2017
Key events
A pivotal year anchored by the deaths of two beloved figures — shark filmmaker Rob Stewart and wetsuit pioneer Jack O’Neill — and by a string of landmark camera releases. Sony’s a9 redefined mirrorless sports performance; Nikon’s D850 set a new standard for full-frame resolution. Nauticam shipped the WACP (Wide Angle Corrector Port), which Alex Mustard called a revolutionary advance in water-contact optics. The Inon Z240 — perhaps the most widely used underwater strobe of the 2000s–2010s — was discontinued. Chasing Coral premiered on Netflix and became a touchstone documentary for the underwater community. A cruise ship grounded on Raja Ampat reef; the resulting fine of ~$450M became a landmark in marine damage liability. PADI changed ownership for $700M, signaling the continuing consolidation of the dive industry.
January
- 2017-01-04: Panasonic announces the GH5 Micro Four Thirds camera at CES: $1,999, 4K 60p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal video — immediately recognized as the most capable hybrid video camera for underwater videographers in its class. ([1])
- 2017-01-27: BOOT 2017 show report from Düsseldorf. ([2])
February
- 2017-02-01: Alex Mustard previews the Retra Flash strobe (€699) ahead of its formal launch. ([3])
- 2017-02-03: Filmmaker and shark advocate Rob Stewart drowns off Islamorada, Florida, during a dive while filming Sharkwater: Extinction. Stewart directed the original Sharkwater (2006), which brought international attention to shark finning. ([4])
- 2017-02-12: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017: Gaby Barathieu wins overall. ([5])
- 2017-02-25: Our World Underwater 2017: Yatwai So wins. ([6])
March
- 2017-03-04: The cruise ship Caledonian Sky runs aground in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, damaging an estimated 18,882 square metres of reef. The incident becomes a major story in the underwater community. ([7])
- 2017-03-22: PADI is sold to Mandarinfish Holding for $700 million, marking one of the largest transactions in the recreational diving industry. ([8])
- 2017-03-22: The Photography Show 2017 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham. ([9])
- 2017-03-28: UWTechnics TTL converter reviewed; priced at $495, it enables TTL flash triggering for housings that lack dedicated support. ([10])
- 2017-03-29: SAGA Trio macro lens reviewed at €847. ([11])
April
- 2017-04-12: Nikon announces the D7500 DX DSLR at $1,249 — a mid-range body positioned between the D500 and entry-level DX lines. ([12])
- 2017-04-15: ADEX 2017 Singapore attracts 60,000+ visitors; Sylvia Earle appears as keynote speaker. ([13])
- 2017-04-19: Sony announces the a9 full-frame mirrorless camera: 24.2MP stacked BSI sensor, 20fps with no blackout, 693-point AF, $4,500 — the most significant challenge to DSLR sports and action photography to date. ([14])
- 2017-04-20: Tales by Light Season 2, featuring Eric Cheng, becomes available on Netflix. ([15])
May
- 2017-05-05: Nauticam ships the NA-GH5 housing for the Panasonic GH5 at $2,650. ([16])
- 2017-05-09: Wetpixel and PADI jointly publish guidelines on ethical behavior toward marine life during underwater photography. ([17])
- 2017-05-17: Olympus announces the TG-5 compact at $449 with improved AF, RAW support, and a 25mm-equivalent f/2 lens. ([18])
- 2017-05-25: Jellyfish Lake in Palau officially closes to visitors following the continued collapse of its jellyfish population. ([19])
- 2017-05-30: Nikon’s 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED fisheye lens ships at $1,249. ([20])
- 2017-05-30: Cruise ship owners are fined approximately $450 million for the Raja Ampat reef damage caused by the Caledonian Sky grounding in March. (source)
June
- 2017-06-01: Paralenz Dive Camera ships at $599: 4K video, depth-rated to 200m, auto-white balance calibrated for underwater use. ([21])
- 2017-06-02: Jack O’Neill, founder of O’Neill wetsuits and widely credited with democratizing cold-water surfing and diving, dies at age 94. ([22])
- 2017-06-05: Inon discontinues the Z240, ending production of arguably the most widely used underwater strobe of the 2000s and 2010s. ([23])
- 2017-06-25: Taxonomists reclassify the genus Manta into Mobula, merging manta rays with devil rays under a single genus. The change affects how conservation legislation names protected species. ([24])
- 2017-06-27: Lexar announces it is exiting the retail memory card and storage business, ending a major brand presence in camera accessories. ([25])
- 2017-06-29: Canon announces the 6D Mark II (26.2MP, Dual Pixel AF, articulating screen) and SL2 at the same event. ([26])
July
- 2017-07-02: Chasing Coral, documenting coral bleaching events worldwide, premieres on Netflix — becoming an immediate reference point in Wetpixel community discussions about marine conservation. ([27])
- 2017-07-11: DaVinci Resolve 14 releases, offering free-tier color grading and audio tools widely adopted by underwater video editors. ([28])
