Aquatica AD90 Review: Into the Deep with HD and RAW

Tim Rock · Issue 50, Sep/Oct 2009 · pp. 24–27

Products mentioned: Aquatica AD90 housing, Nikon D90, Tokina 10-17mm wide angle zoom, Sigma 50mm Macro lens, Nikon D300s, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Magic Filter

I’m sure many of you reacted as I did when the Nikon D90 was first announced and the news that this DSLR included HD video. Being an old TV news guy, I thought the opportunity to play with HD was a real bonus. Plus, this camera had a lot of bang for the buck. The sensor in the D90 is about as good as it gets for this class of camera at this time. The camera is small and a bit light but with a power grip, it adds just enough weight and bulk and feels really good above the water. I’ve used it on assignments and the playback window is large and colorful, so you can tell at a glance if you have a nice shot. So when the housing arrived from Aquatica, I was happy to see it was also small, compact and light. Mine has a shiny, spackled black finish and looks pretty cool. The camera fits the housing like a glove and it has a lot of buttons. This means virtually every function is accessible underw…