. What Diver_C states in his report is all true. Now I have got to figure out how to view when it is in the underwater housing. I did not realize this could be done as there is no switch on the top of the UW case.
I am also going to check into the batteries, thanks. I have not had any issues with battery life, although is has gotten into the orange on 2 tank dives. You can check my photo album here on SB, all pictures are taken with the DC 600.
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/71160
It also great AS a land camera also. I am using 1gig chips in it also. The pictures taken in Ginnie Springs cavern are only with the built in flash. I do not have any external strobes. The vis is so great in Ginnie the internal flas works great. If there are a lot of particles in the water you get a lot of back scatter from the internal flash.
I am also going to check into the batteries, thanks. I have not had any issues with battery life, although is has gotten into the orange on 2 tank dives. You can check my photo album here on SB, all pictures are taken with the DC 600.
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/71160
It also great AS a land camera also. I am using 1gig chips in it also. The pictures taken in Ginnie Springs cavern are only with the built in flash. I do not have any external strobes. The vis is so great in Ginnie the internal flas works great. If there are a lot of particles in the water you get a lot of back scatter from the internal flash.
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