ScubaLab Imaging Roundup
For the special photo-themed issue of Scuba Diving magazine, ScubaLab reviewed new underwater imaging equipment. Instead of our typical head-to-head reviews testing one type of product, the following highlights several different categories of imaging gear, including cameras, underwater smartphone housings, strobes, video lights, wet lenses and other accessories.
Camera Kits
Ikelite
Deluxe Underwater Housing Kit with Tough TG-7 and Ecko Fiber Strobe
MSRP $1,695
Contact ikelite.com
This kit combines the small but mighty OM System Tough TG-7 camera with an extremely lightweight Ikelite housing and a simple-to-use fiber-optic Ecko Fiber strobe. The TG-7offers point-and-shoot simplicity as well as advanced image control. It has a 25-100mm midrange zoom lens and a special microscope mode that makes for incredible macro imaging. It is waterproof on its own to 50 feet (15 meters). Inside the Ikelite housing it has a depth rating of 200 feet (60 meters). The housing is constructed of a specially formulated ABS-PC and features a light color to keep equipment cooler in warm, sunny environments. It provides access to all the camera’s functions and is compatible with a variety of lenses and ports for increased flexibility.
The compact, powerful fiber-optic strobe features TTL functionality to automatically adjust output based on the distance of the subject for effortless exposure control. It also includes several manual set points. The package includes a single handle tray and adjustable ball arm for a sleek, travel-ready setup that is suitable for divers of any experience level.
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Underwater Smartphone Housings
Divevolk
Seatouch 4 Max Ocean Kit
MSRP $229 (housing only), $499 (Ocean Kit)
Contact divevolkdiving.com
This sleek smartphone housing doesn’t require batteries, a specialized app, a wireless connection or even buttons. It provides full touchscreen control for minimal complexity and maximum versatility. Users can operate their smartphone just like they would on land, allowing them to capture, review, edit and share media directly from their phone using their favorite apps without needing to remove the phone from the housing.
The housing is depth-rated to 196 feet (60 meters) and accommodates a wide variety of smartphone models. The Ocean Kit pictured here includes an accessory bracket with an M67 thread expansion clamp, 0.6x underwater wide-angle conversion lens, red filter, protective cover and travel case. An optional wireless shutter release is available for users who prefer the ergonomics of a traditional camera’s shutter operation.
Kraken
Universal Smartphone Housing 2.0
MSRP $399, $499 (Pro)
Contact krakensports.ca
This Bluetooth-enabled, vacuum-sealed smartphone housing is compatible with both Android and iPhone models. The corrosion-resistant heavy-duty aluminum housing is depth-rated to depths of 280 feet. The housing is powered by a rechargeable, replaceable 18650 battery, which can also be utilized to charge the user’s smartphone while it is installed inside. It is compatible with standard camera trays and can be equipped with an accessory wet lens using an optional adjustable mounting bracket.
Kraken’s new NextGen app provides advanced imaging functionality and dive tracking capabilities. Post dive, users can access AI-powered editing tools via the app to enhance and color-correct images. The pro version of the housing includes a depth and temperature sensor, which allows the app to provide real-time dive data and record dive logs.
Proshot
Proshot Dive 2.0
MSRP $159.99
Contact proshotcase.com
Compatible with all iPhones, this lightweight underwater housing is depth-rated to 130 feet (40 meters) and backed by a 12-month iPhone Protection Guarantee. It utilizes a simple, user-friendly two-button operation that requires no batteries or wireless connections. The housing comes with a hand grip and features a GoPro-style mounting system for compatibility with a wide range of trays, grips and accessories.
The updated 2.0 version of the housing includes high-quality silicone bumpers for enhanced protection and an ergonomic grip. It includes an anti-glare filter; improved, redesigned wrist strap; silicone grease and cleaning tools; custom travel case; and hand grip with adjustable buoyancy. Optional red filters are available to enhance footage in various underwater scenarios.
