UWACAM Support Knowledge Base (complete)

This is a complete list of our knowledge base articles for those who prefer everything on one page. The main knowledge base is here: kb.uwacam.com

Getting Started

How can I get support, send feedback or submit an idea?

If you have an issue with UWACAM, or would like to send us an idea for a cool feature or simply feedback, drop us a line at support@uwacam.com
If you're submitting an issue it helps us to

know what device type and iOS version you are using
what your current language settings are
how we can reproduce the issue
in what situation the issue happened
if you have captures to share, consider using https://www.swisstransfer.com/en-us (send the link or transfer to support@uwacam.com)

Before submitting any ideas, please read our idea submission policy.

I am going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip/dive - any specific advice?

The following advice may help you prepare for that once-in-a-lifetime trip - or any other diving trip as well.

It intended to give you general guidance on preparing, and is not designed to apply to all possible situations. Use your own best judgement.

Before you leave home

Make your equipment list so you don't forget anything
Familiarize yourself with your equipment and software. Learn how to assemble and check your equipment. Test it for functionality.
Update Firmware & Apps: Ensure UWACAM, your phone, and any dive-related apps (e.g., tide charts, dive planners) are up to date.
Storage & Data Management: Confirm you have enough storage space on your phone. Consider an external storage solution or cloud backup for after dives.
Make a backup of your phone to your computer
Practice using UWACAM, which you can do out of the water as well
Try various configuration(s) in UWACAM, figure out what works best for you
Redundancy Planning: If something crucial fails (e.g., your phone, lights, or Divevolk case), what’s your backup plan? Bringing a secondary camera or spare parts could be beneficial.
Learn as much as you can about the upcoming trip/dive. Location, conditions to expect, what will you see, diving challenges etc.

Make a strategy

Ask your guide/dive master about the dive site(s). Get as much information as possible: location, current, visibility, water color, dive profile, what is there to see (more big things? more macro? both? very specific things only available there?), entry and exit etc.
Use this information to decide what, and how you want to capture. This will also help you get into a mindset for looking out for the subjects you've decided on
You may decide to just concentrate on macro for one dive, or just on large and wide angle for another. This way you can tune your equipment setup and your dive profile accordingly
If you are diving in a group, adapt your strategy accordingly. You may want to go last to have more time with the subject - this comes with a risk that someone before you scares the subject away. It may be best to address organization in the group before the dive so everyone gets best value from the dive

Before you leave your accomodation

Make sure your phone and other equipment batteries are fully charged
Lens Cleaning: Ensure your phone’s camera lens and case port are completely clean and free of any smudges or debris.
Check your dive lights
Set up your phone and configure UWACAM to your liking and to fit your strategy
Prepare your equipment in the room, put your phone in the Divevolk case and close it so there is less chance of fogging. Consider putting your phone in flight mode to conserve battery life.
Be careful to keep the case and phone out of direct sunlight to prevent overheating issues

Before entering the water:

Check your dive lights and equipment. Is the filter you want to use mounted?
How will you enter the water?
Will someone hand you your equipment after you enter (recommended)? Identify who that person will be and instruct them as necessary.

After entering the water:

Check your dive lights and equipment quickly before descending

During the dive:

Mind the Bubbles: If shooting wide-angle, exhale slowly when framing a shot to avoid bubbles interfering with visibility.
Steady Shooting: Avoid sudden camera movements—slow, controlled shots make for better footage.
Avoid Overfocusing on the Screen: Maintain situational awareness—don’t get tunnel vision on your phone while navigating.
Know When to Abort a Shot: If conditions are challenging (e.g., too much current, low visibility), don’t waste precious time and air on a bad shot.

After the dive:

Rinse Immediately: Rinse your case with fresh water as soon as possible to prevent salt buildup, which could damage seals over time.
Dry Before Opening: Let the case dry before opening to avoid water dripping inside.
Backup Your Footage: If possible, transfer photos/videos to an external storage device or the cloud before your next dive.

If you are doing multiple dives:

Resist the urge to review all your captures after your first dive - this will only eat into your phone battery. Sample a few to check focus, composition, color. Is there anything you can improve?
Don't remove the phone from the case unless there is a very urgent reason. Opening the case on the boat can let humid air into the case, increasing the risk of fogging.
Remember to keep your equipment out of direct sunlight

Ethical Underwater Photography

Responsible underwater photography means respecting marine life, preserving the environment, and ensuring that your actions do not disturb the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Avoid touching or chasing marine creatures, as this can stress them and alter their natural behavior. Be mindful of your buoyancy to prevent accidental contact with coral, which can take decades to recover from even minor damage. Use appropriate lighting and avoid excessive strobe use to minimize disruption to nocturnal species. Never remove anything from the ocean for the sake of a shot, and always follow local regulations and marine park guidelines. Remember, the best underwater images come from capturing marine life in its natural state—observe, appreciate, and leave no trace.

Important: A good dive is one you return from safely. Always prioritize your well-being and that of your dive buddies over capturing the perfect shot. Never let photography or any other distraction take your focus away from critical dive factors such as your depth, time, air supply, and surroundings.

Follow safe diving practices by staying within your training limits, adhering to no-decompression limits, and always monitoring your buoyancy, ascent rate, and buddy’s position. Be mindful of strong currents, marine life, and potential hazards in your environment. If conditions change or something feels off, prioritize your safety over getting the shot.

Remember: No photo or video is worth risking your life. Stay aware, stay safe, and enjoy the dive responsibly.

Are there any video tutorials on UWACAM?

Matthias Lebo is in the process of making a tutorial series:

Part one (AUTO mode) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQMc9UfOEI0
Part two (PRO mode) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK55qacSnaI
All videos from Matthias Lebo - browse for more tips and tricks for UWACAM, DiveVolk and underwater videography in general: https://www.youtube.com/@MatthiasLebo/videos

If you have specific questions, drop us a line at support@uwacam.com !

Where can I download UWACAM?

UWACAM is available as a free download on the App Store

Where can I purchase a Divevolk Seatouch Case and Accessories?

You can purchase various types/colors of cases, and a wide range of accessories, in the Divevolk Online Shop

Getting started tips

Like any professional camera, it pays off to use UWACAM for some time at home before taking it on your first dive.

You will enjoy UWACAM much more underwater if you are already familiar with controls and settings, and have configured UWACAM to your liking.

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Make UWACAM part of your pre-dive planning:

What mode do you want to use? - AUTO mode or PRO mode, depending on your skill level and how involved you want to be in the capture process
What situations will you encounter during your dive?
What subjects are you likely to encounter during your dive - larger animals, or macro, or reefscapes ?
Which are most interesting to you?
How might conditions (lighting, environment etc.) change during your dive?
What settings will let you get best results?
Do you want to store or adapt some of UWACAM presets to better fit your dive profile, environment, and subjects you are likely to encounter?

Remember: No photo or video is worth risking your life. Stay aware, stay safe, and enjoy the dive responsibly.

How can I improve my underwater video shooting skills?

Award winning underwater cinematographer Matthias Lebo with whom UWACAM was developed offers excellent online training courses.

If you prefer to self-teach, the best advice we can give is - shoot a lot of underwater video, plan your shots before diving (see our getting started tips), review your material and make your own notes as to what worked and what did not work so well.

