Sealife DC800 underwater camera goes deep, stays dry

 

This modular unit -- it drops into a waterproof case or will operate as an out-of-water point-and-shoot -- includes an 8-megapixel camera with 2.7-inch display, wide-angle lens, SD/SDHC card support, and 4x optical zoom.

 

Sure, you could get another point-and-shoot and waterproof case, but prepare to suffer the ridicule of your diver friends.

 

Its menus and modes are designed for sub-surface snappers with five underwater modes to deal with the various water bodies' muck, grime, and color.

 

Attention wet people: Sealife has released the DC800 Underwater Digital Camera.

 

The DC800 will function at 200 feet, weighs about 17 ounces and will set you back $549.

 

So what makes this camera diver-friendly?

 

 

Ricoh's 28mm GR Digital II camera

 

" On the downside, they found the camera suffered from the common drawback of excessive noise at ISO 400 or above, and there is the small matter of the $699 price tag, which puts it on the level of some pretty impressive non-28mm cameras, and within striking range of the 28mm Sigma DP1.

 

" They were also pleased with the addition of a RAW shooting mode (even though it slows things down quite a bit), and the camera's intuitive control system, which can be "almost completely configured to suit your way of working.

 

It's taken a little while for Ricoh's 10-megapixel GR Digital II to make the rounds since it was announced late last year, but it's finally wound up in the capable hands of the folks from Photography Blog, who've now turned out a full review of the camera.

 

Among other things, this one is particularly notable for its use of a 28mm fixed focal length lens, which Photography Blog found helped deliver some solid images with "very little distortion.

 

Still, the GR Digital II appears to hold its own, and seems like it'd be an even better buy if you can find a good deal on it.

 

 

Sony TG3E, smallest 1080i camcorder

 

 

Otherwise known as the TG1 in the US, this pup is small and sturdy and definitely looks the part of a Full HD (as it's defined for camcorders) 1080i shooter.

We'll be back later with a full review of this pup as soon as we find a nice, tropical island which can pamper this beast in the luxury a $900 camcorder deserves.

So until then, check the gallery and call out in the comments with any questions you'd like us to tackle.

However, Sanyo's 720p Xacti DMX-HD700 (in red) still trumps the TG3E in size and weight.

Get a load of what just arrived at the doorstep of our European HQ -- the world's smallest 1080i camcorder, Sony's TG3E.

Hell, Sony somehow managed to turn that boxy design into something sexy to hold.

Unfortunately, it gives up significant lines of resolution in the process and uses inferior materials to boot.