Underwater Camera Housings
Our current lineup of underwater housings is extensive. We carry something for every level of photographer.
- Subal ND3 Housing for Nikon D3x
- Subal ND700 Housing for Nikon D700
- Subal ND30 Housing for Nikon D300
- Subal ND90 Housing for Nikon D90
- Sea & Sea DSLR Housings for Nikon
- Aquatica DSLR Housings for Nikon
- Olympus housings for point and shoot digitals: PT-041 for Stylus 850SW, PT-045 & PT-047 for Stylus Tough 8000, & 6000
- Olympus housings for cameras with manual controls: PT-030 for compact SP-350, PT-E05 for SLR E-520 and PT-E06 for SLR E-620
Subal housings
With all Subal housings, the camera is mounted on a saddle for precise positioning inside the housing. Ergonomic placement of all important controls provides convenient and comfortable handling of the camera functions. A 4 mm main-O-ring and a QuickLock latching system make it virtually impossible to close the lid if the O-ring is not lying correctly in its groove. The materials and workmanship are just plain beautiful. It is a durable, reliable, fabulous way to take your favorite camera underwater.
Three different viewfinder systems are available: the standard viewfinder (which I think is a great way to waste a big investment in a wonderful system because now you won't be able to see all of your picture area and viewfinder information easily); my favorite magnifying GS180° viewfinder that, although it costs over $1100.00, allows you to see your entire picture area and is like watching television--bright and clear; and an angled magnifying WS45° viewfinder which I (and most of my students) find annoying and difficult to use. This viewfinder sits at a 45º angle so that you have to look downward to shoot level. While there are a few specialty times when this viewfinder is a valuable tool, such as when shooting above/under photos, it is a detriment the other 98% of the time when you have trouble tracking a fast fish or shooting a macro photo straight down.
All of the Subal/Nikon camera combinations are heavy in the water and will require a custom combination of Ultralight Buoyancy arms to make them feather light in the water.
It is easy to add TTL to the system. We can install a HeinrichsWeikamp TTL converter for use with your Nikon camera and Inon Z240 strobes.
Subal ND3 Housing for Nikon D3x
The Subal housing for the Nikon D3 (12 MP) and the D3x (a whopping 24 MP) provides an incredible tool for stunning underwater photography. Although the housing is large and quite heavy, it is easy to work with in the water. The full-frame sensor of the D3/D3x produces a better range of details in both shadow and highlight areas and colors that will stun even the most experienced photographer.
This is top of the line. The large viewfinder makes aiming and composing easier than with the smaller viewfinders of the other SLRs. Also, the full frame 12MP cmos sensor allows us to return to using the 60mm micro Nikkor at its full width. I missed this feature on the previous D2x where the 60mm lens "becomes" a 90mm lens and I have to shoot further away from my subjects. The downside, of course, is the cost for the camera and housing. If cost is an issue, the new Nikon D700 is a fine choice.
The newest D3x is a stunning 24.5 MP, and should still use the same housing. We are just now looking into the differences. At a suggested retail of only $8000.00 it will be a great tool for the serious photographer. (I say only because a few years ago this many megapixels was over $30,000.00.)
Subal ND700 Housing for Nikon D700
The Nikon D700 is a lot like it's sibling the D3, i.e. full-frame, 12 MP and stunning images. The price is a lot lower, yet the camera is fully equipped. The sensor is actually rated the best sensor with the least noise. Although the viewfinder is slightly smaller than the D3, it is a minor difference.
We are back to the original film format lenses, so you use the good old 60mm lens at its wide, close-focusing best. And, you will want the Nikkor fisheye AF 16mm f/2.8D to get full 180° of coverage.
For a wide zoom lens, the main choice is the new Nikkor AF-S Zoom 14 - 24 mm f/2.8G ED lens with an angle of 114° to 84°.
Subal ND30 Housing for Nikon D300
The Nikon D300 is a popular favorite--low cost, DX format, and all of the fine ergonomic features that make Nikon our favorite.
At 12 MP, you can make fine enlargements. It is fast, has the usual wide range of Nikon lenses, and the large 2 1/2-inch LCD screen makes reviewing your photos much easier. Like all pro Nikon cameras, the f stop and shutter speed are single controls, easily accessed through a housing. Changing the point of focus is also a single button control for fast changes, unlike Canon SLR cameras that require several steps.
Like all pro Nikons, you can view the highlight warning while the photo is at full size. Many other cameras reduce the playback image to show the highlight warning and the histogram side by side, making it difficult to study your photos. The ability to study your photos is the whole key to taking advantage of shooting with digital. Without seeing your image clearly, you are more likely to miss flaws in your photo that you should correct and this slows your progress underwater while shooting. There are no disadvantages that I can think of to the D300 except the size of the viewfinder when compared to the D3.
