mikeo

Forum username: mikeo
Location: Fairfax, VA, USA
Posts: 999 across 659 threads
Threads started: 85
Active years: 2002–2023
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique (515), Trip Reports and Travel (118), The Galley: General Chat (98)
Specialization: Multi-system gear evaluation, Olympus/Micro Four Thirds advocacy, lighting systems, travel diving

Community Role

mikeo was one of the earliest and longest-serving Wetpixel community members, with posts dating back to 2002 — the forum’s first full year of operation — and continuing through 2023, a span of over two decades. His author_id of 28 places him among the very first registered users of the forum. With 515 posts in Photography Gear and Technique (52% of total), he was primarily a gear-focused contributor, but his spread across Trip Reports and Travel (118), General Chat (98), Lights/Strobes/Lighting (70), and Conservation and the Environment (42) reveals a well-rounded community participant.

His activity peaked in the early years (199 posts in 2002, 152 in 2003) before settling into a steadier pattern. A secondary peak in 2008 (164 posts) coincided with the DSLR explosion. Unlike many members who disappeared after the mid-2010s, mikeo maintained a persistent low-level presence through 2023, making him one of the few members to span the entire evolution from early digital compacts through the mirrorless transition.

mikeo’s gear interests evolved across multiple camera systems over two decades — from early discussions of Fuji S2 Pro and Canon EOS D30/D60 housings in 2002, through Olympus E-300 and E-3 Four Thirds cameras, Canon 30D, compact systems like the Canon S90, and ultimately Olympus Micro Four Thirds with the OM-D E-M5. His 70 posts in Lights/Strobes/Lighting and early threads comparing YS-90DX and DS-125 strobes show he engaged deeply with lighting as well as camera bodies.

Notable Contributions

Camera Systems and Gear

• Olympus OM-D E-M5 (13 posts, 778 total replies): Active participant in this landmark thread on the game-changing mirrorless camera that helped redefine underwater photography. The thread, started by Alex Mustard, became one of the most-replied threads in Wetpixel history (^[1])
• “Sigma 15mm FE vs. Canon 10-22mm” (11 posts, 36 replies): Contributed to a perennial wide-angle lens comparison debate (^[2])
• “Fix S90 housings have arrived” (8 posts, 58 replies): Discussed compact camera housing options from Fix, which offered an alternative to the dominant Ikelite and Canon housings (^[3])
• “Olympus E-3 not a software update” (6 posts, 24 replies): Contributed to early Four Thirds system discussions, showing loyalty to the Olympus platform before it became mainstream underwater (^[4])
• “Are people leaving micro four thirds?” (6 posts, 69 replies): Engaged with the ongoing mirrorless vs DSLR debate, reflecting his long investment in the Olympus ecosystem (^[5])
• “Olympus E300 8mp SLR” (5 posts, 43 replies): Early discussion of Olympus DSLR viability for underwater use (^[6])

Lighting and Strobes

• “Which to buy — YS-90DX or DS-125?” (6 posts, 24 replies): One of the earliest strobe comparison discussions on Wetpixel, dating from 2002 (^[7])
• “Inon UWL-100 Dome” (5 posts, 17 replies): Discussed Inon’s wide-angle wet lens accessories (^[8])
• “Rumor or Truth? Inon Japan closing Inon America?” (5 posts, 26 replies): Contributed to industry news discussion about Inon’s US distribution changes (^[9])

Early Digital and Housings

• “New EOS D30/D60 Zillion Housing” (5 posts, 18 replies): Very early DSLR housing discussion from 2002, when underwater DSLR photography was just beginning (^[10])
• “S2 pro has less macro abilities than a Nikon 990?” (5 posts, 21 replies): Compared early DSLR macro capabilities to advanced compacts (^[11])
• “Which strobe is the best for me?” (4 posts, 70 replies): One of the foundational strobe selection threads on Wetpixel (^[12])

Travel and Community

• “Singapore Airlines Cancels Executive Economy Service” (7 posts, 25 replies): Contributed to travel logistics discussions relevant to diving travel (^[13])
• “Galapagos Photos” (4 posts, 10 replies): Shared experiences from one of the world’s premier dive destinations (^[14])
• Active Beginner Forum contributor (38 posts), helping newcomers with gear selection and technique questions
• Conservation and the Environment participant (42 posts), showing engagement with marine conservation

Activity Profile

• Peak year: 2002 (199 posts) — one of the most active members in Wetpixel’s founding year
• Forum focus: 52% Photography Gear and Technique, 12% Trip Reports and Travel, 10% General Chat, 7% Lights/Strobes/Lighting
• Longevity: 21-year active span (2002–2023), among the longest of any Wetpixel contributor
• Early adopter ID: Author ID #28, indicating registration within the first few dozen Wetpixel members

References