pakman

Forum username: pakman
Location: Hong Kong via Seattle
Posts: 1,050 across 539 threads
Threads started: 69
Active years: 2005–2015
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique (306), Video Gear and Technique (142), Trip Reports and Travel (128), Photo / Video Showcase (117), Shooting Technique/Workflow (102)
Specialization: Sea & Sea housings and TTL systems, Gates video housings, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens testing, Southeast Asian diving

Community Role

pakman was an active Wetpixel contributor who straddled still photography and video during the critical 2006–2008 period when both disciplines were undergoing rapid transformation. With 306 posts in Photography Gear and Technique and 142 in Video Gear and Technique, he was one of the few members who participated seriously in both domains. His contributions to Trip Reports and Travel (128 posts), Photo / Video Showcase (117), and Shooting Technique/Workflow (102) reveal a well-rounded contributor who engaged across the full spectrum of underwater imaging.

His activity was remarkably concentrated: 583 posts in 2007 and 340 in 2008 account for 88% of his total output. This burst of engagement coincided with the boom in DSLR underwater photography and the emergence of HD underwater video. Based in Hong Kong (having relocated from Seattle), he frequently traveled to Southeast Asian dive destinations including the Philippines and Indonesia.

pakman’s most distinctive contributions were his extensive field testing of the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens (producing one of the most detailed user evaluations on Wetpixel) and his deep engagement with Sea & Sea housing systems, including the 350D and MDX-40D housings and TTL converter systems. On the video side, he was an early adopter of the Gates HC-7 housing for consumer HD video.

Notable Contributions

Lens Testing and Optics

• “Tokina 10-17mm FE test fotos I” (28 posts, 128 total replies): Was a prolific contributor to this community field test of the transformative fisheye zoom lens, which became the standard wide-angle lens for crop-sensor underwater photographers. The thread drew contributions from many community members and helped establish the lens’s reputation (^[1])
• “Any wet diopter for a S&S port?” (7 posts, 15 replies): Explored close-up lens options for Sea & Sea port systems (^[2])

Sea & Sea Housing Systems

• “S&S 350D housing and TTL Converter” (14 posts, 54 replies): Extensive discussion of the Sea & Sea 350D housing and its proprietary TTL flash conversion system (^[3])
• “S&S MDX-40D housing!” (12 posts, 36 replies): Covered Sea & Sea’s housing for the Canon 40D, continuing his detailed evaluation of the brand’s product line (^[4])
• “New Sea & Sea TTL Converter Compatibility List” (11 posts, 87 replies): Created a community reference resource documenting which camera/strobe combinations worked with Sea & Sea’s TTL converter — a practical and widely referenced contribution (^[5])
• “Got my Sea & Sea 350D housing” (7 posts, 17 replies): First impressions and setup notes (^[6])
• “Inon/Hugy viewfinder in Sea & Sea” (8 posts, 43 replies): Explored third-party viewfinder compatibility with Sea & Sea housings (^[7])
• “Seatool 40D Housing” (7 posts, 18 replies): Compared alternative housing options (^[8])
• “Patima Housings?” (6 posts, 11 replies): Investigated budget housing alternatives (^[9])

Video Production

• “Gates HC-7 Housing: Field Report” (14 posts, 64 replies): Participated extensively in the community’s evaluation of the Gates housing for the Sony HC-7 consumer HD camcorder, including pre-arrival discussion of buoyancy characteristics and operational questions (^[10])
• “Gates HC7 Housing (Thought you might be interested)” (8 posts, 20 replies): Additional Gates HC-7 discussion before the housing shipped (^[11])
• “Tips on filming Whale Sharks while snorkeling?” (9 posts, 29 replies): Sought and shared video technique advice for large marine life encounters (^[12])

Lighting and Accessories

• “Buoyancy arms review” (11 posts, 142 replies): Contributed to a detailed evaluation of float arm options, a practical but often overlooked accessory category (^[13])
• “Fisheye LED 48DX” (9 posts, 26 replies): Discussed LED focus/video light options (^[14])

Travel and Conservation

• “Bali: Where to stay for Nusa Penida diving” (15 posts, 44 replies): Detailed destination planning thread for Indonesian diving (^[15])
• “Few photos from Anilao, Philippines” (8 posts, 19 replies): Shared images from this premier macro destination (^[16])
• “Shooting Pelagics: WB, Filter, Focus and Lighting Tips needed” (9 posts, 35 replies): Sought technique advice for open-water photography (^[17])
• “Japanese whalers take custody of Sea Shepherd crew” (10 posts, 112 replies): Active participant in marine conservation discussions (^[18])

Activity Profile

• Peak year: 2007 (583 posts)
• Forum focus: 29% Photography Gear and Technique, 14% Video Gear and Technique, 12% Trip Reports and Travel, 11% Photo / Video Showcase, 10% Shooting Technique/Workflow
• Additional forums: The Galley: General Chat (74), Lights/Strobes/Lighting (70), Conservation and the Environment (42), Classifieds (26), Beginner Forum (23), Copyright Issues (8), Critter Identification (7)
• Concentrated burst: 88% of all posts came in 2007–2008, one of the most concentrated activity patterns among prolific Wetpixel members

References