Sea & Sea Motormarine II 35mm Underwater Film Camera — Yellow, Made in Japan

The Sea & Sea Motormarine II is a purpose-built 35 mm film camera designed for amphibious use — equally at home on a coral reef as on a beach or in surf. Introduced in the mid-1980s and produced through much of the 1990s, it became one of the most popular entry-to-intermediate underwater film cameras of its era, prized by recreational divers, snorkellers, and marine researchers alike. Rated to a depth of approximately 40 metres in its standard configuration, the camera offered genuine dive-rated waterproofing in an era before consumer-grade digital underwater housings existed.

The fixed 35 mm f/3.5 lens is optimised for the underwater environment, where the effective angle of view is narrowed by the refractive index of water. Manual aperture and focus distance settings are controlled via the large, glove-friendly rotating dials flanking the lens — a deliberate ergonomic choice for use with neoprene dive gloves. The integrated flash covers the wide-angle field of view and fires automatically in programme mode, compensating for the rapid light absorption underwater. A standard tripod bush on the base plate (visible in the side view) allows attachment to underwater tray systems or strobe arms.

This example presents in excellent cosmetic condition. The signature high-visibility yellow body — a safety-conscious choice for open-water use — retains its original vivid colour without the fading or chalking commonly seen on well-used examples. The dark grey ABS panels are unmarked. All external controls appear functional and undamaged. The rear caution label, printed in both English and Japanese, is fully legible. As with all cameras of this type, prospective buyers intending underwater use should test o-ring seal integrity before immersion.

Material: ABS engineering plastic body (yellow and dark grey/black), rubber seals and gaskets, polycarbonate viewfinder and lens port, nylon wrist/neck strap