Nauticam announced NA-D600 underwater housing for Nikon D600 camera. The NA-D600 has a depth rating of 100m and costs $3,300. Shipping starts on December 20, 2012. Sample images taken with NA-D600 and D600 combo can be found at the bottom of this post.
Nauticam NA-D600: Innovation Underwater
As the world’s largest and most technologically advanced manufacturer of aluminum underwater housings, Nauticam takes great pride in announcing the latest release in its acclaimed line of precision crafted equipment. It has been an extraordinary year of product development at Nauticam with an unprecedented number of new housings and revolutionary new features. The NA-D600 benefits from the extensive engineering prowess Nauticam is famous for while offering a full frame digital imaging system at a ground breaking price point.
Nikon D600
Nikon continues to court enthusiasts and pros by debuting impressive new products at an attractive price point. The D600 offers stellar 24mp full frame imaging at a cost that was previously the domain of pro-sumer cropped sensor bodies. That doesn’t mean that the D600 is short on features – this Nikon serves up a large 100% coverage viewfinder, 39 point fast auto-focus and a 24mp CMOS FX sensor with Exspeed 3 processing that provides outstanding high ISO imaging quality. An expanded ISO range of 50 – 25,600 supports lots of creative flexibility. This sensor was even ranked in the top three in DXO Mark testing out of all camera bodies currently manufactured – better than some cameras costing considerably more.
Video shooters have not been ignored with 1080p @ 30fps on tap and 720p @ 60fps available. Clean HDMI out for external recorders, microphone inputs and headphone outputs are all a plus for serious videographers topside.
The D600’s 5.5 frames a second shooting rate is impressive considering the large file size, while image review is easy on the big, bright 3.2” LCD screen. One of the most striking features of the D600 is its size. This full frame, magnesium reinforced camera body is not much larger than Nikon’s hugely popular D7000 DX sensor camera. For the underwater photographer this compact size is a real benefit in packability, maneuverability and weight. Most users of the Nikon D800 and D7000 will feel right at home with the D600 which borrows on many features from both. Menus are familiar and offer extensive custom programmable functions. The option to utilize the inexpensive Nikon WU-1b wireless controller to send image files or interface with Apple and Android phones as remote monitors and controllers is pretty amazing. Interesting possibilities will surely arise with these powerful, but accessible tools.
At this time there is simply no other full frame camera body that can offer the features, resolution and bang for the buck that the new Nikon D600 provides.
Nauticam NA-D600
This new housing sports many of the cutting edge features Nauticam introduced on the NA-D4 and NA-D800 in a smaller, lighter, and less expensive package. The award winning ergonomics of previous housings have been retained with subtle refinements and D600 specific details engineered for maximum performance in the undersea environment.
Compact Design: Enormous Potential
Once again, Nauticam has led the underwater photography industry by being the first to deliver a fully refined housing for the Nikon D600. Nikon designed the D600 to appeal to every enthusiast or pro who longed for a compact, friendly and affordable full frame camera. Nauticam has engineered the NA-D600 housing so that it is equally friendly and compact, but has every ounce of rugged reliability and features that pros demand. Holding the nicely proportioned NA-D600 by the comfortable rubberized grips; it seems impossible that a 24mp full frame camera resides inside that is capable of out-resolving every camera in it’s class save its bigger brother: the D800.
Controls Inspired by You
With every new housing it engineers, Nauticam continues to improve on what is already the most ergonomic control layout in the industry. Building on this tradition, the NA-D600 incorporates dual paddle assemblies for right and left thumb. These paddles instantly access key features: Video Record and AE-L/AF-L on the right and Playback and ISO on the left. Most photographers will quickly activate them by feel while never releasing grip or looking away from the viewfinder. The housing is also clearly designed to embrace both the still and video shooter and switching back and forth is intuitive and near seamless with the live view (LV) button and live view selector.
Nauticam has pioneered a new release (drive) mode control utilizing the D600’s ability to lock shooting modes. This control functions independent of the exposure mode dial that it sits beneath on the camera body. Being able to shift into the D600’s quiet mode (much quieter than the D800/D4) and lock it could be a real boon for pelagic shooters close to shy subjects. Front and rear command dials are larger and easier to engage than ever before – even with gloves.
More Shooting, More Fun, More Results
Every aspect of the NA-D600 housing has evolved to get photographers off the boat and into the water faster and easier than ever before. For great photography, a diver’s time should be spent taking pictures, not struggling with controls before or during the dive. Camera installation has never been easier, with almost no preparation required. The patented lever actuated port lock is the standard by which others are measured. The award winning housing latches are tool free and require no excessive strength. Viewfinder exchanges require seconds, not minutes. Most functions are accessed while never releasing grip on the handles. But Nauticam’s virtuosity does end on the design table – every housing model must prove itself in the most rigorous environments on earth. The NA-D600 will perform with the same ease and elegance at 100 meters in the Bering Sea as fashion shoot in a 4 meter pool.
