Underwater camera recommendation, Nikonos, others?

Wallendo · Apr 28, 2019

If you are just snorkeling, the disposable 35mm cameras really work well.
I own a Minolta Weathermatic. It does not focus to infinity underwater. When the camera detects it is underwater it fixes its focus at a few feet (I have a lot of out-of-focus pictures from Cozumel to confirm this).
I also have a Sea-and-Sea which is really a cheap plastic camera in a nice case. My version is fixed focus, fixed shutter speed, and fixed aperture. It does work well.
I also have a Nikonos III, I haven’t used it underwater since I have read that it requires an annual tune-up to stay underwater-safe so I use it for rainy weather only.
If you choose to go to the dark side, get a cheap digital camera and buy a cheap flexible housing. This combination works well.

Color temperature varies significantly with depth. Unless you purchase a higher-end kit with a flash, you will either need to do extensive darkroom correct or go with a hybrid process.

Marco Gilardetti · Apr 30, 2019

While I usually tend to incourage people to use "vintage" classical gear, this is an area in which even I laid my arms down. Using a Nikonos underwater was a dream of my youth, and the possibility to use the camera also off-water as a "combat" camera in prohibitive environments / weather conditions appealed to me. But of course back then this camera system was frightfully costy and kept me at large.

Fast forward to a dozen years ago. I took a diver license and begun thinking about the Nikonos again. First of all, these cameras are still quite costy for what they are (although of course we're talking about a small fraction of their shelf price, but still not an amount of money that a worker would spend carelessly) and most of all almost every unit for sale, when carefully inspected, show heavy signs of metal corrosion especially at hinges due to sea water combined with poor maintenance. At least a couple of times I nearly purchase a used Nikonos as it looked in excellent cosmetic condition, but then had to leave it on the shelf after careful inspection.

Talking of maintenance, these cameras have a set of o-rings that should be replaced regularly, constantly inspected, greased with a specific watertight compound and so on. I see that o-ring sets for the Nikonos are regularly for sale on eBay, but again, this constant need of care is something to think about twice. It's definitely not the type of camera that sits on a shelf for half decade, and then you carry out for some occasional pictures and still works fine to your delight. In any case, I'd never trust it and would live in constant fear of a camera flood.

What discouraged me most, however, is that the lenses that actually work both underwater and on land are just a pair. Most of them work underwater only, and the few that work also on land are conversely described by experts as almost useless underwater. There is also a general consensus that if you don't use artificial illumination all you will see in pictures will be blue, blue, blue. Adding flashguns or watertight lights will add further costs and complications to a gear that at this point would also grow cumbersome and distracting, likely detracting from the diving experience rather than adding some extra fun sides to it.

Summarising it all, I never purchased the so much desired Nikonos and left underwater photography to those who dive every day. As others have said, I also tend to believe that an external watertight case is the way to go these days, and although I frankly dislike digital "photography" this is a sector in which it may make sense. Anyway, here you can read some old brainstorming about the Nikonos.

If you decide to buy and try the Nikonos nonetheless, please come back here, I'm looking forward to read how your experience was like!

Arbitrarium · Apr 30, 2019

The Canon Sure Shot A-1 (or WP-1) works for me. In-built flash, auto exposure and focus, no leaks on my copy. Significantly cheaper than a Nikonos so if it does leak and die, who cares!

film_man · Apr 30, 2019

My Nikonos V is my most cherished camera. I have the 35 lens which works on land too. I get it serviced every two years even if I don't use it. It is amazing on land, it is amazing in the water. Saying that, for a one time use the cost of buying and servicing one for the sake of 5 rolls of film is a waste. My water shots are still very bad, I get much better shots with it on land but when you get that split surface shot every now and then, half under half over water it is magic. Overall, I love my NikV but that's more because it is a great camera to use than me needing an underwater camera.

I think for a one off like yours, this is either disposable terittory or a cheap digital. Don't forget, you go snorkeling or diving you get 36 shots then back to land to reload if you want more.

Sirius Glass · Apr 30, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
While I usually tend to incourage people to use "vintage" classical gear, this is an area in which even I laid my arms down. Using a Nikonos underwater was a dream of my youth, and the possibility to use the camera also off-water as a "combat" camera in prohibitive environments / weather conditions appealed to me. But of course back then this camera system was frightfully costy and kept me at large.

