Subal ND30 for Nikon D300 - Martin Edges' Choice

Nikon's D300 SLR provides underwater photographers with a DX format camera boasting 12.3 mp and able to use the wide angle lenses developed for Nikons previous D- SLR cameras. The Nikon D300 is both the ideal candidate for Nikon owners wishing to upgrade their digital camera bodies capabilities without crossing over to the full frame D3 and for those seeking to make the switch to digital from film while keeping to a compact and comparatively lightweight yet professional build quality Nikon body. With 3200 ISO provided for low light, low contrast shooting and the ability to reel off eight frames per second, the Nikon D300 is set to satisfy the most demanding underwater image maker. And they don't get much more demanding than Martin Edge. Martin is considered to be one of the world's foremost authorities on teaching underwater photography. A multi award winning photographer in his own right, Martin is forever pushing himself towards new and imaginative ways to portray his underwater world. But it is as an educator that Martin has truly made his name with his book, "The Underwater Photographer" now in it's third edition and essential reading for anyone wanting to shoot better images in the oceans.. The recipient of the "Visions in the Sea Award for Outstanding Contributions to Underwater Photography" and holder of the prestigious "SSI Platinum 5000 Pro" award that recognises high achievers in diving, Martin's reputation is truly international. His underwater photography courses and photo safaris are legendary and many leading photojournalists and high level competition winners can track their success to Martin Edge's teaching. So it's nosurprise that Martin depends upon the Nikon D300 inside a Subal ND30 housing for capturing his own visions of the undersea.

Subals ND30 housing for the Nikon D300 follows the classic design principles that has won Subal their cult status among many of the world's foremost underwater photographers. From the outset, this housing has been designed to last, to be easy to travel with, intuitive to shoot and accept an unrivalled selection of lenses. The hull is carved from a solid billet of aluminium. It is repeatedly painted with Subal's special formula that ensures your Subal ND30 will resist corrosion and hold its appearance long into the future, even when used professionally under the harshest working conditions. Naturally the Subal ND30 is form fitting around the Nikon D300. This keeps your Subal housing compact for travelling in the aircraft cabin with you and lightweight - under 2.5 kg. The small size also minimises drag under the water. Subal designer Arnold Stepanek has applied his customary genius to providing ND30 owners with full access to all key camera controls while keeping the housings control layout ergonomic and responsive for fumble free shooting when speed is of the essence.

Arnold's soft touch paddle shutter release is standard. This reduces camera shake and vibration to an absolute minimum, especially important for disciplines like wreck photography when slow shutter speeds may be required and for high magnification macro photography when the slightest camera movement is amplified. Sub and main command dials fall under your thumb and middle finger for easy exposure adjustment. Some Nikon users will reverse these functions using the D300's custom choices to suit their own handling preferences. Zoom/manual focus sits within easy reach of your left hand. Your right thumb can also select a multi function button on your Nikon D300 that can be programmed to start your autofocus or lock exposure or/and focus. Beyond your key shooting controls, you can also operate all other important functions and options, leaving your creativity underwater completely open. Focusing choices include switching between manual, servo and continuous, selecting focusing points and focusing type, such as dynamic. With some prime lenses you can choose to focus manually and a de clutching mechanism is built into the manual focusing gear to prevent damage to your lenses and camera body when working in autofocus. All exposure modes are available to you. You can select a range of metering options, allowing you to choose spot, centre weighted and matrix patterns, exposure compensation and exposure auto bracket. White balance menus including the all important custom white balance for use with Magic filters are provided. For strobe photography with TTL systems, such as the SB800 in a Subal housing, different sync modes, including slow sync and flash exposure compensation are provided. Playback functions let you review and delete underwater, access your menus and set quality. And, of course, you can turn your Nikon D300 on and off and turn on your light to illuminate your LCD displays - a great feature for low light diving. Generous panels let you see your camera displays and your live view monitor is deeply hooded to provide crisp viewing in bright conditions.

