Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/03/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Feli writes: <<I'm looking for a camera, with heavy duty environmental sealing. Of? course the lenses should be sealed equally well. I'm excluding the Nikonos? series for several reason.>> Unless the weatherproof camera is the only one you need, I would reconsider the Nikonos, particularly the older model II and III versions. These metal cased cameras are extremely rugged and absolutely waterproof. The 35mm f2.8 stock Nikon lens is excellent and the 80mm lens is also quite good. Twenty years ago I did a travel story about kayaking down the Grand Canyon section of the Colorado. Rather than risk my Leicas, I used a Nikonos II. The camera and I spent half the trip submerged in silty river water, but, since God protects fools and idiots, both of us emerged unscathed. True, the lens is scale focusing and there is no camera automation but depth of field and film latitude compensates adequately. Since then I have always kept the Nikonos in the bottom of my camera bag for use in really bad weather. You can pick up a good used Nikonos in any dive shop for less than $200. And if you get tired of taking pictures with the camera, you can always use it to crack walnuts. Larry Z