Quick Reference Guide

ETHICAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY

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 SAFETY INFORMATION

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.

Getting Started with UWACAM

• Practice on Land: Before taking UWACAM on a dive, take time to practice with the app on land. Familiarize yourself with the controls, modes (AUTO/PRO), and settings. This will make your underwater experience much smoother.
• Required Housing: UWACAM is designed specifically for use with the DIVEVOLK Seatouch underwater housing, which allows for full touchscreen control. Using an iPhone in water without a proper housing is not recommended and will damage your device.
• Quick Access from Lock Screen: For convenience, you can create a shortcut to UWACAM on your iPhone's lock screen. This allows you to open the app quickly if your phone locks underwater.

BACKING UP YOUR CAPTURES

Important: Every dive offers a treasure trove of memories. Ensure you back up your phone’s captures every day after diving to safeguard these irreplaceable moments.

Daily backups protect your photos and videos from accidents involving your phone, accidental deletion, technical glitches, or other unforeseen issues. Taking a few minutes post-dive to secure your data guarantees that your underwater adventures remain preserved for years to come.

GETTING SUPPORT

For up-to-date information, collected tips and tricks to get the most out of UWACAM, technotes and more please refer to our knowledge base.

For feedback and questions reach out to us anytime at support@uwacam.com

USING WET LENSES SUCH AS THE DIVEVOLK WIDE ANGLE LENS

Important: If you use a wet lens such as the Divevolk Wide Angle lens, it is recommended to set camera blending to ON for most lenses. If results are not satisfactory, try setting camera blending OFF. For more information see this Knowledge Base Article

Subscription & Features

UWACAM is available as a free download and offers a subscription to unlock professional features.

• Watermark: Captures made with the free version will have a permanent watermark. Subscribing removes the watermark for all *new* captures taken while the subscription is active. The watermark cannot be removed from media captured before subscribing.
• PRO Features: A subscription unlocks PRO mode, RAW photo capture, LOG video, and many other advanced features.
• How to Subscribe: Subscriptions can be purchased within the app from the settings menu. All plans include a free trial period.
• Restoring a Subscription: On a new device, use the "Restore purchases" option in settings. You must be logged in with the same Apple ID used for the original purchase.

New and Improved Features in Version 2.4

• New: Upside down orientation is now supported in PRO mode. This allows you to use UWACAM in upside down orientation if you prefer, which places the cameras closer to the ground. Upside down orientation has to be enabled specifically in Settings > Camera (Red) > Display > User Interface > Controls (portrait) > Upside down. Note that some alerts and iOS screens will not adapt to upside down mode and will be presented in the normal portrait orientation.
• New: News list view contains a button to filter the display so only unread items are shown
• New: Rotation lock is now persistent, when locked the last orientation will be restored when UWACAM is restarted
• Improved: In News detail view, the icon on the read/unread button has been swapped to make it clearer which state is currently selected. Also, if the News item shown in detail view is unread the same blue dot as in the news list will be shown
• Improved: News list and detail view now both offer online help
• Improved: When you select a control from Quick Access in PRO Video mode that is not available in Photo mode (e.g. FPS), the control will be disabled in Photo mode and now automatically reselected when you return to Video mode
• Improved: Compatibility with iCloud sync and the "Optimize iPhone Storage" setting has been further improved, particularly for devices which have low free storage which may lead to captures being offloaded to iCloud by iOS. UWACAM now recognizes most such situations and will inform you for example if you try to perform UWACOLOR processing on a capture which has been offloaded and cannot be loaded from iCloud because of connectivity issues.
• Improved: The titles and content in the help tab (purple) in settings have been updated to make the information more helpful and easier to understand
• Improved: In AUTO photo mode the selected video FPS value is now also displayed in the info bar
• Bug fixes and improvements

New and Improved Features in Version 2.3

• New: UWACOLOR processing level can now be adjusted for real-time processing or postprocessing by long-pressing the UWACOLOR button. This allows you to switch between three different processing levels if the current level does not yield the desired results. Be aware that UWACOLOR real-time processing is permanently applied to any captured video. For full flexibility, you can also postprocess the video later with different processing levels. The UWACOLOR button in preview and playback shows which level is currently selected.
• New: Photo Flash / Video Torch are now supported with new buttons in quick access. In AUTO mode a simple on/off switch is provided in the quick access menu. Be aware that both Flash and Torch may reflect on the front glass of the housing, so use with care.
• New: Rotation Lock control in PRO mode locks the current user interface orientation while using UWACAM. Rotation lock only applies to UWACAM and is automatically released when UWACAM is restarted.
• New: Quick Access in PRO mode now supports multiple pages of controls if required. If you have many controls in Quick Access, you can use the right arrow button to switch to the next page of controls.
• Changed: UWACOLOR long-press in preview opens a new menu with processing level options. In PRO mode, you can also select MANUAL mode in that menu (which was previously available via long press).
• Improved: Info Bar layout in PRO mode has been slightly optimized for better usability.
• Improved: It is now more clearly indicated in the Info Bar if ProRAW Max photo format is not available, e.g. because camera blending is switched on or because the selected camera does not support ProRAW Max.
• Improved: In location settings, the colors for the off/auto/manual modes have been swapped to make it clearer which mode is currently selected.
• Improved: There is now an option in settings to re-enable all alert messages where you selected "Don't show again".
• Improved: the layout of the help screen has been improved for better readability
• Moved: in PRO settings the "Photo stops video" option has been moved to "Camera > Photo Setup > Advanced"
• Moved: in AUTO settings the "Share crop mode" option has been moved to "Gear > Controls"

New and improved Features in Version 2.2

• New: Option for adding satellite-derived or manually entered location information (GPS coordinates) to captures. When underwater, the last known location is used. When internet connectivity is available a map can be viewed with the current location, and can be used to set the manual location. Pasting coordinates from other apps is also supported. A location icon is included in the info bar to reflect the current status of the location functionality.
• New: Added a new quick access button in PRO mode to toggle Camera Blending on and off.
• New: Added a setting in PRO mode to optionally hide disabled quick access buttons to reduce clutter.
• Changed: Renamed the "WB" quick access button in PRO mode to "Grey Card" to better reflect its function, which is measuring white balance based on a grey card held in front of the camera.
• Changed: To make sure you don't run into a tight situation we've made the minimum free space requirements a little more conservative.

New and improved Features in Version 2.1

• New: Self timer for photos with two different durations and flashing countdown light is now available in quick access. This lets you set a timer so you can easily turn your rig around and position yourself for a selfie shot. In PRO mode the timer can be configured in detail in settings, including picture count and interval.
• New: Batch UWACOLOR processing is now available in postprocessing. Switch to list mode, then selection mode to select multiple captures and process them all at once
• New: UWACOLOR processing is now supported for captures in Apple Log color space in postprocessing, and in real-time for frame rates up to 30 fps
• Improved: UWACOLOR button control for AUTO mode has been moved to the preview screen for easy access and clear display of the current UWACOLOR mode
• Improved: In quick access (PRO mode), long-pressing a locked value such as white balance will directly unlock it without having to select the control and return to preview first

New Features in Version 2.0

Discover the latest updates and improvements in UWACAM version 2.0. This release brings significant enhancements ranging from AI-powered integrations to refined user interface controls, offering an even better underwater photography experience.

