SeaLife has unveiled the Micro Wide Angle Dome Lens for the company’s series of permanently sealed cameras, particularly the latest Micro 3.0 but also its predecessors, the Micro 2.0 and Micro HD/HD+. In addition, the new wet lens is compatible with the video-centric ReefMaster RM-4K. According to SeaLife, the Micro Wide Angle Dome Lens expands field of view by nearly 50 percent while allowing you to get three times closer to your subject.
Depth-rated to 200 feet and weighing just 11.7 ounces, the lens features four high-quality optical glass elements with multiple coatings to minimize glare and ghosting. It attaches press-fit-style to the camera body, and there’s a locking ring to guard against accidental detachment. A lanyard is provided and the lens is compatible with SeaLife’s Lens Caddy, which allows you to mount the lens on your tray or arm when not being used. The lens also comes with a rotatable shade.
When the Micro 3.0 was announced, among the headline upgrades—4K/30p recording with no crop, faster 10fps burst shooting, minimal shutter lag, and a higher-resolution 2.4-inch LCD—was a more subtle one: a new sharper built-in lens with a field of view of 100°. By comparison, the lens on the Micro 2.0 had a 130° field of view, but distortion and corner softness were both noticeable. Thus, SeaLife’s new wet lens is the perfect companion to the Micro 3.0, converting its 19mm equivalent lens to an equivalent focal length of 13.3mm—allowing shooters to capture big animals, large wrecks, and expansive reef scenes.
Shipping in January 2022, the Micro Wide Angle Dome Lens retails for $350.
SeaLife® Introduces New Ultra Wide Angle Dome Lens for Micro-Series Cameras
MOORESTOWN, NJ - SeaLife, the leading maker of underwater imaging gear, introduced a new ultra wide angle dome lens for the Micro-series and ReefMaster underwater cameras that increases the camera’s field-of view by almost 50% and allowing photographers to get three times closer to the subject.
The wide angle dome lens design uses high grade optical glass components arranged in a 4-element/4- group array that delivers crisp edge-to-edge sharpness. All optical elements are fully, multi-coated to prevent internal glare and maximize light transmission. “This is a breakthrough for Micro-Series camera users, as the lens significantly improves the camera’s image sharpness,” says Bjorn Harms, SeaLife’s Vice President of Product Development. The lens has a 13.3mm film-equivalent effective focal length when used with the SeaLife Micro 3.0 and is waterproof to 200ft/60m.
The lens fits all SeaLife Micro-series cameras (Micro HD, HD+, Micro 2.0, Micro 3.0) and also works with the SeaLife ReefMaster RM-4K increasing the tiny camera’s shooting angle to a massive 196°. The new lens is a “wet lens” and easily attaches and removes underwater. A locking ring prevents the lens from accidently detaching when bumped or in rougher water conditions. The SeaLife Dome Lens weighs 11.7 ounces (331 grams) and is negatively buoyant. A lanyard is included to prevent loss underwater and the lens can dock on SeaLife’s “Lens Caddy” when not in use.
The inner airspace is back-filled with nitrogen to prevent fogging in extreme temperature conditions. The rotatable light shade prevents unwanted glare from external lighting or sunlight, as well as protect the dome lens from bumps and abrasion.
Availability for the new conversion lens is expected for January 2022 with pricing as follows: