deep6

Forum username: Deep6
Real name: Bob
Posts: 851
Active years: 2007—2025
Location: United States
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique, Photo / Video Showcase, Feedback
Specialization: Compact cameras, mirrorless/ILC transition, Olympus Micro Four Thirds, camera technology analysis

Community Role

Bob, posting as “Deep6,” was a distinctive voice in the Wetpixel community as a technology-focused contributor who tracked the evolution of underwater camera systems from compact cameras through the mirrorless revolution. Active from 2007 through 2025 — one of the longest spans of any Wetpixel contributor — he was particularly engaged during the pivotal 2009—2012 period when the camera industry transitioned from DSLRs and compacts to mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras.

Deep6’s primary contribution was as a gear intelligence gatherer and discussion starter. He regularly surfaced new camera announcements, rumor site reports, and technical reviews from sources like DPReview, 43 Rumors, and Thom Hogan, then framed them for the underwater photography community. His posts typically ended with “Bob” and were characterized by curiosity and technical questioning rather than definitive pronouncements. He asked the questions many community members were thinking but had not articulated.

His gear interests spanned an unusually broad range — from Canon compacts (S90/S95) through Olympus PEN mirrorless cameras to Sony NEX to Olympus OM-D — reflecting his engagement with the entire non-DSLR segment of underwater photography. He also used Nikon DSLR housings (Nexus) and showed continued interest in housing technology.

Gear History

Deep6’s gear progression traced the compact-to-mirrorless transition:

• Nexus housing for Nikon DSLR (2007—2009) — came with chrome-plated hex wrenches that he noted showed “no signs of corrosion with 3+ years of service” (^[1])
• Canon S90/S95 compact interest (2009) — he started the influential thread on the Canon S90 (which he called “SD90IS” initially), identifying it as sharing the G11’s sensor (^[2])
• Olympus PEN series interest (2011) — tracked the E-P3 and PEN line closely (^[3])
• Sony NEX-7 interest (2011) — followed rumor sites and reviews, sharing Michael Reichmann’s early review (^[4])
• Olympus OM-D E-M5 (circa 2014—2016) — had issues with the mode knob on the Mark I (^[5])
• Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II (2018) — purchasing this camera and seeking memory card recommendations indicated his continued commitment to Micro Four Thirds (^[6])
• Also maintained interest in Nikon systems, evaluating the Nikon 18-70mm lens for underwater use (^[7])

Notable Contributions

Canon S90 Discovery Thread (August 2009)

Deep6 started what became one of the most-discussed compact camera threads on Wetpixel (51 replies) when he identified that the Canon S90 shared the same sensor as the highly anticipated Canon G11. This was significant because it meant G11-level image quality could potentially be available in a smaller, cheaper body. The thread drew engagement from James Wiseman, Alex Mustard (who said “Could be my next compact”), and many others. The discussion covered the S90’s f/2.0 lens advantage over the G11’s f/2.8, Canon housing availability, and the broader significance of Canon’s decision to end “megapixel madness” by dropping back to 10 megapixels (^[8]).

Mirrorless Camera Category Advocacy (September 2011)

Deep6 was among the first to formally request that Wetpixel create a separate forum category for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, recognizing that the existing DSLR and Consumer Camera forums were becoming inadequate as Olympus PEN, Sony NEX, and Panasonic GH cameras blurred category lines. His “New Category For The Other Interchangeable Lens Camera” thread (16 replies) catalyzed a community discussion about how to classify cameras that were neither compact nor traditional DSLRs. The thread highlighted the awkward situation where NEX cameras were being posted in the DSLR forum while Micro Four Thirds cameras went into the consumer forum (^[9]).

Olympus PEN E-P3 Analysis (June 2011)

Deep6 broke down the new Olympus PEN E-P3 specifications for the underwater community (33 replies), with particular attention to the “FAST AF” system that used 35 contrast-detect AF points. He raised the important question of whether the IR-based focusing assist would work underwater and noted that Olympus housings were available for the PM1 and PL3 models but not the flagship P3. His technical questions about fiber optic connections and LED focusing light behavior in the new Olympus housings drew helpful responses from Phil Rudin and others (^[10]).

Sony NEX-7 Tracking (August—September 2011)

Deep6 tracked the Sony NEX-7 from rumor through announcement (28 replies), sharing early reviews and keeping the community informed about the camera’s potential for underwater use. His interest in the NEX-7 reflected the broader community excitement about APS-C sensors in compact mirrorless bodies (^[11]).

DSLR Housing Viewfinder Discussion (August 2008)

Deep6 raised a fundamental question about why aftermarket viewfinders for underwater housings cost $900+ when Ikelite had achieved good results with their “Super Eye” built-in optic. The thread drew responses from housing designers and users about the trade-offs between different viewfinder magnification approaches (^[12]).

Nikon D7000 Review Sharing (December 2010)

Deep6 shared Thom Hogan’s D7000 review with the community, which prompted an extended discussion with Alex Mustard about whether the D7000 represented a replacement for the D90 or a realignment of Nikon’s entire DX lineup. Mustard speculated that Nikon would replace the D90/D300/D700 with just two cameras — a prediction that largely came true (^[13]).

Activity Profile

Deep6’s 851 posts were concentrated in the 2007—2016 period, with a notable gap from 2017 to 2022 before returning in 2023 and posting as late as July 2025. This makes him one of the very few Wetpixel contributors still active in the 2020s. His 44 threads started were primarily in Photography Gear and Technique, with a focus on new camera announcements and technology analysis. He also posted in General Chat (mosquito repellent alternatives), Trip Reports (TSA locks for travel), and Feedback (forum category suggestions).

His activity across 10 article comments suggests he also engaged with Wetpixel’s editorial content, not just the forums ([source: person_matrix.json]).

Activity Timeline

• 2007-08: First recorded forum activity
• 2008-08: DSLR housing viewfinder discussion (^[14])
• 2008-12: Nikon 18-70mm lens inquiry (^[15])
• 2009-08: Canon S90 sensor discovery thread (51 replies) (^[16])
• 2009-09: TSA lock discussion for dive travel (^[17])
• 2010-12: Shared Thom Hogan’s D7000 review, discussed Nikon lineup with Alex Mustard (^[18])
• 2011-06: Olympus PEN E-P3 analysis (33 replies) (^[19])
• 2011-08: Sony NEX-7 tracking thread (28 replies) (^[20])
• 2011-09: Advocated for mirrorless camera forum category (^[21])
• 2014: Troubleshooting Olympus OM-D E-M5 mode knob issue (^[22])
• 2016: Canon 40D and Ikelite system discussion (^[23])
• 2018-02: Purchasing Olympus E-M1 Mark II, seeking memory card advice (^[24])
• 2023: Returned to forum activity after multi-year gap
• 2025-07: Last recorded forum activity — one of Wetpixel’s latest-active contributors