Same old question, which system in upgrading ?

Although I'm new to the forum, I've been reviewing posting here and elsewhere. I'm certainly not trying to get a them vs us (N vs C) argument going. I would just like to have some experienced input. For this I thank you in advance.

Background: I've been using a dual strobe Nikonos V (20mm and Macro) for the past 8 years. I use Fujichrome Velvia 50 for it's color saturation and resolution. I scan and print the photos I exhibit and sell myself. I would like to move into the housed DSLR world. I'm not interested in "how many shots I can take", high ISOs, or even the instant feed back. I believe in composition and photography. Most of my photography is close up and macro, but also like to work with moderate wide angle for larger sea creatures.

So far my research here and there has led me to either the Nikon D200 or the Canon 5D. They are both very good cameras, but would like your take on the imprtant things such as resolution and color saturation. I might add here that I'm not new to the digital camrea world, but only have experience there in land use.

For the housing, my only experiences have been handling the L&M Titan (D200 only) and the Subal. The electronics in the Titan along with the battery life, do make me a bit nervous. The Subal feels and handles comfortably and seems to be of very good quality.

I am quite open to comments and suggestion on any camera/housing system. Anyone is welcome to contact me directly (foto-diver@sbcglobal.net), if that would be more convenient.

Again, thank you in adance for you comments and assistance.

David

Take a look at Nexus. Very well engineered with threaded ports.

Hi David

I'm on my third Subal: Coolpix5000, D100 and now D200. I think they are terrific. They handle well, are well made - and, so far at least, I have been able to find buyers when I felt it was time to upgrade.

I'm really happy with my D200/Subal combination. You will find posts on these pages with people saying they find the combination awkward because of its buoyancy featues - a bit negative. I can't say I have had the problem.

I am a Canon 5D and Subal user.

Currently, Canon dSLR's in general are better than Nikon in terms of technology and image quality in general, colors and resolution in particular. I used Nikon D70 top side and loved it, but decided to bet on Canon on a belief it is more future proof. Vast majority of UW photographers use Nikon and sorting out your ports, zoom gears etc is more straight-forward if you use Nikon. You can't be wrong one way or the other.

I like Canon's superior battery life, I can easily do 500 shots with reviews on a single battery, which I find practical if I don't want to open the housing over a diving weekend.

After some initial fiddling, I am very happy with Subal, look no further

I had a Subal housing for my F100... and after that for my D200! I'm now using a Sea & Sea housing !

Subal, for sure, is great - but the Sea & Sea housing for the D200 is nearly as good but much cheaper... and easyer to travel with (the optical dome port is compact... and great...)!

If you're primarily interested in Macro then the Nikon line has a slight edge (the crop helps and Nikon has a good macro zoom).

If you're interested in wideangle the Canon system has a slight edge (larger lens lineup, better high ISO which you don't care about).

FYI the Jpeg's coming out of the Nikon cameras look LOADS better than the Canon jpegs. This doesn't matter if you shoot RAW though.

Cheers

James

Hi All,

I use Nikon did have a D70, now D200 both housed in SeaCams. All housings

have + & - points its more user preferences & how much you have to spend, both of

the cameras have the same. Me I love both, the D200 & my SeaCam.

Andy

I've used primarily Nikon and Nexus, starting with N90 and moving from there through F4 to D70 to D80. I mostly shoot fish portraits and macro. The thing that makes Nexus my choice is the multi-port system, and the ease with which you can change between 60mm and 105mm lenses, and switch from autofocus to manual focus while diving. The housings are well engineered, I've never had a leak, and the controls always work.

Andy is TOO rich, which is why he can afford SeaCam housings... but they are wonderful!

Subal is probably the next best, but I really like my Nexus, which is substantially cheaper than either with similar performance.

The new Sea & Sea for the Nikon D200 is also very good, a big step up from the D100 housing and a real contender.

I am worried about very expensive housings as camera evolution does not seem to be slowing down, but the Nikon D200 and the new Canon cameras will probably be good for several years' even if they are superceded as they have output at least as good as transparency film (in my amateur hands, at least).

I am not convinced that there is a meaningful difference in the end result between Canon and Nikon cameras underwater.

James is an expert, but his wide-angle preference for Canon might reflect the lenses that he likes using. A lot of Nikon-users have great results from the 10.5mm fisheye. The dome ports for this lens are usually big, which can be an advantage for split-level shots, but Nexus have a remarkable small dome that is really easy to handle underwater, and great for wrecks, close-focus and divers.

Examples of the 105.mm in the small dome (Nikon D70 and D200) on Nexus Housings:

A cold-water wreck in poor visibility

Close-focus in tropical water, with Snell's window

The air-controller's desk inside the USS Saratoga

A split level, with the small dome!

Tim

B)

HI Tim,

Just a note to say I am not rich, but you have alot of time to save up

your pennies or should I say pounds & pounds. As Seacam can not make

enough housings to keep up with demand. It was a five month wait & it only

arrived the sunday before Alex's Red Sea Trip, so I took it untested. The first

dive was done with out the camera, which was a pity because thier was a friendly

Leopard shark waiting to be snapped. During the trip the camera/housing worked

a dream, can say it is easier to use than the D70 housing.

Andy

If you're primarily interested in Macro then the Nikon line has a slight edge (the crop helps and Nikon has a good macro zoom).

 

If you're interested in wideangle the Canon system has a slight edge (larger lens lineup, better high ISO which you don't care about).

 

FYI the Jpeg's coming out of the Nikon cameras look LOADS better than the Canon jpegs. This doesn't matter if you shoot RAW though.

 

Cheers

James

That's a very interesting take, but I need to understand your logic a bit better. Before I read your post, I would have said the exact opposite (before the 105VR came along) namely that Canon would be better for macro and Nikon better for wide angle (at least on the cropped cameras). High Iso I agree that Canon is probably better but for macro at least the 1.6 cameras from Canon seem quite good enough.

Bill

Have you checked out the new Seatool housing for the D200?

http://www.reefphoto.com/index.php?main_pa...ceecf7d98194490

My wife has been using the Seatool housing for the Canon 400D and it is a very nice and compact housing with great ergonomics. Somewhat cheaper than my Subal too!

I would like to thank all of you for your replies and comments/suggestions. You have all been very helpfull without getting into the "vs" mode.

Although I've been more familiar with Canon, I decided to go with the Nikon D200. As many of you mentioned, both are great tools. The Nikon seemed to feel more comfortable and I prefered the dedicated feature access. I'll be headed down to Backscatter in Monterey, CA this next week to get some more "hands-on" with several of the DSLR housings.

Again thank you

David

If I could afford any camera/housing set-up, I would get one with David Doubilet attached to the back of it!