How can I turn off the watermark?

You can download and test all UWACAM functions with no specific limitations
However, a permanent watermark will be imprinted in all captures and UWACOLOR processed videos and photos
Once you subscribe, the watermark will no longer be imprinted in new captures you take AFTER subscribing and while your subscription is active.
All subscription plans offer a free trial period, during which you can enjoy capturing ocean beauty without a watermark
You can cancel your subscription anytime before the trial period ends, and your credit card will not be charged.
Note: Vizalyzer AI is included and activated once you subscribe

To summarize: You can use UWACAM without choosing a subscription plan in test mode with all features enabled. All captures made without an active subscription will be imprinted with a permanent watermark, which cannot be removed even after starting a subscription. All captures made while a subscription is active will not have a watermark imprinted.

Does UWACAM transform my phone into an underwater camera?

Almost, but not by itself. While there are videos out there that show how an iPhone survives dunking in water, that is not something it is designed for.

Get a DIVEVOLK Seatouch Case, for which UWACAM was explicitly designed.

The DIVEVOLK Case together with the UWACAM app are the ideal combination to capture ocean beauty - effortlessly.

Which underwater housing do you recommend for my iPhone?

Get a DIVEVOLK Seatouch Case, for which UWACAM was explicitly designed.

The unique membrane of the Seatouch Case lets you effortlessly use UWACAM, thanks to its large buttons and user interface designed for underwater use.

Does UWACAM work with drysuit gloves?

We dive with a drysuit most of the time here in Switzerland. They have rubber dry gloves and the finger cot from DIVEVOLK works relatively well for us. Of course the screen is not quite as responsive as with your bare fingers, but it’s workable to a degree which is OK for us.

One problem we find though is that the control buttons on most camera apps are rather small and very difficult to precisely press when wearing thick dry rubber gloves with a finger cot - this was one of the motivating factors to develop UWACAM

You can purchase the finger cot, and a wide range of accessories, in the Divevolk Online Shop

Is UWACAM available for Android?

At this stage, we are still in the process of evaluating the demand for an Android version. As of now, UWACAM is unfortunately only available for iOS.

To help us better understand the needs of potential Android users, it would be incredibly valuable if you could share which specific Android device you would plan to use UWACAM on.

Additionally, we'd love to know if you already use a Divevolk Seatouch case with your device. This kind of feedback plays an important role in shaping our future development plans.

If you already use your Android device under water, also tell us please which App you are currently using as your camera app and how well it works for you.

If you are interested in an Android version of UWACAM, please do let us know at support@uwacam.com

Opening UWACAM directly from the lock screen

Due to technical restrictions, UWACAM cannot be integrated as a "camera app" directly in the iPhone lock screen.

However you can customize your lock screen if you like and place a shortcut there that makes it easier to open UWACAM, also under water.

Here is how to do it on iOS 18 and later for the Flashlight and Camera buttons:

Long press on your Lock Screen to bring up customization options
Tap the - (minus) next to one of the two Lock Screen launchers in the bottom left or right (normally the Flashlight and the Camera)
Tap + then select Open App
Choose the app you want to launch from your Lock Screen
Tap Done

If you prefer to place a button in the widget area:

Long press on your Lock Screen to bring up customization options
Tap in the widget area
Add widget for the "Shortcuts" app
Customize that widget so it performs the shortcut action "Open App..." and there choose UWACAM as the app to open

Now you can launch UWACAM directly from the lock screen. Even if your phone locks under water, you won't have to swipe up to unlock it. Simply long press the UWACAM button on the lock screen, enter your pass code and you're done.

We recommend setting this up and testing it at home. You can even put on your diving goggles which will stop Face ID from working, and test the setup with the phone in its dive case, so you're familiar with the procedure of accessing UWACAM quickly from the lock screen.

For more advanced users, you can create multiple lock screens with different button setups, for example one lock screen just for diving, and another for everyday topside use.

Where can I find the original intro video by Matthias Lebo?

You can find the intro video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEC1FJsYfzw

Subscriptions

How do I subscribe?

You can purchase a subscription directly in the app itself.

If you have not yet installed the app on your device, UWACAM is available as a free download on the App Store

After installing UWACAM, start the app. If it is the first time you start the app, you might have to give the app permissions for camera, microphone and access to the Photos library.

Then:

AUTO MODE

If you are in AUTO mode, tap the MENU button

to open the quick access menu

Then tap the green Subscribe button at the bottom of the menu to access the subscription management page.

There you can see the subscriptions we offer together with prices, and select which subscription you would like to purchase.

PRO MODE

If you have already switched to PRO mode, tap the quick access button at top left,

Then tap the green Subscribe button at the bottom of the menu to access the subscription management page.

There you can see the subscriptions we offer together with prices, and select which subscription you would like to purchase.

Please do note that subscribing will remove the watermark from captures made AFTER subscribing. The watermark on captures made BEFORE subscribing cannot be removed.

How can I move/re-activate my subscription on a new device?

Please do the following to move to a new device:

Make sure you are logged into the new device using the same Apple ID you used to purchase your subscription
Download the UWACAM app on the new device
Tap the green "subscribe" button or go to Settings > Gear (yellow) > Subscription
On the page where subscriptions are offered, tap "Restore purchases"
You should subsequently see your subscription as being active on that page

I logged into my device with a different Apple ID, my subscription is gone

Your subscription is tied to the Apple ID you used to purchase it. If you log onto your device with a different Apple ID, it is quite possible that your subscription in UWACAM will deactivate.

To fix this, perform the following:

Make sure you are logged onto device using the same Apple ID you used to purchase your subscription
Tap the green "subscribe" button or go to Settings > Gear (yellow) > Subscription
On the page where subscriptions are offered, tap "Restore purchases"
You should subsequently see your subscription as being active again on that page

I have an offer code, how can I redeem it

To redeem an offer code, follow these steps:

Download UWACAM from the app store onto your device
Start the app, and proceed through the setup screen(s)
Depending on the Mode you chose, tap MENU or QUICK ACCESS
Tap the green subscribe button
On the subscription screen, tap redeem code
Enter the code on the following screen (if the code is long and complex, you may want to copy/paste it to avoid typing errors)
A screen will be presented with the details of the offer - please read them carefully before accepting

Where can I see subscription options and prices?

The easiest way to see subscription options and prices in your local currency is to download the app (downloading is free), and tap the green "subscribe" button in quick access.

This will open the subscription screen which gives you an overview and prices as well.

See also this this knowledge base article on how to subscribe for step by step instructions on how to get to the subscription screen.

Please do note that subscribing will remove the watermark from captures made AFTER subscribing. The watermark on captures made BEFORE subscribing cannot be removed.

How do I restore my subscription, for example if I get a new device?

Make sure you are logged into the new device using the same Apple ID you used to purchase your subscription

Download the UWACAM app on the new device

Tap the green "subscribe" button or go to Settings > Gear (yellow) > Subscription

On the page where subscriptions are offered, tap "Restore purchases"

You should subsequently see your subscription as being active on that page

How can I turn off the watermark?

