2019
Key events
The mirrorless ecosystem matured rapidly in 2019 as housing manufacturers delivered solutions for every major full-frame body announced in 2018. Nauticam was the most prolific, shipping housings for the Nikon Z6/Z7 (via Aquatica and Isotta as well), Canon EOS R, Panasonic S1/S1R, Fujifilm X-T3, Olympus E-M1X, Sony A7R IV, and Blackmagic Pocket 4K. Sony set a new resolution benchmark with the 61MP A7R IV. The worst US recreational diving disaster in memory occurred when the liveaboard Conception caught fire off Santa Cruz Island, killing 34 people. Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas — a major diving destination — on the same day. DEMA 2019 saw major strobe launches: the Backscatter MF-1 Mini Flash, Seacam Seaflash 160, and Nauticam WACP II and WWL-C.
January
- 2019-01-05: Dean Burman (forum username DeanB), a widely respected Wetpixel community member with over 3,000 forum posts, dies. An obituary is posted by the Wetpixel community. ([1])
- 2019-01-24: Olympus announces the OM-D E-M1X: a vertical-grip Micro Four Thirds body aimed at professional sports and nature photographers, priced at $2,999. ([2])
- 2019-01-25: A scientific paper publishes findings that underwater electronic flash has little measurable behavioral impact on marine subjects — providing evidence-based support for flash use in underwater photography ethics debates. ([3])
February
- 2019-02-01: Panasonic formally announces the S1R (47MP, $3,699) and S1 (24MP, $2,499) full-frame L-Mount mirrorless cameras. ([4])
- 2019-02-01: World ShootOut 2018 results announced: Andy Schmid wins the overall competition; Mike Bartick wins the “5 Best” grand prize of $20,000. ([5])
- 2019-02-07: Anilao Slugfest documents a world-record 591 nudibranch species identified at a single dive site — a landmark for nudibranch taxonomy and citizen science in diving. ([6])
- 2019-02-14: Canon announces the EOS RP — a compact, entry-level RF-mount full-frame mirrorless body at $1,299. ([7])
- 2019-02-17: Our World Underwater 2019: Luc Rooman wins Best of Show. ([8])
- 2019-02-24: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019: Richard Barnden wins the overall title. ([9])
- 2019-02-25: Isotta announces a housing for the Nikon Z6 and Z7, entering the Z-mount ecosystem alongside Nauticam. ([10])
March
- 2019-03-29: DEEP Indonesia 2019 competition: Grant Thomas wins the overall competition. ([11])
- 2019-03-31: Nauticam announces the NA-BMPCCII housing for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. ([12])
April
- 2019-04-18: Dr. Samuel “Doc” Gruber dies — a pioneering shark researcher based at Bimini Biological Field Station in the Bahamas, known for decades of lemon shark research and for training generations of shark biologists. ([13])
- 2019-04-22: Nauticam announces the NA-XT3 housing for the Fujifilm X-T3, extending the brand’s coverage to APS-C mirrorless systems. ([14])
May
- 2019-05-24: Nauticam announces the NA-S1R housing for the Panasonic S1 and S1R, and an adapter enabling use of the Laowa 24mm probe macro lens underwater. ([15])
- 2019-05-31: Panasonic announces the S1H — its first 6K/24p mirrorless camera, targeting cinema production use cases and subsequently receiving Netflix approval for original content acquisition. ([16])
June
- 2019-06-02: The liveaboard Majestic Explorer founders in the Galápagos Islands; passengers and crew are safely evacuated. ([17])
- 2019-06-02: Nauticam NA-EM1X housing for the Olympus E-M1X begins shipping. ([18])
- 2019-06-18: West Papua receives the Global Conservation Hero Award in recognition of its community-led marine protection efforts. ([19])
July
- 2019-07-03: Canada passes legislation banning the import, export, and trade of shark fins — a significant step in international shark conservation policy. ([20])
- 2019-07-08: Don Silcock publishes a review of the ONEUW ONE160x strobe. ([21])
- 2019-07-10: Alex Mustard publishes his review of the ONEUW ONE160x strobe. ([22])
- 2019-07-16: Sony announces the A7R IV: 61.0MP, 15-stop dynamic range, $3,498 — the highest resolution full-frame camera yet available, setting a new benchmark for underwater imaging. ([23])
- 2019-07-24: Wetpixel completes a server migration, moving to updated infrastructure. ([24])
August
- 2019-08-01: Aquatica announces the AZ6 and AZ7 housings for the Nikon Z6 and Z7. ([25])
- 2019-08-28: Canon announces the EOS 90D (32.5MP APS-C DSLR, $1,199) and Sony announces the a6600 and a6100 APS-C mirrorless cameras. ([26])
September
- 2019-09-02: The liveaboard Conception catches fire while anchored off Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands, California. 34 people — 33 passengers and one crew member — die, making it the deadliest US recreational diving accident on record. ([27])
- 2019-09-02: Hurricane Dorian makes landfall in the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm, causing catastrophic destruction across Grand Bahama and the Abacos — major dive tourism destinations. ([28])
- 2019-09-19: CMAS World Underwater Photography Championship held in Tenerife, Canary Islands. ([29])
- 2019-09-26: Nauticam NA-A7RIV housing for the Sony A7R IV ships at $3,050. ([30])
October
- 2019-10-01: GoPro announces the HERO8 Black with improved HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilization and a new modular accessory system. ([31])
- 2019-10-10: Nikon announces the Z50 — its first APS-C Z-mount mirrorless camera, $857. ([32])
