Nauticam have announced the release of it’s newest aluminium underwater camera housing for the Sony RX100 III. The NA-RX100III inherits much from its hugely popular predecessors, but manages to add the innovative touch with new features not previously seen in a compact camera housing.

The Sony RX100 III

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III, as it is officially known, is the third in the series of advanced, large sensor compact cameras from Sony. The RX100 line is hugely popular with underwater enthusiasts, and has proven itself as an excellent performer in terms of both image quality and usability. RX100III is a more professional model with a much improved lens, popup electronic viewfinder, a built-in neutral density filter, and more.

The RX100III is built around a 20 megapixel 1” CMOS imaging sensor, and gets an updated image processor called Bionz X. Image quality is exceptional.

The big news is the lens. It is a 24-70mm equivalent with aperture ranging from f/1.8 to f/2.8, considerably faster than the RX100II. Not only will this enable more shallow depth of field shots, but it will make focusing easier. The lens also focuses more closely than its predecessors, meaning shooting small subjects is more achievable without a close-up lens.

The display panel is a 3” TFT-LCD, with something Sony calls “WhiteMagic”, which is a technology that adds a white sub-pixel to the normal RGB array, allowing for a brighter screen in bright daylight with reduced energy consumption. The display panel is articulated, and can tilt a full 180 degrees, allowing for the inevitable “selfie” shot.

The electronic viewfinder is a small popup on the left side of camera. The resolution is 1.4Mdot, though the screen itself is quite small. While useful topside, especially in bright sunlight, the small size and low magnification (0.59x) would make it less beneficial underwater.  A better choice is the large 3″ LCD screen, combined with a Nauticam LCD Magnifier (p/n 25106) and rails (p/n 25131).  This combo provides a shaded, magnified image allowing easy confirmation of fine focus.

Nauticam NA-RX100III

While the NA-RX100III builds on the success of the NA-RX100 and NA-RX100II, it is clear that Nauticam did not just copy and paste this housing into existence. The features you’d expect are certainly present, like ergonomic design, the clearly labelled controls, sculpted shutter release and more. A closer look reveals features like an updated fiber optic connection block, built-in vacuum check system, 2 accessory bulkhead ports and support for routing HDMI cables for an external monitor.

Shot with Sony RX100II in the NA-RX000III housing, with Inon UWL-H100

The NA-RX100III is milled from a block of solid aluminium, then hard anodized. The result is a rugged and reliable piece of gear that will stand up to saltwater and the daily rigors of diving. Since the housing accesses all of the camera controls, including the front control ring, the user can take advantage of the enhanced programmability in the RX100III.

NA-RX100III Feature Checklist

• Secure, easy to use locking latch
• Ergonomic controls with size, shape and color differentiation
• All camera controls accessible
• All controls clearly labeled
• Popup/push down flash lever
• Fiber optic bulkhead
• Integrated leak detector and optional vacuum check
• M10 mounting ball
• Cold shoe mount
• 67mm threaded port mount
• 1/4-20 tripod or tray mounting holes
• Sculpted, sensitive shutter release
• M16 bulkhead port for HDMI output
• M14 bulkhead port for vacuum valve

Going Wide or Going Small

The RX100 housings feature an industry standard 67mm threaded port mount, meaning it is easy to attach a number of different wet mount lenses.

While the new 24-70mm lens Sony installed in this camera is terrific, and reasonably wide, going wider allows the underwater photographer to get closer to their subject. Getting close means less water, and less particulate, between subject and camera, and results in more colorful images.

Shot with Sony RX100II in the NA-RX000III housing, with Inon UWL-H100

Testing indicates that the Inon UWL-H100 (either in the m67 mount or the LD mount) is an ideal wide angle lens for the RX100III. This combination will result in a diagonal FOV of approximately one hundred and ten degrees (110º).

On the macro end, the Nauticam Super Macro Converter 1 (SMC) is the ideal choice and enables about a 1″ vertical subject to fill the frame.  This is over 4x magnification provided by the stock lens (stock lens images 160mm wide, SMC 38mm wide).