Related Reading: Best New Dive Gear September 2025
Sealife
SportDiver S
MSRP $259.95
Contact sealife-cameras.com
This version of the SeaLife’s SportDiver smartphone housing is lighter and more compact than its predecessors, which makes it a great option for casual divers and snorkelers in need of a simple, powerful and travel-friendly imaging system. The housing is depth-rated to 100 feet (30 meters) and includes an intuitive vacuum seal and moisture sensor. It is compatible with all SportDiver optional lens accessories, including snap-on color filters and the adjustable wet lens mounting adapter.
A comfortable grip and ergonomic controls make the SportDiver S well-suited for handheld use. Users can also attach it to a tray via three ¼-20 accessory mounts along the bottom of the housing. The housing and phone are controlled by the existing SportDiver app, which offers an easy-to-use interface and a wide range of advanced functions, depending on the device used. The SportDiver S is compatible with all iPhones and most Android smartphones (for larger phones, select the slightly bigger SportDiver Ultra). It includes a lightweight travel pouch.
Click here to learn more.
Lighting
Backscatter
HF-1 Hybrid Flash Underwater Strobe and Video Light
MSRP $999
Contact backscatter.com
This multifunction fiber-optic strobe is suited to both photography and videography. It boasts impressive performance whether used as an underwater flash or a video light and includes a tantalizing list of advanced features. The powerful strobe boasts an f/40 guide number, and the video light outputs a max of 5,000 lumens. Video lighting modes include spot, wide and red light, plus two emergency signaling modes. Users can adjust the angle of coverage and color temperature by using optional diffusers and filters—a flat diffuser is included.
When combined with Backscatter’s Smart Control TTL (sold separately), the light offers seamless, automatic TTL exposure control for Sony, Olympus and OM System cameras. Manual exposure control is also available. It is compatible with high-speed sync and wireless off-camera remote control. It is powered by two 21700 lithium-ion batteries. Batteries and fiber-optic cable not included.
Related Reading: How to Travel Safely With Lithium Batteries
Kraken
Strobes
MSRP $359 (KR-S40), $599 (KR-S80), $850 (KR-S160)
Contact krakensports.ca
These powerful, rugged strobes are constructed with an aluminum body depth-rated to 330 feet (100 meters). They are available with either 40, 80 or 160 watt-seconds of power to suit a variety of photography needs. Fiber-optic sync allows compatibility with a wide range of cameras and Kraken’s fiberoptic remote-control system. The KR-S160 also supports electronic sync for additional flexibility. The strobes’ flash tube provides soft, even lighting with a 5,500K color temperature, and they include a small aiming light to assist during focusing. Rear-mounted dials offer easy, accessible control.
The KR-S160 has a rotatable OLED display that indicates mode and flashes remaining at the current level, and the KR-S80 has an LCD display. The strobes utilize rechargeable, replaceable lithium-ion batteries to ensure users can always swap out to a fully charged battery between dives. Strobes include two diffusers, and a full suite of optional snoots, diffusers and other accessories are available.
Divevolk
SL50
MSRP $389
Contact divevolkdiving.com
Offering a max output of 5,600 lumens and a wide 120-degree beam angle, this underwater video light is perfectly suited for smartphone housings, action cameras and other compact video rigs. It features nine power settings to optimize output and battery life—it will run for 34 minutes at max power and 200 minutes on low. The large variation in power settings makes the light very versatile, as it can also act as a focus light or primary dive light.
The light uses an intuitive two-button operation and has an LCD power indicator display. The anodized aircraft-grade aluminum body is corrosion-resistant and depth-rated to 328 feet (100 meters). The light includes an M6-thread ball mount and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack.
Kraken
Hydra WRGBU Series
MSRP $325 (3000), $750 (10000), $799 (12000), $1,150 (18000)
Contact krakensports.ca
This line of high-power professional-grade underwater video lights ranges from 3,000 to 18,000-lumen models. In addition to a 100-degree floodlight that can illuminate even the darkest underwater scenes, these lights include red, green and blue LEDs that can be mixed in varying amounts to produce a wide range of colors—including ultraviolet light for capturing fluorescence. Lights can be fired in burst mode for use in still photography.
