Nauticam NA-α1 Underwater Housing
For the Sony α1
The NA-α1 takes Sony's do-it-all flagship underwater — a 50MP sensor with 30fps bursts, 8K video and 1/400s flash sync, in a rugged aluminium housing. Built on Nauticam's N100 port system, it gives fingertip access to every key control, runs Sony FE (and adapted EF) glass with Nauticam's optics range, and ships with vacuum and leak monitoring electronics pre-installed.
Consider the NA-α1 if you:
- Want Sony's do-it-all flagship — 50MP stills, 30fps bursts, 8K 30p video
- Shoot Sony FE glass (or EF via adapter) on the N100 system with WACP / WWL optics
- Value fast flash sync (1/400s) and Sony's pro autofocus
- Want a rugged aluminium rig with reliable safety monitoring
At a Glance
| Dimensions | 340 × 169 × 125 mm (W × H × D) |
| Depth Rating | 100 m |
| Weight in air | 2.7 kg |
| Weight in water | Approx. negative 0.6 kg (incl. camera and battery) |
| Port Opening | N100 |
| Compatible cameras | Sony α1 (also Sony α7S III with optional 17430UK conversion kit) |
The Camera: Sony α1
New to the α1? Here's the context. Already know it well — skip to the housing below.
The Sony α1 is the company's flagship full-frame mirrorless — a camera built to do everything. A 50.1MP Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor and BIONZ XR processor drive a 759-point Fast Hybrid AF system with real-time Eye AF for people and animals, 30fps continuous shooting at full resolution, and 8K 30p / 4K 120p 10-bit video. A redesigned shutter allows flash sync up to 1/400s, and the 9.44M-dot OLED EVF refreshes at 240fps.
Key camera specifications
- 50.1MP Exmor RS BSI CMOS full-frame sensor
- 759-point Fast Hybrid AF with tracking
- 30fps burst with the electronic shutter
- 9.44M-dot OLED EVF with 240fps refresh
- 8K 30p and 4K 120p video in 10-bit
- 4.3K 16-bit RAW video output
- Dual UHS-II / CFexpress Type A card slots
The Housing
Lens compatibility and the N100 port system
The NA-α1 is built around Nauticam's N100 port system, supporting a wide variety of Sony FE-mount lenses as well as EF-mount lenses via adapters. Nauticam's range of ports and in-house corrective optics complements the camera's flexibility — including the WACP and WACP-2 wide-angle conversion lenses and the more compact, in-water-removable WWL-1B. With the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM, for example, the WACP-2 turns the native 105° field of view into 128° with sharper corners, a ~0" minimum focus distance and a more natural-looking image than a standard glass dome port. N100-to-N120 adapters extend port compatibility further.
Mission Control: every control within reach
The NA-α1 carries DSLR-style handles with rubberised grips and stainless-steel stiffening brackets for stability and accessory mounting. Dual rear thumb levers fall easily under the hands: the right lever actuates AF-On and Record, the left is mapped to Play. On the top left sit a Mode dial and Focus mode lever, with the C1 / C2 buttons and EV-compensation dial also accessible from the top; C3 (typically EVF/LCD switching) is reachable on the rear from the left handle.
HDMI output
An M24 bulkhead at the front supports both HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 1.4 output (1.4 via a step-down adapter to M16) to external monitors and recorders such as the Atomos Ninja V.
Vacuum check and leak detection — standard
The NA-α1 ships with Nauticam's vacuum check and leak detection electronics pre-installed, using the rear M14 port for the optional 25624 M14 Vacuum Valve II. The system continuously reports the housing's watertight, safe-to-dive status through a color-coded LED: solid vacuum, or vacuum loss. Leak detection runs on the same circuit, so any water intrusion triggers an audible and visual alarm.
The system is temperature-compensated, so it won't throw false alarms from a change in water temperature or from the camera heating up on an action-packed dive.
Flash triggering
Both fiber-optic and electrical triggering are available. Nauticam Universal Fiber Optic cables attach to the built-in bulkheads atop the housing, with modular connections for Sea&Sea-style bushings and INON threaded connections. Triggering uses the optional Mini Flash Trigger for Sony (26302), whose coin-cell-powered LEDs generate a manual signal sent through the optical cables to compatible strobes.
What's in the Box
- NA-α1 Housing
- 90120 Spare main O-ring, O-ring remover and lubricant
- 2× Optical bulkhead caps
- 2× Handles with mounting balls
- Panasonic CR-2032 battery (for moisture alarm)
- Set of Allen keys
- Padded housing bag and shoulder strap
Optional Accessories
Vacuum valves
- 25624 M14 Vacuum Valve II (pushbutton release)
N100–N120 port adapters
Viewfinders (32212 / 32214 preferred)
- 32201 Nauticam 180° straight viewfinder
- 32203 Nauticam 45° viewfinder
- 32211 Full Frame Straight Viewfinder 32° / 1:1
- 32212 Full Frame Straight Viewfinder 40° / 0.8:1
- 32213 Full Frame Angle Viewfinder 32° / 1:1
- 32214 Full Frame Angle Viewfinder 40° / 0.8:1
Triggering, cables and bulkheads
- 26302 Mini Flash Trigger for Sony
- 26216 Universal Optical Fiber Cable
- 37202 Nikonos adaptor (for NA-A7II/A9/A7RIII/A7RIV/a2020/a1)
- 25056 M14 Nikonos 5-pin bulkhead with universal hotshoe connection
- 25081 M24-M16 Step Down Adaptor
Handling
- 28130 Hand Strap for 28113
Conversion
- 17430UK Conversion Kit to convert NA-α1 for use with the Sony α7S III
Mounting Accessories
- 25218 Mounting Ball Set for tripod
HDMI Configurations
HDMI 2.0 cable system
- 25086 M24 adaptor for HDMI 2.0 cable (incl. tightening tool)
- 25099 M24A2R200-M28A1R170 HDMI 2.0 cable
Compatible HDMI 2.0 monitor housings
- 17922 Nauticam Atomos Ninja V Housing — Atomos Ninja V 5" 4Kp60 4:2:2 10-bit Recorder/Monitor/Player (excl. HDMI 2.0 cable)
- 17922S Nauticam Atomos Ninja V-S Housing — as above, with Atomos AtomX SDI Module
HDMI 1.4 cable system
- 25033 Standard HDMI bulkhead with M16 thread
- 25081 M24-M16 Step Down Adaptor
- 25100 HDMI (D-A) cable, 190mm
Compatible HDMI 1.4 monitor housings
- 17920 NA-502B-H Housing for SmallHD 502 Bright Monitor
- 17923 NA-Shinobi-H Housing for Atomos Shinobi 5.2" 4K HDMI Monitor (HDMI 1.4 input)
