Subal ND700 for Nikon D700

Nikon's new D700 is a fully professional D- SLR offering many of the benefits that make the D3 so attractive in a more compact, lighter weight and less expensive body. This 12.1 MP D700 provides near noise free images even at its highest 6400 ISO setting making this a superb choice for photographers tackling subjects in very low light conditions. Equipped with fantastic AF, access to Nikons superlative range of FX lenses including macro, fisheye and, of course, the awesome 14 - 24mm wide angle zoom and built for high speed shooting, this is a simply phenomenal taskmaster.

Subal's newly developed ND700 housing and port system, including an optimised dome port specifically corrected for the 14 - 24, makes the Nikon D700 a no - compromise system for the serious enthusiast and professional underwater photographer alike, especially when backed by Ocean Optics legendary service and support. At Ocean Optics we encourage you to first visit us to discuss the Subal ND700 system in detail, which may take some time, then check out competitive housings. If you decide to purchase your Subal ND700 from Ocean Optics, then Mark and Steve will want to put in a full day with you, one on one, ensuring you are completely comfortable with your new housing when you leave us. You'll be taken through installing and removing your camera (Steve or Mark will make any minor adjustments to controls that can be needed with any D-SLR camera and any housing combination), shown how to gear up your lenses, setting up and testing strobe function will be explained and demonstrated and you'll be talked through the all important anti flood procedures that we recommend. Finally, you'll have the option to test dive your new housing system in the movie tank and take a few shots - Mark or Steve will be happy to dive with you and offer tips using our Ocean Technology Systems radiophones.

The Subal ND700 continues the tradition for design, build quality, durability and versatility that has made Subal housings legendary. Subal's reputation is founded in the images taken by the world-class underwater photographers who choose Subal. The ND700 is carved from a solid block of aluminium. This provides great strength, yet keeps the housing lightweight - from just 2.2kg for an ND700 body. Subal also anodize and multi paint each ND700 to ensure your housing will keep its finish and prevent any corrosion problems throughout long years of service. It's built for arduous use. The housing is rated to 70 metres. The ND700 hugs your Nikon D700 keeping this housing exceptionally compact, making it easy to travel with and minimising drag in the water. The housing is swiftly and easily opened using just two Subal Quick Lock catches. These incorporate a spring-loaded safety mechanism that avoids any possibility of accidentally opening a properly closed ND700. Your Nikon D700 mounts onto a slide in saddle and slips into your Subal ND700 with minimum fuss - most controls will automatically engage without you having to do anything.

Designer Arnold Stepanek has put considerable thought into making the key controls on the ND700 easy to reach, responsive and positive (there are 31 controls by the way). In turn this means you won't be fumbling to compose your image, control exposure and take the shot when the action is fast and furious. The shutter release is the oversized paddle type introduced on the F5 Procase in 1998. It's an extremely smooth action that makes it easy to hit the half way mark that powers up displays and sets the autofocus. When you take the picture, the release minimises vibration reducing camera shake. Main and sub command dials fall easily to hand and are operated by your ring finger and thumb, so the housing remains at your eye when adjusting shutter speed and aperture. Your zoom/ manual focus control is placed for easy use by your left hand. Naturally, you can turn your D700 on and off, change exposure mode and select, independently, available light and strobe exposure compensation. A right thumb operated lever can be set by you to control exposure lock, autofocus lock, a combination of the two or AF on. Metering patterns are changeable underwater, letting you select spot, centre weighted or matrix as you prefer. Five push buttons lets you choose your focus point and drive your menus. There's an info button and autofocus mode selection lever. More push buttons provide access to playback menus including thumbnail and image zoom modes, image protect, OK, menus, screen on and delete. The top of the Subal ND700 carries further controls for

operating white balance (check out how effective Magic Filters are when used with manual white balance) , choosing quality and setting ISO as well as entering motor drive and live view functions. You can also switch between manual, servo and continuous focus modes. Lenses may be exchanged through the front port mount using the convenient lens release lever. This avoids removing the camera from your housing to change lenses between dives - it's a great convenience feature.

Two hand grips are fitted and their careful positioning means that your fingers and thumbs naturally fall into place for fast decisive operation of key shooting controls including release, exposure and zoom/manual focus - you won't miss shots through fumbling when you work with the Subal ND700. The right grip uses an adjustable overhand strap to secure the ND700 to your hand. The value of this design is that you don't have to grip the handgrip firmly all the time. You can unfold your fingers and relax your grip without losing hold of your valuable system. Especially when waiting out subjects over long periods, this comfort feature makes the Subal ND700 a pleasure to work with.

