back to full dema 2008 show coverage

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.