A Vision for Deep-Sea Exploration
While many waterproof cameras have emerged over the decades, such as the famous Canon AS-6 'Aquasnappy,' professional underwater photographers have long held a preference for a specific lineage of gear. The roots of this technology trace back to the mid-1950s, when oceanographic pioneer Jacques Cousteau sought a compact, user-friendly camera capable of surviving both deck life on his vessel, the RV Calypso, and the high-pressure environment of the ocean depths.
The Birth of the Calypso
Developed through a collaboration between Cousteau and Belgian engineer Jean de Wouters, the resulting device became the first practical, fully submersible 35mm camera that functioned without the need for bulky, external housings. Following a 1957 prototype known as the 'Spiro,' the final design—named the Calypso—began production in France by Atoms and distribution through La Spirotechnique in 1960.
The camera utilized a clever bayonet lens mount, which served a dual purpose: it secured the optics while simultaneously drawing the two halves of the camera body together to create a watertight seal. Its mechanical design was highly efficient, featuring a two-bladed focal-plane shutter and an innovative lever system that handled both film winding and shutter release. This consolidated design significantly reduced the number of vulnerable entry points for water.
The Evolution into the Nikonos Line
In the early 1960s, the design rights were licensed to Nippon Kōgaku, now known as Nikon. By 1963, the company launched the Nikonos, a refined version that would dominate the underwater market for decades. The series continued to improve, eventually leading to the sophisticated Nikonos RS in 1992—a top-tier autofocus SLR capable of diving to 100 meters.
The system was renowned for its specialized optics. As experts note regarding the unique nature of these lenses:
«These lenses are tuned so that the water itself becomes part of the optical path, giving very sharp, colour-rich images underwater – and they generally do not focus correctly above water.»
The Digital Transition and Legacy
The era of the dedicated underwater film camera began to wane as digital photography surged in popularity. By 2001, Nikon officially discontinued the Nikonos series, citing the rise of high-quality external housings for standard SLR and DSLR cameras as the primary catalyst for the change.
While some specialized modifications were made for the US Navy in the mid-90s—notably the Nikon/Kodak DCS 425 Underwater System—a consumer-grade digital Nikonos was never brought to market. Despite this, the legacy of the Calypso remains a landmark in the history of exploration, serving as the direct ancestor to the most respected series of underwater photography equipment ever produced.