2010

Key events

The Canon 7D dominated the underwater DSLR market as every major housing manufacturer raced to support it, while Nauticam cemented its explosive entry into the industry with a rapid stream of innovative housings — including models for the Canon 7D, Rebel T2i, Sony NEX-5, PhaseOne 645DF medium format, and Nikon D7000. The mirrorless camera revolution began taking shape underwater with the Sony NEX-5, Panasonic GF1, and Olympus E-PL1 receiving their first housings. A 3D video craze swept underwater filmmaking, with Eric Cheng pioneering consumer underwater stereoscopic rigs. The Deepwater Horizon disaster dominated conservation news while Raja Ampat created a shark sanctuary and fishing around the Chagos Islands was permanently banned. The underwater photography community mourned the death of cave diver and cinematographer Wes Skiles. The 2009 Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner was controversially disqualified for using a trained wolf. The inaugural Ocean Art competition was held. The last Kodachrome processing lab ran its final rolls, closing a chapter in photographic history. Eric Cheng spoke at TEDxBerkeley and Stanford, and married Pam at San Francisco City Hall.

January

• 2010-01-06: CES 2010 opens with Canon, Panasonic, and Sony announcing new camcorders and 45 new compact cameras, with 3D a dominant theme. (^[1])
• 2010-01-10: Nauticam announces underwater housing for Canon EOS 7D at $2,800, entering the DSLR housing market with innovative ergonomic design and competitive pricing. (^[2])
• 2010-01-15: Alex Mustard interviews Kurt Amsler, covering 50 years of underwater photography history and the philosophy of mixing ambient and strobe light. (^[3])
• 2010-01-15: Aquatica Canon 7D housing reviewed by Berkley White; the Canon 7D paired with Tokina 10-17mm declared “best of both worlds” for underwater photo/video. (^[4])
• 2010-01-20: 2009 Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner Jose Luis Rodriguez disqualified after judges determine his winning image used a trained wolf — sparking debate about ethics in underwater photography competitions. (^[5])
• 2010-01-24: First underwater photos taken with Canon 1D Mark IV published. (^[6])

February

• 2010-02-08: Canon announces Rebel T2i/550D with 18MP and 1080p video at a consumer price point, creating excitement for affordable underwater housing possibilities. (^[7])
• 2010-02-13: Randall Benton wins Wetpixel Picture of the Year 2009 with a manta ray image from Kona. (^[8])
• 2010-02-13: Howard Hall returns from the Maldives with Gates DEEP RED 4K system, posting frame grabs from the expedition. (^[9])
• 2010-02-17: Eric Cheng writes about tiny dome ports for close-focus wide-angle, examining the optical tradeoffs. (^[10])
• 2010-02-19: Seatool releases housing for Panasonic GF1 — one of the first mirrorless camera housings from a third-party manufacturer. (^[11])
• 2010-02-20: Our World Underwater 2010 contest winners announced; 5th annual competition co-hosted by DPG and Wetpixel. (^[12])
• 2010-02-27: Sea & Sea MDX-7D housing released. (^[13])

March

• 2010-03-14: DEEP Indonesia 2010 winners announced; 4th annual competition judged by Eric Cheng, Tony Wu, and others; Best of Show by Magnus Lundgren. (^[14])
• 2010-03-15: Canon releases firmware 2.0.3 for the 5D Mark II, adding 24p/25p video, manual audio levels, and live histogram during video — a major upgrade for underwater videographers. (^[15])
• 2010-03-15: Tony Wu publishes initial thoughts on the Nauticam 7D housing. (^[16])
• 2010-03-17: Alex Mustard publishes field review of the Nauticam D700 housing, validating Nauticam’s build quality and competitive pricing against established brands. (^[17])
• 2010-03-17: Keri Wilk publishes tutorial on underwater snoot photography for DivePhotoGuide, with discussion on selective lighting techniques in the Wetpixel forums. (^[18])
• 2010-03-24: Aquatica announces Mini Dome 100 (4-inch) for $699, joining Zen and Seacam in the compact dome port market. (^[19])
• 2010-03-26: Beneath the Sea 2010 opens in Secaucus, NJ, with gear launches including Sea & Sea YS-01 strobe. (^[20])

April

• 2010-04-03: Eric Cheng speaks at TEDxBerkeley about bioluminescent flashlight fish and sperm whales. (^[21])
• 2010-04-11: Ross Gudgeon publishes comparison of Aquatica vs Nauticam Canon 7D housings — both priced at $2,800. Eric Cheng notes the comparison addresses widespread indecision among buyers. (^[22])
• 2010-04-12: NAB Show 2010 in Las Vegas; 3D is the dominant theme; Eric Cheng reports on implications for underwater imaging. (^[23])
• 2010-04-17: Shark Savers/WildAid anti shark-finning billboards featuring Yao Ming deployed in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, funded partly by Wetpixel community donations. (^[24])
• 2010-04-20: Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico begins the worst oil spill in US history. The uncapped well releases an estimated 5,000-60,000 barrels per day. Adam Hanlon reports on the disaster and urges photographers to document the effects. (^[25])
• 2010-04-21: Ocean acidification article highlights the growing threat to coral reef ecosystems. (^[26])

