2014
Key events
The 4K video revolution arrived in force for underwater photographers: the Panasonic GH4 (the first consumer 4K mirrorless), GoPro HERO4 Black, and Panasonic HC-X1000 all shipped, reshaping UW video production at every budget level. Sony’s a7-series expanded with the a7S (extreme ISO, 4K output) and triggered a housing race among every major manufacturer. Nikon announced both the D810 full-frame (36.3MP, replacing the D800) and the D750 (24.3MP, bridging the D610 and D810), drawing immediate housing releases from Ikelite, Nauticam, Subal, and Aquatica. Canon answered with the EOS 7D Mark II APS-C flagship and the PowerShot G7 X large-sensor compact — both of which attracted immediate UW interest. Mirrorless systems continued to gain ground as serious alternatives to DSLRs: Olympus launched the OM-D E-M10, Sony shipped the RX100 III compact, and Panasonic announced the LX100 with 4K. The International Court of Justice ruled against Japan’s Southern Ocean whaling program. Indonesia declared a 5.8-million-square-kilometer manta sanctuary. President Obama created the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, nearly doubling the world’s marine protected areas. CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) voted landmark protections for 21 species including hammerheads, silky sharks, thresher sharks, all mobula rays, sawfish, and more. CITES shark and manta protections came into force in September. Tragically, the community lost pioneering underwater cameraman Peter Scoones and Wetpixel contributor Valerie de la Valdene. Fabien Cousteau completed Mission 31, spending 31 days in the Aquarius habitat, surpassing his grandfather’s Conshelf record.
January
- 2014-01-07: CES 2014: Panasonic announces GH4 with 4K video capability; Nikon announces D4S and D3300; Sony announces A5000. ([1])
- 2014-01-08: Nauticam announces NA-A7 housing for Sony a7 and a7R at $2,850, opening the housing race for Sony’s full-frame mirrorless line. ([2])
- 2014-01-11: Aquatica unveils AE-M1 housing for the Olympus OM-D E-M1. ([3])
- 2014-01-22: Aquatica releases the A1D-C/X housing for Canon EOS-1D C and 1D X at $4,599, with redesigned zoom/focus gear and leak detection circuitry. ([4])
- 2014-01-22: Australia’s Environment Minister Greg Hunt approves the controversial Western Australian shark cull. ([5])
- 2014-01-29: Olympus announces the OM-D E-M10 mirrorless camera at $699, with 16MP sensor, 3-axis IS, Wi-Fi, and new 8mm f/8 fisheye body cap lens. ([6])
- 2014-01-30: Ikelite announces housing for Nikon D5300. ([7])
February
- 2014-02-04: World’s largest whale shark processing factory busted in Puqi, China. ([8])
- 2014-02-19: Our World Underwater 2014 results: Sumer Verma wins Best in Show with a turtle hatchling image; $50,000 in prizes awarded across 15+ countries. ([9])
- 2014-02-20: Nauticam ships housing for Panasonic GX7. ([10])
- 2014-02-21: Indonesia declares the world’s largest manta sanctuary — all 5.8 million square kilometers of its national waters — banning commercial manta fishing and body part exports. ([11])
- 2014-02-25: Nikon officially announces the D4S professional DSLR. ([12])
- 2014-02-28: Aquatica announces the SW8 dome port. ([13])
March
- 2014-03-07: Alex Mustard interviewed at the Natural History Museum in London about his 2013 Wildlife Photographer of the Year winning images. ([14])
- 2014-03-24: Howard Hall profiled in the New Yorker in an article titled “The Life Aquatic with Howard Hall,” highlighting his IMAX filming in West Papua. ([15])
- 2014-03-31: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules 12-4 that Japan’s Southern Ocean whale hunt is primarily commercial, not scientific, and orders a temporary halt to the program. ([16])
April
- 2014-04-03: Backscatter launches the Macromate Mini underwater macro lens for GoPro HERO3/3+ at $89, reducing minimum focus distance to 3 inches. ([17])
- 2014-04-04: Housing manufacturers confirm compatibility updates for the Panasonic GH4, which formally ships at $1,699 — the first consumer mirrorless camera with 4K video capture. ([18])
- 2014-04-09: Sony announces the a7S — full-frame mirrorless with 12.2MP sensor, extreme ISO (50–409,600), and 4K video output to external recorder. ([19])
- 2014-04-10: ADEX 2014 Singapore: Nauticam, Aquatica, and other housing makers show 2014 lineups; major Asian dive and imaging exhibition. ([20])
- 2014-04-21: Wetpixel Bahamas Underwater Photo Week runs, offering guided UW photography instruction. ([21])
- 2014-04-23: Lytro announces the Illum light-field camera. ([22])
- 2014-04-25: Peter Scoones, legendary underwater cameraman, dies at 76 after a battle with cancer. He was one of the world’s most important wildlife underwater filmmakers. ([23])
May
- 2014-05-07: Nauticam announces NA-EM10 housing for the Olympus OM-D E-M10. ([24])
