by Jack and Sue Drafahl An Underwater n January, Nikon unveiled the tive to intruders. In this mode, the cam- world's first 35mm underwater sin- AFSLR era is set to manual focus and prefo- I gle-lens-reflex camera—the Nikonos Camera with cused at a specific distance. When the RS. This new camera is the product of animal moves into the focus plane, the over 30 years of design know-how, and shutter will fire. represents the most significant advance- Interchangeable Manual focus is accomplished with ment in underwater photography since Lenses and the Power Manual Focus control, a the Calypso was introduced in 1959. lever that moves the lens elements elec- The Nikonos-V remains the standard TTL Flash trically. The focus indicator light in the for underwater photography and the viewfinder confirms proper focus. heart of the Nikonos system, but the re- flex viewing of the Nikonos RS offers EXPOSURE CONTROLS underwater photographers a new dimen- The Nikonos RS incorporates both sion in underwater photography. It's Matrix Metering and smaller and more compact than any Center-Weighted Me- housed SLR, and allows photographers tering. The Matrix to leave their land cameras topside. Meter divides the scene into REFLEX VIEWING five indi- The key to the whole Nikonos RS vidual ar- system is its reflex viewing. Underwater photographers no longer have to imag- ine what the final image will look like. eas, me- tering each area cus on subjects that move or swim con- separately, and de- The reflex viewing system allows the stantly. It's very reliable in low light, rives the best overall exposure for the photographer to compose and focus and works in levels down to EV -1. scene. This is especially useful for ex- each frame of film. This is vitally im- In Single-Servo autofocus, the pho- tremely complex lighting situations, portant for capturing fish on film. These tographer presses the shutter button where time would be better spent com- elusive critters are hard to frame and fo- halfway until optimum focus is posing the picture than calculating expo- cus on, as they tend to move around a achieved. The focus will stay locked at sure. The Center-Weighted Metering sys- lot. With the RS system's large, high- this point until the shutter button is fully tem concentrates 75% of its sensitivity to eyepoint Action Finder, the photogra- depressed. This function is ideal for the 12mm center spot in the middle of the pher can easily frame and autofocus on photos where the primary subject is way viewfinder. any moving object. off-center. Just position the subject in The finder employs a fixed Nikon B- the center of the viewfinder, press down ADDITIONAL FEATURES type BriteView focusing screen, so criti- halfway on the shutter button, confirm The Nikonos RS reads DX codes on cal focusing under extremely low light focus, pan to the correct composition, the film and automatically sets the cor- conditions is now possible. Viewing is and depress the shutter button fully. rect ISO film speed. If the film does not comfortable because of the 60mm high- In Continuous-Servo AF mode, the have a DX code, the photographer can eyepoint relief and 9° offset angle, camera will continually adjust the focus set the ISO manually. The motor-drive which allows the full image area to be as long as the shutter button is partially system advances the film from frame to viewed with the camera held away from depressed, to compensate for objects frame when the shutter is depressed, the facemask. Bright LCD readouts in that are constantly changing position. and there is an auto rewind feature, as the finder display in/out of focus, expo- Automatic Focus Tracking works in well. The RS is powered by one 6V CR- sure mode, film-speed setting, exposure both Single-Servo and Continuous-Ser- P2 lithium battery pack. compensation, and flash status. vo modes. The camera electronically The body of the Nikonos RS is determines the rate at which the subject made of die-cast copper silumin oxi- AUTOFOCUS is moving, computes its position at the dized aluminum alloy, and has a depth The Nikonos RS uses the same moment of exposure, and adjusts the fo- rating of 328 feet. All the joints are AM200 autofocus module found in oth- cus to that point. sealed by O-ring gaskets to ensure a er Nikon top-of-the-line SLR cameras. Freeze Focus mode is ideal for situa- watertight seal. The body measures 7.7 The AF system is very fast, and can fo- tions in which the subject is very sensi- inches high, 5.9 inches wide, 3.3 inch- 86 PHOiographic/July 1992 es deep, and weighs approximately 32.4 ounces underwater. PHOTOTOURS LEARN INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES CAMERA REPAIR The Nikonos RS system includes WORKSHOPS three outstanding underwater lenses (Continued from page 83) > For Camera* of the 90's made of high-quality optical glass for > 18 Home Study Lesson* which Nikon is renowned worldwide. 