Nikon Action Touch (LF35AW) -- Nikonos Alternative?

[ic-racer]

I had good results with my Nikon One Touch (LF35AF-3) so I picked up the underwater version (Action Touch LF35AW) to see how that one works. I use my Nikonos in bad weather, and the Action Touch seemed to have some features that the Nikonos does not have.

Here are some pictures:

 

[ic-racer]

Camera	Nikonos V	Action Touch
Lens Focal Length	35mm / 7 elements	35mm / 4 elements
Lens Aperture	f2.5	f2.8
Focus	Manual Only	Manual or Autofocus (Land Only)
Exposure	Auto and Manual	Auto Only
Flash	External Only	Built-in Only
Film Winding	Manual Only	Automatic Only

 

[ic-racer]

Handling: The Action Touch is lighter than the Nikonos and heavier than the One Touch. The One Touch feels like cheap plastic to the Action Touch. The Action Touch has some heft to it that makes it feel like a more substantial camera. Kind of like the One Touch camera & 35/2.8 lens in more of a Prosumer package.

 

[Nige]

I have one (not used for many years). My snorkeling ability was a limiting factor to using it effectively! It is solid and the lens seems good out of the water.

 

[Paul Howell]

I've looked at Action Touch but as I have Pentax and Konica weather resistance and a Minolta duel that is good to about 10 feet underwater that I use in the rain so far I have passed. Might reconsider if I can find one at a good price.

 

[M. Axel Wikstrom]

I bought a Nikon AW AD waterproof camera around 1990 and it worked pretty well. Used it in war zones and wherever the weather or conditions were really bad. Had to send it into Nikon for service about 5 years later and it still works today.

A good friend who happens to own the last surviving camera shop in New Mexico told me that he got a pile of Nikonos equipment in, so I went to look. I bought a very nice Nikonos III with 35mm and 80mm lenses.

In the past I owned a Nikonos V, but quickly let it go - a little too plasticky and I didn’t like that it depended so much on electronics. The III is far better in my opinion - very solid aluminum construction and 100% mechanical.

 

[grant.goodes]

Agreed that the Nikonos III is the one to get: Fully mechanical, no battery, and built like it was carved out of a block of metal. It is less portable/capable than the Action Touch. Flash on the Nikonos is painful enough in the water, but on land would be ridiculous (giant arm, etc). I eventually found the rare UA-32 adapter cable which lets you sync a regular on-land flash to the Nikonos, and together with my tiny SB-30 flash the setup is not too horrible to shoot.

For underwater use, it's also possible to use the older non retro-focus UW 15/2.8 on the III but not on the IV or V. The older 15/2.8 is more compact, and supposedly a bit better optically, AND is generally cheaper.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I have a Nikonos IVa with their 35mm lens and have used it above and below water with and without a strobe, day and night diving..

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The Nikonos has swappable lenses. I don;t know about those other cameras. Keep in mind that the only Nikonos lens that works in and out of water is the 35mm. All the others are for underwater use only. Because of refraction, it acts like a 50mm underwater. The lens is very sharp. The IVa has an unusual-shaped rectangular O ring for the back, although I still have two unused rings. The rest are standard round.

Shooting underwater with a strobe requires a big arm to offset the angle a lot. Particles in the water will reflect the flash back into the camera the closer the strobe is to the camera. That's the reason for the long arm offset. I;ve used my Nikonos for scuba, snorkeling, on the beach, during rain, snow, carnival rides, parasailing, etc. It's a workhorse.

 

[KinoGrafx]

The 80mm is also useable u/w and above, and the 28lw is a great bad wx (not u/w useable) lens

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

The 80mm is also useable u/w and above, and the 28lw is a great bad wx (not u/w useable) lens

I didn't know that about the 80mm. However, the problem with telephoto lenses UW is that the water is too cloudy to see far. Most of the time, you want to use a wide-angle lens. Also, because of refraction, the 80mm acts like a 115mm lens UW.

 

[grant.goodes]

As you say, not much use for a telephoto underwater: I believe the main use of the 80mm was for close ups (and there was a close-up kit offered which helped with composing using a large wire-frame).

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

As you say, not much use for a telephoto underwater: I believe the main use of the 80mm was for close ups (and there was a close-up kit offered which helped with composing using a large wire-frame).

Yes, I have that kit but only tried it once or twice. It comes with three wire composition framers and a lens adapter to get macro shots with three selectable ratios 1:1, 2:1, 1:2. Here's a picture.

Nikon Nikonos - Macro Guides + Tubes for Underwater Camera Extension Set | eBay

Good: Set set of 3 guides(1:2-yellow ,2:1-yellow/red, 1:1-red), 2 tubes(red + yellow) and Nikon cap. Appear to be in good condition, light wear. though may not be a complete set. We have been serving the photography community worldwide since 2001.

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