News

Nauticam has unveiled their NA-Z50II housing for the new Nikon Z50 II, the second iteration of the Japanese company’s entry-level APS-C mirrorless camera. The new model sports the same 21MP BSI CMOS sensor as its predecessor but receives an important upgrade in the form of the EXPEED 7 image processor, promising Z9-level 3D tracking and subject detection. For video shooters, the camera offers 4K/30p video oversampled from 5.6K without cropping and can record 10-bit and N-Log video—a first for a DX-format camera.

A few years ago, Nauticam introduced a novel concept in their housing for Canon EOS R50, which was built around a single zoom lens, the Canon RF-S 18–45mm f/4.5–6.3, the idea being that users attach wet optics from Nauticam’s extensive range, such as the WWL-1B/WWL-C for wide angle and the CMC-1/CMC-2 for macro. Their new housing for the Nikon Z50 II is similar: The NA-Z50II is designed to be used exclusively with the Nikon Z DX 16–50mm zoom lens. This is a departure from their predecessor housing, which had a traditional port system for mounting both F- and Z-mount lenses, but was considerably bulkier.

Otherwise, the housing follows Nauticam’s tried-and-tested formula: robust aluminum build, convenient access to camera controls around the integrated handles, and vacuum check and leak detection system shipped as standard. The housing makes use of the Z50 II’s pop-up flash through its integrated fiber-optic bulkheads, and there’s a control on the housing that allows the flash to be raised or lowered for easy switching between ambient and artificial light shooting. TTL flash trigger is a separate purchase.

The NA-Z50II is priced at $2,513 and can be pre-ordered now from retailers such as Backscatter.
 

When purchasing underwater photography equipment like the products mentioned in this article, please support DPG by supporting our retail partner—Backscatter.com.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

INTRODUCING NA-Z50II

The Nikon Z50 II Camera

Nikon's Z Mount is one of the widest lens mounts available in its class and allows for faster and more compact lens designs. The Z50 II is equipped with the same 20.9MP DX (APS-C) CMOS image sensor as the Z50 but is mated to their newest EXPEED 7 processor. The Z 50 II lists a native ISO range of 100-51,200 and has extensive Auto ISO controls spread across its operating modes. 4K UHD video is captured using the entire width of the sensor at up to 30fps meaning no loss in the lens' field-of-view, a critical feature for the underwater video shooter. If higher frame rate capture is desired, the Z50 II can capture 4K60p from a native 4K crop (1.44x) of the sensor. Switching to HD achieves up to 120fps with no loss of field-of-view and allows for dynamic slow motion capture. Switching between still and video is accomplished via a convenient switch on the rear of the camera and the Z50 II maintains discrete exposure settings for each mode. This makes switching between video and still shooting even easier without having to make excessive setting changes. The Z50 II’s EVF also receives a significant update to its brightness, topping out at 1000 nits. The Z50 II also sees improvements in its autofocus capabilities, especially in the subject-recognition space.

Key Camera Specs

• 20.9MP CMOS DX Format image sensor
• EXPEED 7 Processor
• UHD 4K Video at up to 60p (1.44x Crop) or HD at 120fps
• Twin control dials
• 2.36M-dot 1000-nit OLED Viewfinder
• 11fps continuous shooting
• Pop-up flash

THE NAUTICAM NA-Z50II UNDERWATER HOUSING

The Nauticam NA-Z50II is designed to work exclusively with the versatile Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm lens featuring a fixed flat port that is compatible with our powerful WWL-C wide-angle wet optic and CMC-1 macro optic via the pre-installed bayonet-mount system. The NA-Z50II’s form-fitting style and intuitive control placement make the system ideal for the traveling photographer that demands a reliable and portable underwater imaging platform.

Maximum Efficiency

The compact nature of the Nikon Z50 II is translated directly into the design of the NA-Z50II. Compared to the NA-Z50 housing for the original Nikon Z50, the NA-Z50II is built around a clamshell closure that allows for a drop-in installation of the camera with no tray necessary.

Mission Control

The NA-Z50II features intuitively placed and easy to reach controls for critical functions, making the integrated and stabilized ergonomic handles Mission Control for your underwater imaging. Textured knobs for the main and sub command dials are within easy reach of the right handle alongside dedicated video REC and AF-ON buttons.