94109; (415) 776-2211. John Muir Trail > 3 Day Hands-On Residency All three lenses are fast-aperture and Centennial Series, "The Sierra Sky- > Taught by Professionals have been color corrected for underwa- way, " July 11-August 14 (in six parts): FREE BROCHURE ter performance. Each has an airtight, Part 1, Happy Isles to Reds Meadow, double-bayonet mount that ensures a July 11-19. Yosemite Park and Ansel C&C Associates watertight fit on the camera body. Adams Wilderness. $370. Part II, Reds 300 Highfall Ave The R-UW 28mm f/2.8 lens is con- Meadow to Florence Lake, July 19-27. Greencastle, IN 46135 (317) 653-3405 sidered the standard lens for the RS sys- $370. Part III, South Lake, July 25-Au- Fully Accredited by Indiana Commission for tem, and can be used for general reef gust 1. $325. Part IV, Taboose Creek, Posisecondary Proprietary Education AC-0189. scenics, moderately wide-angle photos, July 28-August 4. $325. Part V, Onion and close-up photography up to 1:6 ra- Valley, August 1-8. Part VI, Mt. Whit- tios. This close-focusing capability al- ney, Kings Canyon and Sequoia Parks, Training in lows the photographer to get closer to August 6-14. $370. the animals than ever before with a • 63 Ranch, Mission Creek Canyon, standard lens. P.O. Box 979, Livingston, MT 59047; TECHNOLOGY The R-UW 50mm f/2.8 lens is the (406) 222-0570. 63 Ranch Photo Work- Ohio Institute of Photography (OIP) train* students for a photographic career through specialized workhorse of the macro world for the shops, September 6-12. Photograph education. This training focuses on combining RS system. This lens and RS camera cowboys, horses and cattle, elk and bi- technical and creative skills enables the underwater photographer to son, ranch life and wildlife, wildflowers Associate Degrees and Diplomas are available In the following majors: move into 1:1 (life-size) subject magni- and fall colors, waterfalls, geysers, hot • Commercial • Visual Communications fication with no extension tubes or spe- springs and fumaroles, spectacular • Portraiture • General Applied cial attachments. mountains, and lush meadows in the • Corporate • Photo Lab Technician • Biomedical (Diploma only) The largest and most impressive lens majesty Absaroka Mountains of Mon- For more Information, call or write: in the RS system is the R-UW 20-35mm tana. $950, inclusive. Ohio Institute of Photography zoom lens. This is the world's first un- • Trinity Alps Workshops, Mary Ellen Dept. 10 • 2029 Edgedeld Rood Dayton. OH 45439-1984-(513) 294-6155 derwater zoom. Since lenses cannot be Schultz, 216 Marquis PI., Santa Maria, OH B»g *72-11-Oi44T Accr»dH»d M«mb«f ol NATTS J changed underwater, this lens is the ide- CA 93454; (805) 928-3386. Ontario, al choice for photographers who want September 26-October 3. Using lovely the flexibility of different focal lengths Stokely Creek Lodge with its magnifi- underwater. The photographer can cap- cent accommodations and meals, Mary Simply ture the entire reef on film and, seconds Ellen Schultz and Charles Krebs will in- later, zero-in on a fish portrait. struct during the peak of intense autumn the best color tin the Eastern hardwood forests. NIKONOS SB-104 FLASH The Algoma country of Lake Superior SYSTEM is unsurpassed in its beauty. See nearby teaches all aspects of still pho- The Nikonos RS camera system can lakes, rocky coves, beaver ponds, wa- tography, film- making and video be used with either the SB-102 or SB- terfalls, wild apple orchards, and more. production. Offers BA and MS 103 flash systems presently available $975, inclusive. degree programs and workshops. for the Nikonos-V camera and still • Pete Vogel's Wildlife Safari Photo maintain full flash controls. But, if the Workshops, Box 229, Winchester, OR BROOKS INSTITUTE underwater photographer wants to uti- 97495; (503) 679-6761, ext. 15. Wildlife lize some of the additional controls of Safari Photo Workshop, September OF PHOTOGRAPHY the RS system, the new SB-104 flash is 11-13. A 600-acre, drive-through, rea- or Call, Department PP. 801 Alston Rd. necessary. The Nikonos RS camera and sonably local, exotic wild-animal park Santa Barbara. California 93106 805-966-3888. this flash give the photographer com- located in southern Oregon proves to be Circle »320 on Reader Service Card plete use of Matrix Balanced Fill-Rash, a photographer's wildlife paradise. Get Center-Weighted TTL Flash, Manual up—photogenically—close with lions, flash, Rear-Curtain flash sync, and tigers, elephants, and bears. Excursions RHODE ISLAND Wireless Remote Camera Slave. include walk-throughs, pop-top van The SB-104 has a warm color tem- trips, photo instruction by Pete Vogel, SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY perature balance of 4700 K to compen- lodging and meals.