Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/10/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Camera is fairly rugged and the surface lenses are good (the underwater lenses are great, underwater). Keep in mind that they are all scale focus- the scales are precise but sharpness depends on how well you can estimate or measure distance (and use DOF). Nikon made 5 lenses for the camera- underwater only: 15mm, 20mm, 28mm UW; amphibious (= waterproof surface lens): 35mm 80mm surface only: 28mm (similar to Nikon E type, but weather-proofed) Hard to tell how long Nikon will support, but there are a few dedicated shops that have continued to support the older models (I,II,III,IV) to this day and this will likely be true of the model V If you don't actually take it underwater then little maintenance is needed, but the gear is not exactly not cheap and you give up a lot relative to most regular cameras. One of the "weather proofed" surface cameras could be a better choice if dunking was unlikely and if it is just a matter of light rain then a camera such as a Leica M or classic pro-SLR would be ok with reasonable care (say a wide brimmed hat and a towel). >I've occasionally considered getting a Nikonos for photography in the rain >(9 months of the year in Seattle), fieldwork, and wet muddy construction >sites. I don't dive, as I already have too many expensive hobbies, but my >brother does (maybe he'll go in with me), and many of my coworkers do(maybe >I could rent it out on a few of our jobs). With the above announcement I >don't know if I should seriously consider it or not. I assume that Nikon >will have to provide parts and service for the next 10 years? > >Does anybody have any thoughts or comments on the Nikonos V and the two >amphibious lenses (a bit soft wide open, decent stopped down, pleasant >bokeh, somewhat flare prone etc...). I've used a co-workers Nikons IV and >35/2.5 in the somewhat distant past doing stream surveys, but I don't have >any of the pictures and don't really recall much about the camera or lens. > >Tom Finnegan >Seattle >- -- - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html