Sea & Sea NX 80 Housing

[Christian]

Q: I'm in the market for a housing+camera. I have been reccomended the NX 80 as a nice housing on the "cheaper" side of UW-SLR photography. My only concern is that it only has a single connection for strobes.

Is it possible (in a reliable way) to use dual strobes with this house? Or do I have to look for something else, since dual strobes is a must for me?

cheers

/christian

 

[BradfordD]

Christian,

You are correct, the Sea & Sea NX-80 has only one strobe bulkhead connection... This is the only flaw I have found with this superb housing...

There are several options however, for utilizing dual strobes:

The easiest option would be to attach a Sea&Sea Dual Sync Connector (part #03450), which is compatible with all Sea&Sea "N" series or Duo Strobes... cost USD $235+/-.

Another option would be to consider using only strobes that DON'T have attached sync cords. This basically removes the YS-60 strobe, leaving you with the YS-30, YS-90, YS-120, YS-300 & YS-350. Purchasing only one single sync cord (which usually comes with any YS strobe purchase anyway) and one 5-pin Dual Sync Cord (part #03470...cost USD $155 +/-) would allow you to run any single or dual strobe setup (except the YS-60).

I have both connection types and both work very well. I am partial to running the YS-60/YS-120 dual setup - as this can give a more 3-D effect to my photos - so the Dual Sync Connector was a must for me.

One last option, although I wouldn't recommend it, would be to "retrofit" the accessory bulkhead connector located on the bottom of the housing... This connector is pre-wired for a shutter activated focus light. Although I know of nobody who uses this feature, I believe using this connector as a strobe connection would get in the way of the fisheye dome port.

Hope this helps.

/Brad

P.S. I forgot to add.... each of these options allows for full TTL strobe connections... both in single and dual strobe setups..

 

[BradfordD]

And if I could entice you any more on the Sea&Sea NX-80...

I have figured out a way to carry this system as CARRY ON luggage!

I needed to have the ability to carry-on my NX-80 setup while traveling... My goal was to have BOTH macro and wide-angle as well as two strobes and all the associated arms, sync cords, ect.

My answer was the Porter Case. It's a hard cover and WHEELED luggage case - that DOUBLES as a dolly! It's fully sized as carry-on (8"D x 14"W x 22"L) and acceptable on all airlines. It even has a telescoping handle!

This is the ONLY underwater SLR system that I know of, that can be fiited into this configuration. It includes:

• Sea & Sea NX-80 Camera Housing (Housing Grips under Dome Port)
• Sea & Sea Standard Dome Port (wide angle for my Nikkor 20mm lens)
• Sea & Sea Custom Flat Port (macro for my Nikkor-Micro 60mm lens)
• Sea & Sea YS-120 Duo Strobes (Two each)
• Sea & Sea Strobe Arm V sets (Two each)
• Twin UK Q40 Focus Lights and Hot Shoe
• Sync Cords - Single 5-pin (Two each)
• Sync Cord - Dual 5-pin
• Sync Cord – Dual Connector
• Lens Cleaning and O-Ring Maintenance Kit

I have attached a photo of this set-up... Well worth the expense of the Porter Case... I highly recommend this case, as a perfect match for the NX-80 system...

BTW, I am not affiliated with either Sea&Sea or Porter....

/Brad

 

[Dee]

You've got it packed tight and full!

 

[Christian]

Thank's Brad. Sounds good. I'll have a look at the case you mentioned as well, I hate to check in camera equpment ...

cheers

christian