Peter Schulz

Forum username: peter schulz
Posts: 435
Active years: 2002—2007
Articles authored: 1
Role: Underwater photographer, technical contributor
Website: splashdowndivers.com

Biography

Peter Schulz was an early and technically influential Wetpixel community member who made significant contributions to underwater photography knowledge during the compact-to-DSLR transition era. Operating the Splashdown Divers website, Schulz was known for methodical testing and documenting of techniques that he shared freely with the community. He authored one article for Wetpixel and was mentioned in two others, earning recognition from the editorial team.

Contributions

Wideangle Distortion Correction Article

Schulz authored a Wetpixel article on correcting wide-angle lens distortion using PanoTools, a free software plugin for Photoshop, Elements, and Paint Shop Pro. The article demonstrated how to fix pincushion distortion (from flat ports) and barrel distortion (from dome ports) using the PanoTools Radial Shift function. He provided detailed before/after comparison images shot with an INON wide-angle lens and dome port, and shared his specific correction parameters (a=0.00, b=-0.05, c=-0.15, d=+0.120). The article was a practical, accessible guide that helped less technically proficient photographers improve their images (^[1]).

Ikelite Olympus TTL Beta Testing

Schulz was selected to beta test Ikelite’s prototype TTL conversion circuit for the Olympus 5050/5060 cameras. Testing the circuit in an Ikelite 5050 housing, he reported outstanding results: “perfect lighting under almost every imaginable condition… without changing any camera settings during the dives! This TTL system really rocks!” His test results and sample photos were featured in a Wetpixel article by James Wiseman (^[2]).

Nikon 10.5mm Manual Focus Technique

Schulz discovered and shared a practical technique for the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye lens: by autofocusing on a sharp object approximately 6 inches in front of the lens and then switching to manual focus, the lens would produce sharp images from 6 inches to infinity with zero shutter lag. This was particularly useful in low-light or poor visibility conditions. He discussed potentially taping the focus ring to lock the setting permanently. James Wiseman noted that a similar technique could be achieved using the AF-On button (^[3]).

PanoTools Discussion

Schulz fostered community discussion about using PanoTools for underwater image correction, with an 11-reply thread exploring the technique further (^[4]).

Notable Threads

• “Nikon 18-70mm vs Nikon 60mm” (13 replies) — Lens comparison for the Nikon D70 (^[5])
• “Nikon 10.5mm Works In Manual Mode” (13 replies) — Manual focus technique (^[6])
• “Correcting for Wide Angle Lens Distortion” (11 replies) — PanoTools discussion (^[7])
• “Ikelite D70 Housing with Nikkor 12-24 lens” (9 replies) — Zoom gear questions (^[8])
• “D70 vs C-5050 Battery Life” (8 replies) — DSLR vs compact comparison (^[9])

Timeline

• 2002: Joined Wetpixel forums
• 2004-01: Beta tested Ikelite Olympus TTL circuit; results featured in Wetpixel article (^[10])
• 2004-02: Authored wideangle distortion correction article for Wetpixel (^[11])
• 2005-07: Shared Nikon 10.5mm manual focus technique (^[12])
• 2007: Last active year on Wetpixel forums

Activity Profile

• Peak years: 2003—2006
• Gear ecosystem: Olympus 5050/5060 with Ikelite housing, Nikon D70, INON wide-angle lenses and dome ports, Nikon 10.5mm fisheye
• Focus areas: Image correction software, TTL flash systems, lens technique, Nikon DSLR systems
• 435 posts across Photography Gear and Technique