Lens choices for the D300 remain the same that we have used for previous digital models. The 60 and 105mm for macro photography, the 10.5 mm for extreme wide angle, the Tokina 10 - 17mm for extreme wide/zoom and there are lots of choices for the zoom range in between, including the Sigma 10 - 20mm (not available for Sea and Sea housings), the Nikkor 12 - 24mm and many more narrower ones. Check to see which lenses are supported by the housing of your choice as the zoom gears are proprietary to the housings.
Subal ND90 Housing for Nikon D90
For every one who has this great Nikon D90 camera, now is the time to take it underwater in a housing that will keep your camera dry and fully functional.
Sea & Sea DSLR Housings for Nikon
We carry most Sea & Sea Nikon DSLR Housings in stock as well as all ports and accessories.
Sea and Sea housings are easy to hold and handle, with over-sized controls readily accessible to your fingers while holding the housing with one hand. The systems are less expensive than the Subal housings. Both synch ports are on the same side and there is one for use with a dual cord and manual strobe control, and one for use with the Sea and Sea TTL converter. This converter allows full TTL with the Nikon cameras and Sea and Sea strobes. There is a full line of ports and accessories, allowing you a wide choice of lenses.
Aquatica DSLR Housings for Nikon
We will soon carry most Aquatica Nikon DSLR Housings as well as all ports and accessories.
Olympus Housings
The Olympus housings are the best housings made for compact digital cameras. The large shutter button is smooth and responsive, button are clearly labeled and easy to manipulate. The latches are reliable and the flood rate is virtually zero, barring user error, like forgetting the O-ring. (Don't worry, JB, I won't divulge your name, and I made up those pintails, too, so you are fully protected.)
They are light-weight, compact for easy travel, and fit in your hand for easy, one-hand use. The threaded port allows addition of threaded lens accessories or you can use the Inon bayonet mount adaptors. The clear plastic and side mounted built-in flash allows the easy addition of external flashes.
Olympus is constantly updating their offerings of point and shoot housed digital cameras. These are the three that we currently have in stock.
PT-047 For use with Stylus-Tough 6000 . . . . . .PT-041 For use with Stylus 850SW . . . . . . PT-045 For use with Stylus-Tough 8000
Olympus cameras with manual control
When you are ready to move beyond point and shoot, we have three great, economical choices. These cameras allow full manual control, and at the same time full TTL control. (Cameras like the Canon G10, for example, do not offer TTL when you are on manual exposure mode.)
. . . . . .PT-E05 For use with the E-520 . . . . . . . . . . .PT-E06 For use with the E-620
SP 350, still the best choice
The SP-350 has been discontinued for over a year, but I have yet to find another camera that does as well as this little wonder. Its successor in the Olympus line has too great a zoom lens to be housed properly for underwater.
The ability to take photos from one inch across to ultra wide (with the addition of wide angle lenses) underwater on one dive is not matched anywhere.
The ability to preset quick menus complete with my favorite exposures and settings for 1-Wide angle or photos with blue backgrounds, 2-Close photos with dark backgrounds, 3-ultra close or super macro, 4-telephoto fish is not matched anywhere.
After you take a photo,if it is not quite right, you have quick access to both shutter speed and f stop with a single press of a button. It is not simpler anywhere else on any other camera, period!
A complete set-up with ultra-light arms, HeinrichsWeikamp TTL, Sea and Sea YS110 strobe, with 2 GB card, as well as charger and two batteries for the camera is only $2000.00 US. The wide angle lens shown here is not the lens we currently sell. The newer model has a more protective hood and is smaller. We have three lenses to choose from: a lens that screws into the front of the port, made by FanTaSea, a similar 90º lens made by Inon that fits into a bayonet adaptor and an ultra wide 165º lens also made by Inon that fits into the same adaptor.
I wish we had a lot more left, but I am down to less than thirty. I do not know what will replace this wonder, but I wish it would come soon. If you find one, let me know. Remember--I want a hot shoe for hard-wired TTL, four presets with exposures held, easy f-stops and shutter speeds, full range of lenses from super macro to ultra wide, and an LCD screen that stays bright even when you are set for a dark background exposure.
Housings for Olympus SLR cameras are the least expensive way to shoot SLR underwater.
You can get the camera, two lenses, housing, one flat port, one strobe and and arm for UNDER US$3300.00!!!!! One of the lenses is the 14 - 
42mm that focuses to just a few inches away. It is a fast camera and focuses in a blink. ("Blink" is a technical term for "I don't know the actual fraction of a second, but it is impressive.") Shown here is a dome port for a wide angle lens, and two strobes.
The strobe works from a fiber optic cable and allows remote control from the camera to allow you to increase or decrease your TTL exposure. CHECK THIS OUT! If you have two strobes, you can control them separately from the camera. So you can tell one to produce more or less light than the other during the TTL exposure. That is very sophisticated for this low price, and a valuable tool in controlling light balance for soft fill, versus equal, or any other combination you like.
CHECK THIS OUT!! The strobes synch with the camera up to 1/1000th of a second!!!
We recommend the Ultralight arms and when you come to Cayman to pick up your complete system, we will work with you to customize the arms to suit your particular needs. For a more complete review click here.