Upgrade and still use Nikon lenses

I'm looking at upgrading to a digital SLR camera and want to be able to use my 20mm lens and 105mm micro lens with it. I would like to know what camera, housing, ports and strobes would be recommended? Without trying to break the bank!! I currently use a N90 in a Subal housing.

Thanks for your help.

I Jay...welcome to Wetpixel....you might want to start by seaching for D70, D100 and Fuji S2 Pro....the options on housings, strobes, ports, etc. is too overwhelming to answer easily....I would suggest that you do some research and then ask some more specific questions

You certainly came to the right place for information :!:

Karl

You should of course look at the Subal housings for the above mentioned cameras, as all of your existing ports, gears and extension rings should work with the housing for any of the above choices. If you are a TTL lover, the S2 might be your best option as all you will have to buy is a camera and main housing. All of your existing film equipment would carry over to the S2.

Hi Jay, welcome to Wetpixel.

Unfortunately, Subal went to a new line of ports, so I don't think Jay's ports will work with a DSLR.

Ask Stuart Sy (member here) who was infinitely upset about it.

Cheers

James

I don't know about updated Subal ports. But all my Subal ports were bought before digital cameras existed. They all work with my D100, 60mm micro, 17-35, and the DX lenses.

I have a F90x Subal and all my ports, gears and strobes work with My Subal D10 housing. One of the reasons I stayed with Subal and Nikon was the cross compatability.

Jay, try the S2 Pro in a Subal and you have the advantage of TTL with a Ring Flash thats the only draw back I find with the Nikon.

That's good to hear guys. I also recommend trying the S2pro. It's almost identical to the D100 but it does "traditional" TTL whereas the Nikon can not.

Cheers

James

I agree with all comment go for fuji s2pro everything is more than better than d100 or d70 subal have a good housing for it I have to buy nexusd70 because nexus didn't make housing for s2pro

Difference of new subal ports it's

only the o-ring. Yoy can't mix old ports with

new o-rings (it are thinner). Of course can't mix

old o-rings with new ports.

Get your subal housing now, I hear that this housing

is discontinuated.

what do you mean , FS2 housing is discontinued ? :shock:

Going to a digi SLR was the best investment I have ever made for my habit. You will completely enjoy it. Regarding what housing to purchase, you will need to consider a few things.

How much doe you willing to spend?

Most housings are similarily priced, but some are more than others.

Personally, although I think an improved design is in order, I went with the Light & Motion Titan D100. I use my Subal ports with it. They have an adapter ring that allows you to use any of your Subal ports.

The thing that sold me was the ROC feature. I can shoot a pic and adjust my lighting, F-stop and shutter speed without moving a muscle, well my thumbs. There is no cumbersom movement to adjust strobe or move dials. You will get more good pictures with this digi housing than any other digi housing (in my humble opinion) solely because of that feature. I had a barracuda encounter a few weeks ago and came away with so many good pictures that I don't know what to do with them. It was because I didn't have to move any limbs to make lighting adjustments.....I remained still and didn't scare him away. Here is one of those pictures.

Now I will probably get flamed for this statement, but my portfolio has improved drastically because I don't scare away too many skittish animals, and ultimately get the shot.

To be fair, here's what I don't like about the housing.

1. The sync cord bulkheads and aiming light mount are bundled, way too close together, so it requires me to have a long aiming light arm.

2. It is top heavy. Try to gently rest the handles in your palms and the housing topples forward.

3. It's heavy.

4. Has a lot of o-rings to service, and you dare not mix them up, or you WILL flood the system. However, I do like the comfort of a dual o-ring seal.

5. The viewer is small. You really need to rely on the cross hairs to compose your shots, because unless you look sideways, up, down, etc. in the viewer, you don't see the whole frame. So, you'll take a shot and see that "crap", "half of the tail is out of the frame:)"

6. It's all electronic. Really no manual controls to speak of. If it fails, you better have back up electronics with you. AND THAT's WHY I ASKED YOU HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEND. I have an extra $1,000 tied up in electronic redundancy, because I am anal and don't want to miss a trick while diviing. I can rebuild the entire housing in the field if I had to. But at a hefty price. Plus, my wife has no clue I blew our bonus money on the "spare parts" I have. Shhhhh, please!

BUT, the ROC is worth the extra costs for me. It's all about getting the shot, right?

Hope this helps you.

Joe