Aqua_Soul
Forum username: aqua_soul
Posts: 311
Active years: 2007—2022
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique
Specialization: Compact camera housings, shark photography, housing maintenance
Community Role
Aqua_Soul was a Wetpixel community member active from 2007 to 2022, contributing 311 posts primarily focused on compact camera housing systems, shark photography, and equipment maintenance. An early adopter of the Panasonic LX3 for underwater use, Aqua_Soul became a knowledgeable resource on the 10Bar housing system and later transitioned to DSLR discussions around Nikon f/2.8 zoom lenses.
Notable Contributions
10Bar LX3 Housing Thread (91 replies)
Aqua_Soul’s most significant contribution was starting the definitive thread on the 10Bar housing for the Panasonic LX3 compact camera in December 2008. Having been in direct contact with Ada from 10Bar, he shared detailed specifications: US$630 price, M67 thread for external lenses, optical strobe firing and hard-wiring options, double main O-rings, and keyhole latches. He offered thoughtful first-person critique, noting he would have preferred a black finish (since shiny housings attract certain fish) and a different shutter button solution. The thread grew to 91 replies and became the primary community resource for this housing system ([1]).
Housing Corrosion Issues
Aqua_Soul started an important thread about bubbling and pitting on his aluminum housing (33 replies), which generated expert community advice about sacrificial zinc anodes and housing maintenance. Mike Veitch diagnosed the issue as likely caused by a missing zinc on the rear housing half. The thread became a reference for other aluminum housing owners experiencing corrosion ([2]).
Shark Photography
Aqua_Soul contributed to several shark photography discussions, including a thread on sevengill shark photography (17 replies) and green water shark photography (16 replies), sharing images and techniques for shooting sharks in challenging visibility conditions ([3], [4]).
Other Notable Threads
- “Researching f/2.8 lenses in the 17-55 zoom range” (18 replies) — Lens comparison for DSLR transition ([5])
Timeline
- 2007: Joined Wetpixel forums
- 2008-12: Started the 10Bar LX3 housing thread after direct communication with 10Bar ([6])
- 2010-07: Documented housing corrosion issue; received zinc anode advice ([7])
- 2011—2015: Active contributions on shark photography, lens selection, and gear discussions
- 2021—2022: Returned to forums after a period of reduced activity
Activity Profile
- Peak years: 2008—2015
- Focus areas: Compact camera housings (10Bar/Panasonic LX3), housing maintenance and corrosion, shark photography, Nikon lenses
- 311 posts across Photography Gear and Technique
Sources
- Forum thread: 10bar Lx3 Housing ↩
- Forum thread: Some Bubbeling And Pitting On Housing ↩
- Forum thread: A Few Moody Seven Gill Shark Photos ↩
- Forum thread: Sharks In Green Water ↩
- Forum thread: Researching F 28 Lenses In The 17 55 Zoom Range ↩
- Forum thread: 10bar Lx3 Housing ↩
- Forum thread: Some Bubbeling And Pitting On Housing ↩
- 10Bar LX3 Housing (forum) ↩
- Some bubbeling and pitting on housing (forum) ↩
- Researching f/2.8 lenses in the 17-55 zoom range (forum) ↩
- A few moody Seven gill Shark photos (forum) ↩
- Sharks in Green Water (forum) ↩