• UWACOLOR Processing: Automatic, dynamically adaptive color processing for both videos and photos. Can be applied in real-time or in post-processing.
• LOG Format Support: Capture video in LOG format for enhanced color grading possibilities in post-production.
• LUT Support: Use built-in color lookup tables (LUTs) or import your own custom LUTs.
• Vizalyzer AI Integration: Analyze your captures to identify marine life (requires internet connection and subscription).
• AUTO and PRO Modes: Choose between a simple interface for casual use and a professional interface with full manual control.
• Compass Overlay: Optional compass overlay for navigation, available even while filming.
• Enhanced Camera Controls: Full manual control of exposure, focus, white balance, and more in PRO mode.
• Professional Assists: Focus peaking and zebra stripes for checking focus and exposure.
• Customizable Interface: Configure the user interface and save your settings as presets for quick access.

Introduction (AUTO)

Introduction to UWACAM

Welcome to UWACAM, the leading app for underwater video and photo

UWACAM AUTO mode is an excellent choice for casual users and beginners who want beautiful captures without a lot of fuss.

If you want full manual control over all settings of UWACAM (and there are a lot of settings), switch to PRO mode.

Preview (AUTO)

The preview screen is displayed when UWACAM is ready to capture. From here, you can start a video capture, take a photo, tap on the screen for focus and exposure, and open quick access for more controls

The following controls are visible in the screen shown above, from top left to bottom right:

• Video start/stop capture: Tap to start/stop capturing video. The small microphone icon indicates that sound will be recorded too.
• Mode switch: use this to switch between video and photo capture mode
• Camera buttons: use these to choose between the cameras available on your device. Here, wide angle 0.5, regular, and tele with 3x are available
• Photo capture: Tap to capture a photo. You can also capture photos while you are capturing video.
• MENU: open the quick access menu, see below
• Playback: tap to view the captures stored in UWACAM to play back video or photos
• UWACOLOR: tap to toggle real-time UWACOLOR processing on or off. Long-press to open UWACOLOR menu. See here for more info on UWACOLOR

At the very bottom of the screen you find the info bar which gives you some information about the selected video format, frame rate and photo format. In AUTO photo mode, the selected video FPS value is now also displayed in the info bar.

Controls (AUTO)

Description of UWACAM controls

Controls in AUTO mode

The controls popover in AUTO mode is kept simple. It contains the following controls:

Show Settings button: this button shows the settings available, as a menu. Here you can configure video resolution, enable the compass, set up storage, manage your subscription and more.

Zoom Control: turn the zoom control together with (+) and (-) buttons directly in the recording screen on or off. You can then manually zoom in or out to frame the subject as desired. Tap on zoom button in preview to cycle through zoom speeds (S)low, (M)edium and (F)ast

Light/Flash: Turn the light (for video) or the flash (for photo mode) on or off

Self-timer: choose between two delays to enable the self-timer for photos. Using the self-timer gives you time to turn the case and phone around to take a selfie

Subscribe button: appears only if you don't have a subscription. Use it to get directly to the subscription management page.

The bottommost row of controls which are smaller offer the following functions:

• : displays help for quick access controls
• : displays the news list where you can read news and important updates regarding UWACAM
• : puts the app to sleep in order to reduce power consumption
• : close quick access menu

Video (AUTO)

How to record video with UWACAM

Shooting Video in AUTO mode is effortless:

Use the double-arrow mode selector to choose video.

The video button will be highlighted showing you that UWACAM is ready to record. Press the button once to start recording video, and press it a second time to stop when you're done.

This button allows you to enable or disable UWACOLOR processing for video and photo capture. A short tap will activate/deactivate automatic processing mode:.


A long press will display the UWACOLOR menu, where you can set the level of UWACOLOR processing.


If UWACOLOR processing results have a color cast or colors that are too strong for your preference, you can try changing the processing level to medium or low. Remember that UWACOLOR processing in real-time is permanent. For more flexibility, capture without real-time UWACOLOR processing and apply it from playback.

The UWACOLOR process uses color analysis and does not require any depth information.

IMPORTANT: do not enable UWACOLOR processing when you are not underwater, the resulting colors may be unfavorable.

IMPORTANT: if you enable UWACOLOR processing, the processing is burnt into the captured video and photos captured during video recording and cannot be removed later on. Alternatively, you can also NOT enable UWACOLOR during capture, and apply the processing later on in playback. For photos captured in photo mode with UWACOLOR processing, both unprocessed and processed versions of the photo are saved.

While video is being recorded you can see how long your video already is. You can also tap areas on the preview to direct focus and exposure to a specific area. In the screen below you can also see the red recording indicator frame which is displayed while a video capture is in progress

Photo (AUTO)

how to capture photos with UWACAM

Taking Photos in AUTO mode is effortless:

Use the double-arrow mode selector to choose photo.

The photo button will be highlighted showing you that UWACAM is ready to take pictures. Then, when you have framed your picture, press the button to take a picture. Press and hold the button to take multiple pictures in a row.

This button allows you to enable or disable UWACOLOR processing for video and photo capture. The UWACOLOR process uses color analysis and does not require any depth information.

IMPORTANT: do not enable UWACOLOR processing when you are not underwater, the resulting colors may be unfavorable.

IMPORTANT: if you enable UWACOLOR processing, the processing is burnt into the captured video and photos captured during video recording and cannot be removed later on. Alternatively, you can also NOT enable UWACOLOR during capture, and apply the processing later on in playback. For photos captured in photo mode with UWACOLOR processing, both unprocessed and processed versions of the photo are saved.

Before taking the picture you can also tap areas on the preview to direct focus and exposure to a specific area.

Settings (AUTO):

The settings menu offers multiple tabs across the top as follows:

• : displays help for the current menu
• : most important camera oriented settings
• : setup and configuration related settings
• : general help topics
• : exit the current menu

Settings, camera (AUTO):

The camera settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Mode: if you want full manual control, switch to PRO mode
• Video resolution: choose your preferred video resolution and frame rate for video capture
• Camera blending: Camera blending provides a seamless zoom experience by automatically switching between your iPhone's lenses. However, this disables some manual controls and may cause a visible "jump" when the lens changes. See also this Knowledge Base Article. If you use a wet lens such as the Divevolk Wide Angle lens, you may need to experiment to find out which setting works best. For more information see this Knowledge Base Article
• Stabilize: set video stabilization according to your preferences
• Storage: define where your captures are stored: in-app, in your Photos library or in a UWACAM folder within your Photos library
• Compass: turn the magnetic compass overlay on or off

Settings, gear (AUTO):

The gear settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Controls: configure camera controls, see here
• Sleep: configure sleep mode which helps reduce power consumption
• Vizalyzer (subscription required): configure AI / Vizalyzer features, see here
• UWACOLOR: configure UWACOLOR settings for real-time and post processing, see here
• Location: configure location settings for tagging your capture with your current or last known location, see here
• Subscription: open the page where you can view/manage your subscription

Settings, gear, advanced, location:

This menu lets you configure the settings for location tagging:

• Off: your captures will not be tagged with any location data
• Satellite: your captures will be tagged with the current location, or if the current location is not available, with the last known location. It is recommended to give your device a few minutes (if it has been turned off) to determine the current location before entering the water.
  Make sure UWACAM is allowed to access location data (check your iPhone settings)
  You can use the map (internet connection required) or the coordinate display to verify your current position. Satellite reception is not available underwater, so the last known location (starting point) of your dive will be used for all captures during a dive
• Manual: If you prefer, you can use the map (internet connection required) to select a manual location to be used for all captures.

