My first impression of my new Nexus D70s is that it is strong and very compact. It is smaller that it looks like on the pictures on the web and much smaller than some other housings. I am impressed with the simplicity of the housing and the clean "Japanese" lines. The painting is beautiful silver. How good the painting is can only be judged by time. Maybe more experienced Nexus owners can tell??
The handles are awesome, provide a firm grip and can accept a range of strobe mounts. Nexus have some options for those handles. One is a spacer for those with larger hands (or smaller). The other option is an adapter to set the grip forward for use with longer ports a place the focus wheel at your finger tips. Great for manual focus.



Putting my Nikon in the housing was very easy to do and all the controls were working without the need of adjustments. Dual Nikonos V flash synch sockets are standard.

The new Multi viewfinder
I am sure that some of you wonder why it is called D70s and not just D70. Well, it’s a newer model and the new about it is the viewfinder.



It comes with two pick up lenses. One is for Wide angle - 0.7 magnifier lens and
one for Macro & manual focus - 1.2 magnifier lens.
I have tested them both and they are very efficient.
The wide angle pick up lens give you a easy view, corner to corner.
The Macro pick up lens is like a zoom. You must put you eye in line with the viewfinder but then you see 75% of the picture extremely sharp and near. Installing the lenses is very easy. I think that is a good alternative to the Grand viewfinder à la Subal /Seacam /sealux, not at least for the budget.

Controls
I was stress about the shutter release button. I was locking at Subals & Hugyfots
shutter release design and was thinking that the Nexus will be hard to use. But surprisingly the Nexus shutter release has an excellent feeling. I can not describe it but it is easy to control the “autofocus moment” and “release moment”.

My other point of concern – as you probably read at the forum – was the front & rear dial wheels. But accually they are awesome. They are very easy to control with the finger and thumb tip and rotates toward or away from you. I think that Nexus put great effort to the gear on those dials for easy spun. The same goes for the manual focus/zoom wheel. From the first moment it was easy for me to access and rotate the wheels without pulling my face away from viewfinder.

My first critical comment this far is that my housing came with a wrong button. It doesn’t exist an AE/AF lock lever but in its place there is a diopter adjustment control lever. I don’t know why anyone would need this control... Maybe because you need to adjust the diopter when you use the pic up lens. Anyway, after contacting my dealer he can arrange AF/AE lock lever parts and he can ship it to me. It is supposed to be very easy to install yourself. This will show how easy it is to make modifications and fix the housing


FP120-7 Glass Dome Port
My nexus come with the new FP120-7 glass dome port. It is a very small dome lens with a diameter of only 113mm and a weight only 322g.
I am not sure but I think that this dome has authentic 180 degrees curve rage.
Special design from the Nikon 10,5mm but you can use it to with the Nikon 16mm
Nexus is going a different way. I think that smaller domes with equivalent image quality is a great solution for divers like me who want to travel & dive light and compact. I hope that I will have time today to test the Dome with the Nikon 10,5 mm.




I think I have made a good choice with the Nexus D70s s Housing.
My only criticism is that its lack of a leak detector but you can buy it optional.
Maybe I will find more with the time and when I have test the housing in real world conditions.

What remains is to see how it is used underwater but before that I must dive with the empty housing to test that it is waterproof. The bath tube test is done and it didn't leak!
Lambis

Hi Lambis,

Thanks for posting this very detailed report. When I was first looking for a digital housing I couldn't find much about the Nexus. I am sure this will help a lot of people.

Luiz

Congrats.....looks like a beautiful housing enjoy

Karl

Luiz
I had the same problem, I couldn't find much about the Nexus
and most off the webpage infos are old or in japanese. together with the fakt that Nexus is not popular on Wetpixel you have the impression that this is not a good housing.
I will test it in the water and write about but from the first impressions i think that a Nexus can easily be in the same podium with other topsellers

Lambis

"I hope that I will have time today to test the Dome with the Nikon 10,5 mm."

I'd like to read your thoughts after testing. I very much like the idea of smaller dome ports...

Thanks for posting!

Hi Lambis,
thanks for the review...
I m living in France , have sold all my subal ND70 stuff and actually moving to D2X
I m very close to order a whole sealux system.
Have you an idea from the after sale services from Nexus , is it in europe or will you always have to ship it to Japan ?