You can download and test all UWACAM functions with no specific limitations
However, a permanent watermark will be imprinted in all captures and UWACOLOR processed videos and photos
Once you subscribe, the watermark will no longer be imprinted in new captures you take AFTER subscribing and while your subscription is active.
All subscription plans offer a free trial period, during which you can enjoy capturing ocean beauty without a watermark
You can cancel your subscription anytime before the trial period ends, and your credit card will not be charged.
Note: Vizalyzer AI is included and activated once you subscribe

Using UWACAM

How can I get support, send feedback or submit an idea?

If you have an issue with UWACAM, or would like to send us an idea for a cool feature or simply feedback, drop us a line at support@uwacam.com
If you're submitting an issue it helps us to

know what device type and iOS version you are using
what your current language settings are
how we can reproduce the issue
in what situation the issue happened
if you have captures to share, consider using https://www.swisstransfer.com/en-us (send the link or transfer to support@uwacam.com)

Before submitting any ideas, please read our idea submission policy.

General Troubleshooting Tips

If things are behaving very strangely, you can try the following steps:

restart UWACAM
for iOS 26.0.1, start the native iOS Camera App, wait for it to initialize the camera and then start UWACAM again
try restarting your phone

If none of this helps, please reach out to support@uwacam.com and give us as much information as possible:

what happened
at what time and date and timezone
can you reproduce the issue, if yes, with what steps
what iPhone type and iOS version are you using

When recording video, only one camera button is shown. Can I switch/zoom through cameras while recording video?

Short answer: Yes, you can, if you switch Camera Blending ON

AUTO Mode: Settings > Red (Camera) > Camera Blending

PRO Mode: Settings > Red (Camera) > Advanced > Camera Blending

With Camera Blending ON, you can switch cameras while recording video and UWACAM will make the transition as smooth as possible. When using the zoom control you can also zoom through all cameras. This behavior is similar to the standard camera app. It does have some drawbacks, in that manual focus, ISO and other manual settings are not available.

With Camera Blending OFF, UWACAM stays on the selected camera while recording video. You can zoom within that cameras range, but UWACAM will never switch cameras while recording to avoid potentially annoying jumps in the recorded footage.

You can also read about some more background info regarding Camera Blending here.

Technically, Apple does a lot of "magic" in their camera app. The camera selected in the standard app is sometimes not the camera actually used, sometimes the standard app combines digital magnification with "invisible" camera switching to provide a better focusing experience, for example for macro shots. UWACAM mimicks this behavior with Camera Blending set to ON. However this has a few drawbacks regarding image quality and full manual control of all settings is not possible. This is why for PRO mode, Camera Blending is by default OFF, and for AUTO mode it is ON.

Can I use UWACAM while snorkelling?

Absolutely!

UWACAM, in combination with UWACOLOR processing, can give you beautiful captures effortlessly while snorkelling.

Please note that due to the possibility of rapidly changing light conditions during snorkelling, we recommend applying UWACOLOR for videos captured during snorkelling in postprocessing.

That way you always can choose between the original video, and the processed one - depending on which one you prefer.

UWACOLOR processing explained

1. The Challenge of Underwater Color Fidelity

Images and videos captured underwater often exhibit a dominant blue or green color cast. This phenomenon occurs because water acts as a natural light filter, absorbing color wavelengths selectively. The red end of the light spectrum is absorbed first, typically within the first 5 meters / 15 feet of depth, followed by orange, yellow, and other warmer colors as depth increases. Blue light penetrates the deepest, resulting in the monochromatic appearance of uncorrected underwater media. While the human brain can partially compensate for this color shift during a dive, camera sensors record the filtered light, leading to a significant discrepancy between the perceived scene and the captured image.

2. Traditional Methods for Color Restoration

Historically, photographers and videographers have used several techniques to mitigate underwater color loss.

Physical Filters: Attaching red or magenta filters to a camera lens is a common method. These filters work by subtracting the dominant blue or green light, allowing the camera's sensor to better register the remaining warmer colors. The effectiveness of a filter is dependent on depth and specific water conditions, and its use reduces the total amount of light reaching the sensor.
Artificial Lighting: Using external underwater lights, such as strobes or video lights, reintroduces full-spectrum white light to the subject. This method can restore true colors effectively but requires additional equipment that adds bulk, complexity, and cost to the camera setup. Proper positioning is also critical to avoid issues like backscatter, where light reflects off particulate matter in the water.
Manual Post-Processing: After a dive, software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom can be used to manually adjust color balance, levels, and curves. This method offers a high degree of control, especially when shooting in RAW format, but is time-consuming and requires technical expertise.

3. Algorithmic Color Correction Technology

An alternative to traditional methods is the use of software algorithms designed to automatically restore natural color in underwater images and videos. UWACOLOR, created by the UWACAM Team, is such a technology.

This technology utilizes the smartphone's Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to run a complex mathematical algorithm. The algorithm analyzes the image data in real-time or during post-processing within UWACAM. It dynamically adjusts the colors to compensate for the specific light absorption properties of water, aiming to restore vibrancy and contrast without manual intervention.

The system is designed to be adaptive, adjusting its color correction based on the characteristics of the image, which differs from the static correction provided by a single physical filter.

4. Implementation in a Mobile Application

The UWACOLOR technology is integrated as a core feature within UWACAM, providing users with several modes and tools:

Real-Time and Post-Processing: The color correction can be applied live during shooting, providing a real-time preview of the final result, or applied to media previously captured with UWACAM.
High-Quality Formats: UWACOLOR supports processing in high-resolution formats, including 4K, and modern color spaces like HDR/Rec.2020 and Apple Log

5. System Advantages and Considerations

The primary advantage of an integrated algorithmic approach is the reduction in effort and equipment required to achieve accurate color. It can lessen the dependency on physical filters or external lights, particularly at recreational diving depths (e.g., down to 15-20 meters). This streamlines the underwater photography workflow, allowing for quicker sharing of color-corrected images directly from the smartphone.

While UWACOLOR aims to reduce the need for extra gear, the use of a physical red filter can still enhance results at greater depths. Similarly, for optimal image quality in low-light or challenging conditions, the use of an external video light remains a recommended practice.

Adding UWACAM to AssistiveTouch menu

You may want to add UWACAM to your AssistiveTouch menu. Doing this requires two steps:

First, open the Shortcuts App, and create a Shortcut named UWACAM which performs an Open action to open the UWACAM App.

You can find more info on how to do this here: https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/create-a-custom-shortcut-apd84c576f8c/ios

The shortcut should look like this:

And in the overview in the Shortcuts App it should look like this:

Once you have done this, go to your iPhone Settings, search for AssistiveTouch.

Enable AssistiveTouch, and go into "Customize Top Level Menu" to customize the menu. There you can assign the shortcut a position by tapping the position. You can use the (+) button to add more icon positions if you need to. When assigning the UWACAM shortcut you may have to scroll down quite a bit on the list of possible elements. The outcome should look similar to this:

Once you have done this, when you tap the AssistiveTouch dot on the screen, the menu will look something like this:

If you have trouble setting this up, feel free to reach out to us: support@uwacam.com

Why backing up your captures is important

We strongly recommend backing up your captures after every dive, whether you store them in-app, or in another storage location on your phone

This is crucial to make and keep a backup so you don't lose anything if there ever is an issue either with the diving case, your phone or the software.

For in-app captures, go to list mode where you can for example share captures and airdrop them to your computer.