May

• 2010-05-03: Nature’s Best Ocean Views 2010 winners announced from 10,000+ entries; Bryce Flynn takes first place. (^[27])
• 2010-05-22: Light & Motion releases SOLA 600 compact imaging light: 679 lumens, sealed design, 0.54 lbs — a breakthrough in compact underwater lighting. (^[28])
• 2010-05-22: Martin Edge and Alex Mustard announce a full-day seminar together. (^[29])
• 2010-05-22: Athena ring flash for underwater use announced. (^[30])

June

• 2010-06-01: Panasonic announces 8mm fisheye for Micro Four Thirds, giving new relevance to MFT for underwater photography. (^[31])
• 2010-06-02: Nauticam announces NA-550D for Canon Rebel T2i at $2,500; smallest Nauticam housing with new latch system. INON announces snoots for S-2000 strobes. (^[32]) (^[33])
• 2010-06-08: Guillaume Nery’s underwater base jump video at Dean’s Blue Hole goes viral. (^[34])
• 2010-06-11: Jacques Cousteau centennial marked worldwide. (^[35])
• 2010-06-11: Aquatica announces Canon T2i/550D housing at $1,999, the most affordable aluminum DSLR housing in its class. (^[36])
• 2010-06-12: Drew Wong publishes Canon 5D Mark II housing shootout comparing Sea & Sea MDX-Pro, Aquatica A5D MkII, and Seacam. (^[37])
• 2010-06-14: Valerie Taylor appointed Member of the Order of Australia for marine conservation service. (^[38])
• 2010-06-15: Howard Hall posts 4K RED ONE footage from Cocos Island expedition using Undersea Hunter submersible Deep See. (^[39])
• 2010-06-22: First Panasonic 8mm fisheye underwater footage posted. (^[40])
• 2010-06-27: David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes discuss their Elysium Antarctic expedition following Shackleton’s 1914 route, working in -3 C conditions. (^[41])
• 2010-06-30: Brian Skerry presents at TED on ocean conservation through photography. (^[42])

July

• 2010-07-08: Thailand Travel & Dive Expo (TDEX) 2010 opens in Bangkok; Eric Cheng and Tony Wu speak. (^[43])
• 2010-07-16: DRT Show 2010 opens in Hong Kong; INON exhibits. (^[44])
• 2010-07-18: Wetpixel Bahamas sharks and dolphins expedition begins, led by Alex Mustard. (^[45])
• 2010-07-22: Eric Cheng unboxes custom BS Kinetics DuoDive 3D stereoscopic underwater housing with dual Sony CX550V camcorders, pioneering consumer underwater 3D video. (^[46])
• 2010-07-23: Renowned cave diver and underwater cinematographer Wes Skiles dies while diving off Boynton Beach, Florida. His photography was featured in the current issue of National Geographic’s Bahamas Blue Holes cover story. (^[47])
• 2010-07-28: Eric Cheng takes 3D rig to Mexico cenotes and whale shark aggregation at Isla Mujeres. (^[48])

August

• 2010-08-17: 10-bar releases housing for Sony NEX-5 — early third-party mirrorless housing. (^[49])
• 2010-08-19: Canon releases PowerShot S95 compact. Nikon releases D3100 entry-level DSLR (first Nikon with 1080p video) and new 85mm f/1.4G and 24-120mm f/4 VR lenses. (^[50])
• 2010-08-24: Blue Ocean Film Festival 2010 opens in Monterey; David Doubilet exhibition “Below” launches the festival. 3D technology showcase with Gates/Panasonic AG-3DA1 housing. (^[51])
• 2010-08-26: Canon announces EF 8-15mm f/4L fisheye zoom, significant for underwater photographers. (^[52])
• 2010-08-27: Phil Rudin publishes hands-on review of Olympus E-PL1 and PT-EP01 housing — comprehensive assessment of the first Micro Four Thirds system with a manufacturer housing designed for underwater use. The E-PL1/housing combo at $1,198 positioned as a bridge between compacts and DSLRs. (^[53])
• 2010-08-28: Gates releases housing for Panasonic AG-3DA1 3D camcorder. (^[54])
• 2010-08-31: Alex Mustard publishes glowing review of Light & Motion SOLA 600 focus light on Wetpixel. (^[55])

