The Nikonos Conversion System

Andrej Belic · Issue 68, Sep/Oct 2012 · pp. 35–37

Products mentioned: Nikonos RS, Nikon F70, Nikon F5, Subal Procase, Seacam Nikon F100, Nikkor 17-35/2.8, Nikon D3, Nikkor 16mm fisheye, Sigma 8-16, Nikon D7000, Nikon D800, Nikkor 14-24, Nikonos RS 13mm Fisheye, Nikonos RS 28mm, Nikonos RS 50mm macro, Subal ND3s, Nauticam housing, Sea & Sea housing

This is the story of how a decade long underwater photographer’s dream came true. The first personal encounter I had with a Nikonos RS was in 2002 at one of Kurt Amsler’s famous workshops. Before I’ve only read about it and considered it an overpriced Nikon F70. Kurt back then was sponsored by Nikon and Subal. He had a Subal Procase for the Nikon F5 as well as a Nikonos RS system consisting of camera, lenses and strobes. Once I asked him which system he preferred since I was a big fan of housed cameras (I was using a Seacam Nikon F100), he smiled at me and pointed to the RS. I argued: “This is an outdated F70 in a housing selling for way more than Seacam, Subal, etc…” Again he smiled and answered: “You don’t care about the optics and this is what it’s all about.” Ok, during the next days I got the chance to compare. I had a Nikkor 17-35/2.8 which was the best wide-angle zoom 10 years ago…