Thinking about getting a Nikonos V..any suggestions

michaelbialecki · 12-16-2009

Hey guys, I found a Nikonos V with a 20/2.8, 35/2.5 and a 15/2.8 with a viewfinder....it also comes with a nikonos fb 105 strobe, some cables, flash bracket and a protective plastic case for around 550 usd.....

Everything looks to be in pretty good shape...I have never done underwater photography but I am thinking about playing around with it....I live in Thailand and I like to snorkel off some of the islands here......it seems like a good deal....anything that I should look out for...any comments, recomendations? thanks in advance...

cheers, michael

BillBingham2 · 12-16-2009

I know very little about the V, but you know they never made a bad Nikonos.

I'd strongly recommend that you look at this site:

http://www.southern-nikonos.com/Work...g/wpcasing.htm

Bob is a good guy who really went out of his way to help me out a few years back.

I loved my Nikonos III, the V looks very interesting. Price seems reasonable for all the parts but I do not know enough about the market.

B2 (;->

peterm1 · 12-16-2009

The Nikonos is the camera that got me into photography having been a scuba diver who travelled a lot in the Pacific region.

Later I figured out that I got better results from the Nik above water rather than under it as UW photography is so challenging. But I like the Nikonos. Its build quality is superb and it has some quite OK lenses. From memory though both the 20 and 28 can only be used below water. It does not have a rangefinder so that rather limits you to wide angles. Its a fun camera to own not only for divers but for people who like to rough it - if you do not mind the weight.

Check it and the lenses carefully to make sure its not been flooded at any time. And you may wish to have it pressure tested to make sure it is water tight. Check the cap on top of the wind on lever to make sure that there is no rust under it. (It can accumulate there.) Be aware that Nikon no longer makes the O rings but I have seen some threads on forums explaining what alternatives are available.

I have long since sold mine although I have from time to time considered buying one again just for nostalgia and those times I want to take photos in the rain.

Roger Hicks · 12-17-2009

It's not just for underwater either: anywhere there's water, sand, or a generally hostile environment. The 15 and 20 are underwater only as far as I recall: I've only ever had the 35. I lent mine to a friend who dropped it over the side, and like Peter, I've often thought of buying another.

Cheers,

R.

ChrisN · 12-17-2009

Unless you really need a kit with all those lenses and accessories, that's way too much to pay for the novelty. Remember that you can't trust it underwater without a full service - there are seals that can't be replaced without the full overhaul. But it is a nice camera.

michaelbialecki · 12-17-2009

Thanks everybody for the reply.......Chris has a point, it is sort of a novelty for me and I am not sure how handy it would be, or how much I would actually use it......I thought it was a good deal, but maybe it isn't.......I think I could get it for 500usd if I really wanted it.....but now I am starting to think again.......I guess I thought it was a good price, but maybe it isn't after all.....oh well, I am going to sleep on it....thanks again

cheers, michael

craygc · 12-17-2009

Michael, its a Songkran camera Chiang Mai

emraphoto · 12-17-2009

LOVE the nkonos 5! i am not a diver by any stretch but i have one for when things (weather) get really ugly.

i have the 35 and run fast film (scale focus). it has held up brilliantly in some very hostile weather. highly recommended.

michaelbialecki · 12-17-2009

Hello Craig.....yeah, I definetly thought about it as a songkran camera...it would be pretty fun....

Hello emraphoto, I am not a diver either, I prefer to snorkel.... I think it would be fun to use in some crazy monsoon rain action.....

now that I have a couple more opinions, do you guys think 500usd is a good price for the kit....

thanks again...cheers, michael
nikonos V.jpg

craygc · 12-17-2009

That is well worth US$500. I paid US$350 for mine in mint condition with just the 35mm. The real issue is whether you would get the use out of the 20mm and 15mm as they are not amphibious like the 35mm. Do realise that under water all these lenses give an angle of view equivalent to a lens with a focal length of 1.25x due to diffraction in the water.

dfoo · 12-17-2009

That is a great price! Strobe, great lenses and the body all for $500? Wow. I warn you though, UW photography is really really hard.

