SeaLife ReefMaster DC250 Review

Here's a typical Record screen, with no information overlays.

You can press the OK button to activate the 2X digital zoom option (if enabled in the menu.) Digital Zoom can only be used when the LCD is turned on and the image size is 1600 x 1200. Digital zoom is not like real optical zoom, it simply crops the central 50% of the frame.(Can not be used under water because the housing has no aces button.) This could also be done (better) later in software.

Macro (closeup) focus mode covers from 2 to 3 feet.

The DC250 can also record 320x240 resoultion motion video without audio. The length of these movie clips is only limited by available memory. Digital zoom is not useable in movie mode.

Pressing the MENU button in Record mode brings up the onscreen menu of available options:

LCD Brightness - Adjust color LCD backlight intensity

Quickview - Immediate image review for 3 secs. after capture

Digital Zoom - On or Off

White Balance - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Tungsten

Exposure - Override metering -1.8 to +1.8 in 0.3EV steps

Sharpness - Hard, Soft, Normal

Flash - On or Off

Playback image with minimal information display enabled.

Pressing the display button enables the 3x3 thumbnail index mode.

Pressing the OK button enlarges the image 2x and 4x, you can scroll around using the 4-way selector.

Movie playback can be on the LCD or on your TV via the video out cable.

Pressing the MENU button in Playback mode brings up the onscreen menu of available options:

LCD Brightness - Adjust the intensity of the LCD backlight

Slide Show - Automated playback mode, 2-10 sec. settable delay

Copy To Card - Copy images from internal memory to CF card

Delete All - Erase all images

DPOF - Set the DPOF printing options

Placing the Mode Dial in Setup brings up the setup menu:

LAND/SEA/EXT.FLASH - Set the desired exposure mode:

LAND - Camera is optimized for use above the water, in or out of the u/w case

SEA - Camera is optimizd for use underwater. Special color balancing insures the best possible u/w photos

EXT. FLASH - If using the camera underwater with one or two of the optional external flash units.

Format - Format internal memory or SD card

Beep - Turns button "beeps" on or off

Power Off - Set auto power off time delay

Rest to Default - Return all settibgs to factory default

Date Setup - Set the internal clock

Video Mode - Select video output, NTSC or PAL format.

Language - Set the menu language