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Nauticam ships housing for Sony RX100 IV

Nauticam is shipping their new housing for the Sony RX100 IV compact camera. To allow the housing to be used with gloves, a mechanical shutter release extension is supplied with every housing. It also provides access to all camera controls and has both M14 and M16 ports. The port has 67mm threads and it has fiber optic bulkheads for strobe triggering.

The NA-RX100IV is shipping today with a U.S.A. retail price of $995.00.

Press release

Announcing NA-RX100IV

The New Housing for Sony RX100 IV

Nauticam is pleased to announce the release of it’s newest aluminum underwater camera housing for the Sony RX100 IV. Three years ago Sony redefined the advanced compact camera with RX100, and the subsequent iterations of RX100 II and RX100 III went on to forge a completely new category. The NA-RX100IV housing provides the ergonomics, build quality, and innovative feature set our customers demand in a tiny, travel friendly package.

The Sony RX100 IV

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100M4, is the fourth in this series of advanced, large sensor compact cameras that have been hugely popular with underwater enthusiasts. The familiar body style and fast, optically superb 24-70mm zoom lens are retained from RX100 III, but paired with an entirely new 20.1MP 1” Exmor RS sensor.

Exmor RS sensors use a construction method never seen before on a sensor this size that provides more than 5 times faster readout than the Exmor R sensor used in RX100 III. This translates into much faster continuous shooting speeds, faster more accurate autofocus, and an electronic shutter capable of achieving incredible speeds up to 1/32,000 sec.

Movie functionality in RX100 IV is tremendously improved over previous models. It is the first in the RX100 series to feature Ultra High Definition Video (3840x2160 30p), and High Definition Video (1920 x 1080) at up to 120 fps. Video is recorded in the high quality XAVC S format at up to 100Mbps. A new high speed video mode allows slow motion capture at up to 960 fps!

Specifications:

Nauticam NA-RX100IV

The NA-RX100IV sets a new standard for compact camera housing design. It is the ultimate refinement of the three models that came before it, with ergonomics, reliability, and control access improved in each new product.

Nauticam designs are always improving, and new features integrated into each new release. The ergonomic experience has been tailored for a photographer’s right hand on the side of the housing, placing key controls literally at the users finger tips. Some users, especially those wearing cold water gloves, prefer shooting from handles such as the Nauticam Flexitray and Easitray. To better support this style of shooting, a set of stainless steel handle brackets and new mechanical shutter release trigger extension is included with every housing.

New Trigger Release Extension! Ergonomic shutter release access when using a Nauticam accessory tray and handle system.

The features you’d expect are certainly present, like ergonomic design, the clearly labelled controls, sculpted shutter release and more. A updated fiber optic connection block is standard, as is the built-in vacuum check and leak detection system. Two accessory bulkhead ports support HDMI cables for an external monitor and the vacuum valve.

The NA-RX1000IV is milled from a block of solid aluminum, then hard anodized. The result is a rugged and reliable piece of gear that will stand up to saltwater and the daily rigors of diving. Since the housing accesses all of the camera controls, including the front control ring, the user can take advantage of the enhanced programmability in the RX100 IV.

NA-RX100IV Feature Checklist

Going Wide or Going Small

The RX100 housings feature an industry standard 67mm threaded port mount, meaning it is easy to attach a number of different wet mount lenses. A compact camera underwater is only as good as the optics in front of it, and the growing Nauticam accessory lens lineup sets new performance standards with every release.

On the macro end, the Compact Super Macro Converter (CMC) is the ideal choice and enables a subject 35mm wide by 23mm tall to fill the frame. This is over 4x magnification provided by the stock lens (stock lens images 160mm wide, CMC 35mm wide).

All Nauticam lenses are engineered specifically for underwater imaging, not waterproof adaptations of lenses designed for use in air, resulting in superior image quality. The CMC provides visibly sharper images than competing macro lenses, especially in the corders, with noticeably less purple fringing. The lens design is also designed with autofocus systems in mind, easing the learning curve associated with high magnification imaging.

Upcoming Wet Wide Angle Lens

Later this month, Nauticam will unveil the first in a series of wide angle conversion lenses engineered with the same level of precision and vision that has gone into the “best in class” Macro Converter line.

This completely sealed and underwater mountable optic is designed to be used in water - with the refractive index of optical glass to water accounted for at every step in the design process. Optimized for best wide angle performance at the 28mm equivalent focal length, the lens offers 130° diagonal field of view with low distortion, extremely high overall sharpness (especially in the corners), excellent contrast, and resistance to flare.

