2006
Key events
The Nikon D200 and Canon EOS 5D dominated the housing race, with 8+ manufacturers releasing housings for each camera. HD video went mainstream with multiple camcorder and housing launches. Konica Minolta exited the camera market; Sony entered with its first DSLR. Adobe Lightroom progressed from public beta to 1.0 release. Three new UW publications launched (Fathoms Magazine, DivePhotoGuide, X-Ray Magazine). Alex Mustard published his first book. Wetpixel expanded into video content.
January
- 2006-01-10: Adobe Lightroom public beta released for Mac — first competitor to Apple Aperture for RAW processing. ([1])
- 2006-01-10: Ikelite releases 8” dome port for SLR housings using extension ring system. ([2])
- 2006-01-11: Nikon announces discontinuation of most film cameras, retaining only F6 and FM10 — symbolic milestone in the film-to-digital transition. ([3])
- 2006-01-14: Alex Mustard publishes “The Trouble with TTL” arguing manual strobe control is superior for digital UW photography. ([4])
- 2006-01-21: Ikelite announces DS200 Substrobe — 200 watt-seconds, 1.6 second recycle. ([5])
- 2006-01-21: Konica Minolta withdraws from camera business; transfers SLR development to Sony. ([6])
- 2006-01-27: Olympus announces Evolt E-330 — first DSLR with continuous live view LCD preview. ([7])
- 2006-01-30: Boot 2006 Düsseldorf: Seacam, [Sealux], Subal, UK-Germany all show Canon 5D housings. [Subtronic] debuts arm-battery system. ([8])
February
- 2006-02-02: Aquatica begins bundling Heinrichs Weikamp iTTL converter in all Nikon housings — pioneering integrated TTL for Nikon UW systems. ([9])
- 2006-02-21: Canon 30D announced — mild update of 20D. Nikon announces AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G macro — world’s first macro lens with VR. ([10], [11])
- 2006-02-24: Wetpixel/DivePhotoGuide inaugural International Photo Competition winners announced at Our World Underwater in Chicago. ([12])
March
- 2006-03-02: Alex Mustard publishes first book “The Art of Diving” (co-authored with Nick Hanna) — 272 pages, 200 images. ([13])
- 2006-03-03: IMAX Deep Sea 3D (directed by Howard Hall) opens in cinemas. ([14])
- 2006-03-04: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic: Eric Cheng, Berkley White, James Wiseman lead workshops. Film festival features Howard Hall, Stan Waterman, Wes Skiles. ([15])
- 2006-03-26: INON announces Z-240 flagship strobe: guide number 24, S-TTL, 13-step manual. ([16])
April
- 2006-04-03: Digital Shootout Palau 2006 — 5th annual, 25 participants. Eric Cheng webcasts daily. ([17])
- 2006-04-19: Shawn Heinrichs reviews Light & Motion Bluefin HD for Sony FX1/Z1U — early HD video housing coverage. ([18])
- 2006-04-20: ADEX 2006 Singapore: Eric Cheng and Tony Wu present “Digital Duo” talk. Seacam shows D200 housing. ([19])
- 2006-04-26: Sea & Sea announces DX-D200 and DX-5D housings for Nikon D200 and Canon 5D. ([20])
May
- 2006-05-10: Wetpixel announces partnership with DiveFilm.com for video podcasts; adds Paul Waghorn (Wags) as video moderator — deliberate expansion into video content. ([21])
- 2006-05-12: Light & Motion announces Nikon D200 housing at $4,499 with USB camera control. ([22])
June
- 2006-06-01: Nikon D2Xs announced — subtle upgrade of D2X. ([23])
- 2006-06-05: Sony announces A100 — Sony’s first DSLR, inheriting Konica Minolta’s lens mount. ([24])
- 2006-06-15: President Bush designates Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as national monument — 84 million acres, world’s largest marine protected area. ([25])
July
- 2006-07-10: Nikon D80 announced — significant mid-range DSLR; multiple housing manufacturers respond. ([26])
- 2006-07-12: Alex Mustard shows underwater photography to Queen of England. ([27])
- 2006-07-19: Fathoms Magazine launches — new UW photography publication. ([28])
- 2006-07-25: INON Z-240 strobe announced. ([29])
August
- 2006-08-08: Canon 400D/XTi announced — affordable entry DSLR; housing race begins. ([30])
- 2006-08-14: Matt Segal formally joins Wetpixel team. ([31])
- 2006-08-16: Wetpixel forums hacked — security incident. ([32])
September
- 2006-09: Photokina 2006 in Cologne — multiple camera and housing announcements. ([33])
- 2006-09-25: Adobe Photoshop CS3 Beta released. ([34])
October
- 2006-10-19: DivePhotoGuide.com launches as new UW photography publication — will become Wetpixel’s main competitor/partner. ([35])
