Nikonos RS needs repairs / maintenance

I bought a RS last year, it was dream and I was well rewarded for a year. Everything was well until...

I have just dived a couple of times this week-end with my Nikonos RS. Yesterday I developed my two rolls of 400TMAX but the majority of frames on both were not exposed. I have 20 valid pictures out of 72 and although they are often concentrated some are in the middle of a blank portion.

As I doubt this will fix itself I am looking for someone (if possible in europe) who could service a Nikonos RS.

Many thanks

These guys might do it - in the UK. So move quickly before 31 October Brexit!

https://www.aquaphot.co.uk

Worth talking to one of the Nikon Service Centres in Europe?

Hi Tim, 

Many thanks, e-mail sent.
But I have to say I am grasping at straws here. Nobody wants to repair a Nikonos RS anymore, especially Nikon centers, I am told it is not in their databases anymore, so they won't even have a look at it.
It is a pity as it is a beautiful piece of equipment, maybe the best UW camera ever.
The worst is that you can't even take the risk to buy a replacement as it might encounter the same problem.

As you can see here, I am nowhere near shifting to digital : https://www.instagram.com/barnabeyuwphotography/
 

Hey Blaise

I can understand how you feel for sure. I've never used - let alone owned - an RS but they do sure sound amazing. I hope you have some success. There must be someone out there who can fix them - and probably loves them too! I had a quick scan on the WP forums to see if anything else cropped up. It maybe worth doing a more thorough search?

You have a lovely set of pics there on your Instagram page. I'm not sure though why you are not for shifting to digital. The new generations (if you're a Nikon man: D500, D850) are amazing and are capable of spectacular results. Can anyone now honestly say they can tell the difference between analogue and digital?

But, anyway, good luck with your quest. One worth pursuing for sure. If you get a result, do let us know. I'm sure others on WP would be interested.

Hmmm, I'm really intrigued now to find someone!

Try this:

http://www.uw-fotoservice.de/index.php

I've also dropped an email to a specialist Nikon dealer I use in the UK (Grays of Westminster) and asked if they know of anyone.

Thanks Tim,

Very kind of you. 

I had an email exchange with UW Fotoservice, they told me there's a great chance they couldn't do anything about it.

Re. digital, I have a D800E with Isotta housing and a 24mm but it is just not good enough IMO.
Maybe in the end I will have to look for better digital solution but film... is different and I still think the best of the analog era is better than the current digital standard. For example, my favourite land camera is a Rolleiflex 2.8F although I was pretty far from being born when it was made.

As my RS gave up, I will use my recently refurbished rolleimarin for my summer dives, it could be worse ;-).

LOL

Well I guess if you're going to use a Rolleimarin next it might indeed be a while before you go digital... 

Fingers crossed though that something comes up. I'll let you know if Grays come up with something.

Tim,

Just to let you know I just got a positive answer from your contact in UK, this is great news!
I will keep you posted.

Many thanks!

Blaise

Oh wow! That is good news, Blaise - thanks for letting me know. Fingers crossed!

redgrouper,

You have a private message.

Tom

If you are using the RS 13mm lens, get that converted for DSLR use and use your D800. A D800 quality housing where you can use the RS13mm (Nauticam, Seacam, Aquatica) should not be horrendously expensive at this point (honestly, I don't see that I would get much for my N800 and D800). 

Your composition is very nice, think about the results you could get with housed DSLR and the same RS lens.

Hi Doc,

I actually started with digital both on land and UW.

Then about 10 years ago I bought a Rolleiflex 2.8F. At some stage I was using both my D800 and my Rollei but everytime I had to pick pictures from a trip or a walk it was always the Rolleiflex photos that stood out. Film I think really taught me how to properly take pictures, furthermore it is always a good exercise to manage 12 shots (or 36 for 35mm film) rather then a potential 300.

It is the same UW, appart from the fact that the D800 with 24mm are vignetted and lack sharpness, I personally find that the atmosphere is generally better captured on film. It might have to do with with the flat aspect rendered by the D800 wide dynamic range and the crumbly look of pictures under high ISO (>800) but there is also something more.

Here is some of my early UW pictures with D800, they are not my favourite : http://www.barnabey.com/blue-seas/

I have been looking into adapting Nikonos lens (i.e. a proper UW lens) to DSLR and I might come to your conclusion at some stage, in which case I would probably go for the Nikonos 15mm, which I think, from my own experience, is superior to the 13mm from the RS.

Some very stylish pics there, Blaise. I like the desaturated - almost blue toned effect. 

I did find it difficult to house a wide-angle lens with the D800. I started with the Nikkor 16-35 but had to use a 230 domeport to get good corners. I also found the Sigma 15mm very good and was really happy with the results.

Blaise

I've had a response from Grays, the specialist Nikon dealer in the UK.

They think it's worth giving Nikon UK a call on +44 208 541 4440.

They also suggested Sendean Camera Repairs who are based in London and do all sorts of film camera repairs.

https://www.sendeancameras.co.uk

Maybe worth a try.

Cheers

Tim

Hopefully, you've found someone to fix your RS issue on you side of the 'pond'. If not, you may want to contact Southern Nikonos in the Houston, Texas, area. I'm not sure how much work he did on the RS model, but he's been the go to guy for Nikonos repair in the United States for more years than most of us have been diving. He also has an incredible stash of Nikonos spare parts.

-AZTinman

On 8/8/2019 at 11:52 PM, redgrouper said:

...
It is the same UW, appart from the fact that the D800 with 24mm are vignetted and lack sharpness, I personally find that the atmosphere is generally better captured on film. It might have to do with with the flat aspect rendered by the D800 wide dynamic range and the crumbly look of pictures under high ISO (>800) but there is also something more.

Here is some of my early UW pictures with D800, they are not my favourite : http://www.barnabey.com/blue-seas/

I have been looking into adapting Nikonos lens (i.e. a proper UW lens) to DSLR and I might come to your conclusion at some stage, in which case I would probably go for the Nikonos 15mm, which I think, from my own experience, is superior to the 13mm from the RS.

Interesting images on your website. Are you shooting all natural light? If so, I can definitely see where you find limitation in the D800. I agree that at greater than ISO800, grain definitely is visible.

Everything shot wide angle in "Bonaire 2019" was done using an RS 13mm I had converted to communicate in full auto mode, and adapted to attach to a Nauticam housing by Andrej Belic. [Wetpixel article]