1989 SEACAM was founded as a one-man business. The first series production begins with simple aluminum housings with integrated hand grip for Canon, Minolta and Nikon under the name SEA SNAP, SEA FLASH, SEA ARM. The program is developed as entry-level housings offering reliable underwater photography.
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1990 For the first time, SEACAM begins promotion via advertisements and a user review in a German UWF magazine. The revision of the first housing series, as well as the presentation of the futuristically styled housings at BOOT 90 excites public interest. In the new leaflet the product range consists of 2 different housings for 5 camera models, 1 flash housing for 3 system flashguns. Accessories include several interchangeable ports of mineral glass and a flash arm.
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1991 Due to increasing demand from customers seeking greater ergonomics in their underwater camera housing, a completely new housing concept named MINICAM is created. The housings are very small, tailor-made for the specific cameras, and cover all important functions. A high quality interchangeable port system with optically ground plane and dome glasses as well as a removable hand grip are integral. The housings offered for Nikon F 801, Minolta Dynax 7000i and Canon EOS 600 are already special housings.
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An absolute world first is the MINIFLASH system flash housing with integrated pilot light. Designed for specific dedicated system speedlights. For the first time, SEACAM appears at BOOT91 with an exhibit stand of their own. A new leaflet shows the already extensive program in three languages.
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1992 A further expansion of the housing production takes place and the program is extended to 8 different camera housings and five flash housings. For the first time, the new SEAFLASH U/W flash is presented. Here SEACAM relied on the proven electronics from Subtronic and built a housing that is favorably buoyant underwater.
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A new, considerably improved Galilei viewfinder is created, firmly integrated in the housing. Units that are equipped with such a viewfinder, are named MINICAMpro. The range of ports is expanded by a fisheye port of mineral glass. Business connections to the USA are established by means of collaboration with famed underwater photographer Stephen Frink. Engaged by the Austrian Trade Commission to evaluate the possibility of importing SEACAM into the US, Frink is so impressed that he buys his first SEACAM housing, and has exclusively used SEACAM for his housed cameras ever since.
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1993 SEACAM keeps extending their program and presents professional housing for the Nikon F90 at the beginning of the year. Canon receives new housings for EOS 10 /100 /1000. The product range now includes 13 different special housings for cameras, 3 system flash housings and 3 underwater flashes. Service is optimized at Austria production facility. Since the beginning of the year, SEACAM is registered as an international trademark.
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1994 Top European shooters such as Dieter Disch and Claus Kimmig move exclusively to SEACAM products. Dieter Disch succeeded in taking prize-winning over-under photos with a specially designed 240 mm dome port. Editorial and advertising photos by Stephen Frink, taken with SEACAM product, continue to dominate US dive and travel magazines. A professional housing for Minolta Dynax 9xi the Canon EOS 5 is presented on BOOT94, as well as a very compact housing for Nikon F90. SEACAM offer 4 different dome ports of mineral glass for wide angle photos.
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1995 Above all, detailed solutions and a perfect finish are important to SEACAM. Not a single unit leaves our workshop without being controlled with utmost care. Only that guarantees constant quality unrivaled fit and finish. With the new FLASHARM a patented, very strong flash arm system is developed. The entirely new, especially safe and maintenance-free S6 PLUG SYSTEM and the unique optically ground SUPERDOME with 240 mm in diameter are also presented.
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1996 SEACAM extends the program with a new, very light, even more compact housing construction for Nikon cameras. The housings for F90x, F801s, F601, F70 and F50 are form-fit to the cameras and can be easily operated underwater. SEACAM offer sensational innovations on the sector of front ports. Plane ports and all dome ports are available with OPTICAL COATING for considerably improved flare reduction and optimal contrast.
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1997 At BOOT 97, SEACAM presents a fantastic new design for their housings ... the SEACAM silver generation. Elegance, innovation and ergonomics balance one another perfectly, and as an additional benefit the new housings are incredibly durable and resistant to scratches and abrasion in the field. SEACAM exhibits for the first time at the DEMA show in the US. Housings for CANON EOS 1N, DYNAX 700si and 9xi are offered. The new NIKON F5 is presented a this show in prototype form, and as an important new innovation, the first swiveling 45° sports viewfinder for standard viewfinder cameras is presented. The viewfinder image is brilliant and displays 1:1 of the picture size. SEACAM also change the ports of professional housings to a newly developed front port bayonet thread. This guarantees a simple and safe fitting of the front ports.
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1998 SEACAM offers a real professional housing for Nikon F5, which receives attention all over the world. The housing offers bayonet threaded front ports, detachable viewfinder or DA-30 actionfinder, AF zone control, and detachable hand grips. Ergonomic operation is one of the most important features.
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1999 SEACAM also develops a professional housing for Nikon F100, with all advantages of the Nikon F5 housing. By means of a new production process, the front and back side of the housing fit together perfectly and the main O-ring groove runs absolutely centered.
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2000 For the Nikon SB28 flash, SEACAM develops a cylindrical housing with integrated pilot light. To complement the still highly demanded Minicam Nikon F90, a SEACAM silver housing is now offered featuring interchangeable viewfinders, including the popular and innovative 45° swiveling sports viewfinder. SEACAM shows prototype for Nikon D1X digital housing at DEMA and BOOT trade shows.
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2001 SEACAM introduces its first product for high-end digital photography as the world's only manufacturer of a special housing for the Nikon D1/D1X/D1H professional digital camera. At the same time as the D1 housing, SEACAM also presented the highly desirable a sports viewfinder with straight-through view, 1:1 view magnification, and plus-or-minus 3 diopter correction for fine-tuning personal vision. Dubbed the S180 viewfinder, discriminating photographers can now choose between the Pro, S45 and S180 viewfinders for their SEACAM housing.
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2003 Professional housings for the Canon EOS 1V camera (film) and the Canon EOS 1Ds, Nikon D100, and Fuji S2 (digital) become available. The SEACAM Systemflash is improved, offering new controls to those who wish to use a camera's dedicated speedlight underwater in order to achieve TTL with digital SLR cameras.
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"The aim of SEACAM underwater housings is to combine elegance, innovation and
precision. With many new ideas and innovative technology we are succeeding again
and again in creating a technological lead and to revolutionise the manufacture
of underwater housings."
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