AQUATICA'S NEW HOUSING FOR KODAK'S NIKON BASED 14 MP CAMERAS

To Aquatica and wetpixel members:

On December 19 I made a negative post regarding the Aquatica housing for the Kodak SLRn camera. Rather than use my normal username I made the post under a different username. My thought at the time was to make the post in such as way so as to not make this about me but about my thoughts on the housing. In retrospect both the post and the choice to make this under a different username were a mistake.

Let me clarify the situation:

1) I was one of several early testers of the Aquatica SLRn housing.

2) While the original post implied that I had actually taken the housing in the water, I had never done so. All of my comments were based upon my experience with the housing on my workshop bench.

3) Aquatica was kind enough to let me try the housing, which was still in a prototype stage and I feel that my comments were unduly harsh.

My post was not in anyway an attempt to demean Aquatica or promote other products that I may use. I really wanted the Aquatica SLRn housing to be a success and I still hope it is.

Some may ask, why I made the post in the first place…. to which I can only answer, I don’t know. Somehow it was just a knee jerk reaction to the original post and it was never intended to provoke the type of response that it has.

Blake and Norma at Aquatica were always helpful and interested in my satisfaction. I want to apologize to Aquatica, Wetpixel, and all the forum readers for my misguided comments.

Sincerely,

Rod Klein

I took one of my personal favorite photos to date with the Aquatica Kodak housing just last week:

WOW James! And after this pic you are changing systems!?

Doesn't look like you need to change a thing. Did I say great shot?

You must really be bored

Take courage to stand up and face the music, you can share my octopus anytime buddy.

Not really on any certain topic or another....

Aquatica's biggest challenge with this camera will be the viewfinder. It is small to start with, and the body design makes traditional optic placement impossible. Aquatica is still experimenting with different options here, and a lifesaver would be some sort of magnifier.

Removable camera trays are good for someone who doesn't shoot anything longer than a 105/2.8, but for super macro, they will almost always flex, causing the lens gears to come out of alignment. For this reason, Nexus and Aquatica used fixed camera baseplates. Cheaply built digital bodies will flex on the tripod screws, as well, making me wonder why no manufacturers other than Ikelite and Nexus have built lens supports into their ports? (well, Nexus lens supports go over filter rings)

It is interesting to me that all of those that encouraged Aquatica to build this housing, at much expense I'm sure, no longer own the camera...

Hi again,

I'm glad to see this thread getting back on track and pleased to see that we are all on the same page now.

As for camera flex, I totally agree w/ you Ryan. A lot of times, this can be alleviated (if not totally fixed) by putting the front manual focus knob on the bottom of the lens or at least underneath on the side. That way, the knob/sprocket/gear hold up the end of the lens.

With that Said, Aquatica also makes a lens support for use with the 70-180 and the 200mm. It's a saddle that mounts inside the bottom middle of the port and works well.

For all that are interested in the Kodak/Aquatica combination, I hope to have my review with housing photos, real in-water experience, and sample photos up shortly. I have already taken and processed the photos. The writing is the hard part.

Cheers

James

why no manufacturers other than Ikelite and Nexus have built lens supports into their ports?

Aquatica has a support that glues onto the macro port. I've used it for the 200mm lens.

I do not applaud the fact that Rod klein (aka drhudson)

retracted his statement when the statement would not have been retracted if the writer, in this case a professional photographer, instructor and self proclaimed digital guru and digital editor for Fathoms Magazine had not been exposed. I hope that we can all play fair here from now on. It is about making images isn’t it?

Remember what happened to Humpty Dumpty!

Having said this and more to the point of this forum.

Because of my involvement in the industry with Aquatica, I will not say much more about the housing that is still in the prototype stages of development.

I will say though, that I am extremely pleased with the DCS Pro14n and have committed time and much mula, into two bodies and a series of new lenses. The initial results with this camera and housing over the last summer while working with Great Whites, Caribbean Reef Sharks and Coral reefs in Fiji, convinced me that for the foreseeable future, this is the camera for me. I am in no position to change from Nikon to Canon, as I have been a Nikon user for 20 years (and a working photographer and father of two) and cannot switch between systems overnight. Even if I could I love my Nikkor lenses and prefer to have a full frame digital SLR that can handle even those lenses that were made way before AF and digital readouts. In addition Kodak has agreed to retain the same body over the next few upgrades, guaranteeing a better investment in this housing system not to mention the SLR itself. For all intended purposes the Kodak is a clear alternative to the Canon counterpart, at a fraction of the cost.

