SEACAM Viewfinder System

Most of the SEACAM Silver range of recent underwater camera housings including all the digital camera housings feature user interchangeable viewfinders - changing them is both easy and fast and requires no tools. They offer unsurpassed levels of underwater image viewing. Three viewfinders are available (please note that the base price of a housing does NOT include the price of a viewfinder):

The G Pro viewfinder is the basic or 'standard' viewfinder. This offers a slightly reduced, full frame image and allows for accurate composition. It is compact and light, great for general use and offers excellent value for money. G Pros with slight cutaway surrounds are available to ensure that there is no obstruction to the rear review displays on some cameras. Although this viewfinder is designed for use with all supported film and digital cameras, some cameras (such as the Fuji S2Pro which already has a reduced image due to the smaller format and because it is based on a 35mm film camera), will benefit more than most from the larger images offered by the alternative viewfinders.

The S45 viewfinder - SEACAM term this as a 'Sportsfinder' - offers an incredibly large, bright image which is viewed at 45 degrees from the normal viewfinder position. The S45 can be rotated to enable vertical shooting and has many applications beyond the 'normal' as it allows for extreme low level photography and can even be used in ponds or rivers or for split shots. A serious viewfinder, but not cheap. We use the S45 ourselves and prefer it to any camera actionfinder we have ever tried (and we've used Nikon F's, F2s, and F4s with actionfinders fitted - we find the S45 to be MUCH better). The S45 is ideal for macro photographers, but is perfectly well suited to general underwater photography too. Dioptric adjustment is possible to suit each individual's eyes.

Unlike the S45 the S180 Sportfinder does not operate at 45 degrees but offers a straight through view. If you shoot large, fast moving subjects then this finder offers viewing which is almost on the lens axis when rotated appropriately, and it is then perfect for such work. It is another 'Sportsfinder' offering a bright and substantially enlarged view - ideal for tracking big, fast moving subjects - and is a real improvement over traditional actionfinders whilst having many of their attributes. Dioptric adjustment is again possible to suit each individual's eyes.

Important - using the Sportsfinders with digital cameras may curtail the view of the rear lcd (review display) on some cameras where this is quite close to the viewfinder. Most of the display can be seen but not always all of it. This is due to purely physical constraints and there is no work around. In practice most of the lcd can be seen and we have never found the masked view to pose much of a problem. If you are really serious about underwater photography then you MUST try one of the Sportsfinders. These offer the best viewing found on any housed camera and put the photographer in full and precise control of composition - the prerequisite of quality photography.