You can find more details on how location tagging works see here

Settings, gear, controls (AUTO):

The gear advanced controls settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Buttons L/R: you can swap the video and photo capture buttons if you prefer to have them the other way round, e.g. if you're left-handed
• Fade buttons: if enabled, the main buttons on the camera screen will fade after not being used for some time, until you tap one of the buttons again
• Haptic feedback: enable haptic feedback when you start/stop video capture or take a photo
• Magnifier: enable the magnifier function. This function lets you quickly magnify the center portion of the preview, for example to check focus while doing a macro capture. The following settings are available:
  • Off: magnifier button is not shown
  • Touch: the preview is magnified while you touch (press) the magnifier button, when you release it the magnification is removed
  • Toggle: tap the magnifier button to toggle between normal and magnified preview
• Share crop mode: configure crop on share: never, always, or ask every time, see here
• Reset confirmations: resets all popups where you previously chose 'don't ask me again'

Settings, gear, share crop mode (AUTO):

The gear advanced settings share crop mode menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Never: never show the cropping option when sharing a photo capture
• Always: always crop the capture when sharing a photo capture
• Ask every time: ask if you want to crop when sharing a photo capture

Settings, gear, Vizalyzer (AUTO):

This menu lets you configure the settings for Vizalyzer:

• Enable Vizalyzer: you can completely disable Vizalyzer if you do not want to use this feature at all
• Skip confirmation: you can choose to skip the warning / confirmation that appears before performing image analysis
• Vizalyzer language: you can choose to have Vizalyzer produce its analysis in a different language than the one of your device user interface

Tips and Tricks (AUTO)

Collected tips and tricks to get the most out of UWACAM

Tips and Tricks

Like any camera, it pays off to try UWACAM for some time before taking it on your first dive. You will enjoy UWACAM much more under water if you are already familiar with controls and settings, and know how to capture videos and photos with UWACAM.

Make UWACAM part of your pre-activity planning: what type of activity will you be doing? What environment will you be in? Set both of these in UWACAM settings, and preset the depth to your planned depth at the beginning of the dive.

For up-to-date information, collected tips and tricks to get the most out of UWACAM, technotes and more please refer to our knowledge base.

If you are interested in online training courses on underwater videography or LUT packs to use with your video editing software on your computer, check out Matthias Lebo's Underwater Video Academy.

For Divevolk cases and accessories, use this link to possibly get an extra discount: www.divevolkdiving.com.

For feedback and questions reach out to us anytime at support@uwacam.com

Introduction (PRO)

Introduction to UWACAM

In PRO Mode UWACAM gives you access to a very wide range of settings and options. We recommend reviewing these before you take UWACAM on a dive, so you can familiarize yourself with the possibilities and choose the settings that are right for your shooting style.

Preview (PRO)

The preview screen is displayed when UWACAM is ready to capture. From here, you can start a video capture, take a photo, tap on the screen for focus and exposure, and open quick access for more controls

The following controls are visible in the screen shown above, from top left to bottom right:

• Video start/stop capture: Tap to start/stop capturing video. The small microphone icon indicates that sound will be recorded too.
• Mode switch: use this to switch between video and photo capture mode
• Camera buttons: use these to choose between the cameras available on your device. Here, wide angle 0.5, regular, and tele with 3x are available
• Photo capture: Tap to capture a photo. You can also capture photos while you are capturing video.
• Histogram: displays the luminance and color histogram
• Audio Meters: display the level of the sound being captured
• MENU: open the quick access menu, see below
• Playback: tap to view the captures stored in UWACAM to play back video or photos
• EV: EV adjustment with plus and minus buttons, enabled from quick access menu
• UWACOLOR button: tap to toggle real-time UWACOLOR processing on or off. Long-press to open UWACOLOR menu. See here for more info on UWACOLOR
• Preview magnifier: gives you a magnified preview e.g. for focus checking when doing macro

At the very bottom of the screen you find the info bar which gives you information about the selected video format, frame rate and photo format as well as current capturing parameters

Preview Controls

• : starts or stops video capture
• : switches between video and photo mode
• : captures a photo
• : selects an available camera (exact buttons shown depend on your device capabilities)
• : selects an available camera (exact buttons shown depend on your device capabilities)
• : selects an available camera (exact buttons shown depend on your device capabilities)
• : opens quick access
• : goes to playback to view your captures
• : enables automatic UWACOLOR processing
• : magnifies the preview

Controls (PRO)

Description of UWACAM controls

Controls

You can configure the controls in quick access, and their sequence, according to your personal preferences. When you select a control, it is typically then shown in the preview, together with plus and minus buttons, allowing you to change the respective setting easily. Long pressing on a control button visible in preview cycles through available controls.

The bottommost row of controls which are smaller is fixed, and offers the following functions:

• : displays help for quick access controls
• : displays the news list where you can read news and important updates regarding UWACAM
• : puts the app to sleep in order to reduce power consumption
• : close quick access menu

The following controls can be added to quick access:

Settings: enters the settings where you can perform a wide range of configurations and customizations. This control cannot be removed from quick access, however if it is the ONLY control in quick access the quick access button in the display will lead directly to settings.

EV: Exposure value. Lets you increase or decrease exposure value to obtain a brighter or darker image. Displays EV button with plus and minus to change the EV value in preview. Tap on EV in preview to reset the value, or long-press on EV directly in quick access.

Exposure Settings: Access to exposure settings. Displays exposure button with plus and minus to change the exposure setting in preview. Changing the setting locks the exposure to the selected value. Tap on exposure in preview to reset to automatic, or long-press on exposire directly in quick access.
NOTE: if you lock exposure, bracketing will temporarily be disabled. The bracketing indicator will turn red in this case: . NOTE: manual exposure is not available if camera blending is set to ON, see here for more info - use EV instead in this case

Lens Position / Focus: Lets you manually focus the camera. Displays focus button with plus and minus to change the exposure setting in preview. Changing the setting locks the focus to the selected value. Tap on focus in preview to reset to automatic. NOTE: manual focus is not available if camera blending is set to ON, see here for more info

ISO: Lets you set the ISO sensitivity of the camera. Higher sensitivity allows for faster shutter speeds even in low light, albeit with more noise in the capture. Displays ISO button with plus and minus to change the exposure setting in preview. Changing the setting locks the ISO to the selected value. Tap on ISO in preview to reset to automatic, or long-press on ISO directly in quick access. NOTE: manual ISO is not available if camera blending is set to ON, see here for more info

Frame Rate: Lets you change the frame rate for video. Displays plus and minus buttons which let you select the frame rate.

