2002
Key events
Digital SLRs arrive underwater in force. The Nikon D100 becomes one of the first “affordable” DSLRs with housing support, attracting housings from Subal, Nexus, Sea & Sea, Aquatica, Light & Motion, and Ikelite. Stephen Frink publishes his landmark Seacam D1X field journal on Wetpixel — one of the first comprehensive digital SLR underwater housing reviews. The Canon D60 replaces the D30 as Canon’s enthusiast DSLR. Wetpixel LLC is incorporated. DEMA 2002 in Las Vegas is dominated by digital products, with 9 DSLR housings and 60+ digital products on display — up from a handful the previous year. James Wiseman emerges as a prolific contributor, reaching 1,000+ forum posts and becoming Wetpixel’s first moderator.
January
- 2002-01-09: Jim Watt publishes sample Canon D30 underwater photographs taken with UK Germany housing on Wetpixel. ([1])
- 2002-01: First Seacam D1X housing arrives in the US — Stephen Frink’s unit is the first in the country. The housing fits Nikon D1, D1X, and D1H (identical exterior dimensions) and uses the same ports as Seacam’s F5, F100, and EOS 1N housings. ([2])
March
- 2002-03-22: Stephen Frink publishes detailed Seacam D1X field journal and operator’s manual on Wetpixel — a landmark early digital SLR underwater housing review. Frink describes the D1X as the point at which “professional quality digital imaging is finally viable” underwater. ([3], [4])
April
- 2002-04-06: Canon D60 arrives at Jim Watt’s; Eric Cheng stuffs it into UK Germany D30 housing — near perfect fit. ([5])
- 2002-04-20: Aquatica releases A995 housing for Nikon Coolpix 995 ($849). ([6])
- 2002-04-21: Ikelite expands digital housing lineup with housings for Fuji S1 Pro, Nikon CP5000, Sony F707, and others. ([7])
- 2002-04-21: Olympus releases PT-013 housing for DiMAGE D-150 digital camera, rated to 40 meters. ([8])
- 2002-04-21: Ultralight Control Systems (ULCS) highlighted on Wetpixel as a universal tray/arm system that works across digital housings — a future-proof investment as camera bodies become obsolete quickly. ([9])
- 2002-04-25: Underwater Phantaseas announces aluminum housing for Nikon CP5000 ($995). ([10])
May
- 2002-05-03: Aquatica A995 housing reviewed on Wetpixel. ([11])
- 2002-05-09: DigiDeep, a Germany-based UW digital photography website, launches — becoming Wetpixel’s European counterpart and a key resource for the growing digital UW community. ([12])
June
- 2002-06-08: Seaspace 2002 held in Houston (35th year); Ikelite DS-125 and Light & Motion Titan shown; Burt Jones and Maurine Shimlock present. James Wiseman covers the show for Wetpixel. ([13], [14])
July
- 2002-07-06: Aquatica completes A5000 housing for Nikon Coolpix 5000 ($1049); announces upcoming A5700, A4500, and AD100 for Nikon D100. ([15])
- 2002-07-06: Light & Motion releases photo of Tetra 5000 housing for Nikon Coolpix 5000 with ROC strobe controller. ([16])
- 2002-07-06: Spiegel Grove ship, botched sinking off Key Largo, ends up on its side; documented by Victor Gircys and Stephen Frink. ([17])
- 2002-07-06: Dan Burton launches digitalunderwater.com, showcasing his home-grown Nikon D1X housing and digital underwater workshops. ([18])
- 2002-07-06: Marine Camera Distributors (MCD) becomes US dealer for Subal, offering Subal Coolpix 5000 housings and Seal housings for Canon Digital Elphs. ([19])
- 2002-07-10: Gates announces F707 housing for Sony DSC-F707. ([20])
- 2002-07: Eric Cheng leads Bahamas trip with 5 Canon D60 DSLRs, 4 UK Germany housings, plus an Ikelite-housed Fuji S1 Pro, Aquatica-housed Nikon Coolpix 5000, and Light & Motion-housed Olympus 4040; joined by Jim Watt, David Fleetham, Andy Sallmon via Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures. ([21], [22])
- 2002-07-22: James Wiseman hosts first reefpix.org online chat on “From Film to Digital.” ([23])
August
September
- 2002-09-02: Light & Motion introduces Tetra housing for Olympus C-4000. ([25])
- 2002-09-24: Rod Klein publishes detailed review of Light & Motion Titan housing for Olympus E-20 with Cayman gallery; praises ROC strobe controller as a revolutionary innovation. ([26], [27])
- 2002-09-30: Mauricio Handler reviews Aquatica A5000 after field testing in Turks and Caicos; praises the all-aluminum housing’s compact size and full camera control, calling it a “gargantuan achievement” in a market where gear becomes obsolete within months. ([28], [29])
- 2002-09-30: Sea & Sea announces Canon D30/D60 and Nikon D100 housings; Subal announces D10 housing for Nikon D100. ([30], [31])
October
- 2002-10-09: Wetpixel replaces forum software; old forum had 844 topics, 4,555 posts, 484 members. ([32])
- 2002-10: DEMA 2002 in Las Vegas: “Digital Photography Dominates.” 9 DSLR housings and 60+ digital products shown — up from a handful the year before, when only Ikelite was immersed in digital. Nearly all manufacturers have jumped in; only Bonica refused to enter the “volatile” digital market. Eric Cheng and David Breitigam cover for Wetpixel with 170 photos. Howard Hall and Brian Skerry sign “Successful Underwater Photography” at Gates booth. Marine Camera Distributors shows the new Nexus D100 Housing. ([33], [34], [35])
- 2002-10-24: Todd Mintz publishes Aquatica A5000 user testimonial, noting the company’s improved service under new ownership. ([36], [37])
- 2002-10-24: James Wiseman named Wetpixel forum moderator with 1,000+ posts (20%+ of total forum volume). ([38])
- 2002-10-24: James Wiseman publishes review of Ikelite Fuji S2 Pro housing; notes S2 Pro is the only DSLR supporting TTL flash for UW strobes, calling the experience of upgrading from a consumer camera to a DSLR like “laughing with joy on your first dive.” ([39], [40])
- 2002-10-28: Computer virus infects attendees’ laptops via the Las Vegas Hilton’s high-speed internet during DEMA — a Nimda variant spreading through shared network connections. ([41])
- 2002-10-31: James Wiseman publishes beginner guides for UW digital photography (camera/housing selection, strobe use) on Wetpixel, reprinted from the Houston Underwater Photographic Society newsletter. ([42], [43])
November
- 2002-11-09: Second annual Bonaire Digital Shootout (Nov 9-16); Jim Watt as speaker/judge. ([44])
