Nikonos Calypso with a Som Berthiot Flor 35mm f/3.5 lens. This camera also comes with the original box and other accessories!
Throughout the entire time we've owned Junktion, we have only heard rumours of this camera and never seen one in person, let alone with the original box.
The Nikonos Calypso (often called the Calypso-Phot) is a revolutionary 35mm amphibious film camera conceived by ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau and designed by Belgian engineer Jean de Wouters. It was the first commercial camera usable underwater without a bulky housing. Nikon bought the rights to the design in 1962, officially rebranding it as the Nikonos line in 1963. The camera is rated to operate down to 60 m (200 ft) below sea level. The Calypso was sometimes advertised as the "CALYPSO-PHOT". Nikon took over production and sold it from 1963 as the Nikonos, which subsequently became a well-known series of underwater cameras.
Key Features:
- Amphibious Build: Designed to operate both in the air and underwater to depths of 50m (160 feet) without external housings.
- Glove-Friendly Controls: Features an oversized knob on the left for focus and one on the right for aperture, allowing operation while wearing thick diving gloves.
- Simultaneous Shutter/Winding: The shutter mechanism simultaneously cocks and winds the film when the camera is fired, which minimises the number of vulnerable seals needed.
- Lens Options: The original Calypso was released with three lenses: a SOM Berthiot 28mm, a SOM Berthiot 35mm, and an Angenieux 45mm. Nikon later swapped these out for their own highly-regarded Nikkor glass
~Perfect for a beginner through to professionals!
Overall condition - Excellent condition - very minor cosmetic wear due to age 9/10
~Film for this camera can be found here
This camera has been cleaned, mechanically tested and is in full working condition. Light seals are replaced when necessary.
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