Nikonos

Nikonos is the brand name of a series of 35mm format cameras specifically designed for underwater photography launched by Nikon in 1963. The early Nikonos cameras were improvements of the Calypso camera, which was an original design by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Belgian engineer Jean de Wouters.[1] It was produced in France by La Spirotechnique (currently Aqua Lung) until the design was acquired by Nikon to become the Nikonos.[2] The Nikonos system was immensely popular with both amateur and professional underwater photographers. Its compact design, ease of use, and excellent optical quality set the standard for several decades of underwater imaging. Nikon ceased development and manufacture of new Nikonos cameras in 2001, but the camera remains popular, and there is a large and active secondary market.

Nikonos
Nikonos V black/orange (also available in all green)
Overview
Type35 mm underwater viewfinder camera
Lens
Lens mountinterchangeable Nikonos mount
Focusing
Focusmanual preset
Exposure/metering
ExposureTTL automatic exposure & manual
Flash
Flashaccessory shoe & contacts in base
Shutter
Frame ratemanual wind on
General
Dimensions146 × 99 × 75 mm (W×H×D)

History

Nippon Kogaku trace their underwater camera history back to 1956, when the company developed an underwater housing for the Nikon S2 rangefinder camera, which was marketed in May as the Nikon Marine. At approximately the same time, Jean de Wouters was building the first prototypes of the Calypso for La Spirotechnique, which went into serial production in 1961.[3] However, La Spirotechnique was not experienced with camera design and manufacture, so they approached Nippon Kogaku to license the production and sales rights in June 1961; the two companies signed a contract in February 1962 granting the worldwide sales and distribution rights to Nikon outside France and the European Economic Community.[4]

Nippon Kogaku acquired the patent to the Calypso in 1963 and began manufacturing the Nikonos (later designated the Nikonos I) equipped with Nikkor optics instead of the original SOM Berthiot and Angenieux lenses.

The "Workhorse of the War"

Because of its waterproof housing, lens options, and toughness, the Nikonos was an important tool for photographers working in the steaming jungles, flooded rice paddies, and rain-lashed battlefields of the Vietnam War. The wire services loaded their Nikonos cameras with Tri-X, Ektachrome-X or High-Speed Ektachrome.[5]

Discontinued

Nikon continued to manufacture Nikonos V bodies until 2001, when it formally announced it was terminating the series.[6] Without any new models in years and with digital imaging taking over the market, Nikon saw no reason to continue the series.

However, in the French Magazine "Focus-Numerique" Mr. Tetsuro Goto, the Director of Laboratory Research and Development at Nikon Japan said on the future of Nikonos: “personally I think the Nikonos will be reborn in the future.”

Design and operation

The numbered Nikonos cameras are often called rangefinder cameras, but in truth they are scale focus cameras as there is no rangefinder. The viewfinder is used purely to compose the shot, and to display exposure information on bodies with internal metering (Nikonos IV-A and V).

Focus distance is set with an outsized dial mounted on the left side of the lens barrel (as seen from the operator's point of view), and the aperture is set with a dial mounted on the right. Refraction affects the estimated distance underwater by making objects appear 25% closer than they actually are; for example, an object that appears to be three feet away underwater (judged by size) is actually four feet away. Nikon assumed the user did not compensate for appearances underwater, so the distance markers on the lens are marked for apparent (not actual) distance. Thankfully the Nikonos wide-angle lenses have ample depth of field, so these discrepancies are often not a noticeable problem. The depth of field indicators on most Nikonos Nikkor lenses mechanically adjust with aperture.

The numbered Nikonos models all had rugged construction, simple controls, and were waterproof to 50 m (160 ft). The camera is made waterproof by a simple system of o-rings at all the crucial joints. Each new model brought various improvements such as light metering, flash circuitry, and improved shutter and film advance design.

