How to Install a SeaLife Super Macro Lens on Micro-Series

By SeaLife Cameras | Published: 2026-10-13

Category: How-to Guides

A step-by-step guide to fitting the Super Macro Lens on SeaLife Micro-Series cameras and RM-4K, with focus ranges, buoyancy tips, and mistakes to avoid.

Quick answer

Press the Super Macro Lens onto the front of your Micro-Series or RM-4K housing before you get in the water, then set your focus range to match the lens. For the Micro 3.0, expect a working distance of 4 to 6 inches; for the Micro HD, HD+, and RM-4K, it is 3.5 to 7 inches. Add a Float Strap if you shoot one-handed, because the lens adds front weight.

Check your housing and lens mount first

The Super Macro Lens uses a rubber press-on mount, so it fits directly onto the front of the Micro 3.0, Micro HD, HD+, and RM-4K without tools. If you use a different housing, look for a flat, circular port face roughly the same diameter; a port with a raised rim or a large dome will not hold the press-on mount securely. Do not force it onto a port it was not designed for.

Set up the camera before the lens goes on

Turn the camera on, switch to macro or close-up mode if your model has one, and turn off the digital zoom. The lens narrows your field of view, so any zoom will make framing harder. If your camera has a manual focus option, set it to the middle of the lens range rather than the closest setting, then fine-tune underwater.

Press the lens on evenly and check the seal

Center the lens over the port and press firmly around the rim with both thumbs until the rubber mount seats flat. Run a fingertip around the edge to confirm there is no gap or tilt. A lens that is slightly off-center will show soft corners in your images, and a tilted lens can catch light and cause flare.

Manage buoyancy and handling

The Super Macro Lens adds weight at the front of an already negatively buoyant Micro-Series camera. A Float Strap attaches to the camera or tray and keeps the whole setup from sinking if you let go. If you use a Flex-Connect Micro Tray, mount the lens first, then click the tray and grip into place so you can test the balance before entering the water.

Practice the focus range before your dive

The lens is designed for a very short working distance, so you need to move the camera rather than zoom. In a pool or a bathtub, practice holding the camera 4 to 6 inches from a coin or a small toy on the Micro 3.0, or 3.5 to 7 inches on the Micro HD, HD+, and RM-4K. If the subject looks blurry, you are probably too close or too far; adjust your distance, not the zoom.

Remove and rinse the lens after the dive

Peel the lens off by lifting one edge of the rubber mount, never by pulling on the glass. Rinse the lens in fresh water and let it air-dry before storing it. Do not leave the lens on the housing for long periods, because salt or sand trapped under the rubber mount can scratch the port.

Step-by-step installation

1. Match the lens to your camera: Confirm you have a Micro 3.0, Micro HD, HD+, or RM-4K. These models accept the press-on Super Macro Lens directly. If you use another housing, check that the port face is flat and close to the lens diameter. Checkpoint: if the port has a raised rim or a dome, the press-on mount will not seal evenly.
2. Prepare the camera settings: Turn the camera on, disable digital zoom, and select macro or close-up mode if available. Set manual focus to the middle of the lens range if your model supports it. Mistake to avoid: leaving zoom on, which makes framing at 4–6 inches nearly impossible.
3. Press the lens onto the housing: Center the rubber mount over the port and press firmly around the entire rim until it sits flat. Run a finger around the edge to feel for gaps or tilting. Checkpoint: an off-center lens causes soft corners; a tilted lens causes flare.
4. Add buoyancy and stability: Attach a Float Strap to the camera or tray so the heavier front end does not sink if you let go. If you use a Flex-Connect Micro Tray, click it into place after the lens is mounted and test the balance. Mistake to avoid: skipping the float strap and losing the camera when you reach for a subject.
5. Practice the focus distance: In a pool or tub, hold the camera 4–6 inches from a small object on the Micro 3.0, or 3.5–7 inches on the Micro HD, HD+, and RM-4K. Move the camera closer or farther to focus instead of zooming. Checkpoint: if the image is blurry, you are outside the lens range, not out of focus.
6. Remove and rinse after the dive: Peel the lens off by lifting one edge of the rubber mount. Rinse in fresh water and air-dry before storing. Do not pull on the glass or leave the lens on the housing for long periods. Mistake to avoid: trapping salt or sand under the mount, which can scratch the port.

Product facts

Super Macro Lens for Micro-Series & RM-4K: The Super Macro Close Up Lens captures macro images and videos from 3.5” to 7” (9cm to 18cm). It features a 2-element optical grade wet lens with anti-reflective coating and anodized aluminum construction with rubber press-on lens mount. It works with the Micro 3.0 camera, with a focus range of 4” to 6” (10cm to 15cm), and a focus range of 3.5” to 7” (9cm to 18cm) with SeaLife Micro HD, HD+, and RM-4K. This tells you exactly how close to get: 4–6 inches on the Micro 3.0, 3.5–7 inches on the Micro HD, HD+, and RM-4K. The press-on mount means no adapter is needed for these models.
Float Strap for Micro-Series & ReefMaster Cameras: The universal SeaLife Float Strap is designed to float many brands of underwater cameras, lights, and other waterproof devices. It is especially important for the Micro-Series cameras because of their negative buoyancy. It floats all SeaLife cameras and most other waterproof cameras and portable devices, and is made of soft, comfortable closed-cell neoprene with an orange liner. Adding the macro lens makes the front of the camera heavier, so a Float Strap helps prevent the setup from sinking if you drop it and makes one-handed macro shooting less tiring.
Flex-Connect Micro Tray: The Flex-Connect Micro Tray mounts a grip or light and adds stability to your ultra compact underwater camera. It quickly and easily adds grips, lights, flashes, and Flex Arms with a click and removes them with the push of a button. It fits SeaLife Micro Series cameras and SportDiver Ultra housings, and mounts to other cameras and housings up to 5” wide with a standard 1/4-20 tripod mount. A tray gives you a steady grip for the slow, close-up positioning that macro work demands, and the click-on system lets you add a light or flex arm later without changing the camera.