September

• 2010-09-01: Nauticam responds to NA-550D housing screw loosening issue, releasing redesigned parts — an early test of the young company’s customer service reputation. (^[56])
• 2010-09-02: Nauticam announces housing for Sony NEX-5. (^[57])
• 2010-09-08: Eric Cheng reviews Keldan Luna 8 LA-V LED video light from Maldives testing. (^[58])
• 2010-09-14: Canon introduces PowerShot G12. Olympus announces E-5 flagship DSLR. Panasonic details AG-AF100 Micro 4/3 camcorder. (^[59])
• 2010-09-15: Nikon introduces D7000 DSLR: 16MP, 39-point AF, 1080p video — a major new mid-range model that would dominate underwater photography for years. (^[60])
• 2010-09-18: Nauticam NA-NEX5 housing enables use of vintage Nikonos lenses on Sony NEX-5, recycling classic underwater optics for mirrorless cameras. (^[61])
• 2010-09-21: Gates adds underwater monitor to video DSLR housing systems. (^[62])

October

• 2010-10-04: Eric Cheng delivers talk at Stanford University Photography Club and displays aluminum underwater photography prints at RedStart Design in San Francisco. (^[63])
• 2010-10-04: RED’s Jim Jannard announces Scarlet repositioned to professional market only, abandoning the prosumer segment. (^[64])
• 2010-10-06: Nauticam releases NA-645DF housing for PhaseOne 645DF with P65+ 60.5MP back, bringing medium format underwater photography to new levels. (^[65])
• 2010-10-11: BBC clarifies its position on DSLR video footage in productions. (^[66])
• 2010-10-21: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010 — Tony Wu wins Underwater World category with sperm whale image from Dominica. Brian Skerry and Thomas Haider receive Highly Commended for shark finning images. Jordi Chias wins One Earth with a turtle trapped in fishing net. (^[67])
• 2010-10-27: 37th Festival Mondial de l’Image Sous-Marine held in Marseille with Jean-Michel Cousteau as honorary president, celebrating the centenary of Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s birth. Gold prize to Christian Petron for Great White Sharks of Guadalupe. (^[68])

November

• 2010-10-31: Commercial fishing around the Chagos Islands officially ends, creating the world’s largest no-take marine protected area. (^[69])
• 2010-11-01: Howard Hall releases “The Blue Ocean in Red” footage shot entirely on RED One camera with Nikon lenses from the Maldives, Alaska, California, Cocos Island, and Mexico. (^[70])
• 2010-11-06: Martin Edge and Alex Mustard present to 240+ underwater photographers at Imperial College London, organized by Cameras Underwater — possibly the largest single-event UW photography gathering ever. (^[71])
• 2010-11-07: Wetpixel Ambon Night Safari gets underway; Eric Cheng and Tony Wu participate; innovative use of INON insect eye lenses and custom macro-wide lenses. (^[72])
• 2010-11-08: Drew Wong reports from RED Epic prototype demo in Singapore; 5K resolution, MX sensor with HDRx promising 18-stop dynamic range. (^[73])
• 2010-11-12: Nauticam announces housing for Nikon D7000 — featuring new locking latches, patented two-stage shutter release, and piano key video activation lever. Ships by end of November. (^[74])
• 2010-11-17: Raja Ampat, Indonesia creates a shark sanctuary, a major conservation victory championed by the diving community. (^[75])
• 2010-11-18: DEMA Show 2010 in Las Vegas; anti-shark finning protest held. Wetpixel/DivePhotoGuide cocktail party. (^[76])
• 2010-11-23: Tony Wu reviews Totomega insect eye lens. (^[77])

December

• 2010-12-01: Three shark attacks (oceanic whitetip) on tourists at Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt lead to a two-day diving ban across the resort. (^[78])
• 2010-12-02: Alex Mustard publishes field review of Nikon D7000 and Nauticam NA-D7000, one of the first comprehensive underwater reviews of the camera. (^[79])
• 2010-12-09: Light & Motion expands SOLA light line to include Dive, Photo, and Video models; SOLA Photo 600 features adjustable 3-level red light. SOLA 4000V prototype announced for April 2011. (^[80])
• 2010-12-09: Review of Olympus E-PL1 and housing published on Backscatter. (^[81])
• 2010-12-10: Wetpixel publisher Eric Cheng and Pam get married at San Francisco City Hall. (^[82])
• 2010-12-14: Keri Wilk wins Best of Show at the inaugural Ocean Art competition ($67,000 in prizes). Judged by Chris Newbert, Martin Edge, Marty Snyderman, and Bonnie Pelnar. (^[83])
• 2010-12-23: Seacam launches Prelude housings — a new product line. (^[84])
• 2010-12-23: Wetpixel community shares favorite/best shots of 2010 in the forums. (^[85])
• 2010-12-31: The last Kodachrome processing lab (Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas) runs its final rolls — after 75 years, the ability to develop Kodachrome film ends, closing a chapter in photographic history. (^[86])

References