Fast forward to a dozen years ago. I took a diver license and begun thinking about the Nikonos again. First of all, these cameras are still quite costy for what they are (although of course we're talking about a small fraction of their shelf price, but still not an amount of money that a worker would spend carelessly) and most of all almost every unit for sale, when carefully inspected, show heavy signs of metal corrosion especially at hinges due to sea water combined with poor maintenance. At least a couple of times I nearly purchase a used Nikonos as it looked in excellent cosmetic condition, but then had to leave it on the shelf after careful inspection.

Talking of maintenance, these cameras have a set of o-rings that should be replaced regularly, constantly inspected, greased with a specific watertight compound and so on. I see that o-ring sets for the Nikonos are regularly for sale on eBay, but again, this constant need of care is something to think about twice. It's definitely not the type of camera that sits on a shelf for half decade, and then you carry out for some occasional pictures and still works fine to your delight. In any case, I'd never trust it and would live in constant fear of a camera flood.

What discouraged me most, however, is that the lenses that actually work both underwater and on land are just a pair. Most of them work underwater only, and the few that work also on land are conversely described by experts as almost useless underwater. There is also a general consensus that if you don't use artificial illumination all you will see in pictures will be blue, blue, blue. Adding flashguns or watertight lights will add further costs and complications to a gear that at this point would also grow cumbersome and distracting, likely detracting from the diving experience rather than adding some extra fun sides to it.

Summarising it all, I never purchased the so much desired Nikonos and left underwater photography to those who dive every day. As others have said, I also tend to believe that an external watertight case is the way to go these days, and although I frankly dislike digital "photography" this is a sector in which it may make sense. Anyway, here you can read some old brainstorming about the Nikonos.

If you decide to buy and try the Nikonos nonetheless, please come back here, I'm looking forward to read how your experience was like!

While I never got a diving license and only too two introductory dives, I agree with you. I was thinking of getting a digital camera for this, but ...

film_man said:
My Nikonos V is my most cherished camera. I have the 35 lens which works on land too. I get it serviced every two years even if I don't use it. It is amazing on land, it is amazing in the water. Saying that, for a one time use the cost of buying and servicing one for the sake of 5 rolls of film is a waste. My water shots are still very bad, I get much better shots with it on land but when you get that split surface shot every now and then, half under half over water it is magic. Overall, I love my NikV but that's more because it is a great camera to use than me needing an underwater camera.

I think for a one off like yours, this is either disposable terittory or a cheap digital. Don't forget, you go snorkeling or diving you get 36 shots then back to land to reload if you want more.

Getting there ...

We have two Fuji 27 shot ISO underwater camera with flashes. Since I started this thread, Kino has offered to give me a Nikonos II camera and a Sekonic Marine Light Meter which should arrive in a few days. I will service or replace the O rings and shoot several rolls of film. I will be snorkeling or diving in November so I have three options I am considering:

Fuji Underwater Disposable cameras.
Nikonos II with or without the light meter.
Buy a digital underwater camera and after the trip, give it to my son in law.

Stay tuned here for my progress.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 30, 2019

Perhaps you already know about underwater focusing:

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/na/...configured=1&lang=en_SG&sfdcIFrameOrigin=null

Patrick Robert James · Apr 30, 2019

I use a Sony GoPro type camera for water stuff. Video underwater is fun and I can take pictures with it too. The housing is good down to some dumb depth that I will never see. Mine is a few years old now. They probably have some that are much better with 4k and all that. You can use it above water for a vacation video as well. On top of that, the audio is decent unlike on the GoPros (at least back then). And it fits in a pocket. All in all, that is what I would recommend unless you want to do some artsy fartsy stuff. I like film just as much as the next guy, but try changing it underwater....

Sirius Glass · Apr 30, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
Perhaps you already know about underwater focusing:

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/na/...configured=1&lang=en_SG&sfdcIFrameOrigin=null

Yes, thank you.

Marco Gilardetti · May 2, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
Kino has offered to give me a Nikonos II camera and a Sekonic Marine Light Meter which should arrive in a few days

Useless to say, the external meter will add further complication and distraction to your dive. I would have strongly recommended to at least take advantage of the built-in automatic exposure of Nikonos V (and also IV I think). If you're really going to dive rather than snorkelling, I warmly suggest that you explain in advance to your dive leader that your dive goal will be to use outdated vintage photographic equipment, and that he/she agrees with this, so that he/she might properly take care of your safety while you bustle about with buttons and knobs.

Have fun and take care!