A fiber-optic port enables them to be synced to a camera or triggered via a remote strobe (Hydra 3000 does not have remote capability). Lights can also be operated using Kraken’s optional remote control. This accessory allows users to adjust settings for brightness, cycle between operating modes and enable or disable standby mode. Lights can be controlled individually or simultaneously.
Proshot
Camera Tray and Dive Lights
MSRP $199.99 (tray), $84.99 (light)
Contact proshotcase.com
With an internal width of 10 inches, this simple, sturdy tray is designed to work with ProShot’s underwater smartphone housings. It is built of rugged stainless steel, with grippy ergonomic silicone handles and two cold-shoe mounts. It has a ¼-20 accessory mount and includes a GoPro-style attachment and two cold-shoe adapters. ProShot dive lights (sold separately) are depth-rated to 130 feet (40 meters). They provide up to 700 lumens apiece, with two power levels and an SOS mode. They feature a built-in rechargeable battery and come with three removable color filters.
The lights include mounting hardware and are compatible with all Pro-Shot cases—and the floating hand grip each case comes with—as well as all Go-Pros and GoPro-compatible mounts.
Sealife
Sea Dragon Mini 1200 and 1600
MSRP Starts at $139.95, $29.95 (YS camera mount)
Contact sealife-cameras.com
These compact, lightweight dive lights feature a Luminous SFT-40 LED and tight beam angle. Their anodized-aluminum construction is depth-rated to 330 feet (100 meters) and includes a safety pressure-release valve. The lights are well-suited for use as a primary or backup dive light but can also be used for underwater imaging using a Y/S mounting bracket. Their tight, bright illumination makes them useful for spotlight photography, especially for users looking to keep their camera setup small, streamlined and simple.
The lights utilize a one-button operation with three power levels and two hidden emergency signal functions. The lights can be purchased by themselves or with a rechargeable 18650 battery and charger—the included batteries can power the lights on full power for up to an hour.
Sea&Sea
LX-4000SW FS
MSRP $549.95
Contact tusa.com
Designed with a special donut-shaped COB LED array, this compact, feature-rich video light emits both its wide and spotlight beams from a single source to ensure optimal lighting with natural-looking shadows whether shooting wide-angle or macro. The light outputs a max of 4,000 lumens, with four preset power levels—it also has two hidden emergency signal modes. Users can further finetune the brightness in 1 percent increments from zero to 100. A memory function saves the user-set intensity to retain the setting after the light is turned off.
The intuitive three-button operation is complemented by a large LCD display that shows the current power level and the remaining battery life in minutes. The light can be used in combination with still photography strobes, as it will temporarily turn off when a flash is detected.
Related Reading: How to Pack Your Underwater Photo Gear
Accessories
Kraken
HDMI Ultra Bright 7-Inch Monitor
MSRP $1,999.99
Contact krakensports.ca
The latest and largest of Kraken’s self-contained underwater external monitors, this new version is powered by twin 21700 batteries—the same used in many of the brand’s dive torches and imaging lights. The brilliantly bright, crystal-clear 7-inch display makes it easy to frame wide-angle shots and closely inspect macro composition in all conditions, even in bright sun. Operation is intuitive and includes four programmable function buttons for quickly accessing waveforms, histograms, zebra exposure, grid view, focus assist and other critical info. The screen maxes out at an impressive 2,200 nits of brightness, with a huge range of adjustment.
The 4K HDMI signal input and output are compatible with M24 and M16 bulkheads. The monitor includes a fully articulating ball mount for easy positioning and ready compatibility with any camera rig. Included batteries feature integrated USB-C charging ports and will power the monitor for up to 140 minutes at 100 percent brightness. It is depth-rated to 226 feet (80 meters).
