Subal ND3 for Nikon D3

Nikon's 12 mp, full frame D3 SLR has caused a furore amongst professional and semi - professional underwater image makers. Spurred on by the qualities of the professional D2 series and high end Nikon D200, many serious shooters had either upgraded to these cameras from earlier D- SLR's or finally switched to digital imaging from film. Now the D3 has arrived and the question must be asked: Is the Nikon D3 "the one?"

The specifications are superlative. 12.1 mega pixels on a 35mm film sized sensor and fantastic low light capability make the Nikon D3 a camera than can deliver images of impeccable quality even in very poor light, low contrast conditions often encountered in the harsher underwater locations. High speed shooting (9 frames per second) deliver the ability to roll like a movie camera when the action is fast and unrepeatable.The D3 should, in the hands of top photographers, like Tom Peschak, allow all previous creative and quality boundaries to be surpassed.

Tom Peschak, the hugely talented and successful underwater photographer behind the books"Currents of Contrast", "South Africa's Great White Shark" and "Wild Seas, Secret Shores" has already made his choice. With an assignment for the "Save Our Seas Foundation" to the barely dived atoll of Aldabra in the Indian Ocean imminent, Tom determined to return with the best images possible to add to his already breathtaking portfolio. A Subal ND3 housing was duly ordered from Ocean Optics.

Any new Subal housing is always keenly awaited. Designer Arnold Stepanek is renowned for the intuitive handling Subal housings imbue, selecting only premium materials and finishes to ensure the housing can take the abuse a pro will inflict upon it and an exhaustive selection of ports, extension rings and lens gears to ensure any optic the professional user is ever likely to need can be accommodated. It's attention to detail than ensures that nothing excels quite like a Subal. All qualities that are intrinsic to the new Subal ND3 and backed by Ocean Optics matchless service, aftersales and advice.

The Subal ND3 underwater housing for the Nikon D3 is remarkably understated. The housing

hugs the camera it must contain and protect with just enough space for the inner control surfaces. The result is an underwater housing for the ND3 that is supremely compact. This feature saves on baggage space and minimises drag in the water. It's also very light for its class - just over 2.5kg. The hull is carved from a solid block of aluminium, anodized and repeatedly painted with Arnold's special formula to prevent corrosion. Anti skid panels protect the base. This is a housing that is built to last.

The Nikon D3 assures the high end user of considerable control of the camera and through that versatility, control of the final image. The Subal ND3 housing provides the underwater photographer with that same level of creative control. The ND3 features the well known Subal soft touch paddle release that minimises vibration as you gently trip the shutter. This is the heart of your key shooting controls, where responsiveness is crucial to nailing once in a lifetime shots that sell time and again. A rear dial, activated by your thumb drives shutter speed or aperture at your personal preference. On the housings lower front sits your sub command dial knob. Falling under your left hand is your zoom control for composing your photograph. This can be used as a manual focus control with prime lenses and features a declutching position for protecting your valuable autofocus mechanism. Under your left thumb is a lever that can operate your choice of functions (many photographers customise control setting on their Nikon cameras to get their camera attuned to their specific preferences) including AF on or a combination of AE and AF lock. Push buttons on the housing back are also thumb operated and, while shooting, allow you to select your focus point. They are also used for playback and menu options. Naturally you can select AF type, such as dynamic. Focus can also be switched between manual, servo and continuous underwater. Exposure mode can be selected as can metering pattern type, exposure compensation values and bracketing choices. You can access your menus, examine your images and delete all without opening your Subal ND3 housing. On/off and light areall operable underwater. Large panels let you see your top panel LCD display and the monitor window, used for live view, setting many menus and reviewing images is deeply hooded to eliminate glare that could impair your view of this crucial readout. Your Nikon D3 mounts on to a saddle for swift loading and unloading with the minimum of fuss.

Flash mode selection is offered. You can dedicate your Nikon D3 and Subal ND3 underwater housing for manual flash with strobes such as the pacesetting Inon Z- 240 or for TTL when using a housed Nikon gun such as an SB800 in a Subal underwater casing. The change can be made in seconds without the use of tools. Two Nikonos connectors are standard and two 25mm strobe arm mounts accept popular strobe arms including Inon.

In the last few years, lenses have become increasingly wide bodied to incorporate faster apertures. auto focus motors, anti - shake mechanisms and a raft of control switches. This has created problems for housing manufacturers who usually try to keep the same type of port mount so that clients can upgrade their housings without having to buy new ports. The Subal bayonet mount is well proven. The simple 2 claw mount requires only a quarter turn to remove or secure your port and uses a dependable piston O ring seal. It's a quick and uncomplicated system that's an industry standard. However Subal accept that to use some modern lenses, the existing mount is now too narrow. Arnold Stepanek has come up with an ingenious solution to the problems that this might have caused his clients.The Subal ND3 incorporates two mount sizes in one body. The original mount is included. Most existing Subal owners will probably continue to use this. But by removing this mount, a wider mount is revealed. A new series of ports and extension rings is being developed for this larger mount. Chat with Mark or Steve if you're unsure as to which mount will be best for you. Incidentally, Arnold, ever thoughtful, planned for this eventuality years ago and has provided Subal owners with the 2 in 1 port mount for some years.

Subal ports are renowned for their fine optical properties. Arnold uses only optical glass for his lenses. Wide angle dome ports include hoods as standard. Macro ports may be ordered in auofocus only or with manual focus override. There's a lens release button to let you fit or remove lenses through the front of your housing. This feature means that you don't need to unload your Nikon D3 from your housing to switch lenses

Subal's trademark quick release latches make opening and closing your housing quick, easy and, above all , secure. Only two are required. The Subal design all but precludes locking down the back unless the main O ring is properly seated. An optical leak detector is standard. Focusing lights mount over the housings centre on a special block atop the pentaprism. We have a choice of suitable lights and mounts for this very important function that greatly eases night and low light photography. Subal also provide two comfortable hand grips. The right is a strap handle, which has a strap section that runs across the back of your hand. This means you don't have to grip your housing in a fist, which can be uncomfortable and tiring, especially when wearing neoprene gloves.

Owners of the Subal ND3 housing can choose from an image reduction viewfinder or a high eyepoint finder. The reducer is very compact, but does mean you will be viewing through an image rather smaller than the camera would normally provide. This type of finder is common on many competing housing brands, though this isn't always made clear in the description. The far more popular Subal GS180 finder is a genuine magnifier which makes your viewfinder image around 50% larger when viewed through the housing compared to using your Nikon D3 on land. The image is very bright and sharp. This finder does not require you to have your mask against the eyepiece. You can stand back a little and this means you can also see around your housing at subjects that have not yet entered frame. This is a great advantage when working with fish as it gives you a little warning time before you need to squeeze the trigger!

Overall, the Nikon D3 camera encased in the superb Subal ND3 underwater housing, backed by Ocean Optics expertise and aftersales is about as professional a system as it gets. For more detailed information, contact

Mark or Steve.

 

 

 

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