Sirius Glass · May 2, 2019

I will test the camera and take it underwater in a swimming pool to see if it is water tight. Since I am not going diving until November there is time to buy or rent a digital camera, maybe even rent from the dive shop and have the download the images on a disk to take home.

Sirius Glass · May 2, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
Perhaps you already know about underwater focusing:

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/na/...configured=1&lang=en_SG&sfdcIFrameOrigin=null

OR use ISO 400 or 800 film and adjust the shutter speed so that I can shoot at f/11.

Huss · May 3, 2019

I like the Nikon Actiontouch L35AW.

Sirius Glass · Dec 4, 2020

For about $35 I bought two bags of fifty O rings of both sizes and the silicon grease for the Nikonos II. I just received the package today, removed the old rings, cleaned the camera and the ring grooves, and installed the O rings. Next I am looking for a replacement strap lug and strap. Now I have an all weather camera that can go swimming with me. One happy dude. Thanks to Kino who gave me the camera.

Huss · Dec 4, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
For about $35 I bought two bags of fifty O rings of both sizes and the silicon grease for the Nikonos II. I just received the package today, removed the old rings, cleaned the camera and the ring grooves, and installed the O rings. Next I am looking for a replacement strap lug and strap. Now I have an all weather camera that can go swimming with me. One happy dude. Thanks to Kino who gave me the camera.

Are you talking about just the o-rings around the film door? The Nikonos has others that need to be occasionally replaced that requires a strip down if you are going to go deep underwater.
http://www.southern-nikonos.com/index.html

Huss · Dec 4, 2020

Agulliver said:
I've tried underwater photography a few ways....some involving that horrible word "digital".

Here are simply my experiences.

You're going to need a film camera with motor wind.

You rang?

Sirius Glass · Dec 4, 2020

Huss said:
Are you talking about just the o-rings around the film door? The Nikonos has others that need to be occasionally replaced that requires a strip down if you are going to go deep underwater.
http://www.southern-nikonos.com/index.html

The Nikonos II requires two O rings, one for the body and one for the lens.

film_man · Dec 7, 2020

There still must be some rings sealing the shutter speed, winder and shutter controls, otherwise how is it sealed?

eli griggs · Dec 7, 2020

The Nikonos IV is too limiting, I had one and let it go, hoping to find a clean V one day, for it's manual settings, and I suggest you try that.

There is also the Canon G10, with a stand alone dive, shallow case, which is well made but I've no been where I could use it.

The Canon is a good little camera, but, the case, even used may cost more than a Nikonos V alone, with a 35mm lens.

I like the 35mm and 80 mm lenses, they can be used as normal land camera lenses, so it's a great weather camera, at least in my mind.

If you go the Nikonos V route, get a new 'O' ring/seals installed, and a spare set with Nikonos lube, before your trip.

Have fun.

Sirius Glass · Dec 7, 2020

film_man said:
There still must be some rings sealing the shutter speed, winder and shutter controls, otherwise how is it sealed?

The the shutter speed, winder and shutter controls are in the body and sealed with a replaceable O ring.

AgX · Dec 7, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
For about $35 I bought two bags of fifty O rings of both sizes and the silicon grease for the Nikonos II. I just received the package today, removed the old rings, cleaned the camera and the ring grooves, and installed the O rings.

50 rings each... you plan long ahead...

Sirius Glass · Dec 7, 2020

Frankly the digital underwater cameras today with their built in filtering correction and virtually [pun intended] unlimited number of exposures per dive, is the way to go. This is an area where digital cameras are better than film cameras.

Wallendo · Dec 7, 2020

No matter what you choose, take along a few single-use underwater cameras just in case. Underwater cameras seem to always fail at the perfect moment.

Sirius Glass · Dec 7, 2020

AgX said:
50 rings each... you plan long ahead...

Actually the cost for one set with lubrication was almost the same as two bags of fifty and lubrication. That is the competition on the internet. I hope my grandchildren like taking photographs in the swimming pool.

eli griggs · Dec 7, 2020

Be sure the lube you bought is compatible with the 'O' rings, as there is a real issue here.

If I recall correctly, you should no use a silicon lube with silicon 'O' rings, and likewise, other 'O' ring materials made of the same basic stuff as the lube.

Double check that with the others, but if you can, wait before first use.

Cheers

GRHazelton · Dec 7, 2020

http://www.southern-nikonos.com/ will reseal and pressure test Nikonos cameras. They also sell "storage" O rings to avoid keep the diving ring from being deformed.

Underwater camera recommendation, Nikonos, others?

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