2004
Key events
The Nikon D70 becomes the first truly affordable DSLR (~$1,000) with widespread underwater housing support — a watershed moment for enthusiast underwater photographers. Aquatica cracks the Canon E-TTL code for underwater strobe control. INON debuts the D-2000 strobe with S-TTL auto exposure. Doug Perrine wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year with digital underwater photos — the first year digital entries were allowed. DEMA 2004 sees film products nearly absent. Alex Mustard joins Wetpixel as moderator. Wetpixel publishes 241 articles and doubles from 1,000 to 2,000 forum members.
January
- 2004-01-06: Olympus PT-020 housing ships — first PT housing with accessory shoe and strobe bulkhead. ([1])
- 2004-01-11: James Wiseman publishes review of Seacam Fuji S2 Pro housing. ([2])
- 2004-01-13: Aquatica announces E-TTL breakthrough for Canon 300D Digital Rebel housing — first to crack E-TTL code for underwater TTL strobe control. ([3])
- 2004-01-23: Wetpixel v3.0 launched — ground-up redesign by Eric Cheng, James Wiseman, and Craig Jones. ([4])
- 2004-01-23: INON Japan announces X-2 Canon 10D dSLR housing. ([5])
- 2004-01-29: Sea & Sea Japan announces DX-D70 housing for Nikon D70. ([6])
February
- 2004-02-04: Fujifilm introduces FinePix S3 Pro at PMA 2004 — Super CCD SR sensor with 12.3M effective pixels, Nikon F-mount. ([7])
- 2004-02-05: Wetpixel members sweep Beneath the Sea photography/video competition. David Doubilet Award presented. ([8])
- 2004-02-07: Stephen Frink publishes Seacam Canon EOS 1D/1Ds housing field journal from Thailand. ([9])
- 2004-02-09: Nexus announces Nikon D70 housing with special dome for Nikon 10.5mm fisheye. ([10])
- 2004-02-12: Kodak announces DCS Pro SLR/n — 14MP full-frame CMOS DSLR with Nikon F-mount at PMA 2004. ([11])
- 2004-02-15: Jean Bruneau tests Nikon 10.5mm fisheye with Aquatica D100 housing, demonstrates fisheye correction via Nikon Capture 4. ([12])
- 2004-02-17: Eric Cheng gets digital cover shots on Tauchen Magazine and Shark Diver Magazine, both shot with Sea & Sea-housed Canon D60. ([13])
- 2004-02-21: James Wiseman publishes RAW vs JPEG feature article explaining dynamic range and workflow advantages of RAW format. ([14])
- 2004-02-27: Alex Mustard joins Wetpixel as moderator. Previously won four Antibes Festival awards in 2002, founded Young UW Photographers Group. ([15])
March
- 2004-03-02: Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition accepts digital images for first time. ([16])
- 2004-03-04: INON announces UFL-165AD fisheye conversion lens — 165-degree maximum FOV, AD Mount. ([17])
- 2004-03-07: Eric Cheng gives digital UW photography seminar at Boston Sea Rovers 50th Anniversary Clinic. ([18])
- 2004-03-10: Aquatica releases I.C.U. (Illumination Control Unit) — E-TTL to TTL bridge microprocessor for Canon Rebel housing. ([19])
- 2004-03-15: Aquatica shows prototype Nikon D70 housing. Entry-level DSLR UW photography becoming more affordable. ([20])
- 2004-03-18: Kodak announces DCS Pro SLR/c — 14MP full-frame CMOS with Canon EOS mount. ([21])
- 2004-03-21: Wetpixel announces bi-monthly photo contest with jury including Alex Mustard, Stephen Frink, David Fleetham, Douglas David Seifert, Jim Watt. ([22])
- 2004-03-26: Beneath the Sea 2004 expo report: Aquatica I.C.U. demoed, multiple housing manufacturers present. ([23])
- 2004-03-28: Wetpixel reaches 2,000 registered forum members, less than one year after hitting 1,000. ([24])
April
- 2004-04-05: Tiger shark “Spot” grabs housed Nikon D100 from diver and takes a perfectly exposed photo. Jim Abernethy. ([25])
- 2004-04-07: Sea & Sea issues voluntary recall/upgrade for DX-3100 Aquapix camera. ([26])
- 2004-04-26: Coral bleaching reported across Great Barrier Reef after water temperatures exceeding 30C — fourth time in six years. ([27])
- 2004-04-27: EPIC 2004 contest results: Wetpixel members win across categories — Jim Abernethy (1st Sharks, 1st Video), James Wiseman (3rd Digital). ([28])
May
- 2004-05-01: Asian Dive Expo (ADEX) celebrates 10th anniversary in Singapore. ([29])
- 2004-05-07: Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 begins at Garden Island Resort, Taveuni — 50 participants, sponsored by Backscatter, Light & Motion, Adobe. Eric Cheng and James Wiseman webcast. Berkley White, Jim Watt, Julieanne Kost lead seminars. ([30])
- 2004-05-27: Eric Cheng publishes “The Mystery of RAW Converters” — comparative analysis showing significant differences between converters in sunball rendering and shadow detail. ([31])