Do you recommend using the iPhone in water without a case?

NO ABSOLUTELY NOT. While there are videos out there that show how an iPhone survives dunking in water, that is not something it is designed for.

Get a DIVEVOLK Seatouch Case, for which UWACAM was explicitly designed.

Where is the manual for UWACAM?

You can find the quick reference manual at

uwacam.com/qr

How do storage locations work in PRO mode?

Storage locations in PRO mode are powerful and flexible. However they may at times not be entirely straightforward to use

Here is the concept

You can select the storage location in PRO mode, for videos and photos independently. So you could store your videos to a Files folder, and photos to your Photos library etc.
Think of the storage location selection as selecting a memory card to use. For example in larger digital cameras, when you select a memory card (if you have more than one slot in the camera), captures are written to the selected memory card, and in playback you see the contents of only that card
When you change a storage location for a capture type, future captures will be stored at that location
When you go to playback mode, you see the captures in the currently selected storage location(s)

Is it possible to recover (undelete) captures?

For captures stored in Photos:

Captures deleted from Photos remain in "Recently Deleted" within Photos for 30 days.
You can find more information in this Apple article: https://support.apple.com/en-us/104967

For captures stored in UWACAM In-App storage:

If you delete a capture which is stored in UWACAM In-App storage, the deleted file is still available for 30 days within the "Recently Deleted" folder in the Files app

We recommend backing up your photos after every dive

How do I upload captures to cloud storage?

To upload capture stories cloud storage you have the following options.

WARNING: upload and sync may incur costs and deplete your mobile data allowance. Use with caution especially when travelling. Use Wifi if at all possible.

Using Playback view:

Open playback view
Switch to list mode
Enter selection mode
Select the captures you want to upload
Use the share button and choose the desired share target (Dropbox, Google Drive etc.)

If you want to directly upload into iCloud, you can set this up independently for photos and videos

Go into settings for photo or video
Storage
Location
Choose "Files"
Then use "Folder..." and select a folder that is in your iCloud Drive
Now, your captures will be synced with iCloud Drive whenever your device is online

Is there a one-touch white balance function?

Yes, two such functions exist in PRO mode. Please note that manual white balance is not available if Camera Blending is activated.

You can use the WB button in quick access to sample and lock white balance from a grey card. You can tap that button again to sample and lock white balance again if shooting conditions change. To unlock white balance, long press the thermometer button in quick access.

You can select the thermometer button in quick access to enable manual white balance control. Then, in the preview screen, tap the thermometer button to switch between locked and auto mode. This way you can lock the current auto value. You can also use the (+) and (-) buttons to change the white balance value in K

What does S M F mean on the Zoom button?

As we implemented the zoom function without the need for any swiping on the display, it works similar to a regular motor zoom that you might find on a camcorder.

Use (+) to zoom in. Hold for continuous zooming up to the limit
Use (-) to zoom in. Hold for continuous zooming up to the limit
Tapping the zoom selection button cycles through three zoom speeds Slow Medium and Fast

To enable zoom controls in AUTO mode, tap MENU, then "Show Zoom Control"

this will display the zoom controls in the preview

In PRO mode, access quick access, then tap the zoom button to diisplay the zoom controls.

If the zoom button is not shown in quick accessin PRO mode, go to Settings > Display > User Interface > Quick Access

Where you can configure the controls available in quick access. Add the zoom control if necessary.

Opening UWACAM directly from the lock screen

Due to technical restrictions, UWACAM cannot be integrated as a "camera app" directly in the iPhone lock screen.

However you can customize your lock screen if you like and place a shortcut there that makes it easier to open UWACAM, also under water.

Here is how to do it on iOS 18 and later for the Flashlight and Camera buttons:

Long press on your Lock Screen to bring up customization options
Tap the - (minus) next to one of the two Lock Screen launchers in the bottom left or right (normally the Flashlight and the Camera)
Tap + then select Open App
Choose the app you want to launch from your Lock Screen
Tap Done

If you prefer to place a button in the widget area:

Long press on your Lock Screen to bring up customization options
Tap in the widget area
Add widget for the "Shortcuts" app
Customize that widget so it performs the shortcut action "Open App..." and there choose UWACAM as the app to open

For more advanced users, you can create multiple lock screens with different button setups, for example one lock screen just for diving, and another for everyday topside use.

Do you publish a feature roadmap for UWACAM?

We do know where UWACAM is going - we are committed to continue delivering the best app for underwater videography and photography.

That being said we don't publish a feature roadmap.

If you are looking for something specific that you think is missing in UWACAM, drop us a line at support@uwacam.com.

Before submitting any ideas, please read our idea submission policy.

Where can I find the original intro video by Matthias Lebo?

You can find the intro video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEC1FJsYfzw

Capturing Tips

Any tips regarding use of UWACOLOR?

When planning your dive, keep in mind that you can apply UWACOLOR processing both real-time and in postprocessing.

For maximum flexibility when capturing video or photo, and lower thermal, processing and battery load on your device during the dive, we recommend using UWACOLOR in postprocessing.

If you need the shots the moment you surface, or you have time to optimize lighting/subject positioning and want to see how changes affect UWACOLOR processing right away, use UWACOLOR real-time.

I am going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip/dive - any specific advice?

The following advice may help you prepare for that once-in-a-lifetime trip - or any other diving trip as well.

It intended to give you general guidance on preparing, and is not designed to apply to all possible situations. Use your own best judgement.

Before you leave home

Make your equipment list so you don't forget anything
Familiarize yourself with your equipment and software. Learn how to assemble and check your equipment. Test it for functionality.
Update Firmware & Apps: Ensure UWACAM, your phone, and any dive-related apps (e.g., tide charts, dive planners) are up to date.
Storage & Data Management: Confirm you have enough storage space on your phone. Consider an external storage solution or cloud backup for after dives.
Make a backup of your phone to your computer
Practice using UWACAM, which you can do out of the water as well
Try various configuration(s) in UWACAM, figure out what works best for you
Redundancy Planning: If something crucial fails (e.g., your phone, lights, or Divevolk case), what’s your backup plan? Bringing a secondary camera or spare parts could be beneficial.
Learn as much as you can about the upcoming trip/dive. Location, conditions to expect, what will you see, diving challenges etc.

Make a strategy

Ask your guide/dive master about the dive site(s). Get as much information as possible: location, current, visibility, water color, dive profile, what is there to see (more big things? more macro? both? very specific things only available there?), entry and exit etc.
Use this information to decide what, and how you want to capture. This will also help you get into a mindset for looking out for the subjects you've decided on
You may decide to just concentrate on macro for one dive, or just on large and wide angle for another. This way you can tune your equipment setup and your dive profile accordingly
If you are diving in a group, adapt your strategy accordingly. You may want to go last to have more time with the subject - this comes with a risk that someone before you scares the subject away. It may be best to address organization in the group before the dive so everyone gets best value from the dive

Before you leave your accomodation

Make sure your phone and other equipment batteries are fully charged
Lens Cleaning: Ensure your phone’s camera lens and case port are completely clean and free of any smudges or debris.
Check your dive lights
Set up your phone and configure UWACAM to your liking and to fit your strategy
Prepare your equipment in the room, put your phone in the Divevolk case and close it so there is less chance of fogging. Consider putting your phone in flight mode to conserve battery life.
Be careful to keep the case and phone out of direct sunlight to prevent overheating issues

Before entering the water:

Check your dive lights and equipment. Is the filter you want to use mounted?
How will you enter the water?
Will someone hand you your equipment after you enter (recommended)? Identify who that person will be and instruct them as necessary.

