{"id":4233,"date":"2014-12-23T16:44:43","date_gmt":"2014-12-23T16:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.housingcamera.com\/blog\/?p=4233"},"modified":"2015-07-21T12:52:57","modified_gmt":"2015-07-21T12:52:57","slug":"sealife-micro-hd-review-samples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.housingcamera.com\/blog\/product-reviews\/sealife-micro-hd-review-samples","title":{"rendered":"Sealife Micro HD Review and Samples"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sealife<\/a>
Sealife Micro HD – First permanently sealed camera!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Intro<\/h3>\n

Sealife have recently introduced this awesome little camera, in two models – Micro HD (16GB, no WiFi) and the Micro HD+ (32GB, with WiFi).\u00a0The Micro HD includes full 1080p video and 12MP photos with a 20mm fisheye lens (140 deg above water), plenty of internal memory, but surely the most unique feature of this camera is the fact that it’s Permanently Sealed. That means you never have to open it<\/strong>, for charging, downloading pics or replacing batteries. It simply eliminates all risk of leakage, worrying about O-rings etc.. That’s pretty cool.<\/p>\n

Micro HD Specifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Image Sensor<\/strong><\/td>\n14 megapixel 1\/2.3″ CMOS image sensor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Image Resolution<\/strong><\/td>\n13MP (140\u00b0 Super wide 4:3), 10MP (130\u00b0 Wide 16:9), 7MP (Super wide 4:3), 4MP (Super wide 4:3), 2MP (Super wide 4:3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Picture File Format<\/strong><\/td>\nJPEG<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Movie Resolution<\/strong><\/td>\nFull 1080p HD at 30 fps or 720p HD at 60fps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Video File Format<\/strong><\/td>\nMPEG4 h.264 (.mp4)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Aperture<\/strong><\/td>\nF2.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Focal Length<\/strong><\/td>\n3.5 mm (film equivalent = 20mm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Focus Type<\/strong><\/td>\nInstant fixed focus lens<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Focus Ranges<\/strong><\/td>\n1 foot (30cm) to infinity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Field of View<\/strong><\/td>\n140\u00b0 Super Wide, 130\u00b0 Wide, and 90\u00b0 Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shutter Speed<\/strong><\/td>\nLand: 1\/25 to 1\/2000 second
\nUnderwater: 1\/45 to 1\/2000 second<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scene Modes<\/strong><\/td>\nLand Auto, Snorkel, Dive, External Light, Dual External Lights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shooting Modes<\/strong><\/td>\nSingle, Continuous (1 frame per second), Time Lapse, AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LCD<\/strong><\/td>\n2.4″ TFT LCD color display<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Memory<\/strong><\/td>\nInternal: 16GB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Operating Environment<\/strong><\/td>\nPC<\/strong>: Windows 2000 \/ XP \/ Vista \/ 7 \/ 8 and up
\nMAC<\/strong>: OS 9.0 and up<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CD\/Software<\/strong><\/td>\nInternational instruction manuals in 5 languages<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Language Support<\/strong><\/td>\nOn-Screen Display<\/strong>: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch
\nInstruction manual<\/strong>: English (printed), German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Power<\/strong><\/td>\nInternal 2400 mAh (Li-ion)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Battery Life<\/strong><\/td>\n3+ hours (Approximately 1000+ images\/ 3+ hours video), 2350 mAh \/ 3.7V \/ 8.7Wh, Battery maintains 70% of its original power after 1000 cycles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Certification<\/strong><\/td>\nCE, ROHS, FCC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/strong><\/td>\n9.4 oz. (266g)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dimensions (LxWxH)<\/strong><\/td>\n4.2″ x 2.1″ x 2.0″
\n(10.7cm x 5.3cm x 7.4cm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Environmental Specifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Depth<\/strong><\/td>\nIndividually depth tested to 200ft (60m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Buoyancy<\/strong><\/td>\nNegative<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Operating Temp.<\/strong><\/td>\nUnderwater: 33 degrees F to 110 degrees F (5 degrees C to 44 degrees C)
\nLand: 0 degrees F to 120 degrees F (-18 degrees C to 50 degrees C)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Storage Temp.<\/strong><\/td>\n-20 degrees F to 140 degrees F (-29 degrees C to 60 degrees C)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tripod Mount<\/strong><\/td>\nStandard 1\/4-20 tripod threads<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shockproof<\/strong><\/td>\n3ft \/ 1m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Warranty<\/strong><\/td>\n1 year limited warranty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Permanent Seal<\/h3>\n

The permanent seal is made possible\u00a0by a waterproof USB connector at the bottom of the camera, which comes with a special dry connector for charging and plugging into your PC\/laptop. Once you’re done, simply remove the dry connector and you’re good to go!<\/p>\n

\"Sealife<\/a>
Sealife Micro HD Connector – Waterproof USB<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

\"Sealife<\/a>
Sealife Micro HD Bottom Side<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Controls and\u00a0Mounts<\/h3>\n

The Micro HD is equipped with Sealife’s famous piano keys, which are incredibly easy to use, work effortlessly with small hands or large, and even easy to press with gloves on. The shutter button feels just like a regular topside camera and recording video is just on click away with your thumb. The grip is also extra comfy, unlike most action cameras (GoPro, Intova etc…) this camera is made to be hand held, but small & light enough to be mounted on anything ranging from poles, scuba masks, flex arms, cold shoe or any other mount you are using.<\/p>\n

For mounting the camera you would use the standard 1\/4″-20 tripod mount on the bottom of the camera.<\/p>\n

Features<\/h3>\n

A cool thing about the Micro HD is how easy it is to set up. When you choose “Easy Setup<\/strong>“, you have two options: Underwater or Land. Choosing Land sets it on land mode, and choosing underwater, pops up a 2nd stage where you choose Camera Only \/ One Light \/ Two Lights<\/strong> and then a 3rd stage to select between Dive \/ Snorkel<\/strong>. This easy setup is a no-brainer to adjust the WB and exposure correctly without over thinking it. You can also adjust it manually on the regular picture setup.<\/p>\n

The underwater mode<\/strong> produces excellent colors without a need for a red filter, even at 20 meters. Although a red filter by Sealife isn’t available yet for the camera, I tried out Intova’s red filter<\/a> and was surprised to see it fit perfectly. I found that for deep dives, 20-30 meters, combining the red filter with underwater mode produced the best colors by far! However, don’t try to combine underwater mode with a red filter on shallow dives since you will get red footage.<\/p>\n

Time lapse mode<\/strong> is also available, with intervals ranging from 2 seconds to 30 minutes between frames which allows many creative possibilities. You can also manually adjust ISO, WB, Exposure Compensation, Sharpness and Metering Type.<\/p>\n

Photo Samples<\/h4>\n

\"Underwater<\/a>
Underwater mode, no filter attached<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

\"Underwater<\/a>
Underwater mode, no filter attached<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

\"Sealife<\/a>
Underwater mode, no filter attached<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

\"Sealife<\/a>
Underwater mode, no filter attached<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

\"DCIM100MICRO\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Great<\/a>
Great colors topside<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

\"Great<\/a>
Great for Selfies as well!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Video Samples<\/h4>\n