What is your take on SeaLife UW cameras vs other underwater camera brands?

[Regulatrix]

(Note: I am not posting this on the SeaLife-specific forum because I want input from users of other brands, as well.)

Why, when I go online and search for 'best underwater cameras," does the SeaLife brand virtually never come up in review sites? And yet my LDS sells exclusively SeaLife cameras. There's clearly a lesson I should take from that, but I'm not completely sure what the lesson is.

What is SL's niche, in your experience? As a brand, are they generally better/same/worse than their competitors? Where does SL fit in the UW-camera universe?

Background: We are divers who use a late model GoPro for UW video. Very happy with it for that purpose. We also have a SL 2.0 which our LDS sold us in 2018 when we were just getting into UW photography. It's not perfect, but we've captured some decent photos with it. Now, we're considering upgrading to a new UW camera. The SL 3.0 is in contention. But before we buy another SL, I want to have a better idea of the UW camera landscape. It concerns us, for example, that the SL 3.0 is 4 years old, while other brands update their cameras yearly. So, we're not looking for specific recommendations per se, but more a gestalt take on the SL brand.

Thanks in advance for your takes on the subject!

 

[Nemrod]

(Note: I am not posting this on the SeaLife-specific forum because I want input from users of other brands, as well.)

Why, when I go online and search for 'best underwater cameras," does the SeaLife brand virtually never come up in review sites? And yet my LDS sells exclusively SeaLife cameras. There's clearly a lesson I should take from that, but I'm not completely sure what the lesson is.

What is SL's niche, in your experience? As a brand, are they generally better/same/worse than their competitors? Where does SL fit in the UW-camera universe?

Background: We are divers who use a late model GoPro for UW video. Very happy with it for that purpose. We also have a SL 2.0 which our LDS sold us in 2018 when we were just getting into UW photography. It's not perfect, but we've captured some decent photos with it. Now, we're considering upgrading to a new UW camera. The SL 3.0 is in contention. But before we buy another SL, I want to have a better idea of the UW camera landscape. It concerns us, for example, that the SL 3.0 is 4 years old, while other brands update their cameras yearly. So, we're not looking for specific recommendations per se, but more a gestalt take on the SL brand.

Thanks in advance for your takes on the subject!

First para, they are a low quality point and shoot camies with water resistance.

Second para, where do SL cameras fit, well, the bottom of the barrel.

Third para. Can you get an image with a SL camera, yes. GoPro is a video platform that takes really "nice" blue cast photos of blue stuff too far away and bane videos of more blue stuff too far away. I would put a SL in that category. Kind of like what a Kodak Instamatic used to be when compared to a Nikon F. One was for birthday parties and the other for photography.

The real question is what is your goal, what type of photos do you want, do you want control of the image, what is your need and point of photography. If it is simple documentation then a GoPro or SL might do fine, if it is art or attempts at such then no, the SL camera has no manual control.

Maybe look at a TG as a better starting point.

 

[rmorgan]

I’m not sure why one would expect a dive shop to sell cameras, but SeaLife is intertwined with PADI, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why a lot of LDSs have corners devoted to SeaLife products. I had their iPhone case right after it came out; gave it to a guide and got a DiveVolk. Really, the TGs are the standard for compact u/w cameras.

 

[Regulatrix]

I genuinely thank both of you for your answers, but goodness, do you realize how condescending you sound?

 

[rmorgan]

Well, you asked for gestalt.

 

[lexvil]

I haven’t used the latest cameras but I had great success with the DC 2000, now I use the phone housing which also works great within the limits of the iPhone camera.

I am a diver that tanks pictures, photographers that dive have a whole different outlook, Hugh heavy burdensome and expensive are where they start.

 

[Regulatrix]

Whatever, ma dude. See ya, Scubaboard.

 

[Nemrod]

A quick google brought me here:

Best Underwater Cameras of 2025: Compact Cameras - Underwater Photography - Backscatter

The Backscatter team spent hundreds of hours testing the best underwater cameras to find the best and not-so-good cameras for underwater photography. We publish this article annually from the results of our tests. This article is updated as new cameras are released and tested.

www.backscatter.com

 

[Regulatrix]

I believe your response is called "dogpiling."

 

[TNEngineer]

I started with GoPro, then SeaLife, and now TG-6. There are reasons folks with experience are answering your questions they way they are. I've been down this exact path and the SeaLife, which was a gift from my wife no less, didn't stay long in our gear bag.

You asked, we answered, your choice what you do with the data. Best of luck!