2022
Key events
A landmark year that crystallized the end of the DSLR era. Nikon was reported to be exiting the SLR market; Alex Mustard and Adam Hanlon convened a Wetpixel Live asking “Is the SLR Dead?” OM Digital Solutions rebranded their camera line as OM System with the flagship OM-1. Nauticam shipped a steady stream of mirrorless housings. Three notable community deaths occurred: David Cheung (Scubacam), David Salvatori, and cinema pioneer Chuck Nicklin. At CITES COP 19, protections were extended to 113 marine species including sharks. The UN again failed to pass the High Seas Treaty — the fifth such attempt — while the Guadalupe white shark aggregation lost its season due to permit issues. Backscatter announced the Mini Flash 2 at an accessible price point.
January
- 2022-01-19: Canon announces the EOS R5 C — an 8K/60p cinema-hybrid variant of the R5 — at $4,499, bridging the gap between stills and cinema workflows. ([1])
- 2022-01-20: Ocean Art 2021 results announced; Luc Rooman wins for “Snoeken.” ([2])
- 2022-01-26: Nauticam ships the NA-R3 housing for the Canon EOS R3 and the NA-A7IV housing for the Sony a7 IV. ([3])
- 2022-01-26: World Shootout 2021 awards ceremony held; Hannah Le Leu wins. ([4])
February
- 2022-02-03: World Shootout 2021 full results published. ([5])
- 2022-02-12: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022: Rafael Fernandez Caballero wins the overall title. ([6])
- 2022-02-15: OM Digital Solutions announces the OM-1 — the first camera released under the new “OM System” brand after the Olympus imaging division was spun off — at $2,199. The OM-1 features a stacked BSI sensor and on-sensor phase-detect AF, a significant step forward for Micro Four Thirds. ([7])
- 2022-02-17: Nauticam ships the NA-Z9 housing for the Nikon Z9, priced at $7,223. ([8])
- 2022-02-22: Panasonic announces the GH6, offering improved video specs over the GH5 with ProRes recording and a new sensor. ([9])
March
- 2022-03-01: Wetpixel Live: “Is the SLR Dead?” — Alex Mustard and Adam Hanlon debate whether mirrorless has rendered DSLRs obsolete for underwater photography. ([10])
- 2022-03-07: Go Diving Show 2022 UK takes place. ([11])
- 2022-03-08: Sea & Sea announces a vacuum system for MDX housings. ([12])
- 2022-03-08: Marelux ships the Smart Optical Flash Tube accessory. ([13])
- 2022-03-18: David Cheung, known online as “Scubacam” and a prominent contributor to the underwater photography community, dies of cancer. ([14])
- 2022-03-25: Keldan ships the 8XR video light. ([15])
- 2022-03-30: Seacam ships its housing for the Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II. ([16])
- 2022-03-30: The USPS issues a Forever Stamp honoring shark biologist Eugenie Clark, featuring an image by David Doubilet. ([17])
April
- 2022-04-04: Webinar with David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes on underwater photography. ([18])
- 2022-04-20: Wetpixel “Under the Jungle” cenote photography workshop begins in Mexico with guide Natalie Gibb. ([19])
May
- 2022-05-04: Wetpixel cenote workshop continues; live reports posted from the Yucatan cenotes. ([20])
June
- 2022-06-27: Blackmagic Design announces the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2, an updated version of the popular cinema camera with improved battery and media options. ([21])
- 2022-06-29: Nikon announces the Z30 APS-C mirrorless camera, a vlog-oriented body without an electronic viewfinder, expanding the Z-mount lineup at the entry level. ([22])
July
- 2022-07-04: David Salvatori, an Italian underwater photographer, dies in a diving accident off the coast of Sicily. ([23])
- 2022-07-13: An article claims Nikon is planning to exit the SLR market entirely, accelerating community discussion about the end of the DSLR era. ([24])
August
- 2022-08-04: Guadalupe Biosphere Reserve is closed for the 2022 season due to permit issues, preventing the annual white shark aggregation dives. ([25])
- 2022-08-04: AOI announces a housing for the OM System OM-1. ([26])
- 2022-08-11: Nauticam announces the NA-R7 housing for the Canon EOS R7. ([27])
- 2022-08-14: Nauticam announces the WACP-C — a more compact, lower-cost variant of the WACP wide-angle corrector port, broadening access to water-contact wide-angle optics. ([28])
- 2022-08-27: The United Nations fails for the fifth time to reach agreement on a High Seas Treaty protecting international waters. ([29])
September
- 2022-09-16: Fujifilm announces the X-H2, its highest-resolution APS-C camera to date at 40MP. ([30])
- 2022-09-16: GoPro ships the Hero 11, offering a larger 8:7 aspect ratio sensor and improved stabilization. ([31])
- 2022-09-25: Alex Mustard publishes a field review of the Nauticam EMWL with 160-degree lens, tested at God’s Pocket, British Columbia. ([32])
October
- 2022-10-04: Ocean Photographer of the Year 2022 results: Ben Thouard wins the overall title; Tom St. George wins the Adventure category. ([33])
- 2022-10-12: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022: Tony Wu wins the Underwater category for an image of a spawning sea star; Laurent Ballesta wins the Portfolio Award. ([34])
- 2022-10-18: Paralenz files for bankruptcy, ending the Danish dive camera brand’s operations. ([35])
- 2022-10-27: Sony announces the a7R V: 61MP, a major AI-driven autofocus system, and improved viewfinder — positioned as a studio and wildlife camera with strong mirrorless credentials. ([36])
