2019
Key events
The mirrorless ecosystem matured rapidly in 2019 as housing manufacturers delivered solutions for every major full-frame body announced in 2018. Nauticam was the most prolific, shipping housings for the Nikon Z6/Z7, Canon EOS R, Panasonic S1/S1R, Fujifilm X-T3, Olympus E-M1X, Sony A7R IV, and Blackmagic Pocket 4K. Ikelite, Isotta, Aquatica, Seacam, and Sea & Sea also shipped Z-mount housings, completing the ecosystem. Sony set a new resolution benchmark with the 61MP A7R IV. Canon released the entry-level EOS RP at $1,299, making full-frame mirrorless accessible to a broader audience. Panasonic announced the cinema-oriented S1H (6K/24p), which later earned Netflix approval.
The worst US recreational diving disaster in memory occurred when the liveaboard Conception caught fire off Santa Cruz Island, killing 34 people. Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas on the same day. DEMA 2019 saw major product launches: the Backscatter MF-1 Mini Flash, Seacam Seaflash 160, and Nauticam WACP II and WWL-C. Getty Images eliminated Rights Managed licensing, fundamentally altering the economics of professional underwater image sales. DJI entered the action camera market with the Osmo Action. The Anilao Slugfest documented a world-record 591 nudibranch species at a single site. The ethics debate around subject manipulation in underwater photography continued, with an Adam Hanlon editorial on staged boxer crab images.
January
- 2019-