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SUBAL #3036

October 24, 2008 - 11:10 AM

Subal has been a strong contender in the high-end underwater housing market for as long as I have been in the business. Their housings have always been light and well-designed, and I see a ton of their products on boats—especially around Nikon cameras.

Subal showed housings for the Nikon D700, Nikon D3, Canon 50D/40D, and more. They also had on display their housing for the Nikon SB900 strobe, as well as their huge dome port with conical back, designed for large lenses like the Nikon 14-24mm. A new 45° viewfinder was also on display, attached to the D700 housing.

Subal is currently working on housings for the Nikon D90 and Canon 5D Mark II. The Nikon D90 housing will be on display at the BOOT show this coming late January, and the 5D2 housing *may* be done by then.

The new 45° viewfinder looks really nice; I’m told that it is essentially an INON viewfinder with an upgraded casing. The casing looks nice, and the viewfinder image is large and bright. The 45° viewfinder retails for $1,530.

The large glass dome port with the conical back is 254mm in diameter (with a radius of curvature of 165mm). It is *really* heavy on land and quite buoyant underwater. Berkley White had one of them while we were in Bonaire last summer; I haven’t seen an analysis of his test results with the Nikon 14-24mm lens, but you can ask him if you are interested.

Subal’s new ports all have large port openings to accommodate thick lenses. However, they offer two front rings for new housings in order to support both the new and old port design. Although the front ring is user-changeable, Subal recommends that a dealer do it so it can be pressure tested.

Finally, Subal has been sold. I’m not sure if the two guys I met at the booth were the new owners, but I wish them the best of luck with the new company!