Wetpixel

Nauticam announces a6300 housing

by adamhanlon

Nauticam has released details of their new housing for the Sony a6300 mirrorless camera. The NA-6300 is compatible with both the WWL-1 wide angle wet lens and CMC macro conversion lens as well as a wide range of port options. It features Nauticam’s “cold water” shutter release trigger and port locking system. Strobe triggering is via fiber optic or electrical (additional bulkhead required).

The NA-6300 will be available in April. Prices are to be confirmed.

Press release

Introducing NA-A6300

A New Nauticam Housing for Sony a6300

Sony a6300 is one of the most versatile high performance mirrorless interchangeable lens camera released to date, and it may be one of the most fun to use. The camera has the same 24 megapixels found on the preceding a6000, and a body with similar cosmetics, but overall auto focus and the image making experience is dramatically improved.

The a6300 is in a totally different league, and when paired with the ergonomic, rugged, and down right good looking Nauticam housing creates a combo that excels at fast action still photo shooting, 4K video, and everything in between.

The Sony a6300

Sony has addressed all elements of the user experience found in this “advanced amateur” camera. The focus system is astounding, with the fastest auto focus acquisition of any interchangeable lens digital camera today (according to Sony based on their internal testing standards), and the highest number of focus points. These 425 focus points spread across almost the entire frame enable what Sony is calling “4D Autofocus”, where focus points surrounding the selected AF point are used to help the camera accurately track subject motion in all directions.

The a6300 also provides a nice bump up in electronic viewfinder (EVF) specs, using a 2.4 m-dot XGA (1024 x 768) OLED with 120 fps refresh rate. This high resolution, low lag image provides an experience remarkably like an optical viewfinder, with minimal delay.

Another major step forward for action and sports photography, a6300 is capable of uninterrupted live view while shooting at up to 8fps. In the past, mirrorless cameras would interrupt the EVF or LCD viewfinder display with a review of the last image taken, creating a stop motion effect that made it very difficult to track moving subjects. The new live view display is much like a digital SLR, with minimal blackout between shots.

The a6300 is Sony’s first APS-C mirrorless camera capable of 4K video capture. The camera records a 20 megapixel (6K!) portion of its sensor, then resamples in body to produce an extremely sharp low noise image.

a6300 Features:

The Nauticam NA-A6300 Underwater Housing

Nauticam is the industry leader in mirrorless interchangeable lens underwater camera support. Nauticam has housed more mirrorless cameras, and more Sony E (NEX) Mount cameras than any other housing manufacturer. This experience results in the most evolved housing line with broadest range of accessories available today.

Pioneering optical accessories elevate performance to a new level. Magnifying viewfinders, the sharpest super macro accessory lenses ever made, and now the most versatile wet mount wide angle lens (the WWL-1) combined with the NA-A6300 housing form a complete imaging system.

Nauticam is known for ergonomics, and the user experience. Key controls are placed at the photographer’s fingertips. The housing and accessories are light weight, and easy to assemble. The camera drops in without any control presetting, and lens port changes are effortless.

Nauticam build quality is well known by underwater photographers around the globe. The housing is machined from a solid block of aluminum, then hard anodized making it impervious to salt water corrosion. Marine grade stainless and plastic parts complete the housing, and it is backed by a two year warranty against manufacturing defects. Key Features

Integrated Vacuum Monitoring and Leak Detection

Circuitry included as standard equipment provides constant monitoring of water tight integrity when combined with an optional Nauticam M14 Vacuum Valve II (PN 25624).

Shutter Release Extension

Cold water divers rejoice! The housing ergonomics are finely tuned for operating with the right hand gripping the housing, but in situations with thick wet or dry gloves that method of operation isn’t ideal. The shutter release extension, included with every housing as standard equipment, provides an oversized, easy to operate trigger that is perfect for these situations.

Patented Port Locking System

Lens ports are securely locked in place with our iconic port locking system. This system was launched on our very first DSLR housing in 2009, and provides effortless port mounting for quick lens swaps without twisting. Lens ports are securly locked in place, and won’t twist in the mount even in extreme conditions (like surf).

Stainless Steel Handle Brackets

Stiffening handle brackets are included with the housing, providing a solid “wobble free” attachment when using Nauticam Flexitray W II (PN 71209) with heavy lighting systems. Multiple lanyard attachment points are included in the brackets.

WWL-1 and CMC-1

Two in house Nauticam optical designs, designed by founder and Managing Director Edward Lai, are the perfect lenses to complete an a6300 underwater system. Both lenses are engineered for use in water, providing the highest level of performance available today in a wet mount optic.

WWL-1 is a wide angle conversion, compatible with several lenses in the Sony system. The field of view is widest when paired with the Sigma 19mm f2.8 DN Lens, providing 130 degree diagonal field of view. WWL-1 is also an ideal match for the Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS lens providing over 100 degree diagonal field of view with full zoom through! With either lens, class leading center sharpness, corner sharpness, and contrast result in the clearest wide angle images possible underwater.

The magic of the wet lenses is their tremendous versatility, paired with outstanding in water performance. Both macro and super wide angle optics are available to the underwater photographer on the same dive. When matched with a mid-range lens, WWL-1 has a larger zoom range, better overall sharpness, and less purple fringing than any Sony wide angle lens we have tested behind a dome! Their truly is no performance sacrificed to achieve this flexibility.

Viewfinder Options

A clear view for fine focus and composition is critical for successful underwater photography, and nothing beats a magnifying viewfinder. These viewfinders use distance, not closeup vision, and provide a large, clear view of the high resolution Sony electronic viewfinder. Available in angled 45º (PN 32205) and Straight (PN 32204) formats, both viewfinders have external dioptric adjustments for dialing in perfect correction matched to the photographer’s eyesight.

Integrated Vacuum Check and Leak Detection System

The Nauticam vacuum check and leak detection system is available with NA-A6300 as standard equipment. Combined with an optional vacuum valve (PN 25624), this monitoring system provides constant updates on the water tight and safe-to-dive status of the housing. A simple 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.

Flash Connectors for Inon S-TTL

Reliable automatic flash exposure is available with the NA-A6300 and a variety of optically fired flashes. The Inon Z-240, D-2000, S-2000, and Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobes provide automated lighting, precisely reproducing the camera’s onboard flash at a proportionally greater intensity. This system yields accurate automatic TTL flash performance – even in manual mode - with no electrical sync cables to flood! The NA-A6300 comes fiber optic ready and accepts standard Sea & Sea style bushing connections. Nauticam Fiber Optic cables, available for both Inon and Sea & Sea strobes, provide the best light transmission and therefore more accurate TTL of any fiber optic cable on the market.

Strobes can be attached to the housing via optional strobe mounting balls secured to the handles of the Nauticam accessory tray systems or a single strobe mounting ball location on the housing. The housing also features a cold-shoe mount for a focus light or other accessory mounting options

Electrical strobe triggering (with power set manually on the flash head) is still an option for those with an investment in legacy lighting gear

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Details and Specifications:

Depth Rating: 100m Weight: 1.00 kg Dimensions: 193mm x 124mm x 100mm (W x H x D) Model Number: 17416 USA Retail Price: $1650

Available April 15

More information is available from Nauticam

About Nauticam:

Nauticam is the world’s leading manufacturer of innovative, ergonomic imaging solutions. Founded in 2009 by Edward Lai, an underwater photographer with two decades of experience making precision injection molds, Nauticam has continued to raise the bar with every new model release. Nauticam’s goal is to provide the absolute best user experience possible. Dealer inquiries are welcome!

Please email for inquiries