How long before we don't need a housing?

[Ardy]

Cameras are getting more water tight and I got to wonder how much longer before we buy a camera and a flash and just take it diving?

I am guessing 5 years. What do you think?

Is Olympus likely to be first into this market or is it Nikon's domain with its history with the Nikonos?

 

[diversteve]

I personally don't think ever.

Diving is too small a niche market for them to focus on the technology for making any camera waterproof to depths greater than most tourists can snorkel to and some are already good to 30' or so - I think some of the Olympus Tough series can do that. They're appealing to beach goers, snorkelers, white water rafters, hikers - people like who might get it wet or briefly submerge it. Most of those people could care less if their camera can also go to 200' - and also don't want to pay the premium on every model that can. It's why Canon, Olympus and others are/were selling inexpensive dive housings for some of their models. More of those are probably used by people swimming in the ocean than anywhere else also.

As you mentioned NIkon has a history with Nikonos yet now all they sell is models you can house. I think the only people even aware of Nikonos were divers who owned one. More people are interested taking their Iphone diving than would ever be interested in an u/w camera.

I expect that housings will become more reasonable as they become commodity items - Meikon already sells a housing for many small camera models for under $200. Including some popular models like the sony RX100 II.

Plus the $400 GoPro is taking a big chunk out of that market. A variable zoom action cam is probably a more likely reality. Not much engineering and they're already up to 12MP for under $400. For most people who want snapshots to post on Facebook, 12MP stills are more than enough.

 

[Ardy]

Interesting Steve - I think many young divers are more interested in an iphone on a dive but they would waste the dive on Twitter or Facebook and posting selfies.

 

[socaljohn]

Sealife micro hd.

 

[kombiguy]

You mean like a Nikonos?

 

[Ardy]

Social John: That may be an interesting camera for those starting out in UW photography. ANyone used one? What is the image quality like?

 

[ASA400]

I have a Nikonos V and still use it occasionally. I've always thought it would be great if Nikon would make a digital version of the Nikonos, but there are problems inherent with making a small non-housed camera.

One of the things that made the Nikonos so small was that it didn't have anything but manual focus. The Nikonos RS came out with auto-focus, but the camera was huge.

I think, today, no one would want a camera that didn't have autofocus. That means that the lenses would have to be encased, "housed" if you will, which would increase the size and cost of the camera. Then there is all the electronics needed for a digital camera. And the large lcd screen that everyone wants. And a needed lock down door for the digital media, another "housed" area of the camera. Pretty soon, you'll come to the conclusion that if you want an underwater camera with autofocus, digital media and a lcd screen on the back, the most economical way to make it is to house the camera. Then, of course, you can sell the camera to people who have no need for the housing in the first place.

 

[Kharon]

Been using a Tachyon Micro HD for years. Seriously tiny, no housing, 720p video or one HD pic every 2 seconds.

 

[diver 85]

Long time----------IMO, way over 5 years-----& if/when, the 1st ones only 'the rich & famous' will bring down...

 

[drbill]

I personally don't think ever.

Diving is too small a niche market for them to focus on the technology for making any camera waterproof to depths greater than most tourists can snorkel to and some are already good to 30' or so

I agree. There is just not enough of a market to make cameras waterproof... water resistant is good but I doubt I'll be taking an unhoused camera down to depth any time in the near future (maybe in my lifetime). Yes I did it with a Nikonos 45 years ago, but...