Underwater Housings for Nikon D3 

A handful of manufacturers are putting out a housing for Nikon's new flagship DSLR.  The table below includes the details I've found so far.

Housing

Ports

Lenses

Bulkheads

TTL Options

Access

Other Feature Notes

Price

Specs

Availa- bility

Comments

Reviews and Opinions
Aquatica D3 Largest dome: 9.25" glass;
Port for 105mm VR requires extra focusing gear;
Housing includes port locking mechanism		 Oversized port opening can handle 14-24mm and 105mm VR lenses;
Release lever for easy lens changing through the front port with camera installed		 Choice of bulkhead configuration:
(1) Dual 2-pin Nikonos,
(2) Dual TTL/5-pin Nikonos,
(3) Single 2-pin Ikelite,
(4) Single TTL/5-pin Ikelite		 (1)  Ikelite TTL adapter and Ikelite strobes,
(2) Sea&Sea TTL converter and Sea&Sea strobes,
(3) Housed SB-800 flash		 Access to AF-On button but no access to AE-L button;
CF cards can be accessed without removing camera from housing;
14-24mm and 105mm VR lenses can be installed/removed from the front of the housing		 Three threaded 1/4"-20 holes on the bottom (one in the center for a tripod);
Built-in leak sensor;
Built-in remote control capability		 US$3775 (B&H); US$3990 (Aquatica price list)
Weight: 8lbs/ 3.6kg
Bouyancy: slightly negative
Dimensions: 9.5x8.5x 5.75" / 241x216x 146mm
Max Depth: 300ft/ 90m		 April '08
 Optional viewfinder (US$1170);
Deep rating (400ft/ 130m) upgrade available;
Some details listed at B&H; Press release here; Machined from a solid block of aluminum;		  
Sea&Sea MDX-D3 Largest dome: 9.7" acrylic;
Port for 105mm VR requires extra focusing gear;
Housing includes port locking mechanism		 Port opening can just handle 14-24mm lens (it's tight);
Port opening also handles 105mm VR lens, which can be accessed from the front of the housing		 Two Nikonos type bulkheads (one 2-pin; one TTL/5-pin) (1) Sea&Sea TTL converter and Sea&Sea strobes,
(2) Ikelite TTL adapter and Ikelite strobes,
(3) Housed SB-800 flash		 CF card and AF-On/AE-L access details are unkown;
The 105mm VR lens can be installed/removed from the front of the housing		 Built-in leak sensor;
No tripod hole		 US$4595 (B&H); US$4650 (Sea&Sea catalog)
 Weight: 6.9lbs/ 3.1kg
Bouyancy: neutral depending on port
Dimensions: 13.4x8.8x 5.9"/ 335x220x 147mm
Max Depth: 200ft/ 60m

 April '08
 Optional expanded viewfinder (US$900);
Layout details;
Accessories;
Some details listed at B&H;
Also listed at Backscatter;
Machined from a solid block of aluminum; 		 
Seacam D3 Largest dome: 9" glass;
Port for 105mm VR requires extra focusing gear;
 Oversized port opening can handle 14-24mm and 105mm VR lenses Choice of bulkhead configuration:
(1) Dual Nikonos TTL/5-pin,
(2) Dual Subtronic S6		 (1) Seacam Seaflash 250 (no converter required)
(2)  Ikelite TTL adapter and Ikelite strobes,
(3) Sea&Sea TTL converter and Sea&Sea strobes,
(4) Housed SB-800 flash		 AF-On/AE-L access details are unkown;
CF cards can be accessed without removing camera from housing		 One threaded 3/8" hole on the bottom for a tripod (adapter available to convert to 1/4"-20) Unknown (blank price listed in catalog) Unknown Unknown Optional magnifying viewfinders will be available (one 45 degree, one straight);
This housing is still under development, so many details are still not known.
  
Subal ND3 Largest dome: 10" glass;
Port for 105mm VR does not require extra focusing gear;
Housing includes QuickLock latching system
 		 Optional larger (Type 4) bayonet port opening can handle 14-24mm and 105mm VR lenses;
A new 10" dome will be designed for wide angle zooms;
Both lenses can be accessed from the front of the housing		 Two strobe connectors (choice ofNikonos, Ikelite and Subtronic) (1)  Ikelite TTL adapter and Ikelite strobes,
(2) Sea&Sea TTL converter and Sea&Sea strobes,
(3) Subtronic iTTL strobes (no need for converters)
(4) Housed SB-800 flash		 AE-L and AF-On buttons can both be accessed underwater using independent thumb controls;
CF cards can be accessed by sliding the camera out a bit from housing (camera does not have to be removed from tray);
14-24mm and 105mm VR lenses can be installed/removed from the front of the housing		 Two threaded 6mm  holes on the bottom (at each end; neither is centered, so tripod requires extra bracket) US$6100 (Backscatter); US$7350 (with magnifying viewfinder)
 Weight: 6bs/ 2.7kg
Bouyancy: neutral depending on port
Dimensions: 10x9x 6.5"/ 255x230x 165mm
Max Depth: 210ft/ 70m

 Available now
 Product info  PDF; Some details listed at Backscatter; Machined from a solid block of aluminum Initial report from Backscatter.

YouTube video of Subal's ND3 doing the arctic and the resultant photos.

Notes:
Last modified on 9-April-2008 by lizhanks

Document history: