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From: Ari Saarto <asaarto_at_lpt.fi>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] SLR vs. Waterproof camera
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 12:34:34 +0200 (EET)
Nikonos waterproof camera has been extraordinarily popular among my
students - some of them surfing here at the west coast, whatever the
weather. Actually, they are borrowing it from the department so often that
I do not have possibilities to get it out for my precious self ;-) 

It seems that Nikonos II is worth of trusting: simple, waterproof,
and has also possibility for programming an automatic exposure, if you
have to take pics singlehanded in the kayak. The only problem is the
lense: 28mm (or was it 35mm), which really gives some depth to pictures -
especially if you are able to put something to the front. 

BUT: 28mm lense is rather difficult if one is sitting low (in the kayak),
or if you are willing to take really  w i d e  landscapes. It pushes
the back of the picture  r e a l l y   far, so sometimes you will be
having quite little information in the pics. You know, the usual story
about people looking size of flies in the pics ;-) So pay attention on
focusing and "designing" of the picture: composition.

I think that Nikonos II is worth of trying, I would like to get more
lenses, but according to the local importer, there is not any :-( What is
the use to produce a camera body with a possibility to change lenses -
when there is only single one of them available ...?  I am not familiar
with the model III, but Nikon is not making any waterproof SRL cameras.

My other equipment for taking pics: a 30 years old Rollei 35mm camera (a
metal body, breaks not easily) a small table tripod, next summer also
a 30ft pump wire to get myself also to some pics (travelling mostly
solo)...  I suppose I will have to let the Rollei go, the lense is 40mm
and really difficult when considering the composition. I would prefer 35mm
or 28mm :-) And Rollei is NOT waterproof ;-)

Ari Saarto
principal lecturer
Lahti Polytechnic, Institute of Design, 
Faculty of Visual Communication/department of Photography

(plus the usual blah blah blah) Finland -Europe

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From: Robert C. Cline <rcline_at_onramp.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] SLR vs. Waterproof camera
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 00:03:31 -0600
>I think that Nikonos II is worth of trying, I would like to get more
>lenses, but according to the local importer, there is not any :-( What is
>the use to produce a camera body with a possibility to change lenses -
>when there is only single one of them available ...?  I am not familiar
>with the model III, but Nikon is not making any waterproof SRL cameras.

As Ari suggests, there are several lenses for the Nikonos cameras.    A
80mm; 35mm; 28mm; a 20mm and a 15mm.  The 15 is bizarre and costs
thousands.  Even the 20mm used to be way over $1000.  The 35mm is the one
that came with the camera and the one which is the one of choice for Kayak
stuff... This too is a wide angle.  So get close to the subject.

There are also Macro Extension tubes for the Macro buffs.  These are rather
inexpensive, but require a strobe.

There isn't much difference between the Nikonos II and the Nikonos III.
I've used the I, the II and the III.  Basically, they are the same camera.

Robert
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