Calypso Nikkor

[belgiumreporter]

Underwater cameras rarely turn up on classic cameras, so i tought i'd show you one or better two.
This is the Calypso Nikkor II of 1969 vintage next to its somewhat more modern cousin the Coolpix AW 100.
Underwater photography used to be a bit of an awkward hobby, unless you wanted to waste a lot of film you'd better learned how to zone focus and guestimate light underwater. These days are long gone now and you can shoot to your hearts desire with the digital offspring of the Calypso's and Nikonos cameras. The AW 100 won't go to depths of 50 meters like the Calypso, but neither do i !

 

This Calypso Nikkor II was only named that way for two years (69-'70), before and after that the underwater range of nikon was called Nikonos I- II- III- IV or V. The original camera in 1960 developed by the Belgium engineer Jean de Wauters for Jaques Cousteau  of wich the Nikonos was developed, was called the "Calypso" (without the Nikkor suffix)

[paulhofseth]

One other use for these: when it is really wet or snowy, the everyday digital wonders will die. In such conditions I use a Nikonos V with the above-water 35mm. The other optics (apart from the longer one and the 28land use one) only work properly underneath the water surface.

p.

[belgiumreporter]

Here's another one in my collection: the sea&sea motormarine II . Seems like it is designed by the minions.
It has a fixed 35mm f3.5 lens, but has a range of wideangle screw-on lens adapters and it has a build in flash. It was, and probably still is a cheap(er) alternative for the nikonos V.

[philbirch]

Ha Ha, the sea and sea looks like the one that Lloydy has been trying to sell for ages. If anyone is interested I can put them in touch with him seeing as he's not around here much these days...

[camfiend]

Sure a lot cheaper to pick up then the Nikonos range, haven't found one of them at what I consider a reasonable price yet but have managed to pick up these few little gems.. they sure brighten up the display cabinet

[Dormeur74]

Very nice cameras.
I had one in Mauritania when I was on duty, because it was the best one in desert storms. When I left Atar, I had sand inside my watch, but nothing in this incredible camera. Thank you for this exchange belgiumreporter.

[belgiumreporter]

After all the trouble i've had in New Zealand with my dslr i was glad i had the AW 100 with me so at least i could make some shots in the wet. Looking for something more "pro" i came across this underwater housing (i didn't know it existed) for the nikon 1 system. The nikon 1 system isn't exactly "pro" gear but it still delivers (very) good quality in a compact housing. due to circumstances i won't be travelling for some time now, but as i got such a great deal on the WP-N1 housing i bought it for the next time i get into extreme wheather. The calypso and sea&sea will now be retired and added to the rest of the collection, the AW100 will still be in use as it is so pocketable, rugged and good fun to shoot with

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Just one of those situations in NZ we've gotte ourselves into where the AW 100 came in handy,still i had to cling on to it carefully, droppig it would mean losing it forever, our guide told us the base of this waterfall was a real graveyard for "all wheather" cameras !