Nikon Z50 Underwater Housing by Nauticam

THE NIKON Z 50 CAMERA

Nikon's Z Mount debuted with the Z 6 and Z 7 full-frame mirrorless cameras and is one of the widest lens mounts available in its class.  This wider mount allows for faster and more compact lens designs.  The Z 50 is equipped with a 20.9MP DX (APS-C) CMOS image sensor that is mated to their EXPEED 6 processor.  The Z 50 lists a native ISO range of 100-51,200 and has extensive Auto ISO controls spread across its operating modes.  4K UHD video is captured using the entire width of the sensor meaning no loss in the lens' field-of-view, a critical feature for the underwater video shooter.  HD video at up to 120fps allows for dynamic slow motion capture.  Switching between still and video is accomplished via a convenient switch on the rear of the camera and the Z 50 maintains discrete exposure settings for each mode.  This makes switching between video and still shooting even easier without having to make excessive setting changes.

Key Camera Specs

• 20.9MP CMOS DX Format image sensor
• UHD 4K Video at up to 30p or HD at 120fps
• Twin control dials
• 2.36M-dot OLED Viewfinder
• 11fps continuous shooting
• Pop-up flash

THE NAUTICAM NA-Z50 UNDERWATER HOUSING

Nauticam's NA-Z50 is designed around the N100 Port System which is also used in the lineup of full-frame and APS-C mirrorless cameras such as the Sony A7r IV and Fujifilm X-T3.  The NA-Z50's form-fitting style and intuitive control placement make the system ideal for the traveling photographer that demands a reliable and portable underwater imaging platform.

MISSION CONTROL

Nauticam's driving design philosophy aims to place controls on the housing where they are most needed.  The NA-Z50 features molded ergonomic handles with stainless steel stiffening brackets that eliminate wobble when using large strobes.  The main and sub command dials are accessed via large textured knobs within easy reach of the right handle.  The Nauticam patented multi-direction pad makes menu navigation or autofocus point movement seamless.  A double thumb-lever, easily pressed without removing your hand from the right grip, activates the AF-ON and REC buttons on the camera.  A thumb lever near the left handle is for PLAYBACK.  

For video shooters, the Nikon Z50 maintains separate exposure settings in Still and Video modes and switching between the modes is done via a convenient switch which is easily accessed on the top of the NA-Z50 housing.  With extensive Auto ISO controls, the NA-Z50 is an ideal platform to create video content with the Z 50's UHD 4K 30p or HD 120p capture.

FLASH TRIGGERING

The Nikon Z 50 has a pop-up flash that can be used to provide accurate TTL flash triggering using the integrated fiber-optic bulkheads.  A switch on the housing allows the flash to be raised or lowered to allow quick switching between ambient and artificial light shooting.  To reduce refresh time and extend the camera's battery life, the NA-Z50 can be outfitted with the optional TTL Converter for Nikon (26308).  Operating off of two coin-cell batteries and interfacing via a hot-shoe connection to the camera, the TTL Converter uses LEDs to deliver a TTL signal to external strobes.  

PREMIUM PROFESSIONAL OPTICS

Nikon continues to increase their Z Mount lens lineup and the Z 50 is the first DX format camera to feature the larger mount.  Nikon's first lens for the system, the stabilized Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 VR lens is ideal for underwater use when paired with Nauticam's water contact optics lineup.  Compatible with both the WWL-C and WWL-1* wide angle conversion lenses, this combination delivers full zoom-through capabilities with a stunning 130º field-of-view and ~0" minimum focus distance.  Using Nauticam's Bayonet Mount system, the WWL-C or WWL-1 can be swapped for either the CMC-1 or CMC-2 underwater, converting the system to capture true macro and super-macro.  When using full-frame (FX) or APS-C (DX) F mount lenses via the Nikon FTZ Adapter with the NA-Z50, the 35.5mm N100 to N120 Port Adapter (37305) is used in conjunction with the corresponding N120 Port recommendations for those lenses.

* no vignetting at 20mm onwards with WWL-1B

VIEWFINDER OPTIONS

The Nikon Z50 has 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder.  The NA-Z50 is compatible with Nauticam's magnifying viewfinders which are available in both 45º and 180º configurations.  The standard optical glass viewfinder is very good and travel friendly, but many photographers prefer the ease of a magnified viewfinder with adjustable diopter. Nauticam produces a "straight" 180º enlarging viewfinder and a 45º angled enlarging viewfinder to enhance the ease of close quarters work often associated with macro shooting. Both viewfinders have high quality optics, and allow bright viewing of the entire image. A patented external dioptric adjustment allows personal adjustment to a sharp-as-a-tack standard underwater and viewfinder changes can be executed in less than 30 seconds without using tools. Exceptional composition and focus accuracy have never been more accessible.

INTEGRATED VACUUM CHECK AND LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM

The Nauticam vacuum check and leak detection system is shipped with NA-Z50 as standard equipment. Combined with an accessory vacuum valve (PN 25625), this monitoring system provides constant updates on the water tight and safe-to-dive status of the housing. A simple color coded LED lighting system lets the user know that the vacuum is solid, or that the housing is losing vacuum. Leak detection is built into the same circuit, so if there is water intrusion, an audible and visual indication will occur. The Nauticam system is temperature compensated, eliminating false alarms caused by a change in outside temperature, or from a camera heating up on an action packed dive.