For video shooters, the Nikon Z50 II maintains separate exposure settings in Still and Video modes and switching between the modes is done via a convenient switch which is easily accessed on the top of the NA-Z50II housing. With extensive Auto ISO controls, the NA-Z50II is an ideal platform to create video content with the Z 50's UHD 4K 60p/30p or HD 120p capture.

Flash Triggering

The Nikon Z50 II has a pop-up flash that can be used to provide accurate TTL flash triggering using the integrated fiber-optic bulkheads. A switch on the housing allows the flash to be raised or lowered to allow quick switching between ambient and artificial light shooting.

Optimized Optical Design

The NA-Z50II is built around the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm lens and features a fixed flat port with a pre-installed bayonet mount. Utilizing Nauticam’s WWL-C wide-angle optic, the Z50 II is able to achieve unrivaled sharpness and an impressive 130º field-of-view and full zoom-through capability. The wet-mate nature of the lens allows it be removed underwater and switched for the powerful CMC-1 macro lens making the NA-Z50II a true do-anything system. The integrated bayonet-mount makes switching quick and easy.

Integrated Vacuum Check and Leak Detection System

The Nauticam vacuum check and leak detection system is shipped with NA-Z50II as standard equipment. Combined with an optional accessory vacuum valve (PN 25625), this monitoring system provides constant updates on the water tight and safe-to-dive status of the housing. A simple color 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. The Nauticam system is temperature compensated, eliminating false alarms caused by a change in outside temperature, or from a camera heating up on an action packed dive.

What's In The Box

• NA-Z50II Housing with handles and fixed Flat port
• Bayonet mount Cap.
• 2x Plugs for Optical fiber cable mount,
• Panasonic CR-2032 Battery (pre-installed for moisture alarm)
• Spare main O-ring, O-ring remover and lubricant
• Set of Allen Keys
• Padded housing bag and shoulder strap

Recommended Accessories

Housing Mount

• 25221 M10 strobe mounting ball for housing
• 25311 Strobe mounting ball for cold shoe
• 25312 Light mounting stem for cold shoe
• 25321 Long Strobe Mounting Ball for Cold Shoe
• 25322 Long Light Mounting Stem for Cold Shoe
• 3x 1/4-20 UNC on the bottom

Vacuum Valve

• 25625 M16 Vacuum Valve II (Pushbutton Release) 

Lanyard

• 25227 27cm lanyard with shackles
• 25412 23cm lanyard with 2 snap hooks

LCD Magnifier

• 25106 LCD Magnifier with Dioptric Adjustment
• 25131 LCD Magnifier attachment rails for NA-RX100III/RX100IV/RX100V/RX100VI

Wet Lenses Accessories

• 83214 Bayonet Mount Adaptor for SMC/CMC

Wet Lenses

Macro

• 81301 Compact Macro Convertor 1 (CMC-1, 4.5x Magnification)
• 81302 Compact Macro Convertor 2 (CMC-2, 2.8X Magnification)

Wide Angle

• 83203 Wet Wide Lens Compact (WWL-C) 130 Deg. FOV with Compatible 24mm Lenses (incl. float collar)
• 83202 Wet Wide Lens 1B (WWL-1B) 130 deg. FOV with compatible 28mm lenses (incl. float collar)

Buoyancy Setup Accessories

• 72261 Ø70x200mm Carbon Fibre Aluminium Float Arm (Buoyancy 370g)
• 72262 Ø70x250mm Carbon Fibre Aluminium Float Arm(Buoyancy 520g)
• 72263 Ø70x300mm Carbon Fibre Aluminium Float Arm (Buoyancy 670g)
• 72264 Ø90x170mm Carbon Fibre Aluminium Float Arm (Buoyancy 450g)
• 72265 Ø90x220mmCarbon Fibre Aluminium Float Arm (Buoyancy 720g)
• 72266 Ø50x200mm Carbon Fibre Aluminium Float Arm (Buoyancy 160g)
• 72267 Ø50x250mm Carbon Fibre Aluminium Float Arm (Buoyancy 240g)
• 72268 Ø50x300mm Carbon Fibre Aluminium Float Arm (Buoyancy 320g)
• 72233 Single Bayonet Holder II for Ø70 Float Arm
• 72234 Double Bayonet Holder II for Ø70 Float Arm
• 72243 Single Bayonet Holder II for Ø90 Float Arm
• 72244 Double Bayonet Holder II for Ø90 Float Arm
• 83252 Bayonet Holder for Arms
• 83253 Double Bayonet Holder for Arms
• 83254 Bayonet Lens Holder for Inon Float Arms