Ikelite releases Nikon D5200 underwater housing for oceanographers

Ikelite has announced an underwater housing for the Nikon D5200 camera, a DSLR introduced on the North American market at the Consumer Electronics Show 2013.

Ikelite is an camera underwater housing manufacturer. The company builds constructions for all sorts of cameras and the latest to fall into its grace is the Nikon D5200.

Ikelite Nikon D5200 underwater housing can go down to depths of 200 feet.

Nikon D5200 underwater housing can withstand depths of 200 feet

This waterproof housing provides access to all important functions and controls. It boasts “comfortable” grips made out of rubber and visible o-ring seals, along with an optical viewfinder which performs great underwater.

According to the manufacturer, it features TTL strobe exposure and comes packed in a corrosion-proof construction. Ikelite also offers ports for most lenses available for the DX-format camera. However, the lens ports are not included in the package, except for the lens zoom gears.

The most important aspect of the underwater housing is its depth rating. Ikelite claims that its D5200 housing can support depths of 200 feet / 60 meters.

The maker added that the accessory supports “direct connect flash”, meaning that photographers can attach an underwater strobe to the housing. Direct communication is ensured, meaning that the custom strobes and the camera will communicate without lag between exposures.

Ikelite Nikon D5200 underwater housing features a glass optical viewfinder.

Most important buttons and controls are exactly where they should be

Ikelite’s underwater housing features most camera controls, but there are a few exceptions. The “missing” list includes the info, self-timer, diopter control,  flash mode, and compensation buttons.

The company claims that flash compensation is available on its DS Substrobes, using the dial added on the housing’s rear. Additionally, buttons for the shutter, video recording start/stop, zoom control are all included in the package and easy to access.

Ikelite noted that if a user does not need the rubberized grips, then he will have the ability to remove them.

Ikelite Nikon D5200 underwater housing does not include a standard or modular port, which will have to be purchased separately.

Price and availability

In order to make the underwater housing work, customers will have to purchase a separate Ikelite standard or modular port for the lenses.

The Nikon D5200 underwater housing is now available for purchase for a price of $1,500. Moreover, the modular and standard lens ports have a starting price of $200, depending on lens type and manufacturer.