Nikonos camera specifications[2]
ModelIntroDiscImageSize (W×H×D)WeightMeteringShutter speedsSerial numbers[7]PriceRef.
(I) 1963/031969/03 125 mm × 97 mm × 68 mm (4.9 in × 3.8 in × 2.7 in)[lower-alpha 1]700 g (25 oz)[lower-alpha 1] External, manual shutter speed & aperture B, ​1⁄30, ​1⁄60, ​1⁄125, ​1⁄250, ​1⁄500 900001–?
30,675 shipped		 ¥28,500[lower-alpha 1] [8]
II 1968/051976/03 129 mm × 99 mm × 47 mm (5.1 in × 3.9 in × 1.9 in)[lower-alpha 2]495 g (17.5 oz)[lower-alpha 2] 950004–?
92,935 shipped		 ¥23,000 [9]
III 1975/061983/09 144 mm × 99 mm × 47 mm (5.7 in × 3.9 in × 1.9 in)[lower-alpha 2]620 g (22 oz)[lower-alpha 2] 3100001–?
78,309 shipped		 ¥45,000 [10]
IV-A 1980/071984 149 mm × 99 mm × 58 mm (5.9 in × 3.9 in × 2.3 in)[lower-alpha 2]740 g (26 oz)[lower-alpha 2] Internal TTL, Aperture-priority autoexposure Electronic stepless ​1⁄30 to ​1⁄1000
Mechanical (B, ​1⁄90)		 4100001–? ¥54,500 [11]
V 1984/042001/10 146 mm × 99 mm × 58 mm (5.7 in × 3.9 in × 2.3 in)[lower-alpha 2]700 g (25 oz)[lower-alpha 2] Internal TTL, Aperture-priority autoexposure and manual modes Electronic stepless ​1⁄30 to ​1⁄1000 (autoexposure mode)
Manual (electronic control ​1⁄30, ​1⁄60, ​1⁄125, ​1⁄250, ​1⁄500, ​1⁄1000)
Mechanical (B, ​1⁄90)		 2000001–? ¥73,000 [12]
RS 1992/061996/08 196 mm × 151 mm × 85 mm (7.7 in × 5.9 in × 3.3 in)[lower-alpha 2]2,130 g (75 oz)[lower-alpha 2] B to ​1⁄2000 0000001–? ¥390,000 [8]
Notes
  1. With W-Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 lens
  2. Body alone

First generation Calypso derivatives
Nikonos II, one of the "Calypso"-derived models

The initial Nikonos line consisted of three models that were improved versions of Cousteau's Calypso of 1961:

  • Nikonos (1963), renamed Nikonos I after the Nikonos II was released
  • Nikonos II (1968)
  • Nikonos III (1975)

The Nikonos was introduced at Photokina 1963;[4] in the beginning, each camera was individually tested for water-tightness. In Europe, under the terms of the licensing agreement, the Nikonos was known as the Calypso/Nikkor.[13] In July 1966, Nikon began marketing the Nikonos as an all-weather camera and sold a limited number of cameras with a white finish,[14] which consisted of Nikonos cameras with white leather body panels. It is estimated that less than 150 examples of the white-finished Nikonos were made.[15][16]

In total, approximately 200,000 Nikonos I, II, and III cameras were manufactured between 1963 and 1983.[17] The three Calypso-based Nikonos models share the same basic structure where the complete camera consists of three modules: lens, housing, and shutter/film transport assemblies. Film is loaded in the shutter/film assembly, which is inserted into the housing, and the mounting of the lens locks the three pieces together. The strap lugs are used to pry the shutter/film assembly out of the housing.[13]

The Nikonos II was cosmetically and dimensionally similar to the original Nikonos, but the shutter speed dial has an additional (R)ewind setting, and the rewind knob is equipped with a lever to facilitate operation. Internally, all parts of the Nikonos II were coated to avoid corrosion; in case of leakage, the internal parts could be rinsed in fresh water and dried, leading some to call the Nikonos II indestructible.[13] The film transport mechanism was redesigned for the Nikonos III to use the sprocket holes for positive framing; the original Calypso design did not count sprocket holes which sometimes resulted in overlapping frames. This resulted in a noticeably larger body. In addition, the flash sync port gained an extra pin to support electronic flash units.[13]