michaelbialecki · 12-17-2009

hey thanks guys........I also have a swimming pool in my building and I think it would be fun to take it in there and get used to it before I hit the islands on a snorkeling trip....I think it would be fun to have a foul weather camera..sort of like the fuji "big job" digital camera that is sometimes advertised here in the classifieds....anyways, I am not so sure yet, i am going to sleep on it and email the guy back tomorrow...if anybody else has some opinions, one way or the other, I would love to hear them....

cheers, michael

michaelbialecki · 12-17-2009

Hello dfoo, thanks for the reply....yeah, I think uw photography is hard...and that is sort of why I want to try it.....something different...ok, so I got two replies saying that 500usd is a good deal....alright, time for me to go to bed and think about things, I will check this thread (in the morning) to see if anybody else has commented on it....thanks again, michael

charjohncarter · 12-17-2009

I don't know if you can use it on the V but I have one of those shoe mount large frame finders. And it really makes it less challenging as Peter M. says. I got one for 5-10 US dollars. I think mine will also work on the 28mm; it is made for the 35mm, maybe I have it backwards and it is the 80mm. If you want to know I'll dig out the manual.

bobkonos · 12-17-2009

I collect mint Nikonos (hence my RFF name) and use a II and I can tell you that this is a terrific deal. The body alone is worth $250 so do the math and you will see that even if you do not like it you can sell all and make a profit easily. Get it...now!

michaelbialecki · 12-17-2009

Hey charjohncarter...thanks for the reply, but I am not so sure what you are talking about....I don't think you are talking baout the viewfinnder for the 15mm and I am unaware of a "shoe mount large frame finder"...any more info would be greatly appreciated....thanks again...

cheers, michael

michaelbialecki · 12-17-2009

wow bobkonos, thanks alot for that email..you may have pushed me over the edge...photography gear tends to be more expensive out here...I have found some good deals though, but it is usually through foreigners who are selling gear...such as this deal here....

anyways, here are some more photos...and yes the case is included too....it is too late to email him tonight and I am going to decide in the morning, but he already sent me an email back saying that he will wait for me to decide....so I have to (should) make my mind up by tomorrow afternoon one way or the other...

cheers, michael

nikonos 1.jpg

nikonos 2.jpg

chrishayton · 12-17-2009

Curious about these cameras too, Id love a 'rain' camera and those underwater photos by trent parke gave me some inspiration to try it.

How come the lenses can only work underwater?

dfoo · 12-17-2009

What I know for sure is that when I was doing UW photography I would have killed for that gear Mike

emraphoto · 12-17-2009

Go Nikonos man, if you EVER find yourself in super dodgy conditions it is a pure pleasure to be able to use one.

I don't use it much but I have been very, very happy to have one on occasion!

I think it's a pretty good deal.

Gary Sandhu · 12-17-2009

Cool camera-- Super action finder and the quietest film camera I have-- the hexar af is noisier.

Warren T. · 12-17-2009

I had an early Nikonos (Model 1) with the 35mm lens. I got mine used and the thing was built like a tank, super heavy duty, and the seals were simple and effective (cannot speak for later models). I only used it once under water, in the Caribbean, while snorkeling and I got decent shots with it. I used it more for above water than under, and eventually sold it due to lack of use. I should have kept it for its historical significance.

--Warren

charjohncarter · 12-17-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelbialecki

Hey charjohncarter...thanks for the reply, but I am not so sure what you are talking about....I don't think you are talking baout the viewfinnder for the 15mm and I am unaware of a "shoe mount large frame finder"...any more info would be greatly appreciated....thanks again...

cheers, michael

35mm & 80mm Finder on Nikonos II, it really helps.

BillBingham2 · 12-17-2009

The II or the III are the best for folks who prefer manual everything. I had the III and it is the perfect bad weather camera. The 35/2.5 is a razor above or below water. You can find good III with lens for well south of $400 these days. I'd check with southern-nikonos (post #2 in this thread) to see if they have anything. As Chris pointed out, there are some internal access only rings that can only be accessed by a full stripping.

B2 (;->

snausages · 12-17-2009

As others have said, the revelation of the Nikonos + 35 is that it's most fun as a rugged all-weather camera that you can take fearlessly anywhere. I'm not tempted to get another lens for it, but if you plan on doing a lot of diving stuff I guess they'd make sense...