pooley

Forum username: pooley
Real name: Mike
Posts: 270
Active years: 2009–2023
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique, Classifieds
Specialization: Nikon and Canon DSLR systems, Nauticam wet optics, wide-angle photography

Community Role

pooley (Mike) was a dedicated underwater photographer and Wetpixel forum member from 2009 through 2023. With 270 posts over 14 years, he was a consistent presence in gear discussions, particularly around system selection and the evolution of Nauticam’s wet contact lens systems (WWL and WACP). His posts revealed a photographer who also shot topside wildlife with Canon and was methodical about balancing underwater and topside equipment investments.

Mike’s journey through underwater photography systems — from Canon 1DX to Nikon D500, and from traditional dome ports to Nauticam’s wet contact lenses — mirrored the broader industry trajectory during this period. His detailed questions about system compatibility and performance tradeoffs generated valuable discussion threads that helped other photographers make informed upgrade decisions.

Notable Contributions

• “Nauticam WWL with full frame Canon” (72 replies): Started the most-discussed thread in his history in February 2021, asking whether the Nauticam WWL-1 wet wide-angle lens could be used with Canon full-frame RF mount cameras. Shooting a Nikon D500 in a Nauticam housing underwater and a Canon R5 topside, he explored consolidation options. The thread generated extensive technical discussion about mount diameter compatibility (Sony 46.1mm vs Canon RF 54mm vs Nikon Z 55mm), Techart adapters, and zoom gear requirements, with Phil Rudin providing detailed analysis of lens compatibility constraints (^[1]).

• “Can DX compete with FX with Nauticam WACP” (30 replies): Started a detailed discussion in August 2019 about whether the Nikon D500 DX sensor could match full-frame image quality when paired with the Nauticam WACP. He described his system evolution from Canon 1DX in a Nauticam housing with Sigma 15mm and Canon 100mm L, and weighed four upgrade paths: D850+WACP, Nikon D500 with fisheye zoom, Canon 5D4, or Canon 1DX Mark II. His emphasis on CFWA (close-focus wide-angle) shooting and shark/ray photography generated valuable community input (^[2]).

• “New camera in Ikelite or older model in Subal etc” (18 replies): Started a practical discussion in June 2012 about whether to buy a newer camera (D7000) in an Ikelite housing or an older model (D200) in a premium aluminum housing like Subal or Aquatica, a common dilemma for photographers entering DSLR underwater work (^[3]).

• “Subal CD7, Inon Z240’s and other parts” (16 replies): Listed Subal and Inon Z-240 equipment for sale, reflecting his system transitions through the classifieds (^[4]).

Activity Profile

pooley was active across 14 years (2009–2023), starting 37 threads and contributing 270 posts. His activity was spread evenly across this span, with engagement in every year except 2016. His discussions concentrated in Photography Gear and Technique, particularly around system selection, wet optics compatibility, and the DX vs FX debate. His planned dive destinations included the Maldives, Florida, and Guadalupe (for great white sharks), reflecting broad underwater photography ambitions. His threads about Nauticam WWL and WACP compatibility became reference material for the growing community of wet optics users.