Kategorie: News
The compact and lightweight underwater case for Apple iPhones in a practical test
To say it right away: I am not a photographer and certainly not an underwater photographer. All my life I have admired beautiful pictures, as well as photographs and have certainly snapped the one or other beautiful vacation memory, but as I said, I am far from a photographer. Although I know many practical applications through my experience as an underwater model, I myself have never had an underwater camera. You could call me iPhone snapper. And therefore I can only say: FINALLY someone invented a decent case for my iPhone.
Test report by Sabine Marschnig
Testing means for me: Open the package, put in the iPhone, let's go...
But is it really as easy as the retailer claims? Alright, open the package, then an intermediate step - download the app - as long as the Apple password has not been forgotten, this is done in a minute. I Recommend, however, that you do this step while still at home and not necessarily on a desert island without great internet reception.
The first thing I was missing when opening the package was: THE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS ... as a woman with a plan, you briefly panic, because you do not want to just get started and then have too much individual parts left – like the "8 screws" of all Ikea pieces of furniture.
Would that go well? Open the case, batteries in - which by the way were included, much to my surprise, Moisture Muncher (a capsule with crystals moisture), O-ring check (some grease was included), turn on mobile app and Bluetooth switch uuuuuuuand... Drum roll: Perfect, the case communicates with my iPhone!
For control freaks, like me, a vacuum pump system was also included! You close the case with the "cam-lock" locking mechanism, unscrew the access to the pump port, briefly press the included pump three times (which has to be applied) and now the phone's display shows a countdown of 3 minutes. Whether you have pumped out enough or too much, by the way. So you really can't do anything wrong!
After 3 minutes, the pressure test is obviously finished to the satisfaction of the case as well as the iPhone and the warning light in the case turns green. If the case is not tight, the whole system "squeaks" ear deafeningly and only stops when you open the case and turn it off manually.
When would this be the case? Or why might it be leaking? A hair that has laid over the O-ring when closing could already cause a water ingress, so just this feature was particularly important to me! iPhones are unfortunately not cheap, so I find this safety feature extremely convincing!
Since my husband still had a flash-camera bracket and arms with ball joints, I did not want to buy a new one. The three 1/4-20 tripod mounts fit pretty much all rails with standard tripod threads. Everything mounted, flash arm fitted with lamp (floodlight function) and my new UW camera is ready. However, if you need suitable lights and brackets, have a look at the original Sea Dragon underwater photo and video lights to the housing!
Vacation here we come - off to the practical test
This was the dry test! Two test photos were taken, and since everything worked so quickly and smoothly, we were now able to pack everything up for our trip to the Maldives. The case comes with a practical lightweight box that lets you pack the system easily and sorted. Absolutely suitable for hand luggage and yet a good protection for the housing.
What I had learned in the past: do not expose camera or phone and housing permanently to temperature and humidity changes! This means it makes sense not to carry the phone and case constantly from freezing cold air-conditioned rooms back out into the tropical heat with high humidity and back. Cases are better off "outside" and should be stored there between dives.
Now before heading out for the dive, open the case, phone in, turn on all parameters, vacuum pump to check for leaks and off we go. Personally, I'm very quick to get dressed and ready to dive. For those who know they need a little longer, just don't forget the extra three minutes of vacuum checking. 3 minutes can be a heck of a long time when everyone is in full gear at 32 degrees already ready to jump off the boat! Especially for beginners, is recommended: think about the group and your buddy and a plan for when you want to be done with what!
I like to attach expensive gear to my jacket with coiled cable carabiners. That way, when I jump in the water, I can carry everything close to my body and open the spiral cord buckle underwater to move the camera without having to unhook it from the jacket.
The large display on my iPhone is top notch underwater! You can see very clearly when shooting with the display if you have the object of your desire perfectly in focus. The red filter, which is attached to the housing, also turns out to be very practical. From about 10m depth on, however, you need a good lamp, even in the Maldives. And to say it right away, you just have to get close to the object! Focusing then works perfectly. The shutter release is large enough underwater and easy to operate. In general, all buttons are very smooth and you can delete blurred or unsuccessful pictures even under water easily.
Less is more! If you bring an average of 24 to 36 pictures from a dive in the Maldives - there is always something to see and photograph here - then you should delete generously afterwards, so that only about 5-6 pictures remain. 10 days are then still about 60 pictures :-)
More than 30 seconds of editing is not possible for me. But since you have the pictures on the phone right after the dive, you can sort out the photos during the dive break, edit them and even take a nap after dinner until the next dive.
Lamp and phone should be checked after each dive. Personally, I have now tested the case with the 6 and with the 8 iPhone. According to the manufacturer, the following iPhones fit:
7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, Xr, Xs, Xs Max, 11, 11 Pro Max, SE (2nd generation)*.
However, friends have already tried the iPhone 12! Works! This works so flawlessly because a bracket pushes the phone into a fixed position and all functions are controlled via the app. So if you change the phone, you finally do not need a new case, but everything remains as usual. Also, the partner can use the housing on the next dive with his phone. It has never been so easy as with this housing that two people can take pictures with one equipment and different "cameras", even if you do not have the same iPhone.
Bottom line: the simplicity that the case promised in the presentation, was delivered far more than 100%. It's just plain fun to use and is just as suitable for instruction-manual grinch as it is for control freaks! Also price vs. performance fits absolutely! Because SeaLife has brought the product to the market, you always have a reliable Scubapro/SeaLife support close by and can approach them in case of problems. Again, a fact that is very reassuring to me personally. The entire concept and the product have simply convinced! So now I not only snap beautiful vacation memories above water with my iPhone, but also under water!
Where can I buy this?
Any Scubapro & SeaLife Dealer
Alpenaquarium Grüblsee -Family Marschnig
Tel. + 43 664 218 118 2
Email. sabine@swat-team.at
Modell, UVP
SeaLife SportDiver (SL400, Gehäuse), 299,00 €
SeaLife SportDiver Pro 2500 Set (SL401, Set including Lights), 660,00 €
More Information & Manual:
https://johnsonoutdoorsinc.sharepoint.com...
https://taucher.net/diveinside-sealife_iphone...