Gray White Balance: Sets white balance based on a gray card you hold in front of the camera. NOTE: not available if camera blending is set to ON, see here for more info

White Balance: Lets you change the white balance (color temperature). Displays white balance button with plus and minus to change the exposure setting in preview. Changing the setting locks the white balance to the selected value. Tap on white balance in preview to reset to automatic, or long-press on white balance directly in quick access. NOTE: not available if camera blending is set to ON, see here for more info

Tint: Lets you change the color tint. Displays tint button with plus and minus to change the exposure setting in preview. Changing the setting locks the tint to the selected value. Tap on tint in preview to reset to automatic, or long-press on tint directly in quick access. NOTE: not available if camera blending is set to ON, see here for more info

Zebra: Lets you enable and set the threshold for Zebra which indicates overexposed areas. Displays zebra button with plus and minus to change the threshold setting in preview. Tap on zebra button in preview to enable/disable zebra

Focus Assist: Lets you enable and set the threshold for Focus Assist, which highlights contours to make it easier to manually focus. Displays focus assist button with plus and minus to change the threshold setting in preview. Tap on focus assist button in preview to enable/disable focus assist

Compass: Enables/disables the overlay magnetic compass.

Preview LUT: Enables the LUT (color lookup table) in preview.

Photo Bracket: Enables/disables photo exposure bracketing.
NOTE: bracketing will be disabled temporarily if you lock exposure. The bracketing indicator will turn red in this case:

Zoom: enables zoom control. Displays zoom button with plus and minus to change the zoom setting in preview. Press and hold plus or minus to zoom in or out. Tap on zoom button in preview to cycle through zoom speeds slow, medium and fast

Self-timer (photo mode only): Toggle between off, timer 1 and timer 2 in photo mode to configure the self-timer. See here for more details

Camera blending: Toggle camera blending on or off. See here for more details

Flash (photo mode): toggle LED flash off, auto and on

Light (video mode): toggle LED light off and on

Rotation lock: lock the current orientation of UWACAM. The locked orientation will be restored when UWACAM is restarted.

Playback: Switches into playback mode where you can view your captures.

Video (PRO)

How to record video with UWACAM

Shooting Video in PRO mode offers powerful functions:

Use the double-arrow mode selector to choose video.

The video button will be highlighted showing you that UWACAM is ready to record. Press the button once to start recording video, and press it a second time to stop when you're done.

While video is being recorded you can see how long your video already is. You can also tap areas on the preview to direct focus and exposure to a specific area. In the screen below you can also see the red recording indicator frame which is displayed while a video capture is in progress

Formats

If storage space is no issue, you want the best quality possible, and you don't mind some post-processing, capture ProRes with LOG Color.

If you want videos you can share on social media out of the box, choose HEVC.

If you need compatibility with older software, choose H264.

Photo (PRO)

How to capture photos with UWACAM

Taking Photos in AUTO mode is effortless:

Use the double-arrow mode selector to choose photo.

The photo button will be highlighted showing you that UWACAM is ready to take pictures. Then, when you have framed your picture, press the button to take a picture. Press and hold the button to take multiple pictures in a row.

Before taking the picture you can also tap areas on the preview to direct focus and exposure to a specific area.

Formats

If storage space is no issue, you want the best quality possible, and you don't mind some post-processing, capture RAW photos.

If you want photos you can share on social media out of the box, choose HEIC.

Settings (PRO):

The settings menu offers multiple tabs across the top as follows:

• : displays help for the current menu
• : camera oriented settings
• : playback settings
• : setup and configuration related settings including presets
• : preset recall
• : general help topics
• : exit the current menu

Settings, camera (PRO):

The camera settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• MODE: switch to AUTO mode if you prefer a simpler user interface
• Photo Setup: photo setup options, see here
• Video Setup: video setup options, see here
• Audio Setup: audio setup options, see here
• Display: display and user interface customization, see here
• Advanced: advanced settings, see here

Settings, camera, photo setup (PRO):

The camera photo setup settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Image format: Choose between various RAW, JPEG or HEIC image formats. For the highest quality RAW photos, turn Camera Blending OFF and use the 1x camera.
• Bracket enable: enable / disable. NOTE: if you lock exposure during shooting, bracketing will be temporarily disabled.
• Bracket range: choose the exposure range to be used for bracketed shots
• Self-timer: configure the self-timer function in detail, see here
• Flash: set the mode for the built-in LED flash: off, auto, or on. Be advised that the flash might reflect on the glass of the housing. It is recommended to take a few test shots and reviewing them in playback before using flash. Also, using the LED flash will use more energy from the battery
• Advanced: advanced photo settings, see here

Settings, camera, photo setup, self-timer (PRO):

The camera photo setup self-timer settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Mode: change the self-timer mode. Available options are off, timer 1 or timer 2
• Blink light: change the self-timer signaling which is done using the flash LED light. Choose between
  • Countdown: short flashes counting down, one long flash before each photo
  • Before capture: only one long flash before each photo
  • Off: no indication
• Timer 1: customize the timer 1 delay
• Timer 2: customize the timer 2 delay
• Count: change the number of photos which will be taken after the timer has elapsed. Default is one photo,
• Interval: if count is set to more than one photo, customize the interval between each photo being taken.

Settings, camera, photo setup, advanced (PRO):

The camera photo setup advanced settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• RAW thumbnail: when capturing in RAW format you can define the size of the embedded thumbnail image.
• RAW bits: when capturing in RAW format you can change the number of bits per color channel
• Compression: you can change the amount of compression applied to formats that support compression
• Burst priority: when capturing a series (burst) of photos, choose whether you prefer burst speed over image quality.
• Burst minimum interval: you can lengthen the minimum interval between captures when performing a burst capture.
• Photo stops video: if enabled, attempting to capture a photo while already recording video will temporarily stop video recording if the configured photo format cannot be read out of the video stream (e.g. for RAW format). The photo will then be captured, and video recording will resume, starting a new capture file.

Settings, camera, video setup (PRO):

The camera video setup settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Video format: choose between HEVC, ProRes and H.264 video formats
• Video resolution: choose your preferred video resolution
• Video frame rate: choose the video frame rate
• Light: set the mode for the built-in LED video light: off, or on. Be advised that the LED light might reflect on the glass of the housing. Also, using the LED light will use more energy from the battery and may cause your device to heat up more quickly.
• Advanced: advanced video settings, see here

Settings, camera, video setup, advanced (PRO):

The camera video setup advanced settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Color Space & LUT: configure the color space to use, and any color lookup tables (LUTs) to apply, see here
• Stabilize: set up image stabilization to be used
• Quality: set up image quality
• Color blending speed: choose the duration of blending when UWACOLOR processing values change. This is used in UWACOLOR processing mode, when the color values change and the processing needs to adapt. Longer times smooth out color changes. Shorter times react more quickly to color changes.
• Timecode: setup SMTPE timecode for video captures according to your preference: off, record run, local time or UTC time

Settings, camera, video setup, advanced, color (PRO):

The camera video setup, advanced, color settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Color space to use: choose between Rec.709, P3-D65, Rec.2020 (HDR), and Apple Log.
• LUT setup: manage LUTs, configure which LUT to use in preview and/or recording, see here

Settings, camera, video setup, advanced, color, LUT setup (PRO):

The camera video setup, advanced, color, LUT setup settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Select LUT: select from built-in LUTs (for color space Rec.709 only) and/or import custom LUTs to use
• Preview LUT: select if LUT shall be applied to preview image shown in the device display
• Record LUT: select if LUT shall be applied to captured video footage. IMPORTANT: if you apply a LUT during recording, it is 'baked into' the captured video and cannot be removed later on - the color effect is permanent. It is recommended that you also switch preview LUT to on so you can see in the preview display whether you like the result. It is highly recommended to actually record one or two test clips with the configured LUT and review them in playback and on your computer to make sure the results are as expected. Particularly with HDR footage using LUTs can be very tricky. For further information search for LUT in the UWACAM knowledge base