- 2014-05-15: Nauticam announces NA-D4S housing. ([25])
- 2014-05-16: Sony announces the RX100 III with a 24-70mm Zeiss lens, built-in OLED viewfinder, BIONZ X processor, and 5-axis IS at approximately $800 — becoming a top compact choice for UW shooters. ([26])
- 2014-05-23: British Virgin Islands announces a shark sanctuary across all its waters, banning commercial fishing of all shark species. Richard Branson is instrumental in establishing the sanctuary. ([27])
- 2014-05-26: Nauticam announces housing for Sony a6000 mirrorless. ([28])
June
- 2014-06-01: Fabien Cousteau’s Mission 31 begins at the Aquarius habitat off Key Largo, Florida — the team aims to surpass Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s Conshelf experiment by one day and at 30 feet deeper. ([29])
- 2014-06-18: President Obama announces a plan to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument from 87,000 to nearly 782,000 square miles, effectively doubling the world’s marine protected areas. ([30])
- 2014-06-18: Adobe releases updates to Creative Cloud. ([31])
- 2014-06-25: Eric Cheng delivers “Hidden Ocean Worlds” lecture to CreativeMornings Los Angeles, discussing sharks, jellies, and macro critters. ([32])
- 2014-06-26: Nikon announces the D810 — 36.3MP full-frame DSLR with improved ISO, faster AF, and EXPEED 4 processor, at $3,299; uncertain housing compatibility with D800 housings. ([33])
- 2014-06-28: Apple announces it will discontinue Aperture photo editing software, to be replaced by Photos app — prompting many underwater photographers to migrate to Adobe Lightroom. ([34])
July
- 2014-07-05: Valerie de la Valdene, Wetpixel contributor and underwater filmmaker, dies in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands. She had shot 70 segments for “The Aquanauts” in the 1990s. The circumstances of her death remain unclear. ([35])
- 2014-07-09: Nauticam announces NA-GH4 housing for Panasonic GH4 at $2,250, customized for 4K video with thumb-operated ISO control. An upgrade kit is also offered for NA-GH3 owners. ([36])
- 2014-07-20: John Petty, underwater photographer, passes away. ([37])
August
- 2014-08-08: Nauticam announces the NA-D810 housing for Nikon D810 at $3,700, available from August 29. ([38])
- 2014-08-09: Ikelite announces housing for Nikon D810. ([39])
- 2014-08-18: Sylvia Earle’s documentary “Mission Blue” releases on Netflix, calling for a global network of marine protected areas. ([40])
- 2014-08-19: Gates Underwater announces housings for ARRI Alexa cameras (EV, XT, and XT Plus models). ([41])
- 2014-08-26: Nauticam releases NA-XT1 housing for Fujifilm X-T1. ([42])
September
- 2014-09-04: Panasonic announces HC-X1000 4K camcorder. ([43])
- 2014-09-09: Wetpixel publishes Adam Hanlon’s Nikon D810 review — an in-depth field evaluation of the camera for UW use. ([44])
- 2014-09-12: Nikon announces the D750 full-frame DSLR — 24.3MP combining D610 price class with D810 features, immediately flagged as a strong UW platform. ([45])
- 2014-09-14: CITES shark and manta ray protections (agreed at COP16 in 2013) officially come into force, restricting international trade. ([46])
- 2014-09-14: Western Australian shark cull halted: the Environmental Protection Agency vetoes the program, citing “a high degree of scientific uncertainty” — none of the 170 animals caught were the target great whites. ([47])
- 2014-09-15: Canon announces the EOS 7D Mark II APS-C DSLR — 20.2MP, 65-point all cross-type AF, 10fps, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, at $1,799. ([48])
- 2014-09-15: Canon unveils the PowerShot G7 X — 1-inch 20.2MP sensor compact with 24-100mm lens at $699, entering the large-sensor compact category. ([49])
- 2014-09-15: Panasonic announces the LX100 — Micro 4/3 sensor compact with 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 lens and 4K video at approximately $800. ([50])
- 2014-09-15: Subal and Seacam announce D810 housings. ([51])
- 2014-09-26: President Obama signs the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument into law, creating a 1.2-million-square-kilometer sanctuary banning commercial fishing and deep-sea mining around seven Pacific islands. ([52])
- 2014-09-27: Photokina 2014 Cologne; Canon 7D Mark II and multiple mirrorless systems previewed. ([53])
- 2014-09-29: GoPro announces HERO4 Black and Silver — HERO4 Black capable of 4K/30fps, bringing professional-grade 4K to the action camera category. ([54])
October
- 2014-10-01: Nauticam releases the NA-5D Mark III Deep housing, rated to greater depths. ([55])
- 2014-10-06: Adobe updates Creative Cloud. ([56])
- 2014-10-22: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014 winners announced. ([57])
November
- 2014-11-04: Ikelite announces housing for Nikon D750 at $1,800. ([58])