Arnold optimises his hand grips to provide easy access to your key shooting controls - shutter release, exposure, zoom/focus and AE/AF lock. The right hand grip is a strap handle design. By running the strap across the back of your hand, you are relieved of having to hold the handle in a strong pistol grip. This can be tiring and cause cramping if you are cold or using thick neoprene gloves. The strap handle lets you relax your fingers for more comfortable handling.

Your Nikon D300 mounts onto a saddle and slips easily into your Subal ND30 with the minimum of fuss. Subal's quick lock latches (only two are needed) make opening and closing your housing fast when the pressures on. The spring loaded safety lock incorporated into the quick lock design makes it both virtually impossible to open the latches by accident or to close the housing with the main O ring misaligned.

For strobe photography, two Nikonos type sockets are standard. Circuits are positioned high in the housing top so that a minor leak won't reach and damage them. Either socket can be configured for TTL (we recommend a Nikon speedlight, such as the SB800 in it's own Subal housing for maximum TTL reliability) or for manual guns including the pace setting INON Z- 240. Changing between TTL and manual takes only seconds and does not require you to use tools. A pair of T shoes accept strobe arms from most manufacturers including Inon's excellent ball joint arm system. A mount for a focusing light (we don't recommend using aiming lights built into strobes for focusing) sits over your cameras pentaprism.

Subal have long recognised that leading underwater photographers need to be able to use a wide range of lenses to shoot a wealth of subjects under many different conditions. All of Subal's ports use optical quality glass lenses to retain the quality of your own cameras optics. Subal introduced their bayonet mount over fifteen years ago. Arnold Stepanek has been diligent in ensuring Subal owners can upgrade their housings to use newer cameras without having to buy new ports. However recently many lenses have been introduced that are significantly more bulky than previous models. It's a result of benefits which include vibration reduction, faster apertures and increased zoom range. To accommodate these, Arnold has had to rethink the original bayonet mount. And being Arnold, he planned for this eventuality years ago! So the Subal ND30 housing is equipped with two port mounts. An original mount is provided. For many existing Subal owners, this will be their preferred choice. But this can be removed to reveal a wider mount beneath. This allows for wider ports and port accessories to be used. New Subal owners may prefer this. As always, give Mark or Steve a call if you want advice. Subal ports dock securely with just a quarter turn. Naturally, lenses can be fitted and removed through the port mount. This means you don't have to unload your Nikon D300 from your Subal housing if you want to switch from, say, wide angle to macro photography at short notice. A lens release button, combined with the quick change port makes changing lens fast and convenient.

Subal provide two choices of viewfinder for the ND30. One is an image reduction finder. Image reducers are commonly offered by housing manufacturers, but often misrepresented as image magnifiers. Image reduction finders are simple optically and compact. You do need to have your eye right up against the eyepiece surround. The best mask to use with a reducer is a spearfishing mask - black skirted and low volume. As the name says, image reducers do make your cameras viewfinder image significantly smaller. Almost all of our Subal clients use the GS180 finder in preference to a reducer and the quality of this viewfinder is a very persuasive feature of Subal D- SLR housings. The GS180 finder is a genuine magnifier. Your camera viewfinders own image is enlarged by around 50% and remains sharp and bright. It's easier to compose your image, focus manually and read display data. It also allows more clearance for use with rebreather mouthpieces or full face masks. A further benefit of the GS180 is that you don't need to have your mask right up against the eyepiece. This means you can scan around to see subjects moving into shot, which is great for fish and shark photography.

A leak detector is included!

Demand for the Subal ND30 is outstripping supply, so forward ordering for the time being is advised. As usual, we'd encourage you to pick up your ND30 in person from Ocean Optics - Mavericks Diving. Mark or Steve will expect to spend half a day with you ensuring all controls have lined up properly and making certain that you are comfortable with assembling your system, checking strobe operation and flood prevention.

If you are looking for a pro level DX format underwater SLR system, the Nikon D300 in the Subal ND30 housing backed by Ocean Optics - Mavericks Diving's commitment to after sales ensures this is a very serious contender.

Martin Edge uses a Subal
ND30 for his Nikon D300
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