2002
Key events
Digital SLRs arrive underwater in force. The Nikon D100 becomes one of the first “affordable” DSLRs with housing support. Stephen Frink publishes his landmark Seacam D1X field journal on Wetpixel — one of the first comprehensive digital SLR underwater housing reviews. Wetpixel LLC is incorporated. DEMA 2002 is dominated by digital products, with 9 DSLR housings and 60+ digital products on display.
January
- 2002-01-09: Jim Watt publishes sample Canon D30 underwater photographs taken with UK Germany housing on Wetpixel. ([1])
- 2002-01: First Seacam D1X housing arrives in the US — Stephen Frink’s unit is the first in the country. ([2])
March
- 2002-03-22: Stephen Frink publishes detailed Seacam D1X field journal and operator’s manual on Wetpixel — a landmark early digital SLR underwater housing review. ([3])
April
- 2002-04-06: Canon D60 arrives at Jim Watt’s; Eric Cheng stuffs it into UK Germany D30 housing — near perfect fit. ([4])
- 2002-04-16: Seaspace 2002 held in Houston (35th year); Ikelite DS-125 and Light & Motion Titan shown; Burt Jones and Maurine Shimlock present. ([5])
- 2002-04-20: Aquatica releases A995 housing for Nikon Coolpix 995 ($849). ([6])
- 2002-04-21: Ikelite expands digital housing lineup with housings for Fuji S1 Pro, Nikon CP5000, Sony F707, and others. ([7])
- 2002-04-25: Underwater Phantaseas announces aluminum housing for Nikon CP5000 ($995). ([8])
May
- 2002-05-03: Aquatica A995 housing reviewed on Wetpixel. ([9])
- 2002-05-09: DigiDeep, Germany-based UW digital photography website, launches. ([10])
July
- 2002-07-06: Aquatica completes A5000 housing for Nikon Coolpix 5000 ($1049); announces upcoming A5700, A4500, and AD100 for Nikon D100. ([11])
- 2002-07-06: Light & Motion releases photo of Tetra 5000 housing for Nikon Coolpix 5000 with ROC strobe controller. ([12])
- 2002-07-06: Spiegel Grove ship, botched sinking off Key Largo, ends up on its side; documented by Victor Gircys and Stephen Frink. ([13])
- 2002-07-10: Gates announces F707 housing for Sony DSC-F707. ([14])
- 2002-07: Eric Cheng leads Bahamas trip with 5 Canon D60 DSLRs, 4 UK Germany housings; joined by Jim Watt, David Fleetham, Andy Sallmon via Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures. ([15])
- 2002-07-24: James Wiseman hosts first reefpix.org online chat on “From Film to Digital.” ([16])
August
September
- 2002-09-24: Rod Klein publishes detailed review of Light & Motion Titan housing for Olympus E-20 with Cayman gallery; praises ROC strobe controller. ([18])
- 2002-09-30: Mauricio Handler reviews Aquatica A5000 after field testing in Turks and Caicos. ([19])
- 2002-09-30: Sea & Sea announces Canon D30/D60 and Nikon D100 housings; Subal announces D10 housing for Nikon D100. ([20], [21])
October
- 2002-10: DEMA 2002 in Las Vegas: “Digital Photography Dominates.” 9 DSLR housings and 60+ digital products shown. Nearly all manufacturers have jumped into digital. Eric Cheng and David Breitigam cover for Wetpixel. Howard Hall and Brian Skerry sign “Successful Underwater Photography” at Gates booth. ([22])
- 2002-10-09: Wetpixel replaces forum software; old forum had 844 topics, 4,555 posts, 484 members. ([23])
- 2002-10-24: James Wiseman named Wetpixel forum moderator with 1,000+ posts (20%+ of total volume). ([24])
- 2002-10-24: James Wiseman publishes review of Ikelite Fuji S2 Pro housing; notes S2 Pro is the only DSLR supporting TTL flash for UW strobes. ([25])
- 2002-10-31: James Wiseman publishes beginner guides for UW digital photography (camera/housing selection, strobe use) on Wetpixel. ([26])
November
- 2002-11-09: Second annual Bonaire Digital Shootout (Nov 9-16); Jim Watt as speaker/judge. ([27])
- 2002-11-17: Aquatica begins R&D on Fuji S2 Pro housing due to overwhelming DEMA demand; spring 2003 delivery. ([28])
- 2002-11-19: Eric Cheng reviews Vosonic X’S-Drive VP-2030 portable storage device for dive trips. ([29])
December
- 2002-12-02: Eric Cheng photographs Sea & Sea D30/60 housing; Jim Watt’s modified version features Ikelite bulkheads and Light & Motion LCD monitor. ([30])
Also this year
- Wetpixel LLC incorporated
- Nikon D100 (6MP, DX) released — housings from Sea & Sea (DX-D100), Nexus, Subal
- Gates Underwater Products sold to John and Karen Ellerbrock
References
- 51 articles processed from the Wetpixel raw archive for this year.
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2002: Sample Canon D30 Photographs Jim Watt ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Field Journal By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Field Journal By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 6, 2002: Canon D60 Digital Slr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2002: Seaspace 2002 Report Truly Unsinkable ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 20, 2002: Aquatica Coolpix 995 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 21, 2002: Ikelite Adds More To Digital Line ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2002: Underwater Phantaseas Designs Housing For The Nikon Cp5000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 3, 2002: Aquatica A995 Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 9, 2002: Digideep Website Launch ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Aquatica Completes A5000 Housing And Readies D 100 Housing And Others ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Lm Releases Photo Of Tetra 5000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Whatever Happened To The Spiegel Grove ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2002: Gates Underwater Products Announces New F707 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2002: Bahamas 2002 With D60s ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Reefpixorg Chat ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 16, 2002: Ikelite Announces Fuji S2 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 24, 2002: Light Motion Titan Housing For Olympus E 20 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2002: Aquatica A5000 Housing For Coolpix 5000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2002: Sea Sea Shows D60 And D100 Products ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2002: Subal D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 27, 2002: Dema 2002 Show Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 9, 2002: Forum Software Replaced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 24, 2002: Forum Announcements ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 24, 2002: Ikelite S2 Pro Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 31, 2002: How To Get Started In Underwater Digital Photography ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2002: Jim Watts Digital Adventures ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 17, 2002: Aquatica Working On S2 Pro ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 19, 2002: Vosonic Xs Drive ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2002: Sea Sea D60 Housing Photographs ↩