Backscatter
GoPro Sharp Wide Lens Pro Package
MSRP $337.95
Contact backscatter.com
This kit combines a unique wet-lens mounting system designed specifically for GoPro cameras with a professional-grade wide-angle lens that offers a super-wide 140-degree view underwater and a 4-inch minimum focus distance. Compatible with the GoPro Protector housing for Hero 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 cameras, the compact frame snaps onto the housing’s lens port and connects to the housing’s bottom attachment point. The frame’s QRS-2 bayonet system makes for quick, easy installation and removal of the included lens—and any other compatible QRS-2 lens, such as the +15 MacroMate Mini with an adapter.
A special slot allows users to install color filters behind the wet lens—the included Dive+ and Deep+ red filters cover depths of 20 to 45 feet and 45 to 80 feet, respectively. The lens offers razor-sharp focus from corner to corner. Its super-wide viewing angle combined with its short minimum focal distance allows for dramatic close-up, wide-angle images. It is depth-rated to 200 feet (60 meters).
Divevolk
Macro Lens Pro +18
MSRP $399
Contact divevolkdiving.com
Designed with a +18 diopter, this optical wet lens significantly reduces minimum focus distance, allowing for superior detail and clarity when capturing images and videos of macro subjects. The lens is compatible with Divevolk’s SeaTouch4 Max underwater smartphone housing when outfitted with the optional expansion clamp with 67mm adapter arm and any compact camera housing with an M67 mount. The lens provides 3x magnification with a focus range of 30mm to 53mm. It is constructed of aviation-grade aluminum for durability and corrosion resistance, with coated optical glass for optimal light transmission and image clarity. It is depth-rated to 200 feet (60 meters).
Nauticam
MFO-1 Mid-Range Focus Optimizer
MSRP $510
Contact nauticam.com
This wet lens converter was designed to elevate the macro shooting experience by eliminating noticeable focus hunting while providing crisper, sharper images. The converter adjusts the focus range of the lens to approximately 12.5 to 114 cm. This makes it easy to capture subjects at varying distances and provides smooth, precise focusing even in challenging conditions. The lens provides a slight increase in magnification, enabling users to capture incredible detail at extremely close ranges. The optics can achieve 1.2x to 1.6x magnification, depending on the primary lens used.
Nauticam
Super Macro Converter 3
MSRP $610
Contact nauticam.com
The latest version of the Super Macro Converter is two-thirds the weight of the original while retaining the same high-quality clarity and precision. When combined with a full-frame camera and a 100mm or 105mm macro lens, it provides up to a 2.4x magnification factor and a working distance of approximately 51 to 103 millimeters. The lens is constructed using specially formulated low-dispersion optical-grade glass with a broadband anti-reflective coating to reduce common optical issues such as chromatic aberrations and field deformation.
The SMC-3 was crafted using a specially developed algorithm to optimize high-resolution image quality over the full focusing range of the lens. The converter increases brightness and contrast of the image, further aiding the speed and effectiveness of autofocus systems within this range. The optics feature a hard anodized aluminum housing depth-rated to 330 feet (100 meters), with an M67 thread diameter. Nitrogen purging during assembly eliminates fogging.
Sealife
6-Inch Wide-Angle Dome Lens for SportDiver Housing
MSRP $199.95
Contact sealife-cameras.com
This wide-angle wet lens mounts directly to SeaLife’s line of SportDiver underwater smartphone housings with plug-and-play simplicity. It’s designed to clip onto the front of the housing without the need of tools or an adapter. Simply mount and shoot—and it can be removed just as easily and quickly. The lens’s 65x magnification ratio increases the phone camera’s view by 40 percent. It also reduces minimum focus distance by up to 25 percent, depending on the phone lens being used. This means divers can get closer to their subjects while keeping everything in focus and in view. The large, scratch-resistant PMMA acrylic dome also allows for easy split-shots at the water’s surface. It is waterproof to 130 feet (40 meters). The lens is positively buoyant, so users won’t risk losing it when installing or removing the lens during a dive—it also comes with a safety lanyard. The lens includes a neoprene lens cover and protective pouch.