Hi Jerome

I have orded from Japan. I have excellent relations with my dealer but if you what to order in Europe, Oceanoptics in London is a reseller for Nexus housings

Talk to Steve at Oceaoptics. He know both Subal & Nexus.

I dont know if I would have bought the Nexus housing having the D2x Camera. I chosed the Nexus D70s because I didn't see why I should pay for an expensive housing since I have a rather cheap camera. But if I had for example a D2x camera I would consider. I believe that for the D2X camera, the difference in housings are big.

Lambis

Dome Port FP120-7 & Nikon 10.5mm
Have take some shoots from my kitchen window to check the quality off the dome Dome port colar was touching the window frame. Photos are JPG BASIC direct from the camera.


1/500 F4.5


1/30 F18



what are you thinking? This weekend I will check it under water

Lambis

There's no point taking photos through your dome port until you get it underwater. Out of water, there is no refraction, underwater the water and dome form a lens.

Cheers
James

Lambis -

I did not know Nexus had optional viewfinders! This is nice...how much are they each?

M.

I dont know if you can get them as stand alone. My housing is a new model
ND70s-MF. I will look if I you ca by them standalone but I think that you need to replace the acrylic back of the nexus housing.
Lambis

Hey Mike, you better get those 2 telephoto zooms first

Karl

Lambis,
I glad you are happy with housing & your review is VERY well discribed about housing. My new housing is 3 weeks old & I did not have choice on new view finder. Anthis (www.anthis.co.jp) , manufacture of Nexus housing, announced new view finder on July 14 & you got one of FIRST one.

With your early mention, I bought 10.5mm this week but, going to use it on my FP170 dome port. I will be on diving trip in two weeks & will post a pic & we maybe can compare the result (of dome).

Sam

Sam

The Nexus club is growing :-)

You have more lenses that me so the FP170 dome port is just fine.
I will test and see . I am curius becauce i am 99% sure that my dome is a true 180 Fisheye.

Do you like your housing? Do you think that my observations are correct?
Lambis

Hi,
Re price for back plate, I could not find new price but, it was like U$420 option when I was buying it 3 weeks ago ( it maybe different back plate now) but, it lot cheaper than those on Seacam & Subal.

Re paint Lambis mentioned, it is "Paint" not inodizing or powder spray hence, I already made few scratches on first dive.

Sam

Lambis,
I agree 100% with your review. Re shutter feeling, I was worried when I first find shutter lever does not have return spring ("Do i have to return shutter manually ?...oh no...I had to do that on some of Ike P&S housing..") but, it was working perfectly even in underwater. It was working just like it is working on ground without housing.

Sam

Good to see it is in your hands! Alex

Thanks Alex

Is it not a great housing? O.K. Not the sweet design of Subal and the special painting but you must test it. i think you will love the control and ergonomy especialy for the aperature control

Lambis

Dont you sleep? Are you working with the magic Filter
I am cuting a film and tommorow it must be finish. Will work all the night :-(

Actually I am just back from a night out in London with some girls! Thought I'd turn my computer on before bed - and excellent to see you have your housing. I will read the report properly in the morning.

Yes, we've been working hard on the Magic, but we are now mainly waiting for the manufacturer. The instruction brochure should be printed within the next week, but the filter may not be ready until the middle of August. I'd hope much sooner, but I wouldn't count on it.

Alex

Going out with girls!!!

Alex we must meet!!! We will have a blast off time. I am very sure about this

Please read tommorow my review (its only the first part more is comming soon) and put your comments. I really like your opinion.

I think i will order a Kodak CC 40 R gel filter untill the MAGIC is finish.

Lambis

Where are the photos to prove it ... bringing them to cayman this year ?

By the way does look like a nice housing.

I have always thought of Nexus as the Scandinavian of the housing world.
Seacam is like a Lexus, Subal like a Merc, Nexus like a Volvo or Saab. Nexus always have the nice square solid look .. which in cars makes you feel safe people think it goes slow .. but they normally go FAST and handle super well ... but are rarely considered.

My quick analogy.

Nexus as the Scandinavian of the housing world... I like it

I am living in Sweden!!
On the other side I am Greek so maybe I put some Strobe arms that look like a Souvlaki :-)

Back again. I like your car analogy Giles.

Lambis, the housing looks great. Its nice and compact and that small dome will be nice and streamlined for freediving shots. The disadvantages of a small dome is corner problems - particularly with curvature of the field of focus. I think with the fisheye lenses you plan to use (10.5 & 16mm) and the sort of subjects you want to shoot (freedivers against the blue) then this won't be a problem. So this may be an ideal choice of port for you - try to avoid using too small apertures. Oh and this isn't an ideal port for split levels.