- 2017-07-18: Sony announces the RX0: a 1-inch sensor, waterproof to 10m, ultra-compact action-oriented camera. ([29])
- 2017-07-28: Laurent Ballesta’s Gombessa IV expedition dives Fakarava atoll in French Polynesia, documenting spawning grey reef sharks in an extraordinary aggregation. ([30])
August
- 2017-08-23: Nikon announces the D850: 45.7MP BSI CMOS, 4K video, 9fps burst, $3,299 — widely regarded as the finest all-round DSLR of its generation. ([31])
- 2017-08-25: Adam Hanlon publishes a review of the Seacam Silver D500 housing. ([32])
- 2017-08-28: Alex Mustard reviews the Retra Flash strobe, disclosing that he collaborated with Retra on its development. ([33])
September
- 2017-09-01: Nauticam WACP (Wide Angle Corrector Port) reviewed by Alex Mustard at $3,250. Mustard describes it as a revolutionary advance in water-contact wide-angle optics, correcting corner blur and chromatic aberration across the image circle at close focusing distances. ([34])
- 2017-09-13: Alex Mustard publishes Part 2 of his Nikon 8-15mm fisheye review. ([35])
- 2017-09-15: Blue Planet 2 is previewed at the BFI IMAX London ahead of its broadcast premiere. ([36])
October
- 2017-10-03: Sea & Sea announces the YS-D2J strobe — a revised, Japan-manufactured version of the YS-D2 designed to address reliability issues reported in the original model. ([37])
- 2017-10-06: Nauticam ships the NA-D850 housing for the Nikon D850 at $3,800. ([38])
- 2017-10-19: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 winners announced at the Natural History Museum, London: Tony Wu (Mammals category), Brian Skerry (Amphibians & Reptiles), Laurent Ballesta (Earth’s Environments), Thomas Peschak (Portfolio Award). ([39])
- 2017-10-25: Sony announces the a7R III: 42.4MP, 10fps, improved battery life and AF, $3,500 — widely adopted by underwater photographers transitioning from DSLR. ([40])
- 2017-10-25: DxO acquires the Nik Collection from Google, rescuing the plug-in suite from abandonment. ([41])
- 2017-10-25: Ikelite and Subal announce Nikon D850 housings: Ikelite at $1,695, Subal at €3,490. ([42])
- 2017-10-XX: Inon previews the Z330 strobe (GN33), the direct successor to the discontinued Z240. ([43])
November
- 2017-11-01: DEMA 2017 runs November 1–4 in Orlando. ([44])
- 2017-11-01: Gates Underwater announces the Pro Explore housing for the RED DSMC2 cinema camera. ([45])
- 2017-11-08: Panasonic announces the G9: 20.3MP, 80MP high-res mode, 20fps burst, $1,699. ([46])
- 2017-11-13: Sea & Sea ships the MDX-D850 housing for the Nikon D850. ([47])
- 2017-11-15: The Fiji Siren liveaboard is reported lost at sea; all passengers and crew are rescued safely. ([48])
- 2017-11-20: Mexico expands the Revillagigedo Archipelago marine reserve to 57,000 square miles, making it the largest fully-protected marine reserve in North America. ([49])
- 2017-11-21: Mount Agung erupts in Bali, disrupting dive travel to Tulamben and surrounding sites. ([50])
- 2017-11-28: CMAS World Underwater Photography Championship in La Paz, Baja California: Spain wins the team title. ([51])
December
- 2017-12-02: A fatal shark bite occurs at Cocos Island, Costa Rica. ([52])
- 2017-12-07: Palau unveils the Palau Pledge — a visa program requiring all visitors to sign an environmental pledge stamped in their passport, the first of its kind. ([53])
- 2017-12-12: Nauticam ships the NA-A7RIII housing for the Sony a7R III at $2,850. ([54])
- 2017-12-14: Apple releases Final Cut Pro 10.4 with 360° VR editing and HDR support. ([55])
- 2017-12-19: Adobe releases Lightroom 6.14, the final update to the perpetual-license version of Lightroom, effectively ending non-subscription Lightroom as a supported product. ([56])
- 2017-12-21: Inon Z330 ships December 24. ([57])
- 2017-12-22: Aquatica ships the AD850 housing for the Nikon D850 at $2,895. ([58])
- 2017-12-28: Inon ships the UCL-90 close-up lens. ([59])
References
- [60] — articles processed for the 2017 timeline
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 4, 2017: Panasonic Announces The Gh5 Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2017: Shoe Report Boot 2017 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2017: Preview Retra Strobe By Alex Mustard ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 3, 2017: Urgent Help Needed Rob Stewart Missing Off Islamorada Florida ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 12, 2017: Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2017 Results ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2017: Our World Underwater 2017 Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 14, 2017: Recovery Of Raja Ampat Reef Damaged By Cruise Ship Up To 100 Years ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2017: Padi Sells For 700 Million ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2017: Report The Photography Show 2017 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2017: Field Review Uwtechnics