Help identify this housing- general introduction

Im looking to get into black and white underwater film photography. Im a bit of an arty farty type and it seems like not many people are doing it these days, aand it might possibly be less expensive!

anyway, ive been on the hunt for a setup for anysort of film camera, im not worried about strobes as i want to use natural light, and hence ill be mostly interested or able to photograph at shallow depths or in very good light mainly seascapes, large objects, abstract stuff rather than individual species/ macro.

though buying second hand old housings off ebay is pretty risky, im willing to take the chance on anything that look half decent, especially as film housing are hard to come by.

i found this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ikelite-underwater-rigid-housing-for-SLR-Nikon-F2-300ft/172110955656?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3Db6cde0038f1d45aea4c86076d104e938%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D172070932598

ive spoke to the seller and he reckons its a nikon camera housing, probably f2, but can anyone shed any light on it?

thanks

Hi,
sorry,
from that pics its not easy to find out the type of camera that was used....
Its definitly an old one, because Ikelite is not giving waterpooof 300feet anymore ;-))
Regards,
Wolfgang

Send some photos to Ikelite.

It does look like a Nikon flash shoe that fits over the rewind crank - would need an actual body to make sure. You would need gears to fit on your lenses to couple with the gears in the housing to focus and set aperture. There are a lot of film options: other housings and Nikonos cameras.

Based on your criteria - natural light, shallow depth, film, arty (and hence lens options) and not too expensive - you don't want an antique SLR in an antique housing, you want a Nikonos.

Hi,
have had a look at the pics again:
think it must be an upgraded F2 one.
The flash shoe is F2 or F3 style,
but, the top connector, Ikelite bulkhead style, is made later.
The original was the black two pole an the back.
Only an F3 would give ttl connection and something other made no sense to upgrade...
At that good old time, a camera model was on market for 10 years, and modification was just faster shutter speed ;-))
Another thing is the backdoor. Looks like a sport finder version, could be both, F2 or F3.
Regards,
Wolfgang

Based on your criteria - natural light, shallow depth, film, arty (and hence lens options) and not too expensive - you don't want an antique SLR in an antique housing, you want a Nikonos.

Although ive done loads of researching and looking around ive never really looked at hose nikonos cameras, they look pretty perfect to be honest, for me anyway. Aslong as they give a half decent image, are the lenses pretty good compared to what i might put on a normal film slr?

 

 

Although ive done loads of researching and looking around ive never really looked at hose nikonos cameras, they look pretty perfect to be honest, for me anyway. Aslong as they give a half decent image, are the lenses pretty good compared to what i might put on a normal film slr?

I'd argue the lenses are better.....but you don't get a lot of choices, unlike an SLR.

The Nikonos is a terrific suggestion; it was the standard for decades. Even an old I or II will work fine; the newer IV and V are also available. Just look on eBay. A lower-cost alternative is the Sea&Sea Motomarine II EX. You can probably find one in good condition for $100 or less. It is plenty good enough; picture quality underwater with no strobe will be more determined by the photographer and the light than the camera.

 

 

Although ive done loads of researching and looking around ive never really looked at hose nikonos cameras, they look pretty perfect to be honest, for me anyway. Aslong as they give a half decent image, are the lenses pretty good compared to what i might put on a normal film slr?

The Nikonos lenses were well known for their sharpness. This is because the 15, 20, and 28mm lenses were designed to work in water. They are less optically compromised compared to using an SLR lens in a housing. You can read many threads here dealing with the challenges of using SLR wide angle lenses behind dome ports.

The early Nikonos cameras (models I to III) were entirely mechanical (no electronics) but were not problem free. I would recommend you find the Church and Church books on the Nikonos cameras and lenses to study up on them. A lot of good info here: http://www.southern-nikonos.com/

this listing looks interesting but Ive asked and the seller does not know anything about the items!?. the big lens doesnt look like nikonos though, any ideas what it could be?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301894324087?euid=5e2dbe7dbbe74d119b9dece4a3c49807&cp=1&exe=12792&ext=32580&sojTags=exe=exe,ext=ext

The listing states that it is a Morris lens. The strobe is a Morris strobe. You'll find a lot of Nikonos in Ebay US. There are a couple of vendors who specialized in Nikonos items if that's what you're looking for. I've had very nice results with Nikon SLR's in old housings, usually available for a couple of hundred dollars. The later versions, such as my F100 have pretty similar controls and functions to the newer Nikon digitals, use the same lenses and even shoot ttl with modern strobes that still use analog signals. If you get a Nikonos, you'll probably be stuck with the 35mm std. lens, unless you plan to spend big bucks on a wide angle.

The listing states that it is a Morris lens. The strobe is a Morris strobe. You'll find a lot of Nikonos in Ebay US. There are a couple of vendors who specialized in Nikonos items if that's what you're looking for. I've had very nice results with Nikon SLR's in old housings, usually available for a couple of hundred dollars. The later versions, such as my F100 have pretty similar controls and functions to the newer Nikon digitals, use the same lenses and even shoot ttl with modern strobes that still use analog signals. If you get a Nikonos, you'll probably be stuck with the 35mm std. lens, unless you plan to spend big bucks on a wide angle.

