2008
Key events
The most transformative year in UW photography since the film-to-digital transition. Nikon D700 brought affordable full-frame; Canon 5D Mark II introduced 1080p video to DSLRs; Nikon D90 became the first DSLR with any video capability. Olympus and Panasonic announced Micro Four Thirds — Eric Cheng called it a potential “Nikonos V replacement.” Nauticam debuted at DEMA with its first product. Subal was sold to new owners. Backscatter merged with Underwater Photo-Tech. Alex Mustard published landmark FX vs DX underwater comparisons.
January
- 2008-01-09: DivePhotoGuide/Wakatobi Underwater Photo & Video Festival announced for 2008. ([1])
- 2008-01-15: Wetpixel announces 2008 expedition schedule: Socorro, Bahamas, Bonaire, Indonesia, South Africa. Eric Cheng, Alex Mustard. ([2])
- 2008-01-16: Stephen Frink tests Canon 14mm II with Seacam Superdome for wide-angle coverage. ([3])
February
- 2008-02: Ikelite announces housings for Nikon D300 and Canon 40D. Nikon D300 becomes the dominant camera body for UW photographers. ([4])
March
- 2008-03: Alex Mustard publishes comprehensive analysis of Nikon D300 for underwater use. ([5])
April
- 2008-04: Nauticam incorporation and early development — Edward Lai begins designing housing systems in Hong Kong. ([editorial note: Nauticam’s public debut was DEMA 2008])
May
- 2008-05: Multiple housing manufacturers release Canon 40D and Nikon D300 housings from Aquatica, Subal, Sea & Sea, Seacam, Ikelite. ([6])
June
- 2008-06: Eric Cheng covers Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008; Tony Wu begins annual Tonga humpback whale blogging series. ([7])
July
- 2008-07-01: Nikon announces D700 — 12MP full-frame at $2,999, bringing FX format to a broader audience. Housing speculation begins immediately. ([8])
- 2008-07-05: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 winners announced; 58 participants. Berkley White, David Fleetham, Eric Cheng judge. ([9])
- 2008-07-13: Stephen Frink tests Seacam Seaflash 250 TTL in Key Largo — reports reliable underwater TTL, a rare achievement. ([10])
August
- 2008-08-05: Olympus and Panasonic announce Micro Four Thirds mirrorless standard. Eric Cheng calls it a potential “Nikonos V replacement.” ([11])
- 2008-08-13: Eric Cheng and Matt Segal join sixgill shark expedition in Seattle with Simon Rogerson (Dive Magazine). ([12])
- 2008-08-26: Canon announces EOS 50D (15.1MP, DIGIC IV). ([13])
- 2008-08-29: Nikon announces D90 — first DSLR with HD video (720p). Milestone moment for the convergence of stills and video. ([14])
September
- 2008-09-03: Manta Fest 2008 begins in Yap; Eric Cheng and Mike Veitch cover for Wetpixel at Bill Acker’s Manta Ray Bay Hotel. ([15])
- 2008-09-05: Daniel Brown’s “Dome Port Diaries” series begins — 7-part first-person account of a newcomer’s journey into UW photography. ([16])
- 2008-09-12: Aquatica announces Nikon D700 housing at $2,949. ([17])
- 2008-09-16: Alex Mustard publishes landmark 3-part Nikon D3 field review — first comprehensive underwater test of FX format. Used Subal ND3 housing borrowed from Craig Jones/Reef Photo. ([18])
- 2008-09-17: Canon announces EOS 5D Mark II — 21MP full-frame with 1080p HD video. Landmark camera for hybrid photography/video. ([19])
October
- 2008-10-01: Photokina 2008 in Cologne features first “Underwater Imaging World” pavilion. Subal announces ND700 — “first” D700 housing. ([20])
- 2008-10-07: Wetpixel and DivePhotoGuide relaunch UnderwaterCompetition.com. ([21])
- 2008-10-22: DEMA Show 2008 in Las Vegas — the most product-dense DEMA in years:
- Nauticam debuts with WB-PORT white balance dome port accessory — described as “a total newcomer to the industry.” ([22])
- Subal sold to new owners (details unclear). ([23])
- Backscatter merges with Underwater Photo-Tech (“Backscatter East”). ([24])
- Ikelite DS-160 strobe announced. INON S-2000 compact strobe. Seacam revolutionary D3 housing design. ([25])
- 2008-10-30: Brian Skerry wins BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 — Underwater World category (1st, runner-up, commended). ([26])
November
- 2008-11-02: DivePhotoGuide wins Best Website at 35th Antibes World Festival of Underwater Images. ([27])