After entering the water:

Check your dive lights and equipment quickly before descending

During the dive:

Mind the Bubbles: If shooting wide-angle, exhale slowly when framing a shot to avoid bubbles interfering with visibility.
Steady Shooting: Avoid sudden camera movements—slow, controlled shots make for better footage.
Avoid Overfocusing on the Screen: Maintain situational awareness—don’t get tunnel vision on your phone while navigating.
Know When to Abort a Shot: If conditions are challenging (e.g., too much current, low visibility), don’t waste precious time and air on a bad shot.

After the dive:

Rinse Immediately: Rinse your case with fresh water as soon as possible to prevent salt buildup, which could damage seals over time.
Dry Before Opening: Let the case dry before opening to avoid water dripping inside.
Backup Your Footage: If possible, transfer photos/videos to an external storage device or the cloud before your next dive.

If you are doing multiple dives:

Resist the urge to review all your captures after your first dive - this will only eat into your phone battery. Sample a few to check focus, composition, color. Is there anything you can improve?
Don't remove the phone from the case unless there is a very urgent reason. Opening the case on the boat can let humid air into the case, increasing the risk of fogging.
Remember to keep your equipment out of direct sunlight

Ethical Underwater Photography

Remember: No photo or video is worth risking your life. Stay aware, stay safe, and enjoy the dive responsibly.

Is there an advantage to using the DIVEVOLK wide angle lens or the DIVEVOLK macro lens over the iPhone lenses?

Regarding the wet lenses from DIVEVOLK, the wide angle conversion lens is very useful to minimise corner distortion and blurriness when using the 0.5x lens of your iPhone.

So whenever you use that native wide angle lens on your iPhone, we recommend to place a wide angle conversion lens in front of it.

The macro lens will make it possible for you to use the iPhone’s telephoto lens with a shorter minimal focusing distance and can thus be quite useful, but this one is not very easy to use due to the very shallow depth of field it creates. We recommend to use it, especially for video, always on a tripod.

You can purchase the wet lenses, and a wide range of accessories, in the Divevolk Online Shop

What is your general advice regarding red/magenta filters

Here some tips regarding filters:

Using lights almost always gives better results than trying to compensate color spectrum loss with any kind of filter. So if you can, use video lights. Some dive centers rent out lights as well, so you can give them a try and see how you like using them
If you are using lights, do not use a glass red/magenta filter or UWACOLOR processing at the same time.
Using glass filters (red or magenta) may give better results than UWACOLOR processing if you go ver deep. So if you have a red filter we definitely suggest mounting it on your Divevolk case - using the swivel arm, you can move away from the camera window in shallow depths. You can purchase filters, and a wide range of accessories, in the Divevolk Online Shop
If you are willing to learn and put in the time, performing color correction on your computer in postproduction can be better than using UWACOLOR processing, or you may want to combine the two - you have much more options for optimizing the color to your taste. Check out Matthias Lebo's iPhone LUT Pack available for purchase, for easy color correction in your video editing software

Here some additional tips specifically for Divevolk filters:

When screwing the glass filter into the filter holder arm, only tighten the filter "finger tight", otherwise it may be difficult to remove
Set up the filter arm and filter, and mount it to the case/clamp at home for practice, and in your accommodation when on a trip. Mounting the arm and filter can be a bit fiddly at times.
Actually switching from red to magenta filter or vice versa underwater by unscrewing the filter from the holder arm is tricky and not recommended. Better to check the water color at the dive site before going into the water, and/or ask the dive master beforehand, to set up the filter you need.

Focusing: I am having trouble getting the 5x camera on my iPhone Pro Max to focus

Please switch on camera blending which can help with this issue. Note that with camera blending ON, full manual focus control and other manual controls are not available, however the automatic focusing experience may be improved.

In AUTO mode go to settings > gear > advanced > Camera blending (on/off) to switch camera blending on or off according to your preference.

In PRO mode go to settings > camera > advanced > Camera blending (on/off) to switch camera blending on or off according to your preference

When shooting in PRO Mode with lights and or red filter do you recommend tint and temperature to be locked or in auto mode?

Regarding tint and color temperature in PRO mode, we recommend to generally keep tint and color temperature on auto but activate “WB Lock” in the menu (settings > Advanced > WB Lock > On), which will prevent tint and WB from shifting while a recording is running.

That way, before you press record the camera determines what WB and tint is best and as soon as you start recording those parameters are locked and won’t change suddenly during the recording potentially changing color balance in the middle of the shot.

Technotes

Can you make PRO feature XYZ available in AUTO mode?

We try very hard to keep AUTO mode as simple as possible. That means also resisting an urge to add more features than absolutely required for beginners.

If you think you have a rock-solid use case where you cannot switch to PRO mode to use XYZ, contact us at support@uwacam.com

Why is bracketing disabled?

If you lock exposure

then bracketing will temporarily be disabled. The bracketing indicator is displayed in red:

This is because using bracketing and locked exposure at the same time is not supported by the device.

Manual focus / manual exposure / manual ISO is not available in quick access - why?

Check if you have camera blending enabled.

With camera blending enabled, manual focus, manual exposure and manual ISO, and other features are unfortunately not available due to limitations of the camera framework provided by Apple.

If you want to use manual focus, manual exposure, or manual ISO, please turn camera blending OFF.

What should I be aware of before removing UWACAM from my device?

Removing an app from an iOS device typically also removes all the data stored in the app. For UWACAM this means that the following are deleted and cannot be recovered:

All videos and photos that are stored in-app (Videos and photos that are stored in Photos are not affected)
All Vizalyzer AI analysis texts
All settings and presets
All LUTs you may have imported

Preventing notifications popping up while you're underwater

Depending on the settings of your device, various notifications could pop up underwater. This can be distracting and annoying.

If you want to avoid this, you can consider enabling "Do not disturb" on your device.

If you are an advanced user, you can create your own "Focus" on your device, and you can even set it up so it activates when you start UWACAM. See this Apple article for more details on "Smart Activation".

Some of my video clips have what looks like "jumps" at certain points

This can be a side effect of using Camera Blending being set to ON.

With Camera Blending enabled, the imaging system of the phone can switch cameras during recording in order to better accomodate focus. Sometimes this can result in a visible "jump" in the recorded video.

If you want to definitely avoid this effect, turn Camera Blending OFF.

For more info on Camera Blending with Pros and Cons / Tradeoffs, see this Knowledge Base Article

What should I be aware of when using a wet lens like the Divevolk Wide Angle lens?

Short answer: be sure to turn camera blending ON, otherwise UWACAM may have trouble achieving focus with the wet lens attached.

We recommend mounting the Divevolk wide lens such that it is centered over the widest angle camera of your device.

Do take a few test captures on every dive and check them immediately in playback to see if they are in focus, particularly if you're also stacking a red filter with the wet lens. We have had several feedbacks where stacking a red filter with the wet lens resulted in focusing issues and even completely blurred captures.