Hi everyone, ive gone ahead and bought this set off ebay. fingers crossed. I do believe that the original listing title is misleading, i have suspicions that the big lens is actually a nikonos uw 15mm, compared to pictures on the net it looks exactly the same! and i cant find anything for a morris lens! if im right, this has been a very good deal.

Good luck! If you got the 15mm at that price, you stole it.

Hi,
good for you,
i think it is a 15mm Nikonos, mine looks very similar ;-))
Had too work yesterday, otherwise i would have tried to get it ;-))

Have fun with it!

Regards,
Wolfgang

PS: maybe try it first for water proofness with the 35mm....
A camera is easier to get cheap ;-))

Hi,

good for you,

i think it is a 15mm Nikonos, mine looks very similar ;-))

Had too work yesterday, otherwise i would have tried to get it ;-))

 

Have fun with it!

 

Regards,

Wolfgang

 

PS: maybe try it first for water proofness with the 35mm....

A camera is easier to get cheap ;-))

unfortunately im not sure i get the 35mm lens with it, but i will surely be doing some tests!, when the nikonos floods (which ive read it does eventually) will the 15mm lens be ok, for example if i chucked the 15mm lens in a tub of water , would it survive, or does it need to be attached to become watertight. also if the camera floods apart from loosing the film, will the body be ok after being dried out?

looks like ill be taking a trip to cornwall to see mr basking shark this summer!

ive read that at surface the 15mm can easily come loose from the housing, and that a good rubber band is recommended, is this as bad as ive read about?

sorry ive gto so many questions now ha!

is there a standard set of replacement o rings that people go to, theres a set on amazon that claims to be nikonos o rings, and theres a few other packs floating around, just want to check if theres a go to guy!

Hi,
oh the 35mm is not included?
Thought that it would be because of the Scubawinder wetlens....
The camera and lenses are only waterproof if together.
A 35mm to get will be easy and cheap i think.
To change the outer O-rings makes sense.
The inside ones can onla do a specialist, like Rene Aumann in germany.
Dont know if there is a guy like him in the uk, but the camera was very common....
I had never a problem with the 15mm, you just have to be carefull with jumping in the water, or rough conditions.

If you do the basket sharks, dont forget to take a gopro as well, want to see some pics!

Regards,
Wolfgang

Hi,

oh the 35mm is not included?

Thought that it would be because of the Scubawinder wetlens....

The camera and lenses are only waterproof if together.

A 35mm to get will be easy and cheap i think.

To change the outer O-rings makes sense.

The inside ones can onla do a specialist, like Rene Aumann in germany.

Dont know if there is a guy like him in the uk, but the camera was very common....

I had never a problem with the 15mm, you just have to be carefull with jumping in the water, or rough conditions.

If you do the basket sharks, dont forget to take a gopro as well, want to see some pics!

 

Regards,

Wolfgang

yes its a bit confusing with the subawider lens included,but i cant see the 35mm in there , but you never know, the seller i dont think really knows what the items are!

thanks for all the info youve helped me with, i shouldnt really have advertised the listing on here as some of you might have bid! but i think its a good price.

so yes just hunting fro some o rings in the UK as im sure theyll need a new set, but im very unsure what is genuine or not. ebay has some in japan that seem like genuine nikonos sets, but they could be copies, and theres alisting on amazon, but again they could not be quality.

if anyone has a reliablevlink to a website where i can buy some that would be great, a well used trusted source.

i cant read the german guys webpage, so thats a bit difficult, im sure a uk source will show up sooner or later. thanks

Hi,
if you have questions for Rene,
i can translate them for you.
And you should be able to get a set of o-rings from him.
The price was very good, if you wanna sell it again, only the lens should bring in the money again ;-))
The other parts are a lot harder to sell....
Regards,
Wolfgang

PS: still have 2x Nikonos V & 1x Nikonos III and some lenses....

well im very pleased so far with the camera (nikonos v)

there is even more than expected in the case, nikonos v, the 35mm nikonos, the 15mm u/w nikonos , a subawider III, an extension tube? strobe with working batteries! strobe arm, macro adapter thing? , 3 rolls of film, o ring grease...

anyway, maybe i should start a new thread regarding questions i have for this camera?

one question i do have right now, it came with a viewfider, but it is not the nikonos df11, i believe its for the subawider III, its looks exactly like the pictures im looking at, will this subawider viewfinder be good to use with the Nikonos U/W 15mm?

thanks

Hi Jim,

good to hear you are happy with your bid!
The extension should be part of the macro setup.
It was used between the camera and lens, the frame was for the distance, no focusing, just get the thing between the vertical parts and thats it...
Different tubes for different magnification ;-))

The viewfinder is not so exact like a dslr or a electronic one, its more a reference....
The scubawinder converts the 35mm into a ~ 17mm, so its close.....
An original one is sometimes to find on ebay, but will cost the same as your whole setup ;-))

Regards,
Wolfgang