THE NIKON D7500

The successor to the D7200 seems more like a light version of the DX-format flagship D500.  The D7500 uses the same 20.9 MP sensor as its bigger sibling combined with a massively upgraded buffer of 50 RAW images versus the limited 18 of its predecessor.  Although there is a drop in resolution over the D7200 there is no drop in performance, adding 4K UHD recording at 30p and improved ISO performance.  A lighter and smaller body also makes traveling with this DX-format SLR even easier.

In addition to the upgraded image sensor and buffer, the D7500 also employs the same 180,000-pixel RGB metering sensor as the D500 allowing for improved metering and autofocus performance during high-speed shooting.

The viewfinder coverage is also improved to cover 100% of the frame at 0.94x magnification, critical to good composition underwater.  Improved weather sealing over the D7200 gives more peace of mind when the camera is out of the housing for some topside action.  With 950 shots on a battery the D7500 is ready for those once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters, even when it happens at the end of a dive.

Nikon D7500 Key Features:

• 20.9 MP APS-C (DX Format) sensor

• 51 point AF module with 15 cross-type points

• 180,000 pixel RGB sensor for metering and subject recognition

• EXPEED 5 Processor

• AF point joystick

• 8 fps shooting for up to 50 shots (lossless compressed 14-bit Raw)

• 4K (UHD) video from 1.5x crop of sensor

• 100% coverage viewfinder with 0.94x magnification

THE NAUTICAM NA-D7500 UNDERWATER HOUSING

Nauticam housings are evolutionary marvels, with advancements from previous Nauticam for Nikon systems providing the foundation that this new model was built on.  Customer feedback is integrated at every possible opportunity. The cumulative experience of the Nauticam user base provides constant inspiration for innovation, and is a key strength of the brand.

The new NA-D7500 housing further enhances the market leading Nauticam ergonomic experience with improved control placement in a compact, light weight housing produced with cutting edge manufacturing processes.

The right grip is mission control for the D7500 camera, accessing many of the frequently used camera functions.  Oversized levers are identifiable by feel, allowing tactile operation while framing with the optical viewfinder.  The most frequently accessed fingertip controls (Shutter Release, Main Command Dial, and Sub Command Dial, Video Record, and AE-L/AF-L) are located here. ISO, the primary exposure control used by DSLR video shooters, is accessed by a convenient thumb lever under the right grip.  INFO, useful for calling up the camera settings on the 3.2" rear color LCD, is placed at the left thumb.

A "pinky lever", placed just under the front sub-command dial, accesses the Fn1 button.  This can be linked to a number of assignable functions.

The new AF-Mode Lever is a significant improvement, and one based on feedback from Nauticam customers in the field.  Nikon AF Area modes have become so powerful that shooters are regularly switching between 3D Tracking, Auto Area AF, and Single Area modes.  The AF-Mode lever is now easily located by feel from the left handle!  A separate AF-M lever is positioned above this lever, and identifiable by feel.

A double thumb lever accesses playback and the INFO Button. 

The Nikon D7500 camera in a Nauticam NA-D7500 housing offers two assignable pushbuttons (AE-L/AF-L, and FN1) that can all be accessed from the housing handles. 

These custom functions can be overwhelming at first, but the creative options they unlock can be incredibly valuable in the field.  In short, these assignable buttons mean less time digging through camera menus to change camera functions, and more time capturing the scene as it unfolds.  There isn't a right way configure these systems.  Every photographer and shooting scenario has unique demands.  Some ideas are listed below:

• My Menu, a customized panel with frequently accessed menus settings
• Access Top Item in MY MENU, actually jumps into a frequently accessed sub menu structure for the top level My Menu selection, saving at least two button presses.  (ie min shutter speed in auto iso mode, or quickly define a preset white balance)
• Quickly access another metering mode, toggling between the selected metering pattern and an alternate that more appropriately evaluates the current scene.
• Flash disable / enable, this is a big one!  Toggles external flashes on and off, allowing a switch between artificial light shooting (continuous shooting speed limited by flash recycle, and shutter speed limited by the strobe max sync speed at 1/250) to silhouette mode using only ambient light (full 8 fps continuous shooting speed, unrestricted flash sync speed). 

EXTERNAL FLASH TRIGGERING

The D7500 camera's pop-up flash fires inside of the NA-D7500 housing, and optical TTL compatible strobes connected by fiber optic cables allow manual and TTL flash exposure.  Optical systems, with fiber optic cables linking the external flashes to the housing, are far more reliable than any electrical sync cable system.  There are no connections to flood, or fragile wires to break, and nearly every popular underwater strobe supports optical triggering.

The optional Flash Trigger for Nikon (compatible with NA-D7100, D7200, D7500), PN 26304 can fire at the full 8 fps of the camera, making it the ideal solution for the rapid fire fast action shooting that the D7500 now allows for.  Using this trigger instead of the pop up flash allows rapid fire shooting, with the added bonus of increased camera battery life.

INTEGRATED VACUUM CHECK AND LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM

The Nauticam vacuum check and leak detection system is shipped with NA-D7500 as standard equipment.  Combined with an accessory vacuum valve (PN 25625), this monitoring system provides constant updates on the water tight and safe-to-dive status of the housing.  A simple color coded LED lighting system lets the user know that the vacuum is solid, or that the housing is losing vacuum. Leak detection is built into the same circuit, so if there is water intrusion, an audible and visual indication will occur. 

The Nauticam system is temperature compensated, eliminating false alarms caused by a change in outside temperature, or from a camera heating up on an action packed dive.