Sealife
SportDiver 52 MM and 67 MM Lens Adapter
MSRP $179.95
Contact sealife-cameras.com
This accessory lets users mount 67mm and 52mm threaded wet lenses to any SportDiver smartphone housing—including the new SportDiver S. It is compatible with SeaLife’s 52mm wide-angle lens and most aftermarket macro and wide-angle lenses. This flexibility opens the door for more creative underwater imaging and advanced techniques while retaining the simplicity and compact dimensions that are a hallmark of Sealife’s SportDiver housings. The sturdy adapter is easy to attach and constructed of durable hard-anodized aluminum with 316 stainless-steel hardware. Ergonomic thumbscrews allow for simple, precise adjustment of the len’s position for optimal performance no matter which smartphone is installed inside the housing. The lens adapter securely attaches to the housing using an included 4 mm Allen key. Lens attachment, removal and positioning can be done without tools and while underwater.
Ultralight Camera Solutions
AC-AQD04 Quick Disconnect Ball Arm
MSRP $49.95
Contact ulcs.com
This clever double ball arm features a two-piece design with a quick-disconnect mechanism. It provides a secure mounting point for lights, snoots, strobes and other equipment while simultaneously allowing for easy, quick attachment and removal so users don’t have to loosen clamps to reconfigure the camera arms or swap equipment. The snap-button allows for seamless one-hand operation of the quick-disconnect mechanism, something that is especially convenient when juggling larger camera setups. The full arm is 4 inches long. Built to withstand harsh marine environments, it is crafted with 6061 T6 aircraft-grade aluminum with Type III anodizing. The snap-button is stainless steel.
Ultralight Camera Solutions
AC-LYC Underwater Camera Lanyard
MSRP $31.95
Contact ulcs.com
This lanyard can be used to easily attach cameras, lights and other accessories to a diver’s BC. Its quick-disconnect buckle and coiled cable allows items to be used and handled without having to remove the secure attachment. A bolt snap allows for easy attachment and removal of the lanyard, such as when handing a camera off at a boat ladder. The big plastic buckle makes for easy operation, even when wearing thick gloves. The shorter, plastic-coated coiled cable is secured with aluminum crimps to reduce bulk and entanglement risks. Unclipped, the lanyard is about 48 inches long and holds up to 12 pounds. The lanyard is built to withstand marine environments and uses 316 stainless steel for the 1.5-inch split ring, coiled cable and bolt snap. It is available in black, blue and yellow.
Related Reading: How to Care for Your Underwater Camera Housing
Ultralight Camera Solutions
CTKS-03 Camera Tray Package
MSRP $177.95
Contact ulcs.com
Perfectly suited for smaller point-and-shoot camera housings with a single ¼-inch mounting hole, this tray is lightweight and versatile. It can be utilized with a single handle for a more compact, lightweight system or equipped with two handles for maximum stability and an additional mounting point. The tray is 8½ inches long by itself and 2 inches wide at its largest point. The included extension required for the second handle adds another 3¼ inches. Handles are 4½ inches tall and include a ball mount and a textured blue silicone grip. Includes a captive ¼-20 bolt with thumb knob and plastic washer for mounting camera housings. Components are crafted of 6061 T6 aircraft-grade aluminum with Type III anodizing and 316 stainless-steel hardware.
Ultralight Camera Solutions
SB-04 Long Ball Mount
MSRP $29.95
Contact ulcs.com
This universal ball mount can be bolted between a camera tray handle and an existing ball mount to provide an additional attachment point. In fact, it can be attached in a variety of places to provide creative expansions to any camera rig. For example, the SB-04-BCK kit, which includes the ball mount and two plastic washers, can be used to mount two large buoyancy arms side-by-side over a camera. The arm is 4 inches in length, with a ball mount on one end. The other end has a 1/8-inch-thick flat end with a ¼-inch hole. It is manufactured in the United States using 6061 T6 aircraft-grade aluminum with Type III anodizing.