Proof of the quality of the result of this lens and housing combination can be seen in print in a large portfolio of my work in the forthcoming re-launch of Ocean Realm Magazine due out in the next month. In addition, the quality of the exhibition pritns that come out of this 14mp is astonishing. Epson and Kodak seem to agree as well, as both will be printing and publishing many of these images in their own unique ways. Epson in particular is sponsoring and printing the International Exhibition “Oceans Expo 2005” with initial showing in Peru, Chile and Brazil ending in June at

the Celebrate The Sea Festival in Singapore. All images will be printed to 67 x 43 inches.

As our friend drhudson in an earlier post ended his unapproving and unacceptable comments against the Kodak Camera and Aquatica Housing, one indeed gets what one pays for, I just personally prefer not to have to pay as much.

Just MY two cents

Mauricio Handler aka Professional photographer/instructor

mauricio@handlerphoto.com

Personally, I think that Aquatica's censorship of wetpixel has gotten way out of hand. We have participation from dealers of Seacam, Subal, Ikelite, Nexus and LMI, yet only Aquatica seems to find itself aggressively defending its product when users give negative critiques. The wonderful thing about this forum is that users can interact and get candid opinions from each other - not the industry line that product X offers more for less. I expect that as users we should be able to express our honest opinions about a company's product and service for the benefit of other users, without a backlash.

In my view the backlash and censorship indicates insecurity and a company's lack of confidence in its product.

Hi Kasey,

Hang on a sec - we have absolutely NO problem with users posting negative comments about products here, ANY products. Take a look back at the dozens - no hundreds - of thread here along that line. When something doesn't work - the only way to get it changed is to let the designers know.

But I think it's different when taking on a second username to try to post annonymously - that jeopardizes the integrity of the forums. Next thing you know, I'll be on here arguing with myself...:-)

Cheers

James

Hi Kasey,

 

Next thing you know, I'll be on here arguing with myself...:-)

And there's no way you have time to do that when you need to be outside taking photographs of brick walls with the Kodak and the 17-35...

Hang on a sec  - we have absolutely NO problem with users posting negative comments about products here, ANY products.  Take a look back at the dozens - no hundreds - of thread here along that line.  When something doesn't work - the only way to get it changed is to let the designers know.

My issue is not with the Wetpixel moderators. I think it was inappropriate to get a last dig at rod under the circumstances. I agree that rod should not have concealed his identity, but I suspect that he did so to avoid a backlash from Aquatica. Turns out he got it anyhow.

Agreed there - if I were Mauricio, I'd try to stick to posting about my good results with the camera and housing and I'd leave the other business alone. In fact, if I were him, I'd edit out the negative comments in my recent posts and try to stick to the facts and leave the rest to the two parties involved... That's what the little button that says "edit" above each post is for - many times when I go back and read what I wrote, I use that button.

Anyhow, that's just what I'd do.

Cheers

James

Enough already, Rod came clean, that, as I mentionned earlier is cool in my book, I don't think wetpixel is the place to grind personnal axes, if there is bonafide comment and/or constructive critisism to be made about a product, usually the manufacturer and I include all of the company involved in this noble sport which is ours, are happy to listen, it help when using the "Savoir Vivre" (and diplomacy) needed for theses circumstances. Prototype are by definition pre production and are loaned to selected individual, usually people whom the maker trust in their judgment, they expect feedback from theses individuals, not a slap in the back, but serious information return from the camera's and housing worthiness underwater including the optical result, ergonomics, and yes, even tray removal's importance in the balance of thing, what the manufacturer does not expect is to have a breech of trust and have negative comment on something that is not been produced yet. once the product is marketed is a different story, you pay for it therefore you should, make that, be adamant about having good service and performance at the level of your investment.

As I speak for myself and not for Aquatica,I will tell you that much, I know Aquatica is more openly public in their prototype development than some of theirs competitors, therefore they expose themselves to this kind of situation. so be it, In my opinion they should continue in this manner, it as bode them well in the past. End of story, eveary body should go and get themselves a nice cup of herbal tea and relax, Rod is a big man for standing up, all other should take notes.

Nite, Nite

Hey, guys. Our official policy is that we aren't opposed to anonymous posting, as long as the posts are constructive and aren't deceitful. I'm glad Rod came clean and posted a retraction of his original post -- but the retraction shouldn't be taken as a retraction of his opinions, but rather a retraction of the post in the spirit of maintaining integrity here in the forums.

I'm closing this topic. Let's chat about the Pro 14/N in another thread.

-Eric