Nauticam Vacuum Check System

In a feat worthy of Houdini, the engineers at Nauticam managed to squeeze in the Nauticam vacuum monitoring and leak detection electronics. By default, it serves as an audible and visual leak detector, but add a Nauticam M14 Vacuum Valve, (p/n 25611) and it becomes a vacuum check system.  The vacuum monitoring system provides early warning for any problem with watertight integrity – which means peace of mind when shooting underwater.

	The 2 bulkheads and the indicator light for the vacuum/leak system		M14 vacuum valve installed, and green light indicating solid vacuum

Video

Video gets an update in the “III” as well. The camera now supports XAVC S, at up to 50Mbps, shooting HD at 60p. More importantly, the RX100III eschews “line skipping”, sampling the entire sensor before downsizing to the recorded resolution. The results are very impressive. In the comparisons posted on DPReview.com, the video frame grab from the RX100III clearly out resolves and displays less moiré than cameras like the Nikon D610 and even the Sony A7.

The standard NA-RX100III housing supports HDMI out, via an optional HDMI bulkhead connected to the M16 accessory hole in the front of the housing. This means that the underwater videographer can use either excellent SmallHD DP4 Monitor (in the NA-DP4 housing, p/n 17901) or the Atomos Ninja 2 Recorder (NA-NINJA2 housing, p/n 17902). The Ninja can record high quality ProRes HD video at around 220 Mbps, which is made possible by the “clean” HDMI output option in the camera.
Recommended Accessories

Nauticam

p/n	Item	Description
25611	M14 Vacuum Valve	Enables vacuum check system, allowing for check of watertight integrity
81201	SMC	Super Macro Converter; add on lens that provides close focus macro with minimal distortion
25101	M67 Flip Diopter       Holder	Enables quick installation and removal of the SMC underwater by flipping lens in place or out of the way
71201	Easitray	Simple tray with comfortable rubberized hand grips
71207	Flexitray	Adjustable tray with comfortable rubberized hand grips
71209	Flexitray W	Wider Flexitray, also allows for tripod use
71208	Right Handle	Right handle for Easitray or Flexitray
71311	Ball for Easi/Flexitray	1″ Mounting ball for either tray, allows mounting strobes/lights using Nauticam arms/clamps
36316	Compact Handstrap	Comfortable handstrap for right side of housing
36323	Long Handstrap	Longer version of handstrap for larger hands
25106	LCD Magnifier	Enlarge the view of the LCD; easy to see in bright sun, and can adjust diopter
25131	LCD Magnifier Rails	Allows installation of LCD Magnifier
25221	M10 ball	Mount point for lighting hardware
25514	Ball adapter (Inon)	Allows mounting of Inon strobe
various	Arms/Clamps	Nauticam mounting hardware
various	Carbon fiber buoyancy arms	Arm that provides extra buoyancy to offset heavy lights or strobes
26214	Fiber optic cable for Inon Strobe	Allows fast, accurate automatic flash exposure (TTL) over fiber, with no sync cables to flood or corrode
26215	Fiber optic cable for Sea&Sea strobe	Allows fast, accurate automatic flash exposure (TTL) over fiber, with no sync cables to flood or corrode

 

Recommended Third Party Accessories from Inon, Keldan, FIX NEO:

 

Item	Description
Inon UWL-H100 28m67 type 2	Recommended wide angle wet mount lens
Inon Z-240	Powerful, reliable strobe with excellent coverage
Inon S-2000	Smallest strobe, ideal for travel
FIX NEO 2000 SWR	Focus light with Wide, Spot and Red light options
Keldan LUNA 4	Compact 5000 lumen video light

Specifications

• Depth Rating:  100m
• Weight: 0.83kg
• Dimensions: 150mm (w) x 101mm (h) x 107mm (d)

Model Number: 17413

USA Retail Price: $995

Shipping August 1, 2014

More information is available from Nauticam USA at www.nauticamusa.com

USA Dealer List: www.nauticamusa.com/nauticam-dealers

International Distributor/Dealer list can be found here.

About Nauticam USA

Nauticam USA is the exclusive wholesale distributor of Nauticam products in the North American Market. Nauticam USA’s warehouse and service center is located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Our staff of underwater photography experts strives to provide the best customer support and after sale service available. Dealer inquiries are welcome.

Dealer Inquiries Outside of North & South America: enquiry@nauticam.com

International Dealer Listing: www.nauticamusa.com/dealers-worldwide