Customer Reviews

SeaLife SL321 ECOshot 6MP Digital Camera

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Photos are what you would expect from a decent point and shoot digital camera. My overall experience was good and I do recommend the camera for underwater and 'around and about'/ travel use. However know the limitations 1] use the flash on all underwater shots and I see now why they strongly recommend the accessory flash I feel it would improve the photos, 2] plan to use 'in computer photo correction' to 'normalize the photos' [which means to reduce the blue cast] I was a little disappointeed with the 'underwater' setting in 'Modes'. It gave all photos an unnatural reddish cast. 3] shoot underwater with Auto mode and Flash always on, 4] watch for micro air bubbles on lens underwater and small water dropplets on lens above water--both lead to 'flare' [the small white circles] problems. 5] buy and install a 1 gig SD chip and rechargable camera quality AAs when you buy camera
The Camera performed and operated flawlessly during several uses on our Jamaica trip Dec 2007 snorkling and at waterfalls. It appears very well made. Simple controls. Good battery life. Easy for anyone to use--children included. It was even dropped once onto concrete [by accident] and appeared unfazed. This camera is a great improvement over the small disposable underwater cameras. I ended up with many good photos of fish and reef; also many excellent above water photos.

The good - A 2 GB memory card works fine. Landscape shots are sharp (clean the lens after dunking!) are not distorted and not off-color. Used it for a rafting trip and a hike in the Zion Narrows. It got dunked many times.

The eh - Used up the supplied alkalines in less than 2 hours of actual use. The lithiums are still going after 4 hours of use.

The bad - There's no real zoom. The video size is tiny.

The bottom line - We think this is a good camera that costs less than a decent waterproof case and it takes digital pictures that are far superior to a disposable.

Outstanding value for a great underwater camera. Easy to use underwater generates great still and video pictures. Sea mode color corrects for excellent pictures. Video mode even has sound. Highly recommend.

I am an avid snorkeler and beginner at scuba diving and am getting ready for a trip of diving and snorkeling in Florida this October. I have been toying with the idea of getting a good underwater digital camera for the last couple of months, and after a lot of research, purchased the ECOshot. This camera certainly met my expectations and more!! I have been snorkeling around Long Island Sound, and trust me when I say that the water visibility is not the best. However, the ECOshot has made my pictures wonderful. I was even more amazed by the land pictures that I have been able to take on the beach. They are some of the best pictures that I have taken.

Now there are a few things that you should know when using the ECOshot camera. First, always use the flash. You will not believe how much better the pictures will come out when you use the built-in flash. Second, set the camera to automatic setting because the sea mode will give your pictures a strange reddish tint to them. Automatic mode will keep that from happening.

I found this camera held battery life really well and exceeded my expectations on my first time snorkeling with it. I plan to continue using it and feel that it is a great buy for the beginner.

Timothy Lassiter
(author of Three Degrees of Separation and The Devil You Know)

The underwater video is amazing, it even has sound. Use the enclosed "CD" to set up picture downloads, it can't be easier. The best underwater camera I have ever owned. Do not leave camera in "video" mode while just looking around. If you hold it in your hand, you tend to hit the play button and you have a lot of video of yourself with breathing, eats up battery life.

I bought this camera for a trip to Riviera Maya Mexico. When it arrived I played with it in the pool with sport and sea modes. Sea mode makes it look red above water and normal below... at least in a pool it worked fine. The pictured I posted that were taken in Mexico, were used with the sport mode. The sea mode left a strong red tint on them. Like I said though, not a problem because I just changed the mode and it worked perfectly. Camera is easy to operate and auto adjusts for pictures, which is nice for underwater. Not a fan of having to use AA batteries, wish it came with rechargables. Had a few focusing issues, but out of over a hundred photos that isn't too bad. Camera worked great in clear water, not so well if it is cloudy. If you can't see well, neither can the camera (duh). You HAVE to let it soak in fresh water after having it in salt. I ran mine under medium-hot water from a faucet for about 5-10 minutes making sure at least all surfaces were rinsed for at least 2 minutes, especially the lens and LCD. Read the care instructions before using camera. I didn't like the pics it took out of water nearly as much as my Canon ELPH, but it was alright for a camera designed for underwater use. Overall very nice camera, worth the purchase if you have a similar trip in mind.

I bought this u/w camera to take snorkeling in the islands. It took good photos both under and above the water. It fairly easy to use and it very sturdy. The battery/memory card compartment locks tight to prevent leaking. I used rechargeable batteries and was able to take over 200 pictures on 1 set. I would recommend this camera to anyone looking to take decent underwater photos while snorkeling(I haven't tried diving with it yet) or even hanging out at the beach/lake where you don't want to take the chance of ruining your regular camera.

This camera is a Great buy!!! I used it down in Floria and the water was murky but you could see what I took a picture of. It was easy to operate and again the pictures are just Awesome!! Remember to clean it after every use especially when used in salt water. Takes great pictures out of the water also. Too me it was just a smart move to purchase this camera.

The camera worked great for snorkeling and hanging out around beach on recent trip. Pictures were clear, crisp and very good quality. Granted, lighting conditions were perfect. Clear skies and water.

Only have two complaints. One, the shutter response is a bit slow. Not a big deal, but need to account for that when taking pictures. Secondly, there is an underwater mode, but if the water wasn't VERY blue, the picture came out with a reddish hue.

Overall, very, very happy with this camera. I could see the screen and adjust settings underwater quite easily. Also, with the heft of the camera (it is a little heavy), I was quite confident with the protection offered.

I bought this production for my Florida travel. But there were too much problems with this machine, and fortunately Amazon accepted my return.

1. There is a very series scratch on the surface. What I bought is a brand new one, not a refurbished.
2. The battery cover is very very loose, any small touch will course it open. It means that when I tight the out sealing switch, the battery cover mush be open.
3. The moisture proof stuff (small package in battery cell) has been changed to pink when I firstly open the package. How can I believe the machine is water resistant?
4. The picture quality is really make me disappointed. Even worse than a normal digital camera with a waterproof case. Do not trust the 5M CCD stunt. I think Sealife should improve their lens and optical parts instead of the advertisement.

Finally, I appreciate the Amazon perfect custom service and warn you to think again before you buy the SL321.