- 2006-10-23: X-Ray Magazine launches as free online UW photography magazine. ([36])
November
- 2006-11: DEMA Show 2006 in Orlando — HD video transition and DSLR growth dominant themes. Canon 400D housings from multiple manufacturers. ([37])
- 2006-11-01: INON Z-240 full review published. ([38])
December
- 2006-12-12: Adobe Lightroom 1.0 officially released — major milestone for RAW processing workflow. (source)
- 2006-12-28: Ike Brigham, well-regarded Wetpixel community member, passes away. ([39])
References
- [40] — 392 articles processed
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 10, 2006: Adobe Lightroom Public Beta ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 10, 2006: Ikelite Releases Details Of 8 Dome Port ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2006: Nikon Discontinues Most Film Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 14, 2006: The Trouble With Ttl ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2006: Ikelite Announces Ds200 Substrobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2006: Konica Minolta Withdraw From Camera And Photo Business ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2006: Olympus Announces Evolt E 330 Digital Slr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 30, 2006: Boot 2006 Show Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 2, 2006: Aquatica Bundles Henrichs Weikamp Ittl Converter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 21, 2006: Canon 30d Announced1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 21, 2006: Nikon Announces New 105mm Macro Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Contest Winners Announced At Owu ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 2, 2006: Alex Mustards Art Of Diving ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 31, 2006: Deep Sea 3d To Debut On March 3rd ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 11, 2006: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Report 2006 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2006: Inon Announces Flagship Z 240 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2006: Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 19, 2006: Light Motion Bluefin Hd Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2006: Adex Asia Dive Expo 2006 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2006: Sea Sea Announces Dx D200 And Dx 5d Housings ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 10, 2006: Wetpixel Partners With Divefilm For Video Podcasts ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 12, 2006: Light Motion Nikon D200 Underwater Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 1, 2006: Nikon D2xs Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2006: Sony Announces A100 Camera And Lenses ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 15, 2006: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Now A National Monument ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 8, 2006: Nikon Announces The 102mp D80 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2006: Dr Alex Mustard Featured On Rob Galbraith ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 19, 2006: Fins Magazine Win A Trip To Png ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 2, 2006: Bruce Yates Inon Artist Of The Month ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 25, 2006: Canon Announces The Digital Rebel Xti 400d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 14, 2006: Matt Segal Joins Wetpixel Moderation Team ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 10, 2006: Sea Slug Forum Re Opens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 15, 2006: Pre Photokina 2006 Announcements ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 15, 2006: Adobe Announces Photoshop Cs3 Beta ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 19, 2006: Andrea And Antonella Ferrari Photograph Pair Of Mating Mimic Octopus ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 23, 2006: Seatool Announces Housing For Sony Hdr Sr1 And Hdr Ux1 And New Website ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2006: Dema 2006 Show Coverage ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2006: Inon X 2 Housing For Canon 10d 20d 30d Preview ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 28, 2006: Ike Brigham Founder Of Ikelite Passes Away ↩
- raw/articles/2006/ (unknown) ↩