- 2008-11-13: RED Digital Cinema announces Scarlet and Epic modular cameras — potential UW cinema revolution. ([28])
- 2008-11-17: Alex Mustard publishes Nikon D700 in Subal ND700 field review — comprehensive FX vs DX comparison in Red Sea. ([29])
- 2008-11-27: James Wiseman reviews Aquatica housing for Canon 1Ds Mark III. ([30])
December
- 2008-12-02: Nikon announces D3X — 24.5MP full-frame at $7,995. ([31])
- 2008-12-17: Mike Veitch and Simon Buxton take over management of NAD-Lembeh Resort, Lembeh Strait. ([32])
- 2008-12-17: David Doubilet joins UnderwaterCompetition.com judging panel. ([33])
- 2008-12-31: Blancpain launches “Editions Fifty Fathoms” luxury UW photography magazine with Ernest Brooks II. ([34])
References
- [35] — 335 articles processed
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2008: Divephotoguide Wakatobi Underwater Photo Video Festival 2008 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2008: Wetpixel Expeditions In 2008 And 2009 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 16, 2008: Stephen Frink Canon 14mm Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2008: Ikelite Announces Nikon D90 Underwater Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2008: Join Alex Mustard In Grand Cayman January 2009 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 10, 2008: Dome Port Diaries Chapter 4 Camera Housing Water ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 6, 2008: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2008 Live Coverage ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2008: Nikon D700 Announced Full Frame 12 Megapixels ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 13, 2008: Seacam Seaflash 250 Strobe Underwater Ttl Test ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 5, 2008: Olympus And Panasonic Announce Micro Four Thirds ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 13, 2008: Six Gill Sharks In Seattle ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 26, 2008: Canon Announces Eos 50d Digital Slr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 29, 2008: Nikon Announces D90 Slr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 3, 2008: Manta Fest 2008 Wetpixel Coverage Day 1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 5, 2008: Dome Port Diaries Introduction ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 12, 2008: Aquatica Announces Underwater Housing For Nikon D700 Dslr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 16, 2008: Nikon D3 Field Review In The East Pacific Part 1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2008: Canon Announces Eos 5d Mark Ii Slr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 1, 2008: Photokina World Of Imaging Live Coverage Day 1 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2008: Wetpixel And Divephotoguide Relaunch Underwatercompetitioncom ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 29, 2008: Dema 2008 Nauticam ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 29, 2008: Dema 2008 Subal ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2008: Dema 2008 Backscatter Underwater Video Photo ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2008: Dema 2008 Ikelite ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 30, 2008: Bbc Announces Winners Of 2008 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 2, 2008: Divephotoguide Awarded Best Website At Antibes ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 13, 2008: Red Announces Scarlet And Epic ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 17, 2008: Review Nikon D700 In Subal Nd700 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 27, 2008: Aquatica 1ds Mark Iii Housing For Canon 1d 1ds Mark Iii Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2008: Nikon Announces 245mp D3x ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2008: Wetpixel Members New Management Of Nad Lembeh ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2008: David Doubilet Joins Judging Panel For Underwatercompetition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 31, 2008: Editions Fifty Fathoms Announced ↩
- raw/articles/2008/ (unknown) ↩