Doing the test shots only takes a moment and also lets you make sure you have the Wide Angle lens mounted properly.

To change the camera blending setting:

In AUTO mode go to settings > gear > advanced > Camera blending (on/off) to switch camera blending on or off according to your preference.

In PRO mode go to settings > camera > advanced > Camera blending (on/off) to switch camera blending on or off according to your preference

Background:

It seems that the optical characteristics of the Divevolk Wide Angle lens are such that the camera behind it has to focus much closer than the subject actually is. Camera blending can help with this by switching device cameras if required.

You can find more background information here.

How can I get my captures into Google Photos?

If you want to stay in AUTO mode, you can go to the playback screen, where you can switch to the list view. There you can activate selection mode where you can select multiple captures (select all is also available), and you can then share the selected captures with other apps such as Google Photos.

If you have really large video captures we suggest sharing them one by one, sometimes iOS can be a bit difficult if you share too much in one go.

In PRO mode, you can configure the storage destinations for video and photo independently.

If you set both of these to Photos (the iOS Photo library) then Google Photos might pick up the new images and sync them automatically.

If it doesn't, there is also an option to have UWACAM create an Album per Day in Photos, that way you have all captures of the day organized in one place and can select them all to share them with Google Photos.

My RAW images do not use the full resolution of the sensor

Be sure to turn OFF camera blending, as this can lead to RAW images that don't use the full resolution of the camera sensor
Be aware that different cameras (wide / standard / tele) have different sensor resolutions. You usually can get the highest resolution from the 1x camera, with no zoom applied.

When might adjusting the level of UWACOLOR processing be beneficial?

Any time you're not satisfied with the results of UWACOLOR processing, particularly if blue tones are too strong (oversaturated) you can try medium or low processing levels.

Keep in mind that UWACOLOR processing applied during video capture is permanent. For full flexibility, capture without UWACOLOR processing, and apply UWACOLOR processing later from the playback screen.

If you do use UWACOLOR real-time processing during video capture and have changed the processing level, be mindful of this and change it back to standard later on.

How can I get captures that are stored in-app off the device (quickly)

To get captures that are stored in-app off the device (our out of UWACAM), there are several options. Here are only some of them, the list is not exhaustive:

Fast: connect your device to a Mac, then go to Finder and find your device. Go to Files, then to UWACAM. There you should see a Media folder - you can drag and drop this folder onto your Mac (for example onto the Desktop) - this will copy all in-app captures to your Mac in one go. Downside of this method: you must always copy all captures, you cannot select which ones
Comfortable: on our device, go to the Files app, and there browse to "on my iPhone". You should see an uwacam folder and within it a media folder. Here you can select one or more files and copy/share/airdrop them as you prefer
Comfortable: on your device, in UWACAM, go to playback and switch to list view. Enable select mode, select the captures you want to retrieve and then use the share button to copy/share/airdrop them as your prefer

A note about performance

UWACAM offers access to many powerful features, such as focus peaking, zebra, ProRes format recording, UWACOLOR processing (Version 2.x and above) and much more. Some of these features require a lot of processing power from your device and will cause it to heat up. Here are some points to be mindful of:

Recording at high frame rates and/or data rates can cause your device to heat up, and uses a lot of battery. The same is true when you are leaving the preview on for extended periods of time. When your phone is in a dive case, the situation usually does not improve.

Charging the device, particularly fast-charging, can heat up the device. Be sure to give your device adequate time to cool down before diving. Prepare your equipment in your accommodation where it's cool.
Be sure to keep your phone in the shade and in a cool place on the way to the dive site / on the dive boat
Put UWACAM to sleep (activate sleep mode) when you are not actively capturing footage, such as on the dive boat, during descent/ascent, when swimming to the next subject etc. UWACAM wakes up quickly when you tap the screen, and sleep mode does extend battery life as well as reducing heat buildup
Use high data rates / high frame rates only when necessary. Consider reducing both frame rate and data rate when you don't absolutely need them. It's better to get the footage you want at a lower data rate, than running the risk of overheating the phone which will lead to short capture times and other issues. You can use presets in PRO mode to store settings for various situations
If you're out for multiple consecutive dives, avoid using the phone between dives, and give it a chance to cool down. This will also extend battery life.
If you don't need the features that camera blending delivers, turning it off will help reduce system load as well
Consider deferring UWACOLOR processing to post: real-time UWACOLOR processing uses a lot of computing power and energy, and generates a lot of heat. Applying UWACOLOR later on may give you more recording time while diving.
Consider switching your device to flight mode: not only does this conserve battery life if you're in an area with bad mobile reception, it also reduces the amount of heat generated in the device
Consider reducing screen brightness: running your screen at 100% brightness will use more battery and heat up your device. If you can work with 80% or even less brightness, this will use less power and generate less heat
As device temperature rises, a thermometer is displayed in left side of info bar to indicate the thermal state of the device.
- yellow blinking: fair
- red blinking: serious - from this point on recording may stop at any time due to high temperature
- red fast blinking: critical

How can I lock rotation of the screen of my device

Integrating rotation lock directly into UWACAM is on our list for a future release.

Meanwhile you can use the standard iOS rotation lock feature, please see this article from Apple on how to do this.

As opening notification center when the phone is in the DIVEVOLK case can be tricky because it requires swiping which at times is challenging with the case membrane we recommend locking orientation before you insert the phone into the case.

What battery levels are required for UWACAM to operate?

We recommend charging your device to at least 80% and letting it cool off before diving.

UWACAM reacts to low battery conditions as follows (please note that the battery levels are approximate and may vary slightly depending on device and battery age):

Capturing:

When battery level drops below about 10% a warning message is shown
When battery level reaches about 2% or lower, any capturing is stopped and further capturing is disabled to prevent potential data loss

UWACOLOR Postprocessing:

When battery level reaches about 5% or lower, any UWACOLOR postprocessing in progress is stopped and further UWACOLOR processing cannot be started anymore to prevent potential data loss

I can't view or apply UWACOLOR processing to a video I captured earlier in UWACAM

This can happen if you are using iCloud, and you have "Optimize Storage" turned on. In this situation your device might offload the original video file to iCloud to free up storage on your device.

UWACAM can only play back or apply UWACOLOR processing to video files if the original file is available on your device.

Why would I choose In-App storage instead of Photos/Album for my captures?

With Version 2.x of UWACAM there are no super-technical reasons anymore to use In-App storage rather than Photos - with Version 1.x we still had a limitation that UWACAM could not play back captures stored in Photos, but this has been solved with Version 2.x

Some reasons why you still might want to use In-App storage might be:

You really want to keep your underwater captures completely separate from your other photos.
You are using iCloud with Photos, but don't want any underwater video captures which might get very large depending on the format (e.g. ProRes available in PRO mode) eating into your iCloud storage allowance or cluttering up your photo stream
Captures stored In-App are accessible in Files / in the file system. So if you prefer to manage your captures more like Files (copy, rename, share with other apps) this might make In-App more appealing
For captures in Photos, if you delete anything using UWACAM you will be presented with a second confirmation by Apple requesting permission to actually delete the captures out of the Photos Library, which some users might find annoying - for In-App storage this does not appear

In summary, for most users Photos is the best choice as you can view/share your captures in that familiar environment. For specialized/advanced use cases, In-App can provide additional features.