Settings, camera, audio setup (PRO):

The camera audio setup settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Audio rec: enable or disable audio recording
• Audio levels: enable or disable the display of the audio levels in preview
• Audio peaks: enable or disable peak hold in the audio level display
• Audio source: choose from available audio sources (device-dependent)
• Polar pattern: choose from available microphone polar patterns (depending on selected source and device)
• Audio format: choose desired audio format and sampling rate

Settings, camera, display (PRO):

The camera display setup settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Histogram: enable/disable and configure histogram display, see here
• Overlays: enable/disable and configure overlays, see here
• Assists: enable/disable and configure assists
• User Interface: customize the UWACAM user interface
• Warnings: configure battery and storage warnings
• Sleep: configure sleep mode to conserve power, see here

Settings, camera, display, histogram (PRO):

The camera display histogram setup settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Choose histogram type from the available types: none, luminance only, RGB only, or both
• Advanced: configure advanced histogram settings such as size, position, peak hold, clipping indicator, tap to move and on with magnifier, see here

Settings, camera, display, histogram, advanced (PRO):

The camera display histogram advanced setup settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Size: choose the size of the histogram display
• Position: choose the position of the histogram display
• Peak Hold: enable/disable peak hold in the histogram display
• Clipping indicator: enable/disable clipping indicator in the histogram display
• Tap to move: if enabled, tapping the histogram will move it to the next available position. This is helpful if the histogram is covering part of your subject and you want to move it out of the way quickly.
• On w. magnifier: enable the histogram to stay active when using the magnifier (see here). The histogram will then show the analysis of the magnified image portion when the magnifier is active.

Settings, camera, display, overlays (PRO):

The camera display overlay setup settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Rule of thirds: enable/disable rule of thirds overlay. This overlay can help achieve pleasing image composition.
• Level: enable/disable the level. This overlay can help you achieve level captures
• Center dot: enable/disable the center dot
• Center cross: enable/disable the center cross
• Compass: enable/disable the magnetic compass overlay
• More...: see more overlay settings, see here

Settings, camera, display, overlays, more (PRO):

The camera display overlay more setup settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Safe Area: enable/disable the safe area overlay
• Aspect Ratio: enable/disable the aspect ratio overlay
• Overlay rotation: enable/disable rotation of overlays when the display orientation is changed
• Advanced 1: detailed configuration compass and aspect ratio overlays, see here
• Advanced 2: detailed configuration of rule of thirds, level, center dot, center cross and safe area overlays, see here

Settings, camera, display, overlays, advanced 1 (PRO):

For each overlay listed in this menu you can configure the following settings:

• Color: choose the color to be used for the overlay
• Opacity: set up the opacity to be used for the overlay - you can make it more or less transparent
• Width: set up the line width to be used for the overlay according to your preference

Settings, camera, display, overlays, advanced 2 (PRO):

For each overlay listed in this menu you can configure the following settings:

• Color: choose the color to be used for the overlay
• Opacity: set up the opacity to be used for the overlay - you can make it more or less transparent
• Width: set up the line width to be used for the overlay according to your preference

Settings, camera, display, assists (PRO):

The camera display assists settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Focus Assist: enable/disable focus assist (also known as focus peaking). This assist highlights edges in the preview image and can help you determine if the desired subject is in focus
• Focus Threshold: configure the sensitivity threshold of the focus assist function to your preference
• Assist color: choose the color to use for the focus assist display
• Zebra: enable/disable zebra. This assist display zebra stripes over areas where exposure is above the defined threshold and can help you determine if and which parts of your capture might be overexposed
• Zebra Threshold: configure the sensitivity threshold of the zebra assist function to your preference
• Zebra color: choose the desired color for the zebra display

Settings, camera, display, user interface (PRO):

The camera display user interface settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Info bar: choose the size of the font used in the info bar in the preview display
• Controls (Landscape): customize the main controls for landscape (horizontal) mode, see here
• Controls (Portrait): customize the main controls for portrait (vertical) mode, see here
• Quick access: customize the controls and the order of controls in the quick access panel
• Advanced 1: see here
• Advanced 2: see here

Settings, camera, display, user interface, controls (portrait) (PRO):

The camera display user interface controls (portrait) settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Buttons: Choose if you want the main buttons to be at the top or the bottom of the screen when in portrait (vertical) orientation.
• Info bar: Choose if you want the info bar at top or bottom when in portrait (vertical) orientation.
• Upside down: Enable or disable upside down mode. When enabled, you can use UWACAM upside down, which will allow you to get the cameras lower down and closer to the ground e.g. for macro shots. Note that only UWACAM will adapt to this device orientation, and not the rest of your phone, as this orientation is not supported by iOS itself. This also means that some confirmation alerts and messages, as well as certain screens, will still be displayed in the normal orientation. It is recommended that you only turn your device to upside down orientation when it is required and you are ready to capture, and that you turn it back to normal portrait or landscape orientation when you are done capturing.

Settings, camera, display, user interface, controls (landscape) (PRO):

The camera display user interface controls (landscape) settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Buttons: Choose if you want the main buttons to be on the left or the right of the screen when in landscape (horizontal) orientation.
• Info bar: Choose if you want the info bar at top or bottom when in landscape (horizontal) orientation.

Settings, camera, display, user interface, advanced 1 (PRO):

The camera display user interface advanced 1 settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Camera buttons: choose whether you prefer the camera selection buttons to be on the preview screen or in the quick access
• Camera button closes quick access: choose whether pressing a camera button, if it is in the quick access, shall immediately close the quick access panel
• Mode button: choose if you want the mode button for switching between video and photo mode displayed or not. If you choose to hide the mode button you can still switch modes by pressing the video / photo capture buttons, which will then switch mode and instantly start capturing / take a photo
• UWACOLOR button: choose if you want the UWACOLOR button for enabling/disabling/controlling UWACOLOR processing for video capture displayed or not.
  This button lets you enable UWACOLOR processing and change its mode of operation.
  A short tap will activate/deactivate automatic processing mode:.
  
  
  A long press will display the UWACOLOR menu, where you can set mode and level of UWACOLOR processing.
  
  
  Set UWACOLOR to off, automatic, or manual (video mode only): . In this mode, a short tap will re-sample the current color processing parameters.
  
  If UWACOLOR processing results have a color cast or colors that are too strong for your preference, you can try changing the processing level to medium or low. Remember that UWACOLOR processing in real-time is permanent. For more flexibility, capture without real-time UWACOLOR processing and apply it from playback.
  
  NOTE: do not use UWACOLOR processing when you are not underwater, the resulting colors may be unfavorable.
  
  NOTE: while technically possible, we don't recommend combining UWACOLOR processing with a LUT.
  
