Nikonos V Production Stopped

After the current batch of Nikonos V bodies is finished being manufactured, Nikon will stop production, effectively taking Nikon out of the underwater camera market. They announced that “in light of relatively low sales volumes for this niche product ... Nikon determined that it could no longer continue to justify the cost and effort of specialized production required to manufacture it in small quantities.” Nikon will, however, continue to manufacture lenses and accessories through the remainder of 2002, but then may cease support altogether.

While a decade ago, the Nikonos V was virtually the only camera for amateur underwater photographers, it has faced serious competition from See and Sea. Furthermore, as the price of superior SLR land cameras with autofocus (and now digital cameras) has dropped and foolproof housings have become more available, many novices don’t begin with a Nikonos, but rather choose to house their own SLR. Nikon itself once developed an u n d e rwater SLR, the Nikonos RS, but canceled production when they found the small diving market would not bear its high price.

While Nikon has no plans to introduce a new camera, there is a strong market in used bodies and accessories. Divers hell-bent on owning a Nikonos V, lenses, and close-up kits, should have little problem finding them for years to come.