If my subscription expires, do I still have access to captures stored In-App in UWACAM?

Yes, if your subscription expires, you still have full access to your photos and videos stored in-app.

That being said, please note the following:

Deleting the app from your device will also delete all data stored in the app.
We very strongly recommend backing up all your videos and pictures after every dive, or every evening during a dive trip, to a computer. Many things can happen, from losing the phone, damaging it, a flooded housing, to a software glitch - preserve captured memories by making backups.
Any captures made after the subscription expires, i.e. without an active subscription, have a permanent non-removable watermark imprinted
Any captures postprocessed using UWACOLOR without an active subscription have a a permanent non-removable watermark imprinted on the processed output file. You can reactivate your subscription to use UWACOLOR without a watermark again.

Why is the UWACOLOR button sometimes not visible in playback mode?

The UWACOLOR processing button on the playback screen is a powerful tool, but you might notice it's sometimes unavailable, or appears with a blue frame.

Here are the common reasons why:

- The File is Already a UWACOLOR-Processed Result:

If you are viewing a photo or video that has the small UWACOLOR logo in its information bar, it means this file is already the result of a color correction process. You cannot re-process a file that is already a result of UWACOLOR processing.

- A Corrected Version Already Exists:

- In List View: If you select one or more items and the color correction button is disabled, it means that ALL of the selected items are either already a UWACOLOR processing result OR a corrected version has already been created at the quality level you have selected in the UWACOLOR options. UWACOLOR avoids creating duplicates. To process at a different quality level, long-press the UWACOLOR button to change the setting.

- In Single View: If you are viewing an original file and a UWACOLOR processed version already exists, the button will show a blue frame. Tapping it will take you directly to the processed version instead of creating a new one.

- You Are Zoomed In: When viewing a single photo or video, the color correction button is hidden while you are zoomed in. Zoom all the way out to see the button again.

- Not in Selection Mode (List View): When viewing your media library as a list, you must first tap the "Select" button (the icon with a checkmark) to enter selection mode. The UWACOLOR button only appears after you enter this mode and select at least one eligible item.

I see UWACAM is using a lot of storage on my phone but I have deleted all the captures - why?

If you go into your iPhone Settings, under General > iPhone Storage, you can check how much storage space each app uses.

You might notice that UWACAM is using a large amount of storage space even though you have deleted all or almost all captures from in UWACAM.

This might happen if you have your storage set to "In App".

In this case, when you delete a capture, it is in fact moved to "Recently deleted" items, from where you could recover it in the next 30 days if you so wish.

The "Recently deleted" items are accessible from the Files app.

If you see your deleted files in there, you can permanently delete them, which should reduce the storage space used by UWACAM.

If you still feel UWACAM is using to much storage space, please contact support@uwacam.com

Can I use UWACOLOR processing on videos/photos that were NOT captured with UWACAM?

Unfortunately, our UWACOLOR processing was first designed as a real-time process, which we then also adapted for post-processing. To function properly, it requires additional information that we collect when capturing the video, and that is not available in videos not shot with UWACAM. This is the reason why we do not offer the processing of "external videos"; the result would not be optimal with the algorithm we currently use.

That being said, if you would be interested in using UWACOLOR processing "outside" of UWACAM, please drop us a line at support@uwacam.com and describe your use case. If we see enough interest we might consider building something in the future that can process "external videos".

Why can't I use the external DiveVolk Shutter to wake up UWACAM when it is in Sleep Mode?

The External DiveVolk Shutter (Available in the DiveVolk Online Shop) is a great choice to easily take photos and start/stop video recording with UWACAM with improved ergonomics and in more challenging situations for example if you are wearing thick gloves.

The Shutter achieves this by emulating the "Volume" button on the iPhone.

Due to Restrictions in iOS, the "Volume" button events are only sent to an app if the camera is activated.

During Sleep Mode, we deactivate the camera to save power, prolong battery life and keep the device from heating up. Unfortunately in this situation we don't receive the event when the Shutter button is pressed - so just touch anywhere on the screen to wake UWACAM up again.

If I change parameter XYZ in PRO mode, does that carry over to AUTO mode?

No. While you can switch between PRO mode and AUTO mode any time, the settings in each mode are completely separate.

I am using a red filter and video lights. Should I still enable UWACOLOR processing?

If you’re using a red filter and lights we recommend not to use UWACOLOR processing in UWACAM, at least not in real-time.
You can of course experiment with UWACOLOR processing in postprocessing.

When recording video, only one camera button is shown. Can I switch/zoom through cameras while recording video?

Short answer: Yes, you can, if you switch Camera Blending ON

AUTO Mode: Settings > Red (Camera) > Camera Blending

PRO Mode: Settings > Red (Camera) > Advanced > Camera Blending

You can also read about some more background info regarding Camera Blending here.

Focusing: I am having trouble getting the 5x camera on my iPhone Pro Max to focus

In AUTO mode go to settings > gear > advanced > Camera blending (on/off) to switch camera blending on or off according to your preference.

In PRO mode go to settings > camera > advanced > Camera blending (on/off) to switch camera blending on or off according to your preference

What is camera blending and how does it help with closeup focus performance?

Tech Note: Understanding UWACAM camera blending

To fully understand what camera blending does and what the pros and cons of using it are, we need to start with some background info.

IMPORTANT: if you're using a wet lens such as the Divevolk Wide Angle lens, you may have to experiment whether ON or OFF gives you better focusing and capturing results.

Also note that with camera blending ON, full manual focus control, manual exposure settings, manual ISO setting and other manual settings are not available. Furthermore, image resolution may be reduced - if you want full RAW resolution, turn camera blending OFF

Understanding Minimum Focusing Distance

Every camera lens has a minimum focusing distance—the closest distance at which it can maintain sharp focus. While Apple does not list these distances in its technical specifications, observations suggest that the 5x telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a minimum focusing distance of around four feet (121 cm). The 4x telephoto lens on the iPhone 17 Pro has a minimum focusing distance of about 3.2 feet (100cm).

On a traditional camera system, moving too close to the subject would simply result in a focus failure, causing the image to appear blurry.

However, on an iPhone, if you get too close while using the telephoto camera and the STANDARD camera app, the device automatically switches to a digitally zoomed-in crop from the main (1x) camera.

This behavior is similar to how macro mode works on recent iPhones, where the device automatically transitions from the 1x lens to the 0.5x ultra-wide lens to achieve a closer focusing distance.

Impact on Image Quality

While this automatic switching ensures that the subject remains in focus, it comes at a cost: noticeable image quality degradation due to the digital zoom applied from the 0.5x or 1x sensor rather than using the dedicated 5x optical lens. Additionally, there are some further limitations: Image resolution in general is limited to 4k resolution. And when recording video you might notice "jumps" in the footage when the device switches cameras automatically.

This is why UWACAM gives you a choice:

You can turn camera blending ON, which makes UWACAM work very similarly to the STANDARD camera app. It switches cameras automatically and applies digital magnification to make handling effortless. Focus adapts to the situation, which can be helpful if there is a lot of action under water. The tradeoff is that in some situations image quality may suffer, and when focusing during a video capture the camera switch may be visible on the captured footage.