  IMPORTANT: if you enable UWACOLOR processing during capture, the processing is burnt into the captured video and photos captured while recording video and cannot be removed later on. If you prefer, you can NOT enable UWACOLOR during capture and rather apply it later during playback. For photos captured in photo mode with UWACOLOR processing, both unprocessed and processed version are saved.
• Playback button: choose if you want the playback button displayed on screen
• Zoom all cams: choose if you want the zoom function to automatically switch cameras as you zoom

Settings, camera, display, user interface, advanced 2 (PRO):

The camera display user interface advanced 2 settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Hardware button: enable/disable support for external shutter buttons and/or using the volume-up button on your device as a shutter button
• Haptic feedback: enable haptic feedback when you start/stop video capture or take a photo
• Fade buttons: enable/disable fading of the main camera buttons after some time, configure the opacity and duration until fade
• Hide disabled settings: if this is enabled, then buttons for disabled (unavailable) settings in quick access will be hidden instead of shown in a disabled state.
• Rec. Indicator: choose what kind of recording indicator you prefer: none, red frame, or blinking red frame.
• Rec. Ind. Width: choose the width of the red frame used as a recording indicator to your liking.

Settings, camera, display, sleep (PRO):

Sleep setup lets you configure the following settings:

• Sleep Mode: choose the sleep mode. Options are:
  • Off: do not sleep - preview and display remain active
  • Camera: turn off preview to reduce power consumption, display remains active
  • App: use standard iPhone sleep - unlock may be required to reactivate UWACAM
• Cam. Sleep Time: configure the desired time to sleep for sleep mode 'Camera'

Settings, camera, advanced (PRO):

The camera advanced settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Camera blending: Camera blending (available on compatible devices) uses automatic camera swiching and digital magnification to give an improved user experience particularly in close-up or macrophotography. You can for example select the 3x camera, and as you move closer to the subject UWACAM will automatically switch to the wide angle camera and add digital magnification to give you an improved macro capture experience. The tradeoff is possibly reduced image quality due to digital magnification, and no longer being in full manual control of camera selection and controls, i.e. manual focus, exposure, ISO and white balance/tint are not available when camera blending is set to ON. Furthermore, image resolution for RAW images captured is reduced. See also this Knowledge Base Article.
  
  If you use a wet lens such as the Divevolk Wide Angle lens, it is strongly recommended to set camera blending to ON. For more information see this Knowledge Base Article
• WB Lock: if enabled, then the white balance value is locked when video capture starts. This can help avoid strange color shifts during a video capture.
• Resume video: if enabled, video capturing will resume automatically after it was interrupted by taking a photo in a format that is not supported directly while a video capture is in progress. In such a case, UWACAM will stop video capture, switch to photo mode, capture the photo, and then switch back and resume video capture in a new capture file
• Frame drop stops rec: if enabled, dropped frame(s) will stop video capture
• Magnifier: enable the magnifier function. This function lets you quickly magnify the center portion of the preview, for example to check focus while doing a macro capture. The following settings are available:
  • Off: magnifier button is not shown
  • Touch: the preview is magnified while you touch (press) the magnifier button, when you release it the magnification is removed
  • Toggle: tap the magnifier button to toggle between normal and magnified preview
• Rotation lock: lock the interface orientation. This function is also available as a quick access button. Rotation lock is turned off on restart of UWACAM

Settings, playback (PRO):

The playback settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Playback: enter playback mode to view and manage your captures
• Playback settings: configure playback view and mode to your liking, see here

Settings, playback, settings (PRO):

The playback settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Default display: choose the display mode when entering playback mode: you can either show the list of captures, or go directly to the last capture with details
• Video settings: configure settings for video capture playback, see here
• Playback zoom: configure playback zoom functionality:
  • Zoom: enable/disable zoom during playback
  • Show thumbnail: enable/disable thumbnail display during zoom
  • Default zoom: set the default zoom level when entering playback
• Delete button: choose if you want the delete button to be displayed in playback mode
• Playback button: choose whether to display the playback button on screen
• Sharing settings: configure share settings, see here

Settings, playback, video settings (PRO):

The video playback settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Video audio: choose if video audio shall be played when viewing a video capture in playback mode
• Show timecode: choose if you want to see timecode in playback rather than clip time

Settings, playback, settings, sharing settings (PRO):

The playback settings, sharing settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Share button: choose if you want the share button to be displayed in playback mode
• Share crop mode: configure crop on share: see here

Settings, playback, settings, sharing settings, crop mode (PRO):

This menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Never: never show the cropping option when sharing a photo capture
• Always: always crop the capture when sharing a photo capture
• Ask every time: ask if you want to crop when sharing a photo capture

Settings, gear (PRO):

The gear settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• View: view the current settings in a multi-page list
• Save presets: save and manage presets
• Subscription: access the subscription page to manage your UWACAM subscription
• Metadata: define metadata that will be written to your captured files. There are a wide range of fields available. Note that which fields are actually written into a capture file depends on the type (video/photo) and format of the file.
• Storage: configure the storage options for video and photo captures independently. You can choose where to store captures, and how to name the capture files. For location the following destinations are supported:
  • In-App
  • Photos app
  • Photos app, in a dedicated Album named UWACAM
  • Photos app, in a separate Album for each day
  • Files: if you choose files, you must also choose a folder within files in which to store the captures
• Advanced: advanced settings, see here

Settings, gear, advanced (PRO):

The gear, advanced settings menu lets you adjust the following settings:

• Vizalyzer (subscription required): configure AI / Vizalyzer features, see here
• UWACOLOR: configure UWACOLOR settings for real-time and post processing, see here
• Location: configure location settings for tagging your capture with your current or last known location, see here
• Reset settings: lets you reset the UWACAM settings to defaults. Use with caution, see here

Settings, gear, advanced, location:

This menu lets you configure the settings for location tagging:

• Off: your captures will not be tagged with any location data
• Satellite: your captures will be tagged with the current location, or if the current location is not available, with the last known location. It is recommended to give your device a few minutes (if it has been turned off) to determine the current location before entering the water.
  Make sure UWACAM is allowed to access location data (check your iPhone settings)
  You can use the map (internet connection required) or the coordinate display to verify your current position. Satellite reception is not available underwater, so the last known location (starting point) of your dive will be used for all captures during a dive
• Manual: If you prefer, you can use the map (internet connection required) to select a manual location to be used for all captures.

You can find more details on how location tagging works see here

Settings, gear, advanced, Vizalyzer:

This menu lets you configure the settings for Vizalyzer:

• Enable Vizalyzer: you can completely disable Vizalyzer if you do not want to use this feature at all
• Skip confirmation: you can choose to skip the warning / confirmation that appears before performing image analysis
• Vizalyzer language: you can choose to have Vizalyzer produce its analysis in a different language than the one of your device user interface

Settings, gear, advanced, reset (AUTO):

This menu lets you reset UWACAM settings:

• Reset current: this will reset the current PRO settings to defaults, leaving any stored presets as they are. This action cannot be undone.
• Reset ALL: this will reset the current PRO settings to defaults and clear all stored presets. This action cannot be undone.

Settings, wrench (PRO):

The wrench settings menu lets you recall any of the presets that you might have defined.

Tips and Tricks (PRO)

For up-to-date information, collected tips and tricks to get the most out of UWACAM, technotes and more please refer to our knowledge base.

If you are interested in online training courses on underwater videography or LUT packs to use with your video editing software on your computer, check out Matthias Lebo's Underwater Video Academy.

For Divevolk cases and accessories, use this link to possibly get an extra discount: www.divevolkdiving.com.

For feedback and questions reach out to us anytime at support@uwacam.com

Using the Playback view

Playback view lets you review and manage, perform Vizalyzer AI analysis, perform UWACOLOR processing, and share your captures. Some features are only available if you have an internet connection.

