2016
Key events
A landmark year for both gear and conservation. Nikon unveiled the D5 and D500, triggering the fastest simultaneous housing release wave in Wetpixel history: seven manufacturers announced D5 housings on a single day in January. Canon answered with the 5D Mark IV, generating another housing race in the autumn. Alex Mustard published his landmark “Underwater Photography Masterclass” book. Retra launched the Prime strobe, the most-discussed new light source in years. Off the gear front, Jellyfish Lake’s famous population collapsed from 8 million to fewer than 300,000, the Ross Sea gained the world’s largest MPA, Obama expanded Papahanaumokuakea, and whale sharks were classified Endangered by the IUCN. Netflix debuted Tales by Light Season 2 featuring Eric Cheng. The underwater photography community mourned the loss of pioneer Bob Cranston.
January
- 2016-01-04: Alex Mustard publishes “Underwater Photography Masterclass,” a comprehensive instructional book on underwater imaging technique. ([1])
- 2016-01-18: Sony announces the a6300 APS-C mirrorless camera with 4K video and 425-point phase-detect AF. ([2])
- 2016-01-19: Inon announces the D-2000 strobe, an updated successor to the D-2000 line. ([3])
- 2016-01-20: Wetpixel marks its 15th anniversary, having been founded in 2001 by Eric Cheng. ([4])
- 2016-01-25: Seven housing manufacturers simultaneously announce Nikon D5 housings: Nauticam, Aquatica, Sea & Sea, Subal, Hugyfot, Isotta, and SPL — the largest single-day housing announcement wave in the community’s history. (source)
- 2016-01-26: Nikon announces the D5 full-frame DSLR and D500 DX DSLR simultaneously, targeting professional sports and enthusiast wildlife shooters respectively. ([5])
February
- 2016-02-03: Canon announces the EOS-1D X Mark II with 4K video and 16fps burst. ([6])
- 2016-02-15: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2016 results announced. ([7])
- 2016-02-19: Inon announces the Z-330 strobe (GN33), successor to the widely used Z-240. ([8])
- 2016-02-22: Our World Underwater 2016 results announced. ([9])
- 2016-02-29: Antibes Oceans Festival 2016 takes place in Antibes, France. ([10])
March
- 2016-03-08: Retra announces the Prime strobe, the company’s first integrated strobe (distinct from the earlier LSD snoot), generating significant community interest. ([11])
- 2016-03-17: Keldan announces the Video 8X CRI underwater light, targeting videographers who require accurate color rendering. ([12])
- 2016-03-24: Aquatica ships the AD500 housing for the Nikon D500 at $3,195. ([13])
April
- 2016-04-06: GoPro announces the Karma drone, the company’s first entry into the consumer UAV market. ([14])
- 2016-04-06: Tobias Friedrich publishes an early field review of the Retra Prime strobe. (source)
- 2016-04-13: Drew Wong reports from ADEX 2016 in Singapore, noting approximately 58,000 visitors. ([15])
- 2016-04-15: Nauticam ships the NA-D5 housing at approximately $5,200. ([16])
- 2016-04-20: Nikon D5 and D500 bodies become available at retail. ([17])
- 2016-04-25: Lytro announces the Cinema camera with a revolutionary light-field sensor targeting high-end film production. ([18])
- 2016-04-26: Eric Cheng visits Nauticam USA. (source)
- 2016-04-27: Adam Hanlon publishes a review of the Inon Z-330 strobe. (source)
May
- 2016-05-03: Nauticam announces the NA-1DXII housing for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II at $5,200. ([19])
- 2016-05-04: Reports emerge that Jellyfish Lake, Palau’s iconic snorkeling site, has suffered a population collapse from approximately 8 million jellyfish to fewer than 300,000, likely caused by elevated water temperatures from El Niño. ([20])
- 2016-05-19: Lembeh-Gulen Critter Shootout 2016 runs May 19–27; Team Lembeh wins the competition. Keri Wilk shoots for Team Lembeh; Tobias Friedrich for Team Gulen. ([21])
- 2016-05-23: Nauticam announces the NA-D500 housing at $3,500. ([22])
- 2016-06-02: Underwater cinematographer and conservationist Bob Cranston dies. (source: community reports)
June
- 2016-06-21: Adobe releases Photoshop CC 2015.5 and Premiere Pro 2015.3 with workflow improvements relevant to underwater photographers. ([23])
- 2016-06-22: Cathay Pacific announces a ban on shark fin cargo, a significant policy victory for marine conservation advocates. ([24])
- 2016-06-23: Sea & Sea formally announces the MDX-D500 housing for the Nikon D500 at $3,599.95. ([25])
July
- 2016-07-11: Digital Shootout 2016 results announced from Little Cayman. ([26])