Second generation metered cameras

A second viewfinder line was Nikon's complete re-design and included a through-the-lens (TTL) light meter with automatic exposure:

  • Nikonos IV-A (1980)
  • Nikonos V (1984)

In contrast to the prior Nikonos line, the Nikonos IV-A introduced a one-piece body using a hinged back for film loading; sealing was accomplished through numerous o-rings, including a large gasket for the back. The film transport mechanism for the IV-A was adapted from the contemporary Nikon EM.[11] Like the EM, the Nikonos IV-A primarily operated in aperture-priority autoexposure mode using stepless quartz-controlled shutter speeds between ​1⁄30 and ​1⁄1000, but the camera also offered two mechanical shutter speeds ([B]ulb and ​1⁄90, marked as M90) in case of battery failure.[8]

The Nikonos V retained the new features of the IV-A and added manual control to set discrete shutter speeds. The V was released to address specific criticisms of the IV-A, namely that the flat gasket design was prone to failure, and that the new flash sync shutter speed of ​1⁄90 was too fast, especially since slower speeds could not be set manually to use fill-flash.[8]

Third generation autofocus SLR
  • Nikonos RS (1992) waterproof to 320 ft (100m) [18] (World's first underwater Auto-Focus SLR camera) [2]

The 1992 Nikonos RS introduced an entirely new concept. Unlike its predecessors, the RS was a complete amphibious single lens reflex camera, with auto-focus, waterproof to 100 m (330 ft) and its own set of unique lenses that also utilized water-contact optics. They are, a 50mm f/2.8 macro, 28mm wide, 13mm fisheye, and the world's first underwater zoom lens, a 20-35mm.

Nikonos list prices (June 1, 1996)[19]
ItemMSRPItemMSRP
Nikonos RS $3,550 Nikonos V $800
 
R-UW AF Nikkor 28mm $995 UW-Nikkor 28mm $488
R-UW AF Micro-Nikkor 50mm $1,560 W-Nikkor 80mm $488
UW Close-up Outfit[lower-alpha 1] $530
R-UW AF Zoom-Nikkor 20-35mm $3,690 UW-Nikkor 20mm $960
R-UW AF Fisheye-Nikkor 13mm $2,480 UW-Nikkor 15mm(N) $2,190
SB-104 (set)[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3] $1,560
SB-105 (set)[lower-alpha 2] $820
Notes
  1. Includes close-up lens, field frames, and case
  2. Includes strobe head, spare o-rings, mounting bracket, and sync cord
  3. SN-104 ($198) and SH-104 ($427) sold separately

The RS represented the pinnacle of Nikon's commitment to underwater imaging, and generated significant interest at the time.[20] Although groundbreaking in many ways, it was also very expensive, putting it out of reach of all but the most dedicated (or best funded) underwater photographers. According to Brian Long, the RS was a development of Japan's bubble economy of the late 80s, which saw a number of cost-no-object consumer products and automobiles produced.[21]

Unfortunately, early versions also had a tendency to flood if not maintained perfectly. Flooding was attributed to many factors, one of which was the change to orange-colored silicone o-rings that could swell and fail if third-party silicone grease was applied instead of the Nikonos grease that was petroleum-based. Non-Nikon (third party) silicone grease was commonly used without problems on black Nikonos o-rings by underwater photographers for several decades. Nikon replaced all these floods at first, but in the end, it clearly became not worth the trouble. The RS was quietly discontinued about 5 years later, and no subsequent models were ever designed or manufactured.[22][23]

Digital Nikonos
United States Navy SEALs with a Nikon/Kodak DCS 425 underwater digital camera

No Digital Nikonos has ever been made, but the Commercial & Government Systems division of Kodak modified a small number of Nikonos RS cameras for the United States Navy to create a digital unit known as the "Nikon/Kodak DCS 425".[24] The digital imaging portion was housed in an extended rear door and were largely identical to the options available for the contemporary Kodak DCS 420 cameras based on the Nikon F90.[25][26]