The heart of any reflex camera is its viewfinder. Subal offer ND700 owners a choice of three viewfinder systems to suit your budget, eyesight and shooting style. The standard viewfinder is an eye level image reduction finder. Image reduction finders are often fitted to competitive housings. Reduction finders work much like a telescope viewed the wrong way around. Your cameras focusing screen will be visible from corner to corner, but will be significantly smaller to look at than it is on land. You will need to use an ultra low volume face mask, which our dive shop Mavericks can supply, and press your face up against the viewfinder eyepiece. This provides the lowest cost optionand is the most compact type of Subal finder. At Ocean Optics, we always try to make it clear which of our viewfinder options are reducers and which are genuine magnifiers.

Subal offer two genuine viewfinder magnifiers. Magnifiers provide a number of important

benefits. Almost all of our Subal clients choose to use magnifiers for these reasons. The image produced is around 50% larger when viewed through a Subal magnifying viewfinder than when using your Nikon D700 on land. This provides a sharp, bright focusing screen, which makes it easy to see detail in your photograph and exclude background distractions. Focusing manually by eye is simplified and reading your viewfinder information displays is improved. The SUBAL GS180 Finder is an eye level finder. You view it from behind your camera just as you would look through your D- SLR on land. The GS180 does not require you to place your mask right up against the viewfinder eyecup. This lets you use higher volume face masks, including full face models, and bulky mouthpieces often used on rebreathers, while still enjoying corner to corner viewing. While shooting you can look through the GS180 finder and simultaneously see around your housing to check on subjects that are about to enter shot, helping you anticipate when to trip the shutter.

The latest SUBAL WS45 Finder is now the most popular viewfinder option specified by our Subal clients. The WS45 offers the same luxurious qualities of the GS180 that make framing your shot, reading displays and focusing so easy with Subal housings. The eyepiece of the WS45 is set at 45 degrees. The advantages of a 45 degree finder have long been recognised in the design of professional medium format camera housings (including Ocean Optics RB67 Marine for the Mamiya 6x 7 camera, designed for us by Peter Scoones) .This is a very comfortable viewing position when swimming. It also let's you shoot comfortably with the camera housing held below you for low level shots with your camera on the seabed. This is especially beneficial for macro photography. The Subal WS45 Finder swivels to provide the best viewing regardless of whether you are composing in landscape or portrait mode.

Subal provide the ND700 with an extremely well thought out strobe system. Two Nikonos (industry standard) type sockets are included. Either socket can be independently configured for use with manual or TTL strobe systems. You can do this yourself in seconds without using tools,so it is very "in the field" friendly. For the most reliable TTL (reliability is usually of paramount concern to professional underwater photographers and another reason they select Subal), we recommend using a dedicated Nikon land strobe in a Subal housing. For manual flash, which around 80% of our clients use, we recommend the Inon Z- 240 strobe.The benefit of the Subal flash connectors is that you can fire two strobes and if one socket is damaged the other can be used as a back up for either a TTL or manual system. Although competing housings often offer two sockets, there may be limitations on how you can use them - and flash systems tend to be the weakest link in your equipment. Two mounts are provided for fitting strobe arms. Most quality arm systems can be used, including the very comprehensive Inon range.

Subal are renowned for the image quality that is retained when shooting through their ports. All Subal ports are crafted from optical glass, never acrylic. The range of ports is extremely comprehensive and includes some very specialised wide angle and macro ports to meet the needs of enthusiast and professional alike. As the port is the last optic between your expensive lens and a subject you may have travelled thousands of miles to photograph, it's no surprise Subal craft their optics with such care. An array of extension rings, dioptres and lens gears all compliment Subal's optical system. Ports mount to the ND700 with a simple quarter turn via a bayonet mount. The ND700 can be equipped with either an original Subal bayonet mount, established more than 20 years ago, or the new larger diameter mount. Subal have introduced the new mount to accommodate lenses with very wide barrels, such as the 14 - 24mm. To look after owners of existing Subals with original ports, adapter rings are available as well as factory modifications to make it easy to use these older ports on the new mount. Subal have made a valuable commitment to looking after past clients by maximising port compatibility between older and current housings. Mark or Steve can discuss which option will suit you best.

Subal's ND700 is complemented by other important refinements. A mounting for a focusing light is already fitted. This sits high atop the ND700. From this position your focusing light can be set to almost any angle so you can light your subject at any distance within your torches range, whether using macro ports and shooting up close or fisheyes and farther back. An optical leak detector is included. And anti skid panels on thebase of your Subal ND700 stop it sliding on wet surfaces, like camera tables, and protect the finish. Mounting points for accessory trays are also located here.

If you would like to look over the Subal ND700, please give Mark or Steve a call to set up an appointment to view. It's best to set aside an hour or two for a first look.