getting a Nikonos...how difficult is guess exposing?

puketronic · Jun 15, 2013

OK so I want a Nikonos.

It will serve mostly as a snapshot camera when I am near/in the water or in bad weather. I do not intend on using this for scuba diving or any serious underwater photography. I like pictures of people, mostly, and so it will be in shallow waters or in relatively clear swimming pools.

I've narrowed it down to the III or the V. Well they both seem popular, reliable, and not too expensive but what it comes down to is the importance of the light meter and the nausance of the battery (well, it is a nausance to me). I generally prefer all mechanical cameras because I use an incident meter or sunny 16.

So how difficult is guess exposure underwater? I don't have any under experience and there don't seem to be many guidelines, and I can see why. I'm totally comfortable with sunny 16 (in air) and so I'm wondering if I can simply add a stop in a swimming pool water and two stops in ocean water or something simple like that.

Alan Klein · Jun 15, 2013

Get the V as it has a built in meter and is the latest model so it isn't as old work wise as the III. Just make sure the meter works when you buy it and the seals look OK. The III has no meter. The IVa (I own one) has a meter also. The IVa or V will be better if your need a strobe light.

The III doesn't have a hinged back making it harder to change film.

Here's a link to the different models.http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/htmls/nikonos.htm

Alan Klein · Jun 15, 2013

Oh, one more thing. The 35mm lens is the only lens for the Nikonos that will shoot below and above water. The other lenses are used for underwater only-they distort some above water.

Here are samples of shots I took all with the 35mm on the Nikonos IVa.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanklein2000/tags/nikonos/

PS Most of the underwater ones were shot with a strobe light.

AgX · Jun 15, 2013

There has been at leat one water-proof handheld exposure on the market.

One can easily seal a handheld meter. Depending on the way it is to be operated it still could be useful sealed.

faustotesta · Jun 15, 2013

I would never ever guess expose. Especially in unsual light conditions. Human eyes adjust themselves to most of the situations.

TheFlyingCamera · Jun 15, 2013

There are charts out there for exposure adjustment under water, which varies based on depth. The deeper you go, the more you need to compensate. Also, the deeper you go, the more filtration you will need to correct for the filtering nature of water. This is one reason why so many underwater photos use flash - with the flash being essentially on-camera, no color-correcting filter is needed. If you are ever thinking of taking this camera deeper than say 4-5 feet, or have even a vague suspicion you might want to try it some day, get the V. The V has improved water sealing around the door (the IV-a was prone to flooding), and it has a built-in meter that will let you shoot aperture preferred. This is a HUGE help if you're shooting without a flash, because it takes care of calculating the filter factor- just put on the filter you need topside, then get in the water and shoot.

cowanw · Jun 16, 2013

I bought my Nikonos 1 way back in 1975, but have never used filters, so I am talking on theory here. By the time you are 10 feet underwater the water is filtering out the red light, then yellow and so on. At any depth there is not much red light to filter for. If you use a red or yellow (for example ) filter you are filtering out the blue light, which is the only light there is. With the result of lengthening exposure times.
not so much in shallow water though.
I guess if you can see a colour you can filter for it.

Mackinaw · Jun 16, 2013

When I owned a Nikonos-III years back, I bought a underwater light meter too. As I recall, it was a selenium meter that was in a housing. Actually it was quite accurate, though a tad slow. I sold the Nikonos-III and meter and bought a Nikonos-V instead. No doubt the V's built-in meter makes underwater photography much easier.

Jim B.

puketronic · Jun 16, 2013

I got the V

Next question:

Which strap? I just want a simple black neck strap. What materials are good under water? I have no idea. It doesn't have to be a premium brand.

Should I just get the Nikonos one...

cowanw · Jun 16, 2013

My Nikonos neoprene strap has held up for 38 years

gleaf · Jun 16, 2013

My companion for the Nikonos 1966-7 - 1985 or so was the Sekonic Marine meter. I see similar on flee works.

getting a Nikonos...how difficult is guess exposing?

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