- 2016-07-12: RED announces the Helium 8K sensor, pushing cinema-grade underwater resolution possibilities. ([27])
- 2016-07-XX: Nauticam previews the LT housing for the RED Weapon camera. ([28])
August
- 2016-08-25: Canon announces the EOS 5D Mark IV at 30.4MP with 4K DCI video and Dual Pixel RAW at $3,499 — triggering a new round of housing development across the industry. ([29])
- 2016-08-27: President Obama expands Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to 582,578 square miles, making it the world’s largest marine protected area at the time. ([30])
- 2016-08-30: Sea & Sea discontinues the YS-250 PRO strobe after a long production run. ([31])
- 2016-08-30: The IUCN classifies whale sharks as Endangered on its Red List, reflecting population declines across their range. ([32])
September
- 2016-09-18: President Obama creates the first US Atlantic marine monument, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. ([33])
- 2016-09-19: GoPro announces the Hero 5 Black and Hero 5 Session with voice control, RAW photo support, and improved waterproofing. ([34])
- 2016-09-20: Monterey Shootout 2016 results announced. ([35])
October
- 2016-10-03: CITES grants Appendix II protection to thresher sharks and silky sharks, restricting international trade. ([36])
- 2016-10-03: Tales by Light Season 2 premieres on Australian television, featuring Eric Cheng among the profiled photographers. ([37])
- 2016-10-XX: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016: Tony Wu wins the Underwater category. ([38])
- 2016-10-XX: Wetpixel Lembeh Macro Workshop with Alex Mustard runs in October with 28 participants. ([39])
- 2016-10-26: Adam Hanlon publishes a field review of the Nikon D500, covering images shot between August and October 2016. ([40])
- 2016-10-31: The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) agrees to establish a Ross Sea MPA covering 1.55 million square kilometres — the largest protected area on Earth at the time. ([41])
November
- 2016-11-01: Nauticam ships the NA-5DMKIV housing for the Canon 5D Mark IV at $3,800. Subal had previewed its 5D IV housing in September; Seacam followed in October. ([42])
- 2016-11-02: Olympus announces the OM-D E-M1 Mark II at 20.4MP with 60fps burst, 4K video, and Pro Capture mode at $1,999. ([43])
- 2016-11-08: Aquatica ships its housing for the Canon 5D Mark IV at $2,795. ([44])
- 2016-11-09: GoPro recalls the Karma drone after reports of units losing power and dropping from the sky. ([45])
- 2016-11-11: Nauticam NA-D500 field review published. ([46])
- 2016-11-17: DEMA 2016 takes place in Las Vegas. ([47])
- 2016-11-22: Sea & Sea ships its MDX housing for the Canon 5D Mark IV. ([48])
December
- 2016-12-01: Kiribati establishes the Phoenix Islands Protected Area as the second largest shark sanctuary in the world. ([49])
- 2016-12-12: Greg Lecoeur wins National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016. ([50])
- 2016-12-20: i-Divesite releases the Symbiosis SS-1 and SS-2 wide-angle conversion lens systems for compact cameras. ([51])
- 2016-12-21: President Obama issues an executive order banning future oil and gas drilling in US Arctic waters. ([52])
- 2016-12-30: The Philippines declares a 1 million hectare marine protected area in its waters. ([53])
- 2016-12-XX: Inon D-2000 strobe published reviews appear; the strobe receives positive assessments from the Wetpixel community. (source)
References
- [54] — articles processed for the 2016 timeline
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2016: Book Release Underwater Photography Masterclass By Alex Mustard ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 18, 2016: Nauticam Announces Housing For Sony Fhd 5 Monitor ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2016: Inon Ships Carbon Fiber Telescopic Strobe Arms ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 20, 2016: Seacam Announces Housing For Sony A7 Ii S R ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 3, 2016: Hands On Nikon D5 And D500 Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 3, 2016: Video Canon Eos 1d X Mark Ii In The Wild ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 16, 2016: Upy 2016 Results Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2016: Inon Ships Carbon Fiber Telescopic Strobe Arms ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 27, 2016: Results Of Our World Underwater 2016 Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 8, 2016: Oceans Day 2016 