davephdv
Forum username: davephdv
Real name: Dave Burroughs
Location: Goleta, California
Posts: 2,180
Threads started: 173
Active years: 2002–2021
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5000, Fuji S2, Nikon D100, D2X, D300
Housing: Ikelite CP5000, Subal D10, Subal D2X, Subal D300
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique (46%), Photo/Video Showcase (12%), Shooting Technique/Workflow (9%), General Chat (8%), Lights/Strobes/Lighting (7%), Trip Reports (7%)
Specialization: Nikon DSLR systems, Subal housings, macro lens evaluation, compact-to-DSLR transition
Community Role
davephdv — real name Dave Burroughs ([1]) — was one of Wetpixel’s earliest and longest-running contributors, with posts spanning from January 2002 through April 2021 — nearly two decades of community participation. He was among the first wave of members to join the forum and maintained consistent engagement through multiple camera generations.
With 1,011 posts (46%) in Photography Gear and Technique, davephdv was the forum’s archetypal gear-focused contributor. His posting history traces the entire arc of digital underwater photography: from the Coolpix 5000 compact era (2002), through the Nikon D100 and Subal housing revolution, the D2X professional era, and into the mirrorless transition with the Panasonic GF1 and GX1. He also maintained a significant presence in Photo/Video Showcase (263 posts), Shooting Technique/Workflow (202 posts), and Lights/Strobes/Lighting (166 posts), combining gear analysis with active shooting practice.
In 2012, davephdv authored a Wetpixel article on the DEMA Show, describing it as “A personal perspective by Dave Burroughs” and sharing his firsthand impressions of the underwater photography industry’s largest trade event ([2]). He also left article comments, including a tribute to dive boat captain Larry Smith recounting a trip to Komodo together ([source: comment on wetpixel.com/articles/larry-smith, 2007]).
Notable Contributions
Compact Camera Era (2002–2004)
davephdv was active during the critical Coolpix 5000 compact camera period, contributing to housing choice discussions (“housing choices for cp5000,” 26 replies), Ikelite CP5000 dome port threads (12 replies), and the foundational “DECISIONS…4040?, CP5000? OR G2?” thread (38 replies) that captured the first-generation digital underwater camera selection debate ([3], [4], [5]). He shared CP5000 photos in the Showcase forum (11 replies) ([6]).
Subal D10 and Nikon DSLR Systems
davephdv was a long-term Subal user, contributing 14 posts to the Subal D10 housing thread (32 total replies), providing deep user experience with this premium Nikon D100 housing ([7]). He later moved to the Nikon D2X, contributing to MacroMate and D2X discussions (23 replies) ([8]).
Macro Lens Evaluation
davephdv led the discussion on the Nikkor 105mm AF-S VR macro lens for underwater use (59 total replies, 20 of his posts), starting the thread by asking whether the vibration reduction upgrade was worth the investment over the older 105mm micro. This thread became a key reference for the community evaluating the lens ([9]). He also contributed to the Nikon 17-55DX evaluation (22 replies) ([10]).
Mirrorless and Later Systems
As the camera industry shifted, davephdv adapted, contributing to the Panasonic GF1 thread (180 replies) and the GX1 in Nauticam housing discussion (24 replies), showing engagement with the micro four-thirds mirrorless platform ([11], [12]). He also contributed to iPad adoption discussions for underwater photographers (138 replies, 11 of his posts), as tablets became travel editing tools ([13]).
Other Notable Threads
- Zen 100mm dome evaluation (68 replies, 8 posts) ([14])
- Uwatec Galileo Sol dive computer discussion (167 replies, 8 posts) ([15])
- Storage solutions for trips (40 replies) — early discussion of CD-based trip storage ([16])
- Lumix DMC-LX3 compact camera evaluation (25 replies) ([17])
- New high-tech float arms (22 replies) ([18])
- Digital Nikonos concept discussion (28 replies) — the perennial wish for a modern Nikonos ([source from person_matrix.json, thread 2772])
- S2 Pro macro lens recommendations (39 replies) — Fuji S2 era ([19])
Activity Profile
| Year | Posts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 297 | Joined January; peak year |
| 2003 | 295 | CP5000 / early DSLR era |
| 2004 | 204 | Transition to DSLR |
| 2005 | 203 | Nikon D2X period |
| 2006 | 213 | D2X / 105mm VR evaluation |
| 2007 | 157 | Continued gear focus |
| 2008 | 213 | Secondary peak |
| 2009 | 154 | |
| 2010 | 150 | Mirrorless emergence |
| 2011 | 86 | |
| 2012 | 79 | DEMA article; OM-D era |
| 2013–2016 | 104 | Gradual decline |
| 2017–2021 | 25 | Occasional posts |
- Forum focus: Gear (46%), Showcase (12%), Technique (9%), Chat (8%), Lighting (7%), Trips (7%), Beginner (4%)
- Thread participation: 173 threads started, 1,531 total threads
- Article contributions: 1 article authored ([20]), 2 article comments
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Nov 21, 2012: Dema 2012 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 21, 2012: Dema 2012 ↩
- Forum thread: Housing Choices For Cp5000 ↩
- Forum thread: Ikelite Cp 5000 And Dome Port ↩
- Forum thread: Decisions4040 Cp5000 Or G2 ↩
- Forum thread: Cp 5000 Photos ↩
- Forum thread: Subal D10 Housing For The D100 ↩
- Forum thread: Macromate And D2x ↩
- Forum thread: 105 Af S Vr Worth It ↩
- Forum thread: 17 55dx ↩
- Forum thread: Panasonic Gf1 ↩
- Forum thread: Panasonic Gx1 In A Nauticam Housing ↩
- Forum thread: Ipad ↩
- Forum thread: Zen 100mm Dome ↩
- Forum thread: First Dives With Uwatecs Galileo Sol ↩
- Forum thread: Storage Solutions On Trips Cds ↩
- Forum thread: Lumix Dmc Lx3 ↩
- Forum thread: New High Tech Float Arms ↩
- Forum thread: S2 Pro Recommedation For Macro Lens ↩
- DEMA 2012 (article) ↩
- DEMA 2012 (article) ↩
- 105 AF-S VR; worth it? (forum) ↩
- Subal D10 housing for the D100 (forum) ↩
- housing choices for cp5000 (forum) ↩
- DECISIONS…4040?, CP5000? OR G2? (forum) ↩
- Panasonic GX1 in a Nauticam housing (forum) ↩
- iPad (forum) ↩
- Zen 100mm Dome (forum) ↩
- MacroMate and D2X (forum) ↩
- Panasonic GF1 (forum) ↩
- CP 5000 photos (forum) ↩