- 2014-11-07: Nauticam announces NA-D750 housing at $3,500; ships November 17. ([59])
- 2014-11-11: CMS COP11 votes to add 21 species to Appendix I/II protections: thresher sharks, silky sharks, sawfish, all mobula rays, hammerheads, and others — a landmark conservation vote affecting subjects central to UW photography. ([60])
- 2014-11-14: Aquatica announces housing for Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ([61])
- 2014-11-14: Light & Motion announces the Sola 8000 video light. ([62])
- 2014-11-14: Gabon announces an 18,000-square-mile marine reserve — nearly a quarter of its waters — protecting 20+ species of sharks/rays, 20 marine mammal species, and the world’s largest leatherback turtle breeding population. ([63])
- 2014-11-15: Alex Mustard publishes a review of the Nauticam 140mm dome port. ([64])
- 2014-11-17: Nauticam NA-D750 housing ships. ([65])
- 2014-11-18: Alex Mustard publishes his Nikon D750 and Nauticam NA-D750 field review. ([66])
- 2014-11-18: Scientists solve the mystery of sea star wasting syndrome on the US West Coast, identifying “sea star associated densovirus” as the cause of the mass die-off. ([67])
- 2014-11-18: Ikelite announces housing for Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ([68])
- 2014-11-19: DEMA 2014 opens in Las Vegas (Nov 19–22). 4K video, mirrorless housings, video lighting, and fluorescence photography dominate the imaging halls; Nauticam, Ikelite, Aquatica, Backscatter all show new 2014/2015 products. ([69])
- 2014-11-25: Sony announces the a7II with 5-axis IBIS — the first full-frame mirrorless with in-body stabilization; housing announcements from multiple manufacturers follow. ([70])
- 2014-11-27: Nauticam ships housing for Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ([71])
December
- 2014-12-02: Feature article on the battle to save the vaquita, the world’s most endangered marine mammal. ([72])
- 2014-12-18: PJ Dunick, underwater photographer, dies. ([73])
- 2014-12-30: Subal announces the ND750 housing for Nikon D750. ([74])
- 2014-12: Ocean Art 2014 final call for entries. ([75])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2014: A Synopsis Of The Ces Show 2014 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 8, 2014: Nauticam Announces Their Housing For Sony A7 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2014: Aquatica Unveils The Ae M1 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 22, 2014: Aquatica Releases The A1d C X Housing For The Eos 1d C And 1d X ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 22, 2014: Australias Greg Hunt Approves Shark Cull ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 29, 2014: Olympus Announces The Om D E M10 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 30, 2014: Ikelite Announces Housing For Nikon D5300 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 4, 2014: Bust Of Worlds Largest Whale Shark Processing Factory ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2014: Our World Underwater 2014 Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 20, 2014: Nauticam Ships Housing For Gx7 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 21, 2014: Indonesia Announces Manta Sanctuary ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2014: Nikon Unveils The D4s Slr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 28, 2014: Aquatica Announces The Sw8 Dome Port ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 7, 2014: Interview Alex Mustard At The Natural History Museum ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 24, 2014: Howard Hall Profiled In New Yorker ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 31, 2014: Icj Rules In Favour Of Whales ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 3, 2014: Backscatter Launches Macromate Mini1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 4, 2014: Update Housing Compatibility For Panasonic Lumix Gh4 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 9, 2014: Sony Announces 7r Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 10, 2014: Wetpixel Adex 2014 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2014: Alert Diver Bahamas Underwater Photo Week Issue ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 23, 2014: Lytro Announces The Illum Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2014: Peter Scoones 1938 2014 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 7, 2014: Nauticam Announces Their Housing For The Olympus E M10 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 15, 2014: Nauticam Announces Their Na D4s Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 16, 2014: Sony Announces The Rx100 Iii ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 23, 2014: British Virgin Islands Announces Shark Sanctuary ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 