Under Water Photography: I am about to buy a Nikonos V Camera with several lenses and flash. Id like any information I can get about the camera,lenses needed, Film to use to shoot...

Swayne

I am about to buy a Nikonos V Camera with several lenses and flash. Id like any information I can get about the camera,lenses needed, Film to use to shoot pictures of people in a swimming pool. The pool has white sides and bottom

davefales Loc: Virginia

Your request is rather non-specific. I would suggest searching in the Underwater Photography Forum: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-104-1.html

ceh1024 Loc: Lutz, FL

I assume you know this has been out of manufacture for some time. I've had two of these in the past. They take allot of care and maintenance. They were the best for their time but I think you can do much better with a digital and housing. I talked to Cathy Church (She and her ex wrote the definitive books on the Nikonos) a couple of years ago at her place in the Cayman Islands. She said that the market has evolved way beyond that technology.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Swayne wrote:

I am about to buy a Nikonos V Camera with several lenses and flash. Id like any information I can get about the camera,lenses needed, Film to use to shoot pictures of people in a swimming pool. The pool has white sides and bottom

These camera's require a lot of upkeep and o ring replacements from time to time and parts for these camera's could become scarce. Also, it is a lot of camera. My suggestion would be (cause if your taking photo's of people in a pool you are not serious about this sport anyway) is to buy the Nikon AW 130, it has a zoom lens which will replace all those lenses for your potential purchase and, it is digital and can shoot a lot of different settings which will shoot rings around the other camera, plus, it's flash is just as effective and the cost of maintenance would be zip. And it is fun to operate and being digital you can see your shot right away and make any adjustments ( if necessary) to get the perfect exposure. GOOD LUCK.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

ceh1024 wrote:

I assume you know this has been out of manufacture for some time. I've had two of these in the past. They take allot of care and maintenance. They were the best for their time but I think you can do much better with a digital and housing. I talked to Cathy Church (She and her ex wrote the definitive books on the Nikonos) a couple of years ago at her place in the Cayman Islands. She said that the market has evolved way beyond that technology.

In the 1970s it was fantastic compared to everything else that was available. I had a chance to get a kit, but I passed on it. Instead, I got a Sea and Ski (or something like that). It was relatively inexpensive, and it worked fine. Now I would use my Olympus (or any other brand) Tough camera.

Lots of Nikonos on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Cameras-Photo/625/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=nikonos&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

IHH61 Loc: Homestead Fl

Hope you are not investing too much. Looks like you are getting wide angle lens in the kit. Look for a copy of the Church book mentioned above. Key is to maintain and install o-rings in both camera and strobe. You will need to get close (3 feet or less) to your subject. As to film back in the day, most folks shot ISO 400 color slide.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I purchased a similar setup from a UHH member a little while ago. Though I'm not a diver, I figured this to be my stormy weather camera. So far, I like that camera a lot.
--Bob

Swayne wrote:

I am about to buy a Nikonos V Camera with several lenses and flash. Id like any information I can get about the camera,lenses needed, Film to use to shoot pictures of people in a swimming pool. The pool has white sides and bottom

JohnD3 Loc: Raleigh, NC

Back in the '70's I did a great deal of u/w photography with a Nikonos II, enjoyed it greatly. About 15 years ago I decided it might be fun to pull it out and do some new shooting, checked into getting it rebuilt; was informed that the necessary body o rings were no longer available. Guess I'll put it out on eBay one of these days to sell it to a collector.

At the moment I still have a couple of old setups that work great. Olympus 5050 and Olympus Styus ???, both with u/w housing. They work great and if I get a leak in the housing, so what.

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

Try a good plumbing shop for the "O" rings. They have "O" ring kits, or an auto parts store to match the size.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Check out leissure pro online. They are a divers discount warehouse & have a store in Manhatten. Depending on budget , you could get a kit from sea & sea. I purchased 1 back in 07 from a local dive shop & it works pretty good for the $. They probably have some cheaper. If you decide to go with the camera pictured you should be able to get the o-rings from a industrial supplier. You will need a accurate measurement of the I.d. or o.d. & the thickness for them to give you the correct size.

ramblinmen Loc: Manassas, VA

O rings are often available on eBay. I think the only lens you can use above water, without distortion, is the 35mm. I have every thing made for the Nikonos from fish eye to macro extention tubes and close up kit also Nikonos II, III and V. I would suggest getting a second similar strobe and a dual connector or you may suffer shaddows. Shoot test rolls in a fresh water pool of a color board to get the hang of it and always carry extra o rings, silicon lube, rubbing alcohol wash.... this is all covered in another blog subject page mentioned above.

Billynikon Loc: Atlanta

I had a Canon underwater years ago and had a ball with it down in the Keys. Lent it my son who had some good pics but didn't make sure the O ring was seated. God I loved that camera.