- 2004-05-27: Nexus D70 production housing shown at Long Beach Show ($2,552). ([32])
- 2004-05-31: Douglas David Seifert’s digital UW whale shark images appear in New York Times Science section — significant milestone for digital UW photography in mainstream press. ([33])
June
- 2004-06-05: Seaspace 2004 in Houston. James Wiseman and Eric Cheng give digital workshop. ([34])
- 2004-06-15: Nikon considers exiting compact film camera business, citing irreversible demand decline. ([35])
- 2004-06-21: First Wetpixel official photo contest winners announced: Dave Harasti (1st), lidde (2nd), Dany Weinberg (3rd). ([36])
July
- 2004-07-05: Michael Aw and Mathew Muir publish “The Essential Guide to Digital Underwater Photography.” ([37])
- 2004-07-10: Rich Todd reviews Sea & Sea DX-D70 housing for Nikon D70, tested in Galapagos. ([38])
- 2004-07-14: Aquatica reveals prototype castings for Kodak ProSLRn housing — first underwater housing for a full-frame Nikon F-mount camera. ([39])
- 2004-07-22: Subal announces new GS Viewfinder (180-degree style, $960). ([40])
- 2004-07-29: Herb Ko reviews Aquatica A300 housing for Canon Digital Rebel, his first DSLR experience, tested in Similan Islands, Thailand. ([41])
- 2004-07-29: Gates announces GL2/XM2/XV2 video housing for Canon camcorders. ([42])
August
- 2004-08-07: James Wiseman publishes tutorial on correcting chromatic aberration using Adobe Camera RAW. ([43])
- 2004-08-13: Monterey Shootout 2004 (10th annual) with 150+ photographers; presenters include Norbert Wu, Jim Watt, Berkley White. ([44])
- 2004-08-18: Canon announces EOS 20D (8.2MP, 5fps) and two new EF-S lenses (10-22mm, 17-85mm). ([45])
- 2004-08-20: Alex Mustard reviews Subal ND70 housing for Nikon D70, designed by Arnold Stepanek. ([46])
September
- 2004-09-03: Sea & Sea introduces DX-5000G, 5.13MP compact UW camera system with world’s fastest 0.12s shutter lag. ([47])
- 2004-09-06: Ikelite announces eTTL-to-TTL bridge for Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel. ([48])
- 2004-09-14: Light & Motion announces Bluefin VX2100 video housing for Sony 3-chip camcorders. ([49])
- 2004-09-16: Nikon announces D2X (12.4MP CMOS pro DSLR) and Coolpix 8400 (8MP compact with 24-85mm equivalent). ([50])
- 2004-09-22: Canon announces 1Ds Mk II with 16.7MP full-frame sensor. ([51])
- 2004-09-23: Aquatica A70 housing for Nikon D70 nearing shipment at $1,689 retail. ([52])
October
- 2004-10-03: Julian Scheunemann publishes dome theory article; Colin Gans reviews Sealux CD70 housing for Nikon D70. ([53])
- 2004-10-04: James Watt wins 1st at Celebrate the Sea/Wetpixel digital portfolio contest; Alex Mustard receives honorable mention. ([54])
- 2004-10-08: Sea & Sea introduces YS-55TTL/E, first E-TTL compatible YS-series strobe for Canon digital SLRs. ([55])
- 2004-10-13: DEMA 2004 in Houston — film products nearly absent; digital dominates. Eric Cheng, Craig Jones, James Wiseman cover show for Wetpixel with ~300 photos. Major exhibitors include 10Bar, Aquatica, Backscatter, Gates, Ikelite, INON, Light & Motion, Nexus, Sea & Sea, Seacam, Subal. ([56])
- 2004-10-25: Doug Perrine wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year with digital UW photos shot on Canon D60 in UK-Germany housing — first year digital entries were allowed. Douglas David Seifert and Charles Hood also win categories with digital UW shots. ([57])
November
- 2004-11: Antibes Festival 2004: Laurent Ballesta wins slide portfolio (3rd time in 5 years); Nikon D70 most popular DSLR; Subal and Seacam show D2X housing prototypes. Alex Mustard provides detailed report. ([58])
- 2004-11-02: INON announces D-2000 strobe, replacing D-180. GN 20, S-TTL/External Auto/Manual/Nikonos TTL modes. ([59])
- 2004-11-13: David Haas reviews Ikelite 300D housing with eTTL converter, tested aboard Deep Blue in Galapagos. Ikelite first to implement Canon eTTL for underwater strobes. ([60])
- 2004-11-17: Mauricio Handler shoots sample photos with Aquatica prototype housing for 14MP Kodak 14n/ProSLRn. ([61])
- 2004-11-29: Hugyfot announces Nikon D70 housing forthcoming. ([62])
December
- 2004-12-07: James Wiseman reviews Fisheye FIX LIGHT HG20DX spotting light. ([63])
- 2004-12-29: Eric Cheng posts about 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief, linking to donation pages. ([64])
Also this year
- First GoPro camera sold (35mm film, waterproof to ~15 feet)
- Alex Mustard leaves marine biology academia to pursue underwater photography full time
- 241 articles published on Wetpixel
References
- 241 articles processed from the Wetpixel raw archive for this year.