Nauticam for the Nikon D600. This is a system that is easy to embrace and nearly impossible to outgrow. Is it time to have fun, to stretch your potential and capture the images you might have missed? The right combination has finally arrived. The only question now is: how far will your imagination take you?
Standard Features That Are Anything But Standard
Nauticam has pioneered numerous engineering breakthroughs in previous housings that have been integrated into NA-D600. The Locking Latch System has received acclaim worldwide for its ease and functionality. These recessed latches are equipped with safety locks to eliminate accidental opening, yet require minimal hands strength to operate, and they will not pinch fingers like stainless steel buckles can.
Port changes have never been simpler than utilizing the Patented Nauticam Locking Port Release. No wrestling, no twisting, no misalignment – just seat and lock. Lens changes are also easily accomplished without removing the camera from the housing via the lens release button logically accessed on the housing front.
The lightweight, rugged Nauticam handles are generously contoured with a durable over-mold process of comfortable non-slip soft touch rubber. Virtually any hand size can be accommodated with spacers available for cold-water glove use.
All Nauticam housings are machined from a solid block of seawater resistant aluminum alloy and then hard anodized making them impervious to corrosion. Hardware is marine grade stainless steel. Clear acrylic windows are protected with a scratch resistant coating.
Clearly Superior Vision
A high performance camera like the Nikon D600 demands perfect focus for optimal results. Fortunately, Nauticam has developed the most user-friendly interchangeable precision viewfinders in the world. The standard optical glass viewfinder is very good and travel friendly on large bright viewfinder, but many photographers prefer the ease of a magnified viewfinder with dioptric adjustment. Nauticam produces a “straight” 180° enlarging viewfinder and a 45° angled enlarging viewfinder to enhance the ease of close quarters work often associated with macro shooting. Both viewfinders have high quality optics allow viewing of the entire image. A patented external dioptric adjustment allows personal adjustment to a sharp-as-a-tack standard underwater and viewfinder changes can be executed in less than 30 seconds without using tools. Exceptional composition and focus accuracy have never been more accessible.
Illumination by Design
Lighting control is key to any successful underwater photography system. The NA-D600 delivers professional diversity to meet every challenge. A single Nikonos sync port is included with each housing as standard equipment. S-6 or Ikelite style sync port bulkheads are available optionally, and can easily be installed or removed in the field. The Nauticam system fiber optic cables are compatible with Inon and Sea & Sea strobes and provide reliable triggering with no electrical connections to maintain or flood.
Accessories to Achieve Imaging Excellence
Nauticam has the most extensive line of high quality optical ports available anywhere and all existing Nauticam DSLR ports will fit the NA-D600. Nauticam also provides the industry’s only locking extension rings in every size potentially required, thus preventing port slippage of any kind when using extension rings. Nauticam additionally offers a full range of port adapters allowing existing housing owners to use their current ports, reducing the cost of switching to a Nauticam housing. Port Adapters are available for Aquatica, Ikelite, Inon, Nexus M5 & M6, Sea & Sea NX, Seacam, Subal Version 3 & 4, and Zillion lens ports.
Professional Video Options
If the video capabilities of the D600 are of primary importance, Nauticam’s NA-DP4 housing for the SmallHD Monitor can take video performance to another level. The monitor housing easily mounts to the top of the NA-D4 and utilizes the optional HDMI Bulkhead for true HDMI connectivity. Utilizing DP4 features like Focus Peaking, Focus Assist, False Color, 1:1 Mapping and DSLR Scale, this larger monitor vastly improves composition, focus capability and exposure visibility.
Specifications
- Depth Rating: 100m
- Dimensions (with handles mounted): L 350mm x H 189.5mm x D 132mm
- Weight: 2.7kg
- Standard Features
- Patented Locking Port Release Lever
- Sensitive Two Stage Shutter Release Lever
- Optical Strobe Connectors
- Rubberized Ergonomic Grips
- 1 Customizable Accessory Ports (allowing use of optional Nikonos, S6, or Ikelite Strobe Connectors, Hydrophone, Video Out, or Remote Control Connectors)
- Embossed Control Function Labels
- Quick Release Camera Mounting Shoe
- Lens Release Button
- Four Strobe & Accessory Base Mounting Locations
- Complete Access to All Key Camera Controls
- Stainless Steel Support Brackets for Handles
- .66x Optical Pickup Finder (Enhanced 180 deg and 45 deg Viewfinders with External Diopter Adjustment optional)
- Audible and Visual Leak Alarm
- Model Number: 17210
- USA Retail Price: $3300
- Estimated Shipping Date: Dec 20, 2012
Sample images taken with Nikon D600 and Nauticam NA-D600:
