DEMA 2008: Aquatica 
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Author: Eric Cheng ( echeng )
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AQUATICA #2936
October 22, 2008 - 10:57 AM
Aquatica has always listened to its users, and have moved from a casting their housings to milling housings from a solid block of aluminum, which results in a lighter, prettier housing. They had on display brand-new underwater housings for the Nikon D700 and D3, and for the Canon 1D/1Ds Mk III. Older, cast housings (like the Nikon D300 housing) were on display as well.
I picked up the D700 housing, which had good ergonomics, down to angled buttons on the left-hand side of the LCD display on the back for easier access while gripping the handles. The housing features a user-switchable AF Lock / AF ON control (must open housing to get to it), 3rd bulkhead for remote release, external lens release control, and a new, matte finish. There is also a new hotshoe circuit board, which allows for the selection of the number of pins active. A new velcro pad at the top of the housing holds the hotshoe while it is not in use.
Aquatica is working on a complete polecam system, complete with remote monitor (no release date specified).
They were also showing off their 9.25” MegaDome, whose large bore fits the Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 lens.
Finally, their new external diopters for macro use (a +4 and a +10) now attach to ports via magnets. They are easy to remove, but will probably not fall out in normal use scenarios.
UPDATE: The groove in the new D700 housing is sort of a “inverted V,” so the o-ring is slightly captured, preventing it from popping out on accident. This should help to prevent instances of user error in which o-rings pop out before the housing is put back together, causing a flood.
 Norma at the Aquatica booth |
 Aquatica's Nikon D700 housing with Aquatica external viewfinder (now finished to match the new housings) |
 Aquatica's Nikon D700 housing |
 Aquatica's new flash board with selectable number of active pins |
 Aquatica's Nikon D700 housing, back |
 Aquatica's housing for the Canon 1Ds Mk III |
 Aquatica's housing for the Canon 1Ds Mk III |
 Aquatica's housing for the Canon 1Ds Mk III |
 New velcro storage system for hotshoes |
 Aquatica's housing for the Nikon D3 |
 Aquatica's housing for the Nikon D3 |
 Aquatica's housing for the Nikon D3 |
 The Aquatica Megadome: 9.25 inches |
 The new diopter attaches magnetically |
 Amos Nachoum and Blake Stoughton |
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Comment(s):As an Aquatica user for almost 8 years, I am please to see they are constantly improving. The new housings look great and they appear to keep improving the ergonomics.
Any pricing on the diopter system? Also, will it work with all bayonet style flat ports? I have the one with a focusing knob.
Posted by arthropoda on 10/24 at 11:59 AMAs a non-Aquatica user (currently) I was really impressed with their new products. The Aquatica D700 housing was really creating a buzz at the show among underwater photographers.
If you are planning to house this camera you should look seriously at this option. Their new machining has resulted in very nice looking housings with some excellent ergonomic solutions. Their viewfinder is nice and their 8” dome is one of the very best. Aquatica are making it harder and harder to justify the premium price of more expensive brands.
Certainly here on the Wetpixel forums, Aquatica have earned a reputation for constantly striving to improve their housings based on user experience - and its really paying off with the latest offerings. Jean made the point to me that the advantage of the short lifetimes of digital gear is that it gives manufacturer’s the chance to continually improve on design solutions. Not all manufacturer’s are taking advantage of this opportunity. Indeed, not everyone sees these short product cycles as a positive.
The new dioptre system is neat and will probably have retaining cords to stop the dioptres being lost. Personally I would like to see Aquatica making some narrower fronted macro ports to make it easier to get the light on the subject at short working distances. This would be more even more beneficial at the short working distances that result from using dioptres.
I am hoping to get hold of an Aquatica D700 housing for a Wetpixel review in the next six weeks.
Alex
Posted by Dr. Alex Mustard on 10/28 at 06:27 AM
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