David Haas

Forum username: dhaas
Location: (not specified)
Posts: 1,079
Threads started: 164
Active years: 2002–2023
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel (300D), Rebel XT (350D), XTi (400D), Rebel T3i, Fuji E900
Housing: Ikelite (multiple generations)
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique (46%), Classifieds (20%), General Chat (11%), Photo/Video Showcase (5%), Shooting Technique/Workflow (4%), Trip Reports (4%), Lights/Strobes/Lighting (4%)
Specialization: Canon Rebel/Ikelite systems, gear lifecycle management, consumer DSLR evaluation

Community Role

dhaas was one of Wetpixel’s longest-tenured members, with posts spanning from May 2002 to December 2023 — over two decades of participation across 22 active years. With 497 posts in Photography Gear and Technique and 220 in Classifieds, dhaas exemplified the community member who actively cycled through equipment as technology evolved. Their Classifieds ratio (20%) was one of the highest among prolific contributors, reflecting someone constantly upgrading, buying, and selling gear as each new Canon Rebel generation arrived.

dhaas was a steadfast Canon Rebel shooter paired with Ikelite housings throughout their active years. Rather than pursuing high-end professional bodies, they tracked the consumer DSLR market closely, evaluating each new Rebel iteration for underwater viability. This made their contributions particularly valuable to the large segment of the community shooting entry-level to mid-range DSLRs.

dhaas also left 4 article comments on Wetpixel, including humorous remarks on the DEMA 2005 show report (referencing “Haas Photography” techniques involving “swirlies”) and a tribute to Markus Groh following his death aboard the M/V Shear Water ([source: comments on wetpixel.com/articles, 2005–2008]).

Notable Contributions

Canon Rebel Ecosystem

dhaas was a consistent voice through multiple Canon Rebel generations:

• “Who’s excited about the Canon XTi 400D” (28 replies, 9 posts) — one of the most active contributors evaluating this consumer DSLR for underwater use (^[1])
• “Canon Digital Rebel vs Canon 10D” (39 replies, 5 posts) — the foundational consumer-vs-prosumer Canon debate (^[2])
• “Digital Rebel 300D Housing Recommendation” (20 replies, 5 posts) — housing selection for the original Rebel (^[3])
• “Don’t shoot me… housing for Rebel 350” (24 replies, 5 posts) — Rebel XT housing options (^[4])
• “What’s the fastest shutter speed with Rebel XT” (31 replies, 5 posts) — practical exposure questions (^[5])
• “S&S 350D housing and TTL Converter” (54 replies, 5 posts) — Sea & Sea housing alternative (^[6])
• “Ikelite Vs. Sea & Sea housing for D200” (19 replies, 5 posts) — housing brand comparison (^[7])
• Canon and Ikelite and Lowepro classified listing (8 replies, 9 posts) — gear system sale (^[8])
• Canon Rebel T3i system classified listing (6 replies, 7 posts) (^[9])

Ikelite Flooding Incident

dhaas contributed to the notable “Sad Ikelite Flooding Story w/ Uncanny Happy Ending” thread (23 replies, 6 posts), where a community member’s brand-new Ikelite port came apart underwater at Sunset House, Grand Cayman, but by extraordinary coincidence an Ikelite repair department employee was diving at the same site and arranged a resolution on the spot. This thread became a frequently referenced example of Ikelite’s customer service reputation (^[10]).

Lens Testing

dhaas contributed Tokina 10-17 fisheye test photos (128 total replies, 6 posts), documenting a lens that became the standard wide-angle option for crop-sensor underwater shooters (^[11]). He also participated in the Canon Rebel kit lens diopter and scratched domeport discussion (31 replies), sharing real-world mishap experience (^[12]).

Full-Frame Debate and Philosophy

• “1D Mark II or 5D” (53 replies, 6 posts) — the pivotal crop-vs-full-frame Canon debate, one of the community’s most important gear philosophy discussions (^[13])
• “Skill versus equipment” (30 replies, 6 posts) — one of the forum’s recurring philosophical debates on whether gear or technique matters more (^[14])
• “A voice of reason among a pandemonium of parrots” (28 replies, 5 posts) — community discussion thread (^[15])
• “Bring a back-up body?” (25 replies, 5 posts) — practical travel considerations (^[16])
• Sigma 15mm Lock Ups (11 replies) — reporting lens issues ([source from person_matrix.json, thread 11927])

Travel and Trip Reports

• Wetpixel Shark trip planning (29 replies, 8 posts) — organizing tips for the community shark trip (^[17])
• Bahamas with Fuji E900 (11 replies) — compact camera trip report ([source from person_matrix.json, thread 15429])
• Cayman Brac Images (10 replies) — dive photography showcase ([source from person_matrix.json, thread 4122])
• Canon 5D Sigma 15mm sample (9 replies, 5 posts) — full-frame wide-angle images (^[18] — thread 11973)

Late-Era Engagement (2023)

After a quiet period from 2018–2022, dhaas returned with 51 posts in 2023, exploring the DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 iPhone housing — showing willingness to adapt to smartphone underwater photography after decades of Canon DSLR shooting.

Activity Profile

• Forum focus: Gear (46%), Classifieds (20%), Chat (11%), Showcase (5%), Technique (4%), Trips (4%), Lighting (4%), Beginner (1%)
• Thread participation: 164 threads started — one of the highest thread-start counts
• Gear cycling: 220 Classifieds posts indicate active equipment turnover through multiple Canon Rebel generations
• Article comments: 4 comments on Wetpixel articles (2005–2008)

References