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 6, 2004: Olympus Pt 020 Available ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2004: Seacam Fuji S2 Pro Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 13, 2004: Aquatica A300 Canon Digital Rebel Housing Ttl ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2004: Wetpixel V30 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2004: Inon X2 Canon 10d Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 29, 2004: Sea Sea Dx D70 Housing Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 4, 2004: Fuji Finepix S3 Pro Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 5, 2004: Wetpixel Members Sweep Beneath The Sea Competition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 7, 2004: Seacam 1d1ds Housing Field Journaloperators Manual ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 9, 2004: Nexus Nikon D70 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 12, 2004: Kodak Announces New Pro Dslr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2004: Aquatica D100 Wnikon 105mm ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2004: Tauchen And Shark Diver Digital Covers ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 21, 2004: Raw Vs Jpeg ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 27, 2004: Alex Mustard Joins Wetpixel ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 2, 2004: Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2004 Goes Digital ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 4, 2004: Inon Ufl 165ad Underwater Fisheye Conversion Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 7, 2004: Boston Sea Rovers 50th Anniversary Clinic1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 10, 2004: Aquaticas Icu Release ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2004: Aquatica D70 Housing Prototype ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2004: Kodak Accounces Dcs Pro Slrc ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 21, 2004: Wetpixel Announces Bi Monthly Photo Contest ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2004: Beneath The Sea 2004 Expo Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2004: Wetpixels 2000th Forum Member ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 5, 2004: Tiger Shark Takes A Picture With A Housed D100 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 7, 2004: Sea Sea Dx 3100 Aquapix Upgradefix ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2004: Summer Weather Impacts Australias Great Barrier Reef ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 27, 2004: Epic 2004 Photo Contest Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 1, 2004: Asian Dive Expo ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 7, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji Webcast 2004 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2004: The Mystery Of Raw Converters ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2004: Nexus D70 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 31, 2004: New York Times Digital Underwater ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2004: Seaspace 2004 Houston Tx ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 15, 2004: Nikon Exit From Compact Film Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2004: Wetpixel Marchapril Contest Winners ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2004: Michael Aws Essential Guide To Digital Uw Photo ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2004: Sea And Sea Dx D70 A Review By Rich Todd ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2004: Photos Of The Kodak Proslrn Housing By Aquatica ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2004: Subals New Gs Viewfinder ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 29, 2004: Aquatica A300 Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 29, 2004: Gates Announces New Canon Gl2 Xm2 Xv2 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 7, 2004: Correcting Chromatic Abberation Using Adobe Photoshop Cs ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2004: Monterey Shootout 2004 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 18, 2004: Canon Announces Eos20d And 2 New Lenses ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2004: Subal Subal D70 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 3, 2004: Sea Sea 5000g 51 Megapixel Uw Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 6, 2004: Ikelite Does Canon Ettl ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2004: Light And Motion Announces Bluefin Vx2100 Video Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 16, 2004: Nikon Announces The D2x ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 22, 2004: Canon 1ds Mk Ii 167 Megapixels ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 23, 2004: Aquaticas A70 Housing Shipping Soon ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 3, 2004: Dome Theory ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 4, 2004: Celebrate The Seawetpixel Contest Winners ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2004: Sea Sea Ys 55ttle Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2004: Dema Show 2004 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2004: Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Doug Perrine ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2004: Antibes Festival 2004 Report1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 2, 2004: Inon D 2000 Ultra Multimode Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 13, 2004: Ikelite 300d Housing With Ettl Converter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 17, 2004: Aquatica Kodak 14nproslr Sample Photos ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 29, 2004: Hugyfot Nikon D70 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 7, 2004: Fisheye Fix Light Hg20dx Spotting Light ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 29, 2004: Asia Earthquake Donations ↩