- 2019-10-15: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019: David Doubilet wins the Under Water category with an image of garden eels at Dauin, Philippines. ([33])
- 2019-10-15: Ned DeLoach publishes the second edition of Reef Fish Behavior, a definitive reference work for underwater naturalists. ([34])
- 2019-10-21: PHIDEX 2019 opens in the Philippines — the inaugural Philippine International Dive Expo, establishing a new regional trade show for the dive industry. ([35])
November
- 2019-11-07: Getty Images eliminates Rights Managed licensing for most content, shifting entirely to Royalty Free — a significant change in the economics of professional underwater image licensing. ([36])
- 2019-11-15: DEMA 2019, Orlando: major product launches include Seacam Seaflash 160 Digital (€1,780); Nauticam WACP II and WWL-C wide-angle water-contact lenses; and Backscatter MF-1 Mini Flash ($399) with OS-1 Snoot ($149) — a compact strobe/snoot system aimed at travel photographers. ([37])
- 2019-11-22: The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act passes the US House of Representatives, banning the purchase and sale of shark fins within the United States. ([38])
December
- 2019-12-14: Seacam formally announces the Seaflash 160 Digital — the flagship strobe from the Austrian housing maker, priced at €1,780. ([39])
- 2019-12-17: Nikon releases a firmware update for the Z6 and Z7 enabling Apple ProRes RAW output via the XQD card slot, priced at $199.95 — the first firmware-enabled RAW video output for a mirrorless camera. ([40])
References
- [41] — articles processed for the 2019 timeline
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 5, 2019: Rip Dean Burman ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 24, 2019: Olympus Announces The Om D E Mx1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 25, 2019: Paper Published On The Effects Of Underwater Flash Impacts On Subjects ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2019: Panasonic Announces Lumix S Series Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2019: 2018 World Shootout Results Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 7, 2019: Mike Bartick Slugfest ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 14, 2019: Canon Announces The Eos Rp Full Frame Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2019: Results Our World Underwater 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 24, 2019: Results Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2019: Isotta Announces Housing For Nikon Z Series ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2019: Results Deep Indonesia 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 31, 2019: Nauticam Ships Housing For Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2019: Rip Samuel Doc Gruber ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 22, 2019: Nauticam Ships Housing For Fujifilm X T3 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2019: Nauticam Adaptor Kit For Laowa 24mm Probe Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 1, 2019: Panasonic Announces The 6k 24p Lumix S1h Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 2, 2019: Majestic Explorer Founders In Galapagos ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2019: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Circuit For Nauticam Na Em1x ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 18, 2019: West Papua Wins Global Conservation Hero Award ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 3, 2019: Canada Bans Shark Fin Trade ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 8, 2019: Preview Oneuw 160x Strobes By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2019: Field Review Oneuw 160x Strobe By Alex Mustard ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2019: Sony Announces A7r Mark Iv ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 24, 2019: Wetpixel Outage Today ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2019: Aquatica Announces Housing For Nikon Z6 And 7 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 28, 2019: Canon Announces Eos 90d And M6 Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2019: Dive Boat Conception On Fire Off Channel Islands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2019: Hurricane Dorian Devastates The Bahamas And Heads Towards The Us ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 19, 2019: Report Cmas World Underwater Photography Championship1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 26, 2019: Nauticam Ships Housing For Sony A7r Mark Iv ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 1, 2019: Gopro Announces Hero8 Black And Maxa ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 10, 2019: Nikon Announces The Z50 Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2019: Results Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2019: Second Edition Of Reef Fish Behavior Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 21, 2019: Phidex 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2019: Getty Images Abandons Right Managed Image Licensing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2019: Report Dema 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 22, 2019: Shark Fin Ban Bill Passes Through House ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2019: Seacam Announces Seaflash 160 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2019: Nikon Adds Prores Raw Support To Z6 And Z7 ↩
- raw/articles/2019/ (unknown) ↩