Help with choosing Underwater Photography kit

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Navraj - 24 May 2004 23:31 GMT

Hi,
I am new to UW photography and currently thinking about getting a
Nikonos V or an Ikelite housing (specifically for an Elan 7)?

I'm leaning towards the Nikonos V but learned that it was discontinued
a couple of years ago - is that an issue to consider?

I like the Nikonos because it is lighter than the housing & probably
easier to use underwater.
Also if it floods it can be repaired whereas an Elan would be junk.

What are the pros & cons for each system?
Is there a replacement planned for the Nikonos (by Nikon or anyone
else)?

thanks for your input.

Navraj.

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Ron T - 25 May 2004 10:10 GMT

> I'm leaning towards the Nikonos V but learned that it was discontinued
> a couple of years ago - is that an issue to consider?

Not an issue.. there are a ton of V's out there and the best service was
from independent places anyhow -not nikon.

> I like the Nikonos because it is lighter than the housing & probably
> easier to use underwater.

Exactly..

I have both a housed system and a nikonos V. The V gets far more use.

> Also if it floods it can be repaired whereas an Elan would be junk.

True but if you have a second elan, you can put it in the housing and
keep shooting that day.

> What are the pros & cons for each system?

Nikonos - pros: small, easy to handle, rugged. Cons: guess your focus,
meter hard to see, no zoom capability, limited lens choice, macro system
can scare fish

Housing - pros: lens selection, autofocus, better electronics, macro is
easier, split image (over/under shots) Cons:bulky, heavy, leakprone
(compared to Nik V), controls awkward

> Is there a replacement planned for the Nikonos (by Nikon or anyone
> else)?

I wish.. a digital model would be great and not really that hard to
engineer. Just skip the bells and whistles.

Watch the used market for a nikonis V and a 20mm lens w/optical finder
(the 35 is useless). Get a good strobe (Nikon sb-105 or even better
-ikelite Substrobe 200). Final note - get a Nikonos V - not the IV-A.

Ron T

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Marcin Dobrucki - 25 May 2004 11:51 GMT

> I'm leaning towards the Nikonos V but learned that it was discontinued
> a couple of years ago - is that an issue to consider?

As pointed out, there is plenty of used Nikonos machines for sale on
Ebay and likes. However, experience says that no matter what's
advertized, they are often in rather poor shape. If you do get one, get
it shipped to a specialist for a cleanup/overview before using.

> I like the Nikonos because it is lighter than the housing & probably
> easier to use underwater.
> Also if it floods it can be repaired whereas an Elan would be junk.

If you flood a Nikonos V, say goodby to the electronics. If you
flood the III, then you can dry it up. But III is fully manual, which
means a bit more fuss underwater.

> What are the pros & cons for each system?
> Is there a replacement planned for the Nikonos (by Nikon or anyone
> else)?

I was talking with a professional underwater photographer, and he was
saying that if he'd be choosing a kit again, it'd be digital. There are
several things to think about:
- film processing costs
- you will get a lot of rejects underwater, easier to delete them after
the dive on the baot than have to wait until you get the pics back (or
delete underwater even)
- you can only squeeze 36 exposures out of a film camera underwater (I
am not aware of film cameras that can do more -- Nikon used to make a
land camera adaptor for 250-shot film). With digital you'd be able to
take hudreds of photos on a single dive.
- some digital cameras can be programmed to adjust the color balance to
compensate for the lack of yellow/red light at depth. Harder to do with
film cameras.

/Marcin

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Dillon Pyron - 25 May 2004 16:08 GMT

>> I'm leaning towards the Nikonos V but learned that it was discontinued
>> a couple of years ago - is that an issue to consider?
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>land camera adaptor for 250-shot film). With digital you'd be able to
>take hudreds of photos on a single dive.

With my MX-10, I can usually get 38. My Minolta regularly gives me
40. However, as you point out, my wife's Sony gets 90 every time.
More if I buy here that 512 stick for her birthday.

>- some digital cameras can be programmed to adjust the color balance to
>compensate for the lack of yellow/red light at depth. Harder to do with
>film cameras.
>
>/Marcin

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dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

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