Mark Hamilton – Customer Feedback

Here is a nice bit of feedback from our newest Nauticam user, Mark Hamilton posted in Yorkshire Divers:

http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/forums/underwater-video-photography/155450-nauticam-na-d7000-underwater-visions.html

 Nauticam NA-D7000 and Underwater Visions

A little while ago I got my self a Nikon D7000, telling myself that I would not buy a housing for it…I already have a D80 and Sea and Sea housing, so I don’t need a new housing…
Well, so much for that. The D7000 is such a step forward compared to the D80 that I just don’t want to use the D80 anymore…

So, after a lot of thought I decided that I would be getting a housing for it.
I’d read Alex Mustards review of the Nauticam NA-D7000 on Wetpixel, so arranged with Alex Tattersall of Underwater Visions to have a look at the housing for myself in Bournemouth.

I have to say that this is an extremely well engineered housing, with massive attention to detail, full of gears and clever solutions. Machined from solid aluminium, as pretty much all of the better housings are now.
It is with out doubt the most ergonomic housing I have ever held.
Pretty much every control you need can be operated with a finger or thumb with out moving your hands from the handles. Brilliant.

The shutter release is very responsive and gives good tactile feed back. It’s easy to feel the half click position, almost as good as my Sea and Sea housing, however the Nauticam is geared to prevent over-travel.
To achieve this level of feed back with a geared arrangement is impressive.
Although I couldn’t tell this yesterday with Alex’s camera because Alex has reassigned the AE/AF lock button to AF-ON, which deactivates AF on the shutter release.

The housings latch mechanism is a really neat piece of work. Very easy to use, no force required, and has a lock mechanism to prevent accidental operation.
Every thing with the housing is well thought out and easy to use, the camera just slides in easily and then you pop the back on. No struggle to align gears or controls, no fiddley latches.
Just good, solid engineering.

Well happy, so I bought one.

After I got in my car travel home I looked at the time, and realised that my wife and I had been at Alex’s for over three hours… I can’t over praise Alex’s service. My wife and I had a great time. Lots of tea and chocolate!
Alex ensured I was happy with the housing, fitted my Inon viewfinder for me (nice and straight, thanks Alex  ) and pressure tested the housing using his chamber.
On the whole, a very pleasant afternoon.

I’d highly recommend the NA-D7000, Alex Tattersall (Underwater Visions) and Nauticam in general.

PS. Anyone want to buy a D80 and housing? 

Nauticam NA-D7000

Seahorn Snoots added to our product offering

As seen in UWP magazine, we are now the official UK dealer for Seahorn snoots. Can be attached to Inon, Sea and Sea and Ikelite strobes to provide a number of different effects. The honeycomb attachment softens the light whereas the pinprick attachment will focus light on a point. Fully removable and attachable underwater and only just over £50.

Selling like hotcakes, get in quick!

Seahorn snoot detached, nemo not included!

Keri Wilk is the master of the snoot, and a Nauticam user! Have a look at some of the effects which the snoot can provide here:

Keri Wilk - the snoot master!

Keri WIlk, the snoot king!

Snoot charmer Keri Wilk does it again!

Nauticam housing for Canon 550D/T2i – Prototype Images

We are very excited by the prospect of the new member of the Nauticam housing family, the NA-550D for the Canon 550D/T2i. The thinking behind this model is ‘small is beautiful’ although this notwithstanding, new ergonomic solutions are on their way. We expect production models to be available in mid May. Can’t wait to get our hands on one!

Small is beautiful

Nauticam housing prototype for Canon 550D/T2i

More innovative ergonomic solutions on their way

UnderWaterVisions/Nauticam UK at LIDS

What a weekend!

A few photos from the event.

Jacqueline Lai, research and development coordinator for Nauticam came over from Hong Kong to support the event. Here we are setting up.

Jacqueline Lai, Nauticam R&D, and me setting up the stand

The whole Nauticam family were there

The Nauticam Family

D90 with 60mm macro port and FIT 67mm close up lens

D90

D300s with Zen 100mm dome port and 20mm extension with FIT focus light

D300s

D700 with 8.5 inch Fisheye dome port (and 20mm extension please note

D700

7D with Inon insect eye and Nauticam 60mm macro port

7D

lots of interesting people stopping by at the Nauticam UK stand…

Jacqueline and Peter Rowlands

Jacqueline Lai and Peter Rowlands

Me and Len Deeley

Me and Len Deeley

Saeed Rashid and Alex Mustard

Saeed and Alex M

Martin Edge and Alex M

Martin Edge, Jacqueline Lai and Alex Mustard

Martin Edge and Alex Mustard

Our next customer, Paul Ives (http://www.paulives-photographer.com/), who has just purchased a D700 housing.

Paul Ives

All in all a splendid weekend (apart from my wife and son both getting chicken pox!), looking forward now to the next one (diveshow, not chicken pox). Thanks to everyone who came and supported us.

UnderWaterVisions add Zen Underwater dome ports to product range

Compact and lightweight Zen 100mm port

We have added the Zen Underwater dome port range for Nauticam housings to our product offerings this week. The compact and lightweight 100mm optical glass dome port has been the talk of the underwater forums and we are happy to offer it at a retail price of just £734.95 including VAT.

This high-quality optical glass dome port has been designed with close-focus-wide-angle photographic techniques in mind. It is very compact and lightweight (weighing only 340g), indeed the perfect travel companion.

Designed specifically for the Nikon DX AF Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED and the Tokina Fisheye 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 DX zoom, the DP-100 allows the photographer to get in close where a large dome just won’t go for stunning close focus wide angle images.

More information can be found at http://www.zenunderwater.com and http://www.uwvisions.com

Press Release – Nauticam Underwater Housings arrive in the UK

Feel the curves!

UnderWaterVisions (www.uwvisions.com) are pleased to announce the official UK launch of the new, innovative, ergonomically masterful Nauticam housing range. Nauticam housings have been causing quite a stir around the world since their recent showcasing in the US and Asia and are attracting the attention of many discerning underwater photographers, amateurs and professionals alike.

The Nauticam product range puts ease of use and practicality at the forefront of its stylish and innovative design. Housings, port systems and accessories are now available in the UK for the Nikon D90, D300s, D300, D700 and the Canon 7D. Prices are highly competitive for the undeniable quality of these products and range between £1700 and £2500 for the housing body. Highlights of the range include:

• port adapters for many other housing manufacturers (Sea and Sea, Subal, Aquatica, Nexus and Ikelite),
• acclaimed, patented port locking system,
• all important camera functions available without having to remove hands from the ergonomic grips,
• white balance dome port, the first of its kind, which provides an easy and convenient way to calibrate white balance settings underwater.

Full Nauticam specifications, pricing, support, user gallery and more can be seen at the UnderWaterVisions website: www.uwvisions.com. UnderWaterVisions will also be officially launching Nauticam UK at the London International Dive Show (27-28 March 2010) where we will be showcasing our product range. Come along and witness first hand the future of dSLR underwater photography.