2009
Key events
The Canon 5D Mark II housing race defined the year, with 6+ manufacturers releasing housings. Inon America collapsed after Japanese manufacturers began direct sales; the former staff founded Watershot Inc. The “ViDSLR” concept emerged with the Panasonic GH1 and Canon 5D Mark II firmware update enabling manual video controls. Google launched Ocean in Google Earth. Wetpixel Quarterly continued publishing. Eric Cheng led Ultimate Indonesia and Bahamas expeditions. Two community figures — Sascha Dambach and Steve Drogin — passed away.
January
- 2009-01-07: Wetpixel Quarterly issue 5 ships, featuring Clark Little surf photography. Founded 2007 by Eric Cheng and Elijah Woolery. ([1])
- 2009-01-14: Alex Mustard begins monthly PhotoPro column in DIVE Magazine (UK). ([2])
- 2009-01-19: Inon America suspends operations after Japanese manufacturers begin selling directly to US market. Major disruption to US strobe supply chain. ([3])
February
- 2009-02-04: Google launches “Ocean in Google Earth” 5.0 at California Academy of Sciences — Sylvia Earle drove the project. ([4])
- 2009-02-06: Gates previews RED One underwater housing. Watershot Inc. releases WDS-450D housing. ([5])
- 2009-02-12: Aquatica announces housings for Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D90 — Canon 5D MkII becomes the dominant gear topic. ([6])
- 2009-02-13: Wetpixel welcomes new moderators: Darren Jew, Ryan Pedlow, Giles Shaxted, Ellen Quale. ([7])
- 2009-02-19: Sea & Sea announces MDX-D700 and MDX-5D MKII housings. ([8])
- 2009-02-22: Our World Underwater 2009 in Chicago — Justin Gilligan wins Best of Show with Portuguese Man O’ War split-shot. ([9])
March
- 2009-03-03: Seacam 5D Mark II housing first look by Stephen Frink. ([10])
- 2009-03-07: Wetpixel Ultimate Indonesia Expedition begins — two trips aboard Seven Seas liveaboard; Eric Cheng, Matt Segal, Cor Bosman, Craig Jones participate. ([11])
April
- 2009-04-14: Sascha Dambach of Kararu Dive Voyages dies in motorcycle accident in Indonesia. ([12])
- 2009-04-14: Steve Drogin, underwater adventurer, philanthropist, and DeepSee submarine owner, dies of heart attack in India. ([13])
- 2009-04-25: SDUPS 40th Annual Film Festival; Leandro Blanco wins with “Voices We Shall Never Hear.” ([14])
May
- 2009-05-12: Zillion releases Canon 5D Mark II housing (ABS plastic, ¥280,000). ([15])
- 2009-05-13: First known underwater video shot with Canon 5D Mark II — by Fergus Kennedy in Egyptian Red Sea using Ikelite housing and Magic Filter. ([16])
- 2009-05-21: Panasonic releases DMC-GH1 with full manual HD video controls — the “ViDSLR” concept gains traction. Drew Wong. ([17])
- 2009-05-27: Canon releases 5D Mark II firmware update adding manual exposure controls for video — addresses the camera’s biggest criticism. ([18])
June
- 2009-06-05: Espen Rekdal (Norway) wins 12th CMAS Underwater Photography World Championship at Jeju Island, South Korea. ([19])
- 2009-06-12: Eric Cheng, Marty Snyderman, and Barry Guimbellot launch MarineLife Keyword List for Lightroom/Aperture — 12,000+ species for metadata workflow. ([20])
- 2009-06-14: 8th Annual Digital Shootout in Bonaire. ([21])
- 2009-06-27: Wetpixel Quarterly issue 6 ships — features Stephen Wong, Takako Uno, Ray Troll, Alaska/Vancouver Island. ([22])
July
- 2009-07-01: DivePhotoGuide launches “Digital Nikonos” industry design challenge. ([23])
- 2009-07: Nauticam announces first underwater housings — for Nikon D300 and Canon 5D Mark II. Edward Lai’s company transitions from accessories to full housing systems. ([24])
August
- 2009-08: Canon announces EOS 7D — 18MP APS-C with 1080p video. Housing race begins for Canon’s new flagship crop-sensor camera. ([25])
September
- 2009-09: Eric Cheng announces departure from Wetpixel to pursue other projects. Adam Hanlon takes over as editor. ([26])
October
- 2009-10: DEMA Show 2009: Nauticam shows first production housings for Nikon D300 and Canon 5D Mark II — industry takes notice. Canon 7D housings previewed by multiple manufacturers. ([27])
November
- 2009-11: Wetpixel’s annual Photo Faves tradition continues — community showcases best images of the year. ([28])
December
- 2009-12: Year in review: Canon 5D Mark II established as the hybrid stills/video standard; Nauticam emerged as a serious housing manufacturer; Eric Cheng’s departure marked the end of the founder era at Wetpixel. ([29])
References
- [30] — 238 articles processed
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2009: Wetpixel Quarterly Ships Issue 5 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 14, 2009: Alex Mustard Writes Photopro Column ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 19, 2009: Inon America Announces Business Operations Suspended ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 4, 2009: Google Launches Ocean In Google Earth 50 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 6, 2009: Sneak Preview Of Gates Underwater Video Housing For Red ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 12, 2009: Aquatica Underwater Housings For Canon 5d Mark Ii And Nikon D90 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2009: Please Welcome Our New Moderators ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2009: New Sea Sea Housings Mdx D700 Mdx 5d Mkii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2009: 2009 Our World Underwater Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 3, 2009: Seacam 5d Mark Ii Housing First Look Previewed In Forums ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 15, 2009: Cor Bosman And Craig Jones Post Ultimate Indonesia Trip Reports ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2009: Memorial Service For Sascha Dambach In Indonesia ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 23, 2009: Steve Drogin Underwater Adventurer Passes Away On April 14 2009 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 28, 2009: Leandro Blanco Wins Sdups 40th Annual Film Festival ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 12, 2009: Zillion Canon 5d Mark Ii Underwater Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 13, 2009: Underwater Video Taken With The Canon 5d Mk Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 21, 2009: Panasonic Dmc Gh1 Continues The Vidslr Revolution ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2009: Canon 5d Mark Ii Gets Manual Exposure Controls In Firmware Update1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 11, 2009: Espen Rekdal World Champion 2009 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 12, 2009: Marinelife Keyword List For Lightroom And Aperture ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 14, 2009: The 8th Annual Digital Shootout Begins ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 27, 2009: Wetpixel Quarterly Issue 6 Now Available ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2009: Digital Nikonos Industry Design Challenge ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2009: Nauticam Housings Available In The Usa D90 Housing Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 1, 2009: Canon Announces Eos 7d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 24, 2009: Eric Cheng Visits The Nasa Neutral Buoyancy Labs ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2009: Dema Wetpixel Divephotoguide Cocktail Night 2009 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 8, 2009: Eric Cheng Featured In Digital Photo Pro ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 12, 2009: Lowepro Pro Roller 3 Suitcase Review ↩
- raw/articles/2009/ (unknown) ↩