Rental Nauticam Nikon D500 Underwater Housing
Product Overview:
The new Nauticam NA-D500 housing offers improved control placement, a new included flash triggering system (with optional TTL upgrade), and a smaller size & weight.Â
Read the UWPGÂ Nikon D500 Review
Flash Trigger Included with Housing
This optical flash trigger can fire at the full 10 frames per second of the camera, for the rapid fire fast action shooting that the D500 is so well suited for. Optical systems, with fiber optic cables linking the external flashes to the housing, are more reliable than any electrical sync cable system. Â There are no connections to flood, or fragile wires to break, and nearly every underwater strobe supports optical triggering. This redesigned LED Flash Triggering System has allowed for a much lower housing height. Â
This the smallest Nauticam DSLR housing for Nikon so far!
Users of flashes without optical triggering are able to add optional Nikonos (part # 26074) or Ikelite (part # 26075) style electronic bulkheads for electrical firing of the flashes. These bulkheads will plug into the flash trigger circuit board for neater routing of the cables.
Vacuum Check and Leak Detection System
The Nauticam vacuum check system is included with the Nauticam D500 Housing. However, to make use of this system, the vacuum valve (Part # 25625) must be purchased separatedly. This monitoring system provides constant updates on the water-tight status of the housing. Â A color coded LED lighting system lets the user know that the vacuum has been maintained, or that the housing is losing the vacuum seal. Leak detection is built into the same circuit, so if there is water intrusion, an audible and visual indication will occur.Â
The Nauticam system is temperature compensated, eliminating false alarms caused by a change in outside temperature, or from a camera heating up on an action packed dive.
Improved Ergonomics
The right handle is where you will be accessing the frequently used camera functions. Oversized levers are identifiable by feel. The most frequently used fingertip controls ( Main Command Dial, Shutter Release, and Sub Command Dial, Video Record, and AF-ON) are located here. ISO, the primary exposure control used by DSLR video shooters, is accessed by a thumb lever under the right grip. Â INFO, useful for calling up the camera settings on the 3.2" rear color LCD, is placed at the right thumb.
The new AF-Mode Lever has been improved - it is now easily located by feel from the left handle! Â A separate AF-M lever is positioned above this lever, and identifiable by feel.
A double thumb lever accesses playback and the assignable Fn2 Button.
Nauticam D500 Lens Selection for Underwater Photography
Contact Bluewater Photo owner Scott Gietler at scott@bluewaterphotostore.com for a personal consultation regarding the best lenses to use with this housing. Find out if the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye is right for you, whether the 60mm or 105mm macro lens will suit your needs more, and which wide-angle zooms work the best. Scott is a long-time Nikon shooter who has done a large number of lens tests both above and below the water.
Recommended Lenses & Ports
- Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens for most wide-angle, including coral reefs and close-focus wide-angle in the Zen 4-inch glass dome
- Nikon 10-24mm or Sigma 10-20mm for sharks, pelagics, pool shoots behind a Nauticam 8-inch dome
- Sigma 17-70mm HSM OS for a mid-range option
- Zen 8-inch glass dome or Zen 9-inch glass dome for over/under or split shots
- Nikon 60mm macro behind Nauticam macro port 60Â for general macro
- Nikon 105mm VR behind Nauticam macro port 87Â for small fish, supermacro
Nauticam D500 Underwater Housing Review: