How long before we don't need a housing?

[diver 85]

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...

Ah, the good old days-----36 +(maybe 38 if you got lucky on the film loading) was IT-------many a times I carried my camera around on the last half of a dive as a 'fancy' weight..---wondering if I'd see in 2 weeks a good eel/turtle(etc etc etc) pic I just shot........Oh shucks, life just wasn't fair....(lol)

 

[3D diver]

The Nikon AW1 is soooo close, but 49ft max depth just doesn't cut it. With their Nikonos heritage I don't understand this limitation.

 

[Ardy]

The Nikon AW1 is soooo close, but 49ft max depth just doesn't cut it. With their Nikonos heritage I don't understand this limitation.

3D: I think Nikon was pleased to see the back of underwater photographers after the RS. I also dragged a Nikonos 2 around for a few years before going to housed Nikon's. Still got the Nik 2 around somewhere.

Diver 85: The problem for me and film was I was always too mean, I often came back with half a roll because I was hoping to see something AMAZING! bloody stupid really, thank god for digital.

 

[danvolker]

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.

My wife Sandra still has her Nikon RS....if it was digital, I think it would be the ultimate camera....
Size-wise comparison to Sandra's Canon 5 D mark II in Sea and Sea housing, the RS is actually quite small and much easier to lug around.
But with only 36 shots, compared to the housed camera with over 500 shots, it is hard to go back.



See my friend Errol using Sandra's RS, for a skill demonstration for photographers
[video=youtube_share;kWrlXJ_EL_k]http://youtu.be/kWrlXJ_EL_k?list=UUsM5Za9Kc3DbP7Qo3-Zmz9w[/video]