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Official release of Nauticam NA-NEX5 housing

by adamhanlon

Nauticam has officially released their NA-NEX5 housing at the Photokina exhibition today. The housing, for the Sony NEX-5 EVIL camera, has already created a great deal of interest due to its ability to use Nikonos lenses via an adapter. The housing also features: A port locking system, super sensitive shutter release and connectors for optical TTL strobes. In addition, the housing has styling designed to be reminiscent of the Nikonos system and the cameras LCD monitor can be angled to allow easier viewing

Press Release

Nauticam proudly announces the NA-NEX5 Housing for the Sony NEX-5. This camera and housing package offers image quality traditionally only available from much larger SLR systems and ease of use previously found only in compact systems.

Sony NEX-5

Sony’s NEX-5 is a ground breaking camera, one of the first of a new generation of digital cameras, commonly known as EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens). These mirrorless cameras feature a DSLR sized sensor and interchangeable lenses in a body sized more like a point & shoot camera. The NEX-5 camera is half the size, half the weight, and much simpler to use than traditional DSLR cameras. Its interchangeable lenses allow exceptional flexibility in various shooting situations. Full HD Video (1080/60i), with on demand autofocus, is also included, making this one of the most fully featured and versatile compact systems available today.

NEX-5 offers much faster shutter response than current compact cameras, and autofocus nearly as fast as the best SLR systems. Continuous shooting speeds up to 7 fps allow fast action capture, making it ideal for fast action capture, both on land and underwater.

The primary reason for NEX-5’s superior image quality is its larger image sensor. The APS-C sized sensor (approximately the same size as Nikon D300s and Canon 7D) has 9x the surface area of the Canon G11, and 15x the surface area of the Sealife DC1200. Larger sensors mean larger photo sites that yield superior low light performance and greater dynamic range.

Nauticam NA-NEX5 Housing

Nauticam engineers started with a clean slate for their first compact camera housing. Innovation, ease of use, and ergonomics were their #1 priority. The result is an amazingly compact housing, with all of the NEX-5 camera controls available from the ergonomic grip sculpted into the side of the housing. The Nauticam patented locking port release system has been incorporated (with a retro styling twist, paying homage to Nikonos systems), allowing easy and secure port changes.

The camera is quickly mounted in the housing via a snap in camera tray, and the housing is securely closed with a clasp featuring double safety release buttons. The compact form factor and outstanding low light performance make this a perfect system for technical divers exploring extended range environments.

A wide variety of lenses are available to the NEX shooter, including the ultra wide fisheye perspective from Sony E 16mm /2.8 + VCL-ECF1 Fisheye Converter, the versatile E 18-55 Zoom Lens for fish portraits and closeup photography, and highest resolution super macro results attainable using a Nikonos lens with extension tubes.

Angled LCD Display:

The large 3” NEX-5 Display can be angled up at approximately 15 degrees allowing easier composition and more comfortable diving posture. The angled LCD greatly enhances perspective when shooting low subjects, and facilitates an upward shooting angle for blue water backgrounds.

Patented Port Locking System:

With a salute to the past, Nauticam’s Locking Port Release adopts Nikonos system styling cues, and quickly allows port optics or adapters to be changed with no twisting or threading, minimizing the possibility of o-ring extrusion. Fast. Simple. Secure.

Double Safety Housing Clasp:

The housing back is sealed with an easy to operate safety clasp. Dual safety buttons eliminate the chance of accidental opening.

Nauticam Build Quality:

Only the finest materials and cutting edge manufacturing processes are used to make Nauticam housings. The housing body is machined from solid aircraft grade aluminum, then hard anodized making it impervious to salt water. Marine grade stainless steel is used in all fasteners. Nauticam flat ports are optically coated glass, and the optional 4.33” dome port is an optical grade acrylic. The large acrylic LCD window is treated with an anti-reflective, scratch resistant coating.

Optional Rubberized Ergonomic Handles:

Nauticam uses a sophisticated overmold process to produce extremely comfortable rubberized ergonomic hand grips. The soft feel and ergonomic design make the housing easy to grip and minimize hand fatigue on long dives. Both single and double handle configurations are available for complete customization, and each handle can be adjusted laterally allowing the user to dial in perfect fit.

Optical Flash Connectors for Inon S-TTL, and Sea & Sea DS-TTL:

Reliable automatic flash exposure is available with Nauticam housings and a variety of optically fired flashes. Inon Z-240, D-2000, S-2000, Sea & Sea YS-110 Alpha, and YS-01 strobes provide automated lighting, precisely reproducing the camera’s onboard flash at a proportionally greater intensity. This system yields accurate TTL flash performance with no electrical sync cables to flood!

Nikonos V Len Support:

One of the unique advantages of a mirrorless system is that almost lens can be used via an adapter. One of the options this makes possible is an adapter for the heralded Nikonos U/W Nikkor water contact range finder lenses. While the Sony E- mount lenses offer excellent optics and autofocus performance, the Nikonos lenses yield incredibly sharp images.

Specifications:

Standard Features:

Optional Accessories:

Estimated Shipping Date, September 27. More information is available from Nauticam USA