- 2002-11-17: Aquatica begins R&D on Fuji S2 Pro housing due to overwhelming DEMA demand; spring 2003 delivery. ([45])
- 2002-11-17: Minolta releases Marine Case for DiMAGE X and Xi digital cameras, rated to 100 feet — aimed at divers and outdoor adventurers. ([46])
- 2002-11-18: GB Undersea introduces Digital Lens Dock, a secure 67mm threaded add-on lens holder for quick one-handed lens swaps underwater. ([47])
- 2002-11-19: Eric Cheng reviews Vosonic X’S-Drive VP-2030 portable storage device for dive trips — addressing the critical problem of photo storage on multi-day liveaboard trips. ([48])
- 2002-11-29: DigiDeep organizes user meeting at BOOT Expo in Dusseldorf, Germany (Jan 2003) — the European dive industry’s largest trade show. ([49])
December
- 2002-12-02: Eric Cheng photographs Sea & Sea D30/60 housing; Jim Watt’s modified version features Ikelite bulkheads and Light & Motion LCD monitor. ([50])
Also this year
- Wetpixel LLC incorporated — formalizing the community Eric Cheng founded in 2001
- Nikon D100 (6MP, DX) released — housings from Sea & Sea (DX-D100), Nexus, Subal (D10), Aquatica (AD100), Light & Motion (Titan D100), Ikelite
- Gates Underwater Products sold to John and Karen Ellerbrock
- Portable storage becomes a critical topic for dive trip photographers as digital file sizes grow
- ROC strobe controller from Light & Motion introduced on Titan and Tetra housings — remote optical control of strobe settings
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2002: Sample Canon D30 Photographs Jim Watt ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Field Journal By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Field Journal By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Housing Field Journal ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 6, 2002: Canon D60 Digital Slr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 20, 2002: Aquatica Coolpix 995 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 21, 2002: Ikelite Adds More To Digital Line ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 21, 2002: Olympus Turns 13 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 21, 2002: Ultralight For Digital Too ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2002: Underwater Phantaseas Designs Housing For The Nikon Cp5000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 3, 2002: Aquatica A995 Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 9, 2002: Digideep Website Launch ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2002: Seaspace 2002 Report Truly Unsinkable ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 16, 2002: Seaspace Unsinkable ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Aquatica Completes A5000 Housing And Readies D 100 Housing And Others ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Lm Releases Photo Of Tetra 5000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Whatever Happened To The Spiegel Grove ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Dan Burtons Digital Underwater Site Debuts ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Mcd Offers Subal And Others ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2002: Gates Underwater Products Announces New F707 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2002: Bahamas 2002 With D60s ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Echeng Bahamas Trip ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Reefpixorg Chat ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 16, 2002: Ikelite Announces Fuji S2 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2002: Light Motion Tetra For The Olympus C4000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 24, 2002: Light Motion Titan Housing For Olympus E 20 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2002: Rod Klein Provides Titan Review And Gallery ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2002: Aquatica A5000 Housing For Coolpix 5000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2002: Handler On The Aquatica A5000 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2002: Sea Sea Shows D60 And D100 Products ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2002: Subal D100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 9, 2002: Forum Software Replaced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 27, 2002: Dema 2002 Show Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Dema 2002 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2002: Gates Howard Hall And Brian Skerry At Dema ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 24, 2002: Aquatica A5000 Testimonial ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 1, 2002: Aquatica A5000 Housing For Coolpix 50001 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 24, 2002: Forum Announcements ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 24, 2002: Ikelite S2 Pro Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 26, 2002: Ikelite S2 Pro Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2002: Virus At Dema 2002 Hilton ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 31, 2002: How To Get Started In Underwater Digital Photography ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 31, 2002: Strobe Use For Digital Cameras For Beginners ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2002: Jim Watts Digital Adventures ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 17, 2002: Aquatica Working On S2 Pro ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 17, 2002: Minolta Dimage X Marine Case ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2002: Gb Underseas Digital Lens Dock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 19, 2002: Vosonic Xs Drive ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 29, 2002: Digideepcom Usermeeting On Boot Expo In Germany ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2002: Sea Sea D60 Housing Photographs ↩
- Seacam D1X field journal (article) ↩
- DEMA 2002 show report (article) ↩
- Bahamas 2002 trip report (article) ↩
- Ikelite S2 Pro review (article) ↩
- Aquatica A5000 review (article) ↩
- Light & Motion Titan E-20 review (article) ↩
- Getting started in UW digital photography (article) ↩