Nikon D100
Manufacturer: Nikon Type: Camera (DSLR) Year introduced: 2002 Resolution: 6.1 megapixels
Overview
The Nikon D100 was the dominant digital SLR in underwater photography during 2002-2003, and arguably the camera that brought professional-quality digital imaging to the mainstream UW photography market. While earlier DSLRs like the Nikon D1X had proven digital was viable underwater, the D100 hit a price and performance sweet spot that made it the camera nearly every housing manufacturer rushed to support.
At DEMA 2002, multiple housing announcements for the D100 were made simultaneously, including prototypes from Aquatica, Subal, Light & Motion, Ikelite, Nexus, and Sea & Sea ([1], [2]). By 2003, the D100 had become the “most housed digital camera” with nine or more housing manufacturers producing dedicated housings for it ([3]). The Nikon Coolpix 5000 had briefly held this title for compacts, but the D100 surpassed it in the DSLR category.
Housings
The sheer number of housing options for the D100 was unprecedented for a digital SLR and demonstrated the industry’s full commitment to digital:
- Aquatica AD100 — The most-reviewed D100 housing of 2003. Priced at $1,895-$1,995 for the body. Reviewed by Handler, Tim Rock, George Vincent, and Michael Aw. ([4], [5], [6], [7])
- Subal D10 — Machined aluminum housing, available before end of 2002. ([8], [9])
- Sea & Sea DX-100 — Reviewed by Berkley White and Rod Klein. ([10], [11])
- Light & Motion Titan D100 — Innovative housing featuring electronic controls, ROC strobe controller, and infrared Smart Grips. Controversial design discussed at BTS 2004. ([12], [13], [14])
- Nexus D100 — Compact aluminum design, noted for being very lightweight. ([15], [16])
- Ikelite D100 — Polycarbonate/aluminum construction. Later received a redesigned smaller SLR form factor reviewed by James Wiseman in 2005. ([17], [18])
- Jonah ND100 — Korean-made aluminum housing distributed by Ocean Brite. ([19], [20])
- Seacam D100 — Premium Austrian housing with S180/S45 viewfinder options. ([21], [22])
- Sealux CD 100 — German housing with optional grand viewfinder. ([23])
Reviews & Discussion
- [24] — Detailed housing review
- [25] — Subal housing overview
- [26] — Berkley White and Rod Klein reviews
- [27] — Electronic control housing review
- [28] — James Wiseman photo review of redesigned housing
- [29] — Mark Mintz review
Timeline
- 2002-07: Multiple D100 housing prototypes shown at DEMA 2002 by Aquatica, Subal, Light & Motion, Ikelite, Nexus, and Sea & Sea ([30])
- 2002-09: Subal D10 housing announced as available before end of 2002 ([31])
- 2003-01: Aquatica AD100 housing photos published; Subal D10 shipping ([32], [33])
- 2003-02: Sea & Sea DX-100 reviewed by Berkley White at Backscatter ([34])
- 2003-06: Nexus D100 reviewed; Aquatica AD100 additional reviews published ([35])
- 2003-09: Ikelite D100 housing announced ([36])
- 2003-12: Light & Motion Titan D100 reviewed ([37])
- 2004-02: Seacam D100 reviewed by Mark Mintz ([38])
- 2005-02: Ikelite redesigned D100 housing reviewed by James Wiseman ([39])
Community Discussion
- Subal D10 housing for the D100 (32 replies) — Early community discussion of the Subal D10 housing with user impressions and comparisons to other D100 housing options. (forum thread, topic 1339)
- Which Housing For Canon 10D (16 replies) — Cross-platform discussion where D100 users weighed in on the Canon 10D housing market, providing perspective on the Nikon vs Canon housing ecosystem in 2003-2004. (forum thread, topic 5130)
- Aquatica D100 Housing (3 replies) — Community reactions to the Aquatica AD100 shipping announcement and early availability reports. (forum thread, topic 2627)
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Dema 2002 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 20, 2002: Dema This Week ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Dema 2002 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2003: Aquatica D 100 Housing Photos ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 12, 2003: Aquatica D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 11, 2003: Nexus D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 29, 2003: Aquatica D100 Housing123 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2003: Subal D10 Housing For Nikon D100 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2002: Subal D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2003: Backscatter Sea Sea Dx 100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 4, 2003: Rod Klein Notes On The Sea Sea Dx100 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2003: Light Motion Titan D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 3, 2003: Light Motion Titan D100 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2004: Beneath The Sea 2004 Expo Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 11, 2003: Nexus D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 13, 2003: Nexus D100 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2003: Ikelite D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2005: Ikelite D100 Housing And Ports A Review In Photos ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 28, 2003: Jonah D60 And D100 Housings ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2003: Jonah Nd100 Housing For Nikon D100 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 11, 2003: Seacam 1d1ds D100 S2pro Housings ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 9, 2004: Seacam D100 Housing Field Journal1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 4, 2003: Sealux Cd 100 ↩
- Aquatica D100 Housing (article) ↩
- Subal D10 Housing for Nikon D100 (article) ↩
- Sea & Sea DX-100 Housing (article) ↩
- Light & Motion Titan D100 Review (article) ↩
- Ikelite D100 Housing: A Review in Photos (article) ↩
- Seacam D100 Review (article) ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Dema 2002 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2002: Subal D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2003: Aquatica D 100 Housing Photos ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2003: Subal D10 Housing For Nikon D100 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2003: Backscatter Sea Sea Dx 100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 13, 2003: Nexus D100 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2003: Ikelite D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 3, 2003: Light Motion Titan D100 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 9, 2004: Seacam D100 Housing Field Journal1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2005: Ikelite D100 Housing And Ports A Review In Photos ↩
- DEMA 2002 Report (article) ↩
- Aquatica D100 Housing Photos (article) ↩
- Aquatica D100 Housing Review (article) ↩
- Subal D10 Housing (article) ↩
- Sea & Sea DX-100 Housing (article) ↩
- Light & Motion Titan D100 (article) ↩
- Nexus D100 Housing (article) ↩
- Ikelite D100 Housing (article) ↩
- Seacam D100 Review (article) ↩
- Sealux CD 100 (article) ↩
- Jonah ND100 (article) ↩