Tap on the Playback button in the preview or quick access to open playback view. The following controls are available, depending on the context:

• : Perform Vizalyzer AI image analysis on photo or video captures (internet connection required), or view/share the results of a previous analysis performed. See also here
• : Perform UWACOLOR postprocessing on video and photo captures. See also here
• : Toggle list view mode. In list view mode you can select multiple captures for bulk sharing or deleting. You can also perform batch UWACOLOR processing on selected captures.
• : Delete the capture
• : Start/stop playing of a video capture. You can also tap the time bar to jump to a position in the video, and you can tap the video display itself to zoom into the video. Tap the zoom overview inset to zoom out.
• : Toggle video sound muting
• : Share the capture (depending on your share destination you will need to have an internet connection)

Playback detail view of a photo capture

Playback detail view of a video capture

Using Vizalyzer

Vizalyzer is an AI image analyzer app developed by Bumbayaya. We have integrated its functionality directly within UWACAM to let you analyze your images as soon as you surface (internet connection required, mobile data charges may apply). Fair use of Vizalyzer is included in the UWACAM subscription.

Simply tap on the Vizalyzer button in the playback display (here in upper left of the screenshot), and the image will be processed for analysis.

A warning will be displayed regarding data charges which may apply, as a compressed version of the image will be transmitted for analysis

The results will be displayed within UWACAM, and will be stored with your capture for later recall.

If you want to repeat an analysis, delete the previous result.

If you are analyzing a video, you can pick which frame of the video to analyze - we recommend choosing a frame where the subject is clearly in view, and in focus

Vizalyzer is also available in an even more powerful version as a separate App on the App Store

News

UWACAM has a integrated news view that lets you see current and past news. It is similar to an inbox, in that it keeps track of which news you've read. UWACAM will display a badge with the number of unread news items on the menu button, and it will also add a yellow exclamation mark if there are any important unread news.

If any very important news is pending UWACAM will alert you on app start. It will continue to do so until you read the important news item. If you want to read the news item later, tap next to the alert to close it.

You can also access news from the quick access menu, using the envelope button. This will open the news view. Important news are marked with a yellow exclamation mark.

News detail pages give you the option of marking the news as unread, and of scrolling through the news text. Some news items may also have additional buttons that lead to external pages with more information. Such pages will be opened in the regular web browser on your device. The news list view also contains a button to filter the display so only unread items are shown.

A Note About UWACOLOR Processing

UWACOLOR is a powerful technology that algorithmically restores the natural colors in your underwater photos and videos, compensating for the blue or green cast caused by water filtering out red and yellow light. To get the best results, it's important to understand how it works.

Real-Time vs. Post-Processing

• Real-Time Processing: You can enable UWACOLOR processing while capturing using the UWACOLOR button . The corrected colors are then "baked into" the recorded video, and an uncorrected version is not saved. This lets you see the corrected image in the preview and have a video ready for immediate sharing after your dive.
• Post-Processing (in Playback): Alternatively, you can capture video without real-time UWACOLOR and apply the same processing later. In the playback view, open a capture and tap the UWACOLOR button . This method gives you both the original, uncorrected file and the color-corrected version, offering more flexibility. However, it is an extra step that takes time and processing power.

Tips for Best Results

• Avoid Rapidly Changing Light: When shooting in quickly changing light—for example, panning from a reef into open blue water, or switching a video light on or off mid-shot—the automatic processing may take a moment to adapt. For smooth results, aim for stable lighting conditions and slow, deliberate camera movements.
• Use Manual Mode (PRO): If you are shooting in conditions you cannot control, consider using UWACOLOR in manual mode (available in PRO mode). Long-press the UWACOLOR button to open the menu, then select 'manual'. In this mode, the color processing parameters are locked. Tap the button again to re-sample the colors and set a new manual balance.
• Adjust the Processing Level: If you find the UWACOLOR results have a color cast or are too intense, you can adjust the processing level. Long-press the UWACOLOR button in the preview or playback view to open the menu and choose between Standard (STD), Medium, or Low. The current level is displayed on the button.
• Use a Video Light: For the absolute best color accuracy, especially in deeper water, we recommend using a dedicated video light. No filter or algorithm can fully restore colors that are completely lost to spectral absorption.
• Don't Combine Correction Methods: Do not use a physical red/magenta filter on your lens at the same time as UWACOLOR processing or a video light, as this will lead to an unnatural color cast.
• When shooting in rapidly changing light/color conditions, for example when doing a quick pan away from a reef out into the blue, there may be a delay until processing catches up and adjusts. You can reduce this effect by making sure that transitions between light/color conditions happen slowly while capturing
• If the light temperature changes quickly while shooting, for example if a video light is suddenly pointed directly into the camera, or if a video light being used to capture is switched on or off, there may be a delay until color processing catches up and adjusts. You can reduce this effect by making sure that lighting conditions remain stable while capturing
• If you are shooting in rapidly changing conditions that you cannot influence or change, consider using UWACOLOR in manual mode (PRO mode only, long press the UWACOLOR button to open the UWACOLOR menu, then select 'manual' to activate). This mode lets you (re)set the color processing by then tapping the UWACOLOR button. The color process settings are then locked and will not automatically adapt to changing conditions - tap the button again to trigger an adaptation
• If you find the UWACOLOR processing results suboptimal, long-press the UWACOLOR button either in capture or playback mode to open the UWACOLOR menu where you can change the processing level.
  
  The screenshot shows the menu for PRO mode - in AUTO mode, Manual UWACOLOR is not available
  The currently selected processing level is shown on the UWACOLOR button:
  • STD: standard processing
  • Medium: medium processing level, lower than standard
  • Low: low processing level
  Remember that UWACOLOR processing in real-time is permanent. For more flexibility, capture without real-time UWACOLOR processing and apply it from playback.
• Please note that no color processing or filter can fully restore colors lost due to spectral absorption. For absolutely best results we recommend using a video light if available.

A Note About Performance & Preventing Overheating

UWACAM leverages powerful features that can be demanding on your iPhone, causing it to heat up, especially when inside a sealed housing. High temperatures can impact performance and may cause video recording to stop unexpectedly. Here are key strategies to keep your device cool and running smoothly.

