allen

Forum username: allen
Posts: 287
Active years: 2005–2023
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique, Shooting Technique/Workflow/Editing, Trip Reports and Travel
Specialization: Four Thirds system, Subal housings, camera system evaluation, Pacific dive travel

Community Role

Allen was one of Wetpixel’s longest-serving members, contributing across an eighteen-year span from 2005 to 2023. He was an analytical and detail-oriented photographer who approached equipment decisions methodically, frequently evaluating alternative camera systems and housing manufacturers. His posts reflected a photographer who traveled to remote Pacific destinations and valued compact, lightweight equipment for those journeys.

Allen was particularly notable for his willingness to explore less mainstream camera systems — most prominently the Four Thirds format — at a time when the Wetpixel community was overwhelmingly committed to Canon and Nikon DSLRs. He started 49 threads across his career, consistently bringing thoughtful questions and observations to the forum.

Notable Contributions

• Four Thirds system advocacy: Allen’s most popular thread (45 replies, November 2006) posed a provocative question about the viability of the Four Thirds camera system for underwater photography. He detailed the growing lens support from Olympus, Leica/Panasonic, and Sigma, highlighting the Olympus 7-14mm and 50mm macro as underwater-friendly options. The thread sparked a wide-ranging discussion about camera format survival, with Paul Kay offering historical perspective on failed formats (126, 110, APS), photovan proposing square sensors, and others debating the 2x crop factor. The thread proved remarkably prescient given the eventual success of Micro Four Thirds in underwater photography (^[1]).

• Subal latch safety investigation: Allen started an important safety-focused thread in November 2006 after discovering concerning latch behavior on Subal housings at the DEMA Show. He found that latches on two demo housings could be opened with a simple twist without the expected push-in motion, and he systematically compared latch designs across Subal, Seacam, Aquatica, Nexus, and Sea & Sea. Other members reported their Subal latches working correctly, suggesting the demo units had been worn by show handling (^[2]).

• Slow shutter speed techniques: His thread on slowest usable shutter speeds for underwater photography (11 replies) contributed to the community’s technique knowledge base.

• Pacific dive travel: Allen shared trip reports from Chuuk (Truk) and Guam, contributing to the community’s wreck diving and Pacific travel resources (^[3]).

• Focus technique discussions: His “Getting focus” thread (8 replies) addressed practical autofocus challenges in underwater photography.

Equipment

• Subal housing system
• Interest in Four Thirds/Olympus systems
• Various Nikon lenses

Activity Profile

• First post: March 2005
• Peak years: 2006–2008
• Threads started: 49
• Article comments: 6
• Last appearance: August 2023
• Forum focus: Camera system evaluation, housing design and safety, shooting technique, Pacific dive travel