The outstanding image quality of today’s top compacts paired with Nauticam conversion lenses is stunning. They combine to form a complete system that covers the entire range from macro to super wide angle, and packs into a small backpack or shoulder bag,

Nauticam Vacuum Check System

The engineers at Nauticam managed to squeeze in the Nauticam vacuum monitoring and leak detection electronics. By default, it serves as an audible and visual leak detector, but add a Nauticam M14 Vacuum Valve, (p/n 25611) and it becomes a vacuum check system. The vacuum monitoring system provides early warning for any problem with watertight integrity - which means peace of mind when shooting underwater.

The 2 bulkheads and the indicator light for the vacuum/leak system

M14 vacuum valve installed, and green light indicating solid vacuum

Video

The RX100 IV now supports XAVC S Ultra High Definition (3840x2160) 24P/25P/30P video at up to 100 Mbps, as well as HD at up to 120 fps! Focus peaking and zebra lines are available to assist in confirming sharp focus and correct exposure. SLog2 Gamma is also available for professional color grading applications.

The standard NA-RX100IV housing supports HDMI out, via an optional HDMI bulkhead connected to the M16 accessory hole in the front of the housing. This means that the underwater videographer can use the excellent SmallHD 501 or 502 Monitors (in the NA-502S housing, p/n 17907), the Atomos Ninja 2 Recorder (NA-NINJA2 housing, p/n 17902), or even the Atomos Shogun UHD Recorder (Nauticam Housing p/n 17904). The RX100IV camera offers “clean” HDMI output, allowing high bit rate Apple ProRes recording at up to 4k 30P with Shogun. These monitors all provide a large, high quality display for judging focus and exposure, and the recording options available in the Atomos products unlock low compression recording formats for professionals.

Recommended Accessories

25611 M14 Vacuum Valve : Enables vacuum check system, allowing for check of watertight integrity.
81301 CMC Compact Macro Converter: Add on lens that provides close focus macro with minimal distortion.
25101 M67 Flip Diopter Holder: Enables quick installation and removal of the CMC underwater by flipping lens in place or out of the way.
71201 Easitray : Simple tray with comfortable rubberized hand grips.
71207 Flexitray: Adjustable tray with comfortable rubberized hand grips.
71209 Flexitray W: Wider Flexitray, also allows for tripod use.
71208 Right Handle: Right handle for Easitray or Flexitray.
71311 Ball for Easi/Flexitray: 1” Mounting ball for either tray, allows mounting strobes/lights using Nauticam arms/clamps.
36316 Compact Handstrap: Comfortable handstrap for right side of housing.
36323 Long Handstrap: Longer version of handstrap for larger hands.
25106 LCD Magnifier: Enlarge the view of the LCD; easy to see in bright sun, and can adjust diopter.
25131 LCD Magnifier: Rails Allows installation of LCD Magnifier.
25221 M10 ball: Mount point for lighting hardware.
25514 Ball adapter (Inon): Allows mounting of Inon strobe.
various Arms/Clamps: Nauticam mounting hardware.
various Carbon fiber buoyancy arms: Arm that provides extra buoyancy to offset heavy lights or strobes.
26214 Fiber optic cable for Inon Strobe: Allows fast, accurate automatic flash exposure (TTL) over fiber, with no sync cables to flood or corrode.
26215 Fiber optic cable for Sea&Sea strobe: Allows fast, accurate automatic flash exposure (TTL) over fiber, with no sync cables to flood or corrode.
90135 Replacement O-Ring: Field Replaceable Spare Part.

Recommended Third Party Accessories from Inon, Keldan, FIX NEO

Inon Z-240: Powerful, reliable strobe with excellent coverage.
Inon S-2000: Smallest strobe, ideal for travel.
FIX NEO 3000 DX: Ultra Compact 3000 lumen video light.
Keldan Video 4X: Compact 6000 lumen video light.

Details and Specifications

Depth Rating: 100m
Weight: 0.85kg
Dimensions: 150mm (w) x 101mm (h) x 109mm (d)

Model Number: 17416
USA Retail Price: $995
Available Worldwide August 3, 2015

More information is available from Nauticam USA.

A full USA dealer list is also available.

Contact Nauticam USA:

Chris Parsons
Nauticam USA
2303 N. Andrews Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale
FL 33311.
Phone: 954-489-8678. Web. Email.

About Nauticam USA:

Nauticam USA is the exclusive wholesale distributor of Nauticam products in the North American Market. Nauticam USA’s warehouse and service center is located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Our staff of underwater photography experts strives to provide the best customer support and after sale service available. Dealer enquiries are welcome!

Please email for dealer enquiries Outside of North & South America.

See here for an International Dealer Listing.