• Manage Heat Before the Dive:
  • Avoid charging your phone right before a dive, as charging generates heat. Allow it to cool down completely.
  • Prepare your gear in a cool, air-conditioned space to prevent warm, humid air from being trapped in the housing, which can cause fogging.
  • Keep your assembled housing out of direct sunlight on the way to the dive site and on the boat.
• Reduce System Load During the Dive:
  • Use Sleep Mode: When you are not actively filming (e.g., during descent, ascent, or swimming between locations), put the app into sleep mode via the quick access menu. This significantly reduces power consumption and heat generation.
  • Lower Video Settings: High resolutions (4K) and frame rates (60fps), especially in ProRes format, create a heavy load. Use them only when necessary. For general logging, consider using 1080p at 30fps.
  • Defer UWACOLOR Processing: Real-time UWACOLOR processing is computationally intensive. To reduce heat, capture without it and apply it in post-processing from the playback view.
  • Turn Off Camera Blending: If you don't need the automatic lens switching, turning Camera Blending OFF (in PRO mode) reduces system load and gives you more manual control.
• Conserve Battery & Reduce Heat:
  • Use Flight Mode: Switching your phone to flight mode prevents it from searching for a cellular signal, which saves battery and reduces heat.
  • Reduce Screen Brightness: Running the screen at maximum brightness is a major source of heat and battery drain. Lower it to a comfortable level (e.g., 80%) if possible.
• Monitor Device Temperature:
  • UWACAM displays a thermometer icon in the info bar to indicate the thermal state of your device. Pay attention to this indicator:
  • Yellow (blinking): The device is getting warm. Consider using sleep mode.
  • Red (blinking): The device is hot. Recording may stop at any time.
  • Red (fast blinking): The device is critically hot. Stop recording and put the app to sleep immediately to let it cool off - if you absolutely must, you can continue but recording can stop anytime.
• A Note on iCloud Sync: If your iPhone storage is low and "Optimize iPhone Storage" is enabled, iOS may offload the full-resolution versions of your captures to iCloud. UWACAM will notify you if you try to perform an action (like UWACOLOR processing) on an offloaded file that requires the full version to be downloaded first.

About location tagging

UWACAM supports tagging your captures with your location. As there is no satellite reception underwater, there are a few specific points to note:

• UWACAM will use the last known position for tagging if no satellite reception is available.
• It is recommended that you check the position that UWACAM will use in settings before entering the water. Make sure you have a green arrow in the info bar (see below) which signals that UWACAM has a current location. You can also go to location settings to check the coordinates displayed, and if you have internet connectivity, you can view the position on the map.
• If you prefer, you can use the map (internet connection required) to set a position manually. Alternatively you can copy/paste coordinates from another app into the manual map screen.

UWACAM displays an icon in the info bar to let you know the current status of location tagging:

• Grey arrow with a slash: location tagging is off
• Red arrow with a slash, flashing: location tagging is set to satellite, but no satellite fix has been acquired or there is some other error. Check in iPhone Settings to make sure UWACAM is allowed access to your location. Setting this to "allow while using app" should be sufficient.
• Green arrow: location tagging is set to satellite and a current location is available
• Blue arrow: location tagging is set to satellite, last known location is being used. You can go to location settings to see the timestamp, coordinates and accuracy information (if available) of the location being used. The timestamp is shown in the time zone of your device.
• Yellow arrow in a circle: manual location is being used

When using manual mode you can paste coordinates from the clipboard into the location settings page. The following formats are supported:

• Decimal Degrees: e.g., 40.7580, -73.9855 or 40.7580° N, 73.9855° W
• Degrees, Decimal Minutes (DDM): e.g., 40° 44.905' N, 73° 59.148' W
• Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS): e.g., 40° 44' 54.3" N, 73° 59' 08.9" W

If you believe the coordinates in the clipboard should be understandable by UWACAM and you still get an error message, please send the contents of your clipboard to support@uwacam.com so we can help.

Tips & Tricks for Underwater Photography and Videography

Mastering underwater photography and videography is a rewarding journey that combines technical skill with diving expertise. The following tips can help you capture stunning, story-rich images and videos beneath the surface.

Diving Technique & Buoyancy

• Prioritize Safety: 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. Maintain situational awareness and monitor your depth, time, air supply, and surroundings.
• Perfect Your Buoyancy: Good buoyancy control is crucial. It prevents damage to the environment and helps you get steady shots without stirring up silt or sand.
• Breathe Calmly: Smooth, slow breathing not only conserves air but also minimizes camera shake. When shooting wide-angle, exhale slowly or time your shots to prevent bubbles from appearing in the frame.
• Maintain Trim: Keep your body in a horizontal position to move more efficiently and remain stable while shooting.
• Move Slowly & Steadily: Quick, jerky movements can scare away marine life and cause backscatter or blurry footage. Approach subjects slowly and deliberately.

Approaching Your Subject

• Respect Wildlife: Ethical photography means allowing marine life to behave naturally. Avoid touching, chasing, or cornering animals.
• Use Natural Cover: Approach subjects using coral or terrain features to reduce your silhouette and minimize disturbance.

Framing & Composition

• Get Close: Water reduces contrast, color, and sharpness. The closer you are to your subject, the clearer and more vibrant your image will be.
• Shoot Upwards: Frame your subject with open water behind them to create separation from the background. This can add drama with natural light from the surface (sunballs).
• Rule of Thirds: Use compositional guides (available in PRO mode) to place subjects off-center for a more dynamic and visually appealing image.

Lighting & Color

• Use a Light Source: Natural light fades quickly underwater. Using video lights is the best way to restore true colors and reveal textures.
• UWACOLOR Processing: When lights are not available, use UWACAM's built-in UWACOLOR processing to restore natural colors.
• A Note on Filters: While physical filters can be used, using video lights or UWACOLOR processing generally produces better results. Do not use a red or magenta filter at the same time as video lights or UWACOLOR processing, as this can lead to poor color balance.
• Light Positioning: Position your lights at a slight angle to the camera to reduce backscatter (the reflection of light off particles in the water).

Camera Settings & Lenses

• Use a Wet Lens: For the best wide-angle results with your iPhone's 0.5x camera, a wide-angle wet lens (like the one from DIVEVOLK) is recommended to minimize distortion.
• Focus Mode: Use continuous autofocus for moving subjects; lock focus when shooting stationary scenes or for macro shots.
• Frame Rate: Use 60fps or higher for fast-moving scenes or if you plan to create slow-motion effects in post-production.
• Resolution: Shoot in the highest resolution possible for the most flexibility in editing and cropping.

Pre-Dive Preparation

• Charge Everything: Ensure your phone and any external video lights are fully charged.
• Check Storage: Make sure you have enough free space on your phone for your planned dives.
• Clean Your Gear: Any water spots, fingerprints, or dust on the camera lens or housing port will show up in your final image or video. Clean them thoroughly.
• Configure Settings: Pre-set your shooting mode (AUTO/PRO), resolution, frame rate, and other settings. In PRO Mode, define presets to save time switching settings underwater.
• Prevent Fogging: Assemble your housing in a cool, dry environment (like an air-conditioned room) to minimize the risk of the lens fogging up underwater.
• Save Battery: Consider switching your phone to flight mode before placing it in the housing to conserve battery life, especially in areas with poor reception.
• Test Your Rig: Perform a leak check in the rinse tank or shallow water before descending.

Post-Dive Workflow

• Rinse & Dry: Rinse all gear thoroughly with fresh water immediately after diving. Let it air dry completely before opening the housing and storing it.
• Back Up Your Files: Back up your photos and videos to a computer or cloud storage as soon as possible to prevent accidental loss.
• Organize Files: Use consistent naming conventions and folders to sort by dive site, subject, or date.
• Use Vizalyzer: Analyze your photos and videos after the dive to identify marine life. See Vizalyzer Integration.

Storytelling & Editing

• Capture a Sequence: Tell a story by filming wide, medium, and close-up shots of the same subject or scene.
• Stabilize Footage: Use software or in-camera features to smooth out unintentional camera movements for a more professional look.

For up-to-date information, and more tips and tricks to get the most out of UWACAM, technotes and more please refer to our knowledge base.

If you are interested in online training courses on underwater videography or LUT packs to use with your video editing software on your computer, check out Matthias Lebo's Underwater Video Academy.

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