November
- 2022-11-03: Canon announces the EOS R6 Mark II with improved sensor and video specifications. ([37])
- 2022-11-03: Fujifilm announces the X-T5: 40MP APS-C sensor in the compact X-T body. ([38])
- 2022-11-03: Backscatter announces the Mini Flash 2 at $399 — an updated and accessible entry strobe. ([39])
- 2022-11-08: DEMA 2022 runs in Las Vegas. Tom St. George covers for Wetpixel; Adam Hanlon is unable to attend. ([40])
- 2022-11-24: CITES COP 19 concludes with protections extended to 113 marine species, including multiple shark and ray species — one of the most significant marine conservation outcomes in the convention’s history. ([41])
December
- 2022-12-08: Chuck Nicklin, pioneering underwater cinematographer known for work on The Deep (1977), The Abyss (1989), and James Bond films, dies. Nicklin was among the earliest professionals to bring high-quality underwater cinematography to Hollywood productions. ([42])
- 2022-12-08: Nauticam ships the NA-A7RV housing for the Sony a7R V. ([43])
- 2022-12-15: Seacam announces a housing for the Nikon Z9. ([44])
References
- [45] — articles processed for the 2022 timeline
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 19, 2022: Canon Announces Eos R5 C ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 20, 2022: Results Ocean Art 2021 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 26, 2022: Nauticam Ships Na R3 Housing For Eos R3 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 26, 2022: Awards Ceremony 2021 World Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 3, 2022: Results World Shootout 2021 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 12, 2022: Results Upy 2022 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2022: Om Digital Announces Om 1 Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2022: Nauticam Ships Housing For Nikon Z9 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2022: Panasonic Announces Lumix Gh6 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 1, 2022: Wetpixel Live Is The Slr Dead ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 7, 2022: Report Go Diving Show 2022 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 8, 2022: Seasea Announces Vacuum System For Mdx Houings ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 8, 2022: Marelux Ships Smart Optical Flash Tube ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2022: Rip David Cheung ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 25, 2022: Keldan Ships 8xr Video Lights ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 30, 2022: Seacam Ships Housing For Nikon Z6 Ii And Z7ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 30, 2022: Usps Issues Stamp Celebrating Eugenia Clark ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 4, 2022: Webinar David Doubilet And Jennifer Hayes ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 20, 2022: Live Reports Wetpixel Under The Jungle Cenote Workshop ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 4, 2022: Live Reports Wetpixel Under The Jungle Cenote Workshop1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 27, 2022: Blackmagic Design Announces Pocket Cinema Camera 6k G2 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 29, 2022: Nikon Announces The Z30 Aps C Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2022: Rip David Salvatori ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 13, 2022: Article Claims Nikon To Exit Slr Market ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2022: Guadalupe Biosphere Closed For 2022 Season ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2022: Aoi Announces Housing For Om 1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 11, 2022: Nauticam Announces Na R7 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 14, 2022: Nauticam Announces Wacp C ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 27, 2022: Un Fails To Protect High Seas ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 16, 2022: Fujifilm Announces X H2 Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 16, 2022: Gopro Ships Hero11 Action Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2022: Field Review Nauticam Emwl With 160 Degree Lens By Alex Mustard ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 4, 2022: Results Ocean Photographer Of The Year 2022 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 12, 2022: Results Wpoty 2022 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 18, 2022: Paralenz Files For Bankruptcy ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 27, 2022: Sony Announces Alpha 7r V Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 3, 2022: Canon Announces The Eos R6 Mark 2 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 3, 2022: Fujifilm Announces X T5 Aps C Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 3, 2022: Backscatter Announces Mini Flash Version 2 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2022: Dema 2022 Coverage From Tom St George ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 24, 2022: Shark Protection At Cites 2022 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 8, 2022: Rip Chuck Nicklin ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 8, 2022: Nauticam Ship Housing For Sony A7r V ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 15, 2022: Seacam Announces Housing For Nikon Z9 ↩
- raw/articles/2022/ (unknown) ↩