26, 2014: Nauticam Announces Housing For Sony A6000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 1, 2014: Mission 31 Goes Live ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 18, 2014: U.S.A. Announces Expanded Marine Sanctuary ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 18, 2014: Adobe Releases Updates To Creative Cloud ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 25, 2014: Lecture Eric Cheng Eric Cheng And Hidden Ocean Worlds ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 26, 2014: Nikon Announces The D810 Slr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 28, 2014: Apple To Stop Development Of Aperture ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 27, 2014: Rip Valerie De La Valdene ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 9, 2014: Nauticam Announces Housing For Gh4 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 20, 2014: Rip John Petty ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 8, 2014: Nauticam Announces The Na D810 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 9, 2014: Ikelite Announces Housing For Nikon D810 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 18, 2014: Sylvia Earles Mission Blue Available On Netflix ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 19, 2014: Gates Announces Housing For Arri Alexa ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 26, 2014: Nauticam Releases Na Xt1 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2014: Panasonic Announces The Hc X1000 4k Camcorder ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2014: Wetpixel Nikon D810 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2014: Nikon Announces The D750 Slr Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2014: Cites Shark And Manta Protection Comes Into Force ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2014: Western Australian Shark Cull Halted ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 15, 2014: Canon Announces The Eos 7d Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 15, 2014: Canon Unveils The G7 X Large Sensor Compact ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 15, 2014: Panasonic Announces The Lx100 4k Compact Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 15, 2014: Subal And Seacam Announce D810 Housings ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 26, 2014: President Obama Announces Pacific Marine Sanctuary ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 27, 2014: Andrej Belic Photokina 2014 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 29, 2014: Gopro Releases Hero4 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 1, 2014: Nauticam Releases The Na 5d Mk Iii Deep Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 6, 2014: Adobe Updates The Creative Cloud ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 22, 2014: Results Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2014 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 4, 2014: Ikelite Announces Housing For Nikon D750 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2014: Nauticam Announces The Na D750 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 11, 2014: Cms Agrees On Protection Of 21 Species Of Shark Ray And Sawfish ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2014: Aquatica Announces Housing For Canon Eos 7d Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2014: Light And Motion Unveils The Sola 8000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2014: Gabon Announces Newest Marine Reserve Of 18000 Square Miles ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2014: Review Nauticam 140mm Dome Port By Alex Mustard ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2014: Field Review Nikon D750 And Nauticam Na D750 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2014: Field Review Nikon D750 And Nauticam Na D750 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2014: Scientists Solve Mystery Of Sea Star Wasting Syndrome On West Coast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2014: Ikelite Announces Housing For Eos 7d Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 25, 2014: Wetpixel Coverage Dema 2014 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 25, 2014: Sony Announces The A7ii1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 27, 2014: Nauticam Ships Their Housing For The Canon Eos 7d Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2014: A Battle To Save The Most Endangered Marine Mammal The Vaquita ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2014: Rip Pj Dunick ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 30, 2014: Subal Releases Housing For D750 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 13, 2014: Final Call Ocean Art 2014 ↩
- raw/articles/2014/ (unknown) ↩