External Optical Ttl Converter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2017: Review Saga Trio Macro Lens System ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 12, 2017: Nikon Announces The D7500 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 15, 2017: Report Imaging Products At Adex 2017 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 19, 2017: Sony Announces The 9 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 20, 2017: Season 2 Of Tales By Light On Netflix ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 5, 2017: Nauticam Ships Housing For Panasonic Gh5 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 9, 2017: Article Guidelines For Photographers ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 17, 2017: Olympus Announces The Tg 5 Tough Compact Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 25, 2017: Jellyfish Lake Closure Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 30, 2017: Nikon Ships 8 15mm Fisheye Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 1, 2017: Paralenz Ships Diving Action Cam ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 2, 2017: Jack Oneill Pioneer Of The Wetsuit Has Passed Away ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2017: Inon Ceases Production Of Z240 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 25, 2017: Genus Manta Ceases To Exist ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 27, 2017: Micron Discontinues Lexar Memory Cards ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 29, 2017: Canon Announces 6d Mark Ii And Rebel Sl2 Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 9, 2017: Chasing Coral Premieres This Week On Netflix ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 24, 2017: Blackmagic Design Announces Davinci Resolve 14 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2017: Job Opportunities Photo Pro And Dive Center Manager At Lembeh Resort ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 8, 2017: Video Gombessa Iv Genesis ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 23, 2017: Nikon Announces The D850 Full Frame Slr Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2017: Review Seacam Silver Housing For D500 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2017: Field Review Retra Flash By Alex Mustard And Friends ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2017: Field Review Retra Flash By Alex Mustard And Friends ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 30, 2017: Nikon Ships 8 15mm Fisheye Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 27, 2017: Blue Planet 2 Attenborough On The New Film Climate Change And Optimism ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 3, 2017: Seasea Announces Japanese Produced Ys D2 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 6, 2017: Nauticam Announces Housing For Nikon D850 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 19, 2017: Winners Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2017 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2017: Sony Announces The A7r Iii Full Frame Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2017: Dxo Acquires The Nik Collection ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2017: Ikelite Ships Housing For Nikon D850 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 25, 2017: Sneak Preview Inon Z330 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 2, 2017: Show Report Dema 2017 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2017: Gates Announces Pro Explore Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2017: Panasonic Announces The G9 Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 13, 2017: Seasea Ships Housing For Nikon D850 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2017: Fiji Siren Has Been Lost At Sea ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 20, 2017: Mexico Expands Revillagigedos Marine Park ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 21, 2017: Mount Agung Erupts ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2017: Spanish Team Wins Cmas World Championship ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2017: Tiger Shark Fatality In Cocos Island ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 7, 2017: The Palau Pledge Is Unveiled A New Visa Entry Program ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 12, 2017: Nauticam Announces Housing For Sony A7riii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2017: Apple Updates Final Cut Pro 3 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 19, 2017: Adobe Releases Final Version Of Lightroom Perpetual App ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 21, 2017: Full Details Of The Inon Z330 Strobe Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 22, 2017: Aquatica Ships Ad850 Housing For Nikon D850 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 28, 2017: Inon Ships Ucl 90 Close Up Lens ↩
- raw/articles/2017/ (unknown) ↩