hyp

Forum username: hyp
Posts: 649
Active years: 2017–2023
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique, Lights/Strobes/Lighting Technique, Beginner Forum
Specialization: Micro Four Thirds systems, Nauticam housings, budget-conscious underwater photography

Community Role

Hyp was an active Wetpixel community member during the later years of the forum (2017–2023), contributing 649 posts focused primarily on Micro Four Thirds (MFT) underwater photography systems. As a relative newcomer to underwater photography who was budget-conscious, hyp’s posts provided a valuable perspective on building and optimizing an underwater rig without unlimited resources. His detailed, technically informed questions and willingness to share findings made him a useful contributor to discussions about MFT lens selection, wet lenses, and lighting options (^[1]).

Hyp started 20 threads during his six years of activity, many of which became substantive gear discussions with practical value for other MFT shooters.

Gear and Shooting Style

Hyp built his underwater system around the Olympus E-M5 Mark I in a Nauticam NA-EM5 housing, purchased used due to budget constraints. His lens kit included the Panasonic-Leica 8-18mm wide-angle in a 7-inch acrylic dome, the Olympus 12-50mm in Nauticam’s dedicated port, and occasionally a Panasonic-Leica 45mm macro borrowed from his mother. He used a pair of Sea & Sea YS-02 strobes for lighting (^[2]).

His mother also dived with a Panasonic GX80 in a Subal housing, indicating a family involvement in underwater photography (^[3]).

For topside photography, hyp used additional Panasonic lenses including the 35-100mm f/2.8 and 100-300mm Mark II, and a Panasonic GX8 body (^[4]).

Notable Contributions

• MWL-1 vs Kraken KRL-09s on MFT (2022): Started a detailed technical thread investigating macro-to-wide conversion lens performance on Micro Four Thirds sensors, specifically asking about corner sharpness at different apertures and how the full-frame f/16 recommendation translates to crop sensors. The thread drew informed responses and practical comparisons (16 replies) (^[5])
• Snooting with the Backscatter MF1/2 (2023): Initiated a practical discussion about integrating the Backscatter MF-2 into a macro dive workflow alongside regular strobes, covering battery life, mounting solutions, and single vs. dual strobe configurations (12 replies) (^[6])
• Finetuning My Rig (2019): Comprehensive thread about optimizing an MFT underwater system on a budget, generating 32 replies with detailed advice about fisheye lens choices (Canon 8-15mm vs native Panasonic/Olympus fisheyes), wet lens options (INON UWL-100, Saga diopters), and travel dome considerations (32 replies) (^[7])
• Think Tank Airport Commuter Alternatives (2018): Thread on finding affordable carry-on backpacks for underwater camera gear, a practical concern for traveling underwater photographers (10 replies) (^[8])
• Laowa 10mm/7.5mm on MFT (2021): Thread exploring alternative wide-angle lens options in the 4.33-inch dome port for MFT systems (^[9])
• Strobe Arms Discussion (2018): Thread evaluating whether premium strobe arm brands justify their cost over budget alternatives (^[10])

Activity Profile

Hyp’s activity was concentrated between 2019 and 2023, with his first posts appearing in mid-2017. He was most active in the Photography Gear and Technique forum, with additional contributions to lighting discussions and the beginner forum. His last recorded activity was October 2023, coinciding with the general decline of forum activity on Wetpixel.