Nikonos users?

[ic-racer]

Nikonos at the beach with 35mm land lens.

 

[BrianShaw]

I once was a Nikonos user... underground mines. It was quite a hassle to work with because we also needed special explosive-proof strobes, and they were really underpowered. A sea-and-sea accessory viewfinder helped a bit. For about 30 years it’s been stored unused and unloved. Glad you are Using yours!

 

[summicron1]

I live in Utah and pretty much only use mine when i go to Great Salt Lake -- the clips on the sides that you have to use to lever the thing apart to change film have broken so it's a pain to change film, but otherwise the ideal machine for high-corrosion environments.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Occasionally. I'd like to get out with it more often. Nikonos V & 35mm lens. It's a great lens.

 

[narsuitus]

I have never used my Nikonos III underwater but when I need to shoot in bad weather, I rely on its waterproof watertight body that is capable of withstanding depths of 50 meters (160 feet).

I also rely on the 35mm wide-angle lens and the 80mm telephoto lenses because both lenses can be used in the rain, under water, or on dry land.


Nikonos III by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I can't tell the orientation of the lens because the picture is too small. But if you install the lens upside down so all the numbers are upside down when looking from the front, you don;t have to turn the camera around sideways to see and change the settings. Just flip it up and over. It's easier. That works especially well if you using a neck strap or have it mounted on a bracket with a strobe. Note that underwater, due to refraction, your 35mm lens sees like a 50mm lens. Refraction makes everything appear 1/3 closer.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

My Nikonos IV shots with 35mm lens, some with strobe.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort...&tags=nikonos&user_id=55760757@N05&view_all=1

 

[Sirius Glass]

I was given a Nikonos by an APUGger last year when I thought I would use it for the Great Barrier Reef along with an underwater light meter. Both of them proudly sit on my bookshelf on display.

 

[ic-racer]

My Nikonos IV shots with 35mm lens, some with strobe.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=nikonos&user_id=55760757@N05&view_all=1

Very nice!!

 

[ic-racer]

I bought mine only for foul-weather photography on land. I have the lens set so I can operate the aperture knob with my left hand.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I bought mine only for foul-weather photography on land. I have the lens set so I can operate the aperture knob with my left hand.

It's great for that. I;ve been parasailing, canoeing, swimming, in dirt, rain, and snow, shooting the rapids, etc. Takes a beating; keeps on ticking. The lens is very sharp.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

My Nikonos IV shots with 35mm lens, some with strobe.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=nikonos&user_id=55760757@N05&view_all=1

Nice! I should try a strobe.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

David: Underwater, it gets very dreary and dull especially when you scuba. The greater depth and water drains the color. A strobe helps bring it back. If you're snorkeling, it will be brighter and more colorful. But even then, a strobe makes it better. It's important to have the strobe at an angle rather than close by the camera. The strobe lights up the particles in the water reflecting back into the camera. So you want to keep it at big angle from the lens. You can see that problem with the particles on a lot of my shots. Also, in retrospect, a wider angle lens is better than the 35mm. It allows you to get closer to the subject, (shark? making for better compositions and less reflective particles as well. If you want to buy, check with a dealer who handles scuba photographic equipment regularly. They'll know more than regular photo people.

 

[Wallendo]

I have one I use for poor weather. I bought it for underwater use, but after reading that it needs annual maintanance to do that have not used it for that purpose.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Oh you're in Hawaii. Lucky guy.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Oh you're in Hawaii. Lucky guy.

Yeah, I bought a Nikonos when we moved out here, figuring it was a lost opportunity not to have a camera for the water. I’ve had to have it overhauled once—no obvious leakage but one day the film advance mechanism froze up likely due to some old leakage, according to Bob at Southern Nikonos.

I’ve tried waterproof phone cases, too, and well, let’s say it’s necessitated two phone upgrades. Cheaper to overhaul a Nikonos than buy a new phone.

For now I’m just snorkeling and using it at the beach. Maybe someday I’ll try scuba diving. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

My wife and I did a 7-day cruise around 4 islands there plus a few days on Waikiki Beach in Oahu a few years ago. I spent two months in Oahu also in 1966 while I was in the USAF at Hickam AFB and Barbers Point Naval Air Station, now closed. Never did any scuba there which I'm really sorry for. I shot with a digital micro 4/3 on the cruise but didn't take the Nikonos. In 1966 I had my Nikon F Photomic T which I had recently bought while stationed in Japan prior to the Hawaii military tour. Hawaii's a magical place.

 

[ic-racer]

Yes, I think it is somewhat useless underwater without a flash.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

The only maintenance I recall doing was when I finished a roll. When you open it up at the end of a shooting day to remove the film, you remove and clean off the o rings and put a light touch of fresh o ring grease on them. Check the o ring locations for sand particles or other little debris that might cause a leak. That's it. But I didn't do some annual maintenance. Maybe the o rings should be replaced after a while. But not sure about that. In any case, I don;t know where you could find replacement rings especially for the main one which is a special shape.

 

[etn]

My Nikonos IV shots with 35mm lens, some with strobe.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=nikonos&user_id=55760757@N05&view_all=1

Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Thanks.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I’ve replaced the three user-servicable rings, and the large ring on the back starts out round, but sets into a rectangular shape over time.

Bob Warkentin from Southern Nikonos recommended annual service, but then again, that was his business. I use the camera only occasionally and only in relatively shallow water, so I don’t have it serviced annually.

[Edited upon checking the spelling of Bob’s name and learning the sad news that he died January 11, 2020– https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/robert-warkentin-9007771 ]

 

[iakustov]

I bought mine Nikonos V recently just for rainy weather & fishing on a boat. It came with 35mm lens and unopened grease kit.
I shoot it with Delta 400 in D76 1+1 and the prints do not look dull for the rainy weather.

 

[juan]

Large O ring
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FN0XBI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Small O ring
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FMUTOA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Silicon lube and sealant
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CAWWSQU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use mine in bad weather and at the beach. Good little camera.

 

[film_man]

I have a Nikonos V, got it 6 years ago or so. I use it every year when we end up by the beach, playing in the water, kids, snorkel, that kind of stuff. I love mine and every now and then I use it as a walk around camera, the simplicity of it is really nice. So far had it serviced twice by Bob at Southern Nikonos. It really is a great camera, the 35mm lens is very sharp and I do like the way it renders. I hope I can keep getting it serviced, it is a unique camera with amazing output, I'd be sad to not be able to use it in the water.