Nikon celebrated the Nikonos legacy when the Nikon 1 AW1 was released, a waterproof interchangeable-lens digital camera.[27] Reviewers compared the features of the AW1 to the Nikonos line.[28][29]

Lenses

Nikonos mount

With the exception of the above-water only LW-Nikkor 28mm, all Nikonos Nikkor lenses use two knobs to facilitate focus and aperture operation with gloved hands. In later years, these knobs were colored differently to allow the photographer to more clearly distinguish between their functions; for these lenses, the silver or chrome knob sets the focus distance, and the black knob controls the aperture. The LW-Nikkor uses conventional concentric focus and aperture rings.[30]

The two most common Nikonos lenses are the UW 28mm (for underwater use only) and the W 35mm (which is amphibious) with the UW 28mm being considered the better lens. Because water and air have significantly different indices of refraction, the 35mm lens is considered slightly wide on land, but is equivalent to a standard ~50mm lens under water.[31] The nominal focal length can be multiplied by 1.33× to determine the equivalent angle of view underwater.[32] These were also the first two lenses to be introduced with the Nikonos; the design of the W-Nikkor 35mm is based on the Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 lens for M39 mount first sold in 1952; it is a symmetric Double-Gauss lens behind an optical flat to make the assembly water-tight. This improves lens speed compared with the original lens fitted to the Calypso, the SOM Berthiot 35mm f/3.5, which had a Tessar-type construction.[33]

The Nikonos lenses designated "UW-Nikkor" were specifically designed for underwater photography only. It is said [34][35] that, even to this day, no underwater lens matches the Nikonos "UW" lenses for sharpness and color saturation underwater. A brief explanation from Nikon about the difference between underwater-only lens and standard/"amphibious" lens can be found at Nikon official site, under the section "2. Rendition characteristics and lens performance".[36]

Nikon also created two lenses for use both above and under water, and one of them, the 35mm f/2.5, can be thought of as the "kit" lens. They made the Nikonos useful for aquatic activities such as kayaking, canoeing, or for foul weather situations. These two lenses, the W-35mm and W-80mm, were also fully waterproof, but because they utilized a flat port, they did not have the benefit of the specialized water-contact optics.

Nikonos lenses[37]
NameFocal lengthIntroApertureWater[lower-alpha 1]Min focusAngle of view[lower-alpha 2]ConstructionSizeAttachment sizeRef.
AboveBelowAboveBelowElesGrps(Φ×L)Weight
UW-Nikkor 15mm1972[lower-alpha 3]f/2.8–22 NoYes1 ft
0.30 m[lower-alpha 4]		—94° 9[lower-alpha 5]5 90 mm × 79.5 mm
3.54 in × 3.13 in		340 g
12 oz		 84mm, P=0.75mm [38]
1981 NoYes 12[lower-alpha 5]9 93 mm × 90.6 mm
3.66 in × 3.57 in		665 g
23.5 oz		 87mm, P=0.75mm [39]
UW-Nikkor 20mm1985f/2.8–22 NoYes1.3 ft
0.40 m		—78° 9[lower-alpha 5]7 70 mm × 74 mm
2.8 in × 2.9 in		350 g
12 oz		 67mm, P=0.75mm [40]
LW-Nikkor 28mm1984f/2.8–22 YesNo1.5 ft
0.46 m		74°— 55 68.5 mm × 57 mm
2.70 in × 2.24 in		240 g
8.5 oz		 52mm, P=0.75mm [41]
UW-Nikkor 28mm1965f/3.5–22 NoYes2 ft
0.61 m		—59° 6[lower-alpha 5]5 62 mm × 43.8 mm
2.44 in × 1.72 in		175 g
6.2 oz		 58mm, P=0.75mm [42]
W-Nikkor 35mm1963f/2.5–22 YesYes2.75 ft
0.84 m		62°46°30' 7[lower-alpha 6]5 62 mm × 39.5 mm
2.44 in × 1.56 in		160 g
5.6 oz		 58mm, P=0.75mm [43]
W-Nikkor 80mm1969f/4–22 YesYes3.5 ft
1.1 m		30°20'22°45' 5[lower-alpha 6]5 62 mm × 66 mm
2.4 in × 2.6 in		275 g
9.7 oz		 58mm, P=0.75mm [44]
Notes
  1. Suitability for photographs above water, below water, or both.
  2. Provided for above and/or below water, as applicable.
  3. Blocks metering path for Nikonos IV-A and V, can only be used in manual mode.
  4. Sub-scale provided for focus from 0.9 to 0.7 ft (0.27 to 0.21 m) underwater.
  5. Includes front glass dome
  6. Includes front flat glass plate