The one thing I don't like about that type of shutter release lever is that it causes a tendency to tip the housing up when you fire. As long as you are aware of this problem - then it isn't one - as you hold the housing stable.

I don't understand the macro viewfinder that doesn't show you the whole frame. Sure this may help the manual focusers - but macro is all about composition and for this reason you need to see the whole frame. I would certainly rather see the whole frame and trust the camera to deal with focus.

But it looks like a great housing - Nexus are a very nice brand. Finally you can stop worrying about equipment and get out there are shoot.

Alex

How True!!!

Curvature of the field of focus??

I dont get it!! Why?
Small aperture or small aperture value?

Sorry my english is not the best. Its show the whole frame if you eye is in line with the viewfinder. I think iits the same prinicep like the big ones only Nexus frame off view is smaller

Yes finally I can stop worrying about equipment :-) And now that i know so mutch about UW equipment for DSLR it will be very easy in the future. SO dont worry when I buy my next housing it will be a very easy decision!!

Lambis

The great thing about fisheyes: The do not focus on a flat surface as wideangles do. Fisheyes do focus on a curved field in a similar manner the dome's virtual image is shaped. That's why fisheyes are so forgiving behind a dome. And they often offer a better close focus distance than wideagnles.

Lambis,
You seem to have a real hemispheric fisheye dome. Because of this and the above advantages I wouldn't be to worried, I would guess the lens performs good behind this dome.

Seacam for example has a quiet decent glass line up: a huge Superdome originally intended for wideangles and a small hemispheric 180° fisheye dome:



I've sold my (film) Seacam gear but the fisheye dome has delivered great results in spite of being quite small (diameter).

However, bigger is always better

Julian

I purchased a Nexus housing for my D100 a couple of years ago, primarily because about a half dozen photographers in my regular diving group have used them for years, beginning the model for the Nikon n90. They reported few problems, no floods, etc. And I must say I've never had a problem with mine either, through several hundred dives now. The finish paint may nick or scratch over time, but no corrosion or other problems. The Multiport system is wonderful for 60, 105 and 70-180 macro lenses. Nexus also offers a good range of dome ports, too.

Since so many of my group use the Nexus, we have plenty of expertise and can interchange knowledge, lenses and ports easily.

The housings are light and compact, easy to operate and seem to be built like tanks. Marine Camera Distributors, a Wetpixel sponsor, is one of the Nexus distributors in the U.S. and also provides excellent support, including overhauls when needed at a reasonable price. They are also easy to work with.

Anyway, based on my own experience -- and that of many other users that I know -- I wouldn't hestitate to recommend Nexus housings.

PS: I have NO interest in Nexus, personal or otherwise, financial or otherwise ... except for my own housing! I wish they would offer some housings for Canon DSLRs.

In Sweden is raining and cold now. Tunder clouds cove the sky. No great days for photos (without a strobe) but I was again on the water :-(
Housing under water is a dream. It's is so compact. I think the must be one off the smallest housings out there. The buttons are smooth and easy to operate underwater. Its feel like I have use it all my life and that is good news.

The viewfinder is very good. Better that i was hoping.
Lite more info about the 2-part viewfinder. There are 2 pieces of a magnifier.
The first (That i am using now) is for full frame viewing.
The other is for macro work. Very good for macro but you can't see edge to edge without shifting you head.

Problems with the housing:
Becauce i have a very small dome the housing is not neutral but negativ and tend to want to face down. Is there any modifications that i can do to make it less bouyand and more neutral?

BTW. I have only one Port. Sold I leave it on the housing when I am not diving ??

O.K. Guys

Tommorow I am in Greece again in my small crazy village. My home is ca 50 meters from Lybian Sea
There we will see how gret or not the Nexus is. I will test the housing in tuff conditions. I will see if the dome is o.K. and I hope that i have Alex filters ariving in time.

September the 8 I am back. I will check from time to time the forum.

On the End.. this is my first DSLR housing. Everything that i know is from the web and from people that have help me.
After the 8 off September it will be clear what i need, what works for me what are the limitation off my housing & my camera.

I will be secure and sure about my needs and about my next investment

Have a great time, take care .. i will miss you guys.

Lambis

P.S. Off cource I will writr a review when I am back.