Or you can turn camera blending OFF, so UWACAM does not switch cameras automatically to magically achieve focus. Therefore with camera blending OFF, If you are too close for the current camera to achieve focus, switch to the 1x or 0.5x camera instead. This gives you full manual control, with no digital magnification automatically applied, and it gives you the best possible capture quality at any time. If you still want to get a closer view, you can use the zoom feature.

To change the camera blending setting:

In AUTO mode go to settings > camera > Camera blending (on/off) to switch camera blending on or off according to your preference.

In PRO mode go to settings > camera > advanced > Camera blending (on/off) to switch camera blending on or off according to your preference

In PRO mode there is also a button available directly in quick access:

📌 References: David Nelson – Minimum Focusing Distance on iPhone 15 Pro Max 5x Camera

For capturing photos, does UWACAM also support other aspect ratios such as 16:9?

Currently UWACAM only supports the native photo ratio of the built in camera.

We thought about offering other aspect ratios such as 16:9, however we did not prioritize it as the regular iOS camera app actually always takes a full frame picture and simply crops it when storing it (and it adjusts the camera preview to the selected aspect ratio).

This can be verified easily: Capture a photo in 16:9, then go to

Edit -> Crop -> Aspect Ratio Icon on top right -> Original.

The full 4:3 image will be restored.

Therefore in our opinion capturing a full frame and then consciously cropping the desired framing later on is a better choice. If you want help in framing the image, consider enabling one of the aspect ratio overlays which are available in PRO mode.

When sharing a single photo from playback mode, you can automatically crop it to 16:9. To use this feature, make sure 'Share Crop Mode' is enabled in the settings.

If you have a specific use case where capturing a full frame image and cropping it later on is not effective, please let us know.

What color space does AUTO mode capture videos in?

AUTO mode, which is designed for beginners and casual users, uses Rec.709 color space.

If you want to select which color space to use, and have full control over all parameters, please switch to PRO mode.

What color space are the built-in LUTs designed for?

The built-in LUTs are designed for Rec.709 color space. We are working on LUTs for other color spaces, these will be included in a future update.

I use LUTs in PRO mode, my videos have a pink hue

The built-in LUTs at this time are designed for Rec.709 color space. Be sure you use this color space in combination with built-in LUTs.

What settings in PRO mode are global, and what does that mean?

In PRO mode you can save up to six presets for quick recall. Presets contain almost all settings. However some settings are global.

You can easily see which ones those are, if you view settings using the "View current settings" button in the yellow "gear" menu in PRO mode, as you page through the settings, some have a little globe in front of the setting name.

These are global settings. This means if you store a preset, and later on change a global setting, this setting carries over to all previously stored presets.

Are the built-in LUTs the same LUTs as in Matthias Lebo's iPhone LUT pack?

Yes, these are the same LUTs that are also available for separate purchase in Matthias Lebo's iPhone LUT Pack.
They are designed for color space Rec.709
If you want to apply the LUTs in your video editing software during postprocessing, please consider purchasing Matthias Lebo's iPhone LUT Pack.

Is it possible within UWACAM to apply a LUT/UWACOLOR processing to a video after it has been captured?

UWACOLOR processing can be applied in real-time (and baked in), or in postprocessing

For LUTs the only option available is to bake the LUT (apply color correction) into the video while capturing it.

We are considering adding a feature where you could in an optional manual processing step within UWACAM bake the LUT into a recorded video later on, saving it as a copy. As UWACOLOR processing is already available in postprocessing we do not expect high demand for this feature - if you feel that postprocessing with a (custom) LUT is something you would use, please write to us at support@uwacam.com

In PRO Mode, if you select HEVC or H264 in video format, is the HDR option enabled?

In PRO mode for video format HEVC or H264, if you select Rec.2020 as color space we ask the camera for HDR
If you select Rec.709 as color space we ask the camera for SDR
Hence, HDR/SDR is linked to the color space selection. There is no separate HDR on/off selection

I would like to use UWACAM in a different language

The UWACAM user interface language is determined by the language set for the iOS on your device.

You can however override this, if you go to the Settings App > Apps > UWACAM > Languages.

Here you can change the user interface language. UWACAM supports English, German, French, Italian and Spanish at the time this technote was written.

ANY change you make in the Settings App related to UWACAM will restart UWACAM.

Why are the frame rates in some combinations of video codec and resolution restricted?

During tests we encountered issues with some combinations of video codecs and higher framerates, particularly with all the overlays like histogram, zebra and focus peaking enabled.

The device temperature increased more rapidly than expected and this led to stopped captures after a short time.

We are working on improving this, one challenge is that particularly at 120 FPS the device is already running at the limit as it is, and adding the extras like histogram, zebra and focus peaking doesn't improve the situation.

For the moment we put in this limitation to avoid issues where the device might warm up too much while in the case. While this would never create any kind of critical problem, it might lead to a bad user experience where captures would be stopped again and again due to high temperature if the device can't cool down again during a dive.

Are there limitations to simultaneously capture pictures while capturing video?

Depending on the device there may be limitations as outlined below:

You cannot capture a photo whilst capturing video if the photo format is set to HEIC Max, JPEG Max, RAW or RAW Max.

Furthermore, you cannot capture a photo in any format whilst capturing video if the video color space is set to Apple Log.

You always have the option of enabling the "stop video to capture picture" function in PRO mode which temporarily stops video capture, switches to photo mode, captures a picture, switches back, and resumes capturing video.

Does UWACAM support RAW photo format, and does it do so on devices where the Apple Camera app does not?

Short answer: if you can shoot RAW with the built-in camera app of your iPhone, then UWACAM will support RAW as well.

Here some more details:

You need an active subscription to shoot RAW photos. This is because we can't put a watermark in RAW files. When you subscribe, all plans come with a one-time three day "introductory offer" during which you can fully test UWACAM, including RAW photos and Vizalyzer AI - and if you cancel your subscription before the third day you will not be charged
RAW format is available in PRO mode. Go to settings > Camera (red) > Photo setup > Image Format
The actual resolution of the RAW photos may vary if you use digital zoom functions or a feature called "camera blending"
For highest quality RAW photos, choose "RAW Max", turn "camera blending" off and use the 1x Camera without digital zoom
UWACOLOR processing always produces a HEIC file as processed output - we can't create RAW files ourselves, only the camera can do that. However, the RAW version of the photo is always saved separately as well
If you have an older iPhone where the built-in camera app cannot shoot RAW, then UWACAM unfortunately can't enable that format either

Regarding older iPhones:

At this point in time UWACAM only supports RAW on devices where the Apple Camera app also offers that option.
We do realize that some other apps offer a type of RAW technically referred to as "Bayer RAW" even if the Apple Camera app does not.
Adding this is however tricky to implement, as devices where the Apple Camera does not offer ProRAW only have incomplete support for Bayer RAW across the board. This means (re-)creating missing pieces as required and testing and validation on all target iPhone models.
Also, as ProRAW support is spreading with new iPhone models, the group of users who could benefit from the retrofit of Bayer RAW is decreasing in size.

How can I share a (large) capture with support?

If you want to share a large capture with us, consider using https://www.swisstransfer.com/en-us
If you prefer you can use another cloud storage provider, as long as we don't need to log in to retrieve the data
Send the transfer or link to support@uwacam.com