Nikonos RS mount

The Nikonos RS mount is physically identical to the older Nikon F mount, but an additional external bayonet was added for sealing, and the claws are slightly offset compared to the venerable still camera mount. The electronic signaling is also different from regular AF Nikon bodies.

The sharpness of a remounted R-UW AF Fisheye-Nikkor 13mm was tested and found to be superior to an equivalent AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm using a dome port.[32]

Nikonos RS lenses
NameFocal lengthIntroApertureWater[lower-alpha 1]Min focusAngle of view[lower-alpha 2]ConstructionSizeAttachment sizeRef.
AboveBelowAboveBelowElesGrps(Φ×L)Weight
R-UW AF Fisheye-Nikkor 13mm1994[45]f/2.8–22 NoYes0.5 ft
0.15 m		—170° 10[lower-alpha 3]7 126 mm × 92 mm
5.0 in × 3.6 in		970 g
34 oz		 — [46]
R-UW AF Zoom-Nikkor[lower-alpha 4] 20–35mm1992f/2.8–22 NoYes0.38 ft
0.12 m		—80° to 51° 1010 162 mm × 129 mm
6.4 in × 5.1 in		1,750 g
62 oz		 148mm, P=1.0mm [48]
R-UW AF Nikkor 28mm1992f/2.8–22 NoYes0.9 ft
0.27 m		—60° 66 99 mm × 77 mm
3.9 in × 3.0 in		550 g
19 oz		 88mm, P=1.0mm [49]
R-UW AF Micro-Nikkor[lower-alpha 5] 50mm1992f/2.8–22 YesYes6.6 in
0.167 m		—35° 109 103 mm × 126 mm
4.1 in × 5.0 in		1,100 g
39 oz		 88mm, P=1.0mm [50]
Notes
  1. Suitability for photographs above water, below water, or both.
  2. Provided for above and/or below water, as applicable.
  3. Includes L37c filter
  4. World's first true underwater zoom lens[47]
  5. Focuses to a reproduction ratio of 1:1

Third party lenses

Lenses were made for the original Nikonos mount (for example, by Sea&Sea), which included both prime lenses as well as focal length converters which attached to the front of a Nikonos lens.

Nikonos mount lenses by third parties
NameFocal lengthIntroApertureWater[lower-alpha 1]Min focusAngle of view[lower-alpha 2]ConstructionSizeAttachment sizeRef.
AboveBelowAboveBelowElesGrps(Φ×L)Weight
Sea&Sea SWL Fisheye (64000)[lower-alpha 3] 12mm1994?f/3.5–22 NoYes11.8 in
0.30 m		—167° 96 108 mm × 91 mm
4.3 in × 3.6 in		570 g
20 oz		 — [51][52][53]
Sea&Sea WL-15 (63000) 15mm?f/3.5–22 NoYes10 in
0.25 m		—96° 108 85 mm × 68 mm
3.3 in × 2.7 in		365 g
12.9 oz		 [51][54]
Sea&Sea WCL-16 (62001)[lower-alpha 4] 16mm?f/5.6–22 NoYes1 ft
0.30 m		—91° 44 78 mm × 54 mm
3.1 in × 2.1 in		400 g
14 oz		 [51][54]
Sea&Sea WL-17 17mm?f/3.5–22 NoYes?—86° ?? 89 mm × 102 mm
3.5 in × 4 in		440 g
15.5 oz		 [55]:164
Subatec Subawider (II, III)[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] 17mm[lower-alpha 6]?f/2.5–22 NoYes?—90°[lower-alpha 7] ?? ?? [55]:165 [56]
Sea&Sea WL-18[lower-alpha 8] 18mm?f/3.5–16 NoYes?—? ?? ?? [55]:164
Sea&Sea WL-20 (60000) 20mm?f/3.5–22 NoYes1.3 ft
0.40 m		—80° 77 57 mm × 62 mm
2.2 in × 2.4 in		270 g
9.5 oz		 [51][54]
Seacor Sea-Eye 21mm?f/3.3–16 NoYes2.5 ft
0.76 m		—92° ?? ?? [57]
Notes
  1. Suitability for photographs above water, below water, or both.
  2. Provided for above and/or below water, as applicable.
  3. "Full frame" or diagonal fisheye lens
  4. Fitted to front of and requires W-Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 lens.
  5. Also applicable to the UW-Nikkor 28mm lens.
  6. 13mm with the 28mm lens
  7. 103° with the 28mm lens
  8. Blocks metering path for Nikonos IV-A and V, can only be used in manual mode.

