The SVP Digital Digicam Evaluate

With the age of digital imaging, virtually each (shallow water) diver can interact in underwater pictures. This assessment is of an actual entry-level digicam outfit. Made in China, the SVP Acqua digital outfit consists of the digicam system and waterproof case for underneath $100. There are apparent limitations and we are going to cowl them on this assessment.

Do not anticipate skilled outcomes from this digicam, however you can be shocked by the flexibility of this small, compact outfit. With all of the options you’ve got come to anticipate from fashionable model point-and-shoot cameras, this compact system suits simply in your BCD bag. Specs are listed after our assessment feedback. As these are included within the manufacturing facility advertising leaflet we can’t verify or dispute them.

Earlier than utilizing this digicam, first learn the DVD handbook that got here with the digicam. There are lots of options and settings it is advisable know earlier than you hit the water to make use of your digicam system. We have used many alternative manufacturers and so they all appear to have some logical settings and a few not-so-logical procedures. As with most point-and-shoot cameras, there’s a delay between urgent the shutter and the precise shutter motion. After you have got turn into acquainted with the operation of the digicam and the capabilities, you might be prepared for the underwater half.

As with all case, you will need to hold the case clear and freed from sand or grit that would trigger a leak. Because the primary seal is just not really an o-ring, I took nice care to wash the surfaces with a cotton swab (Qtip) and apply some o-ring grease to the floor in addition to a skinny movie on the seal itself. The seal is considerably wedge formed and will subsequently present a very good constructive stress seal. The clear half is extra for all these little management knobs that allow you to change the digicam’s settings underwater. We’ll have a look at the most effective settings we have discovered when utilizing the digicam underwater.

Once they say the case is nice as much as 15 meters, or about 33 ft, they are not mendacity. Not that we tried flooding the case or something, however at 60 ft the digicam is not operational as a result of the stress squeezes the controls and the digicam shuts down. At 40 ft the digicam can doubtlessly be made to work, however do not rely on altering the settings. At 35ft the digicam seems to be working properly with all options and settings operational. For a lot of divers this might be too limiting as most of your dives might be deeper than 35 ft. Word, nevertheless, that the pink/yellow/orange finish of the spectrum can be filtered out past this depth.

The mix of digicam and housing is properly matched and simple to make use of. The clear plastic case lets you simply see the settings on the digicam. As with most digital shows, sure angles are tougher to see, however with the precise shading and angle, every thing is seen on the 2-inch display. Though you may swap the focal size of the lens from broad to zoom, due to the water we stored the dive setting on broad all through the whole course of. Preserve this in thoughts for all underwater photographs; Keep near your topic and use the widest potential angle for higher outcomes.

For the nonetheless photographs, the digicam was set to fireplace the flash with every shot. This can drain your batteries sooner, but when the topic is nearer than 8ft you will have higher imaging and coloration. The perfect outcomes had been our macro photographs, the place we set the digicam to “shut up” and used the flash. For those who use Film mode, you will be impressed by the sharpness of the photographs, however do not anticipate excessive audio high quality. The case has to soak up numerous the sound as a result of numerous the underwater audio is muted. Probably you can be modifying with some musical background anyway.

The colour steadiness was a bit off. We modified the settings as instructed and the outcome was that the colour steadiness was a bit on the blue aspect for overhead photographs. This was not an issue with the underwater photographs, because the inexperienced tint of the water was eradicated. Most coloration steadiness points could be addressed on the modifying stage.

The declare of being 12.0 megapixels is a bit deceptive as that’s the ‘{hardware} interpolation’ not the ‘picture decision’ which is 5.0 megapixels. All in all, we weren’t dissatisfied with the standard outcomes of the higher photographs. Nonetheless, a number of the photographs confirmed digicam shake even with the built-in flash. This implies the shutter will regulate to the quantity of sunshine, so it is vital to squeeze the digicam and maintain it as nonetheless as potential.

We used an 8GB SD card as a result of we anticipated to report numerous video and had sufficient storage for 2 dives. We did not use the included USB cable as we use a card reader on our laptop computer after which again up the reminiscence to a transportable arduous drive. The facility supply makes use of two triple A alkaline batteries, so having recent batteries for each dive is just not an issue. We have not used the “Voice Recorder” characteristic, however based mostly on our expertise with underwater video, we would not advocate utilizing it within the underwater case.

Now for the highest recommendation about this gear: if you wish to take your underwater imaging significantly, save your cash for a extra complete system. This may very well be the proper outfit for a scuba diver seeking to share their diving expertise with their family and friends. For lower than $100 (costs vary from $70 to $100) with out your SD reminiscence card or batteries, it is a worth. The SVP cameras can be found in some dive retailers and are offered instantly on-line by a number of importers. The following few level and shoot underwater outfits with out an exterior flash will most probably value over $500. So if you happen to’re happening trip and enthusiastic about having your individual shallow water digital digicam outfit, that is the reply. After all, you may lease a digicam that comes with every thing for about $35 at most dive facilities. Generally the selection is just not straightforward, however you may know much more from somebody who has examined the SVP. It is an ideal picture and video digicam outfit for across the water and underwater to about 35 ft.

Producer’s Specs:

· Waterproof design: Do not be afraid to take this aqua digicam into the water – even underwater. The waterproof case protects this digicam to a depth of 30 ft.

· Very slim and small digicam design

· Captures photographs, movies and audio clips with the built-in microphone.

· The decision sensor provides you the power to seize 5MP, 3.1MP, 1.3MP and 300K decision photographs.

· Takes 12 and eight MP photographs via {hardware} interpolation.

· Film mode: When an image is just not sufficient, report movies in 640 x 480 (VGA) with sound at 30 frames per second.

· 2.0-inch LCD display: This compact coloration display provides loads of area that can assist you compose your photographs.

· Zoom: 8x digital zoom enlarges pixels to fill the body together with your favourite a part of the picture.

· Adjustable flash

· Self-timer: 2/10/10+2 seconds

· Tripod Capabilities

· Constructed-in white steadiness

· Waterproof to 50ft

16MP built-in storage, accepts SD playing cards to increase storage.

· Energy supply: 2 triple A batteries

· Timestamp choices: Off/Date solely/Date and time

· Comes with software program, connects through USB 1.1

· Video/TV-out supported – through video-out cable.

· Auto Energy Mode – Preserve battery life by turning the digicam off robotically.

Auto Flash, Auto Flash with red-eye discount, Gradual Sync, Fill Flash, Flash Off, Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Tungsten, Sundown, Customized, and so forth.

· MULTILINGUAL INTERFACE 8 menu languages ​​together with: English, Portuguese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, T.Chinese language and S.Chinese language.