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 8, 2016: Visitors To Monterey Bay Aquarium Treated To Birth Of Wild Sea Otter ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 12, 2016: Keldan Announces The Video 8x Cri And Updates To Existing Lights ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 14, 2016: Aquatica Announces The Ad500 Housing For The Nikon D500 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 19, 2016: Gopro Announces Karma Drone And Hero 5 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 21, 2016: Report Adex Show 2016 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 23, 2016: Nauticam Ships Housing For D500 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 3, 2016: Hands On Nikon D5 And D500 Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 11, 2016: Lytro Announces Cinema Camera System ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 3, 2016: Nauticam Ships Housing For Eos 1d X Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 4, 2016: Drought Affects Jellyfish Lake ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 30, 2016: Lembeh Vs Gulen Critter Shootout 2016 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 23, 2016: Nauticam Ships Housing For D500 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2016: Adobe Releases Major Update To Creative Cloud ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 22, 2016: Cathay Pacific Announces Shark Fin Ban ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 23, 2016: Seasea Announces The Mdx D500 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 11, 2016: Results Digital Shootout Contest 2016 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 12, 2016: Red Announces Helium Sensor ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 25, 2016: Kay Burn Lim Preview Of Nauticam Lt Housing For Red Weapon ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 25, 2016: Canon Announces The Eos 5d Mark Iv And Updated 16 35mm Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 27, 2016: President Obama Creates Worlds Largest Mpa ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 30, 2016: Seasea Discontinues The Ys 250 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 30, 2016: Celebrating International Whale Sharks Day ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 18, 2016: President Obama Dedicates First Marine Monument In Atlantic ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 19, 2016: Gopro Announces Karma Drone And Hero 5 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2016: Results Of The 2016 Monterey Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 3, 2016: Thresher Sharks Silky Sharks And Devil Rays Receive Protection At Cites ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 3, 2016: Tales By Light Premieres ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 27, 2016: Results Of Our World Underwater 2016 Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 11, 2016: Late Availability Wetpixel Mustard Lembeh Macro Workshop ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 26, 2016: Field Review Nikon D500 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 31, 2016: Worlds Largest Mpa For Ross Sea ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2016: Nauticam Ships Housing For Eos 5d Mark Iv ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 2, 2016: Olympus Announces Om D E M1 Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2016: Aquatica Announces Housing For Eos 5d Mark Iv ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 9, 2016: Gopro Recalls All Karma Drones ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 11, 2016: Field Review Nauticam Na D500 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 17, 2016: Show Coverage Dema 2016 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 22, 2016: Sea Sea Announces Housing For Eos 5d Mark Iv ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 1, 2016: Worlds Second Largest Shark Sanctuary Formed In Kiribati ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 12, 2016: A Photographer A Mermaid And 10000 Plastic Bottles ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 20, 2016: I Divesite Releases Details Of Symbiosis Lighting System ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 21, 2016: President Obama Announces Arctic Protection ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 30, 2016: Philippines Declares Million Hectare Mpa ↩
- raw/articles/2016/ (unknown) ↩