Accessories

Closeup
  • Extension tubes mounted with a Nikonos lens for macro photography, most commonly with the 35mm Nikonos lens to produce 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2 macro image ratios, with 1:3 occasionally seen as well. Offered by third parties; no Nikon extension tubes were produced.
  • Nikon Close Up Kit, which included a close-up lens that attached to the front of either the UW 28 mm, W 35 mm, or W 80mm Nikonos lenses, a frame support bracket, and three field frames (one for each lens) to produce near-macro image ratios (approx range of 1:5 to 1:3, depending on the lens in use).
  • Third-party close-up lenses

Because the numbered Nikonos cameras did not offer through-the-lens viewing, the extremely shallow depth of field for macro photography pragmatically required a focusing aid. The extension tube and Close Up Kit systems used a framer, which attached to the lens assembly and provided a direct physical index for the camera-to-subject distance, as well as its approximate width/height. The Nikon Close Up Kit provided a complete rectangular frame, but most third-party extension tube kits typically only indexed the bottom and two sides, not the top, and because of this shape, a slang term for Nikonos framers were Goal Posts.

For various reasons (such as concern for potential damage to the reef), some alternative products were developed over time to minimize or replace the basic framer design. One example (Fred Dion; Underwater Photo Tech) consisted of a bracket that held two small flashlights whose beams aligned at the focus plane.

Nikonos light meter
Nikonos light meter

The Nikonos light meter accessory houses the selenium-celled Sekonic L-86 Auto-Lumi.[58] An underwater light meter is necessary for the Nikonos I, II, and III, which do not have metering in the body.

Flash

Because light becomes monochromatic as depth increases, a portable light source is required for underwater photography. The first Calypso-based Nikonos cameras (I and II) were equipped with two-pin sync ports for flashbulb units. The Nikonos III added a third pin to support electronic flash units; although a prototype was exhibited (SB-11), the first electronic Nikonos flash unit, the SB-101, was introduced with the Nikonos IV-A; both the IV-A and III supported the SB-101, but the IV-A dropped support for the flashbulb units. The SB-102 and -103 were introduced with the Nikonos V, with the SB-103 a more compact version of the SB-102, which in turn was an updated version of the SB-101. The SB-104 and -105 were introduced with the Nikonos RS; all four of these units (SB-102 through -105) supported TTL flash operation.[13][20]

The SB-103 was recalled in September 1998; hydrogen gas could potentially build up and be ignited by the flash tube, which would eject the front lens and flash tube assembly from the unit. Owners of recalled units were offered the SB-105 as a replacement.[59] Because the SB-103 housing was designed to be pressure-resistant, Nikon was unable to crush the recalled units and instead drilled a hole through the "103" marking on the side of the flash. Some of the recalled units were subsequently resold on the secondary market.[60] The recall was still active as of October 2017; because the SB-105 is no longer being manufactured, SB-103 owners will instead receive a voucher.[61]

Nikonos underwater flash specifications
NameGuide No.[lower-alpha 1]Coverage
(Land/Water)		ModesPowerSizeWeightRef.
LandWaterTTLAutoManual
SB-101 32 m (105 ft)[lower-alpha 2]16 m (52 ft)[lower-alpha 2]66°/50°[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3] NoYes[lower-alpha 4]Yes
(Full, ​1⁄4)		 8×"AA"/R6 403 mm × 94 mm × 157 mm
15.9 in × 3.7 in × 6.2 in
(H×W×D)[lower-alpha 5]		1,900 g (67 oz)[lower-alpha 6] [62]
SB-102 32 m (105 ft)[lower-alpha 7]16 m (52 ft)[lower-alpha 7]79°/59°[lower-alpha 7] Yes[lower-alpha 8]Yes[lower-alpha 4]Yes
(Full, ​1⁄4, ​1⁄16)		 6×"C"/R14 139 mm × 152.5 mm × 212 mm
5.47 in × 6.00 in × 8.35 in
(W×H×D)[lower-alpha 9]		1,670 g (59 oz)[lower-alpha 6] [63]
SB-103 20 m (66 ft)[lower-alpha 10]10 m (33 ft)[lower-alpha 10]79°/59°[lower-alpha 10] Yes[lower-alpha 8]NoYes
(Full, ​1⁄4, ​1⁄16)		 4×"AA"/R6 175 mm × 130 mm × 99 mm
6.9 in × 5.1 in × 3.9 in
(W×H×D)[lower-alpha 9]		780 g (28 oz)[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 11] [64]
SB-104 32 m (105 ft)16 m (52 ft)115°/100°[lower-alpha 12] Yes[lower-alpha 13]NoYes
(Full, ​1⁄4, ​1⁄16)		 SN-104 NiCd 124 mm × 222 mm
4.9 in × 8.7 in
(Φ×L)[lower-alpha 9]		1,990 g (70 oz)[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 14] [65]
SB-105 22 m (72 ft)[lower-alpha 10]11 m (36 ft)[lower-alpha 10]103×84°[lower-alpha 12][lower-alpha 15] Yes[lower-alpha 16]NoYes
(Full, ​1⁄4, ​1⁄16)		 4×"AA"/R6 99 mm × 130 mm × 181 mm
3.9 in × 5.1 in × 7.1 in
(W×H×D)[lower-alpha 9]		780 g (28 oz)[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 17] [66]
Notes
  1. With ISO 100 film
  2. Optional SW-101 adapter to expand coverage to 79°/59° (land/water) for UW-Nikkor 28mm lens; reduces guide number to 22 and 11 m (72 and 36 ft) for land and water, respectively.
  3. Covers W-Nikkor 35mm lens without accessories.
  4. Using SU-101 sensor
  5. Includes grip.
  6. Without batteries
  7. Optional SW-102 adapter to expand coverage for UW-Nikkor 15mm lens; reduces guide number to 22 and 11 m (72 and 36 ft) for land and water, respectively.
  8. With Nikonos V
  9. Strobe head only
  10. Optional SW-103 adapter to expand coverage for UW-Nikkor 15mm lens; reduces guide number to 14 and 7 m (46 and 23 ft) for land and water, respectively.
  11. 1,650 g (58 oz) with bracket, arm, joint, and sync cord.
  12. Covers UW-Nikkor 15mm lens.
  13. With Nikonos V and RS; Matrix-balanced fill-flash with Nikonos RS
  14. 3,450 g (122 oz) fully equipped, including SK-104A arm, SK-104B bracket/tray, and SN-104 battery
  15. Expands to 115° with SW-103.
  16. With Nikonos V and RS.
  17. 1,730 g (61 oz) with bracket, arm, joint, sync cord, and batteries.

References
  1. Stafford, Simon (2004). The new Nikon compendium : cameras, lenses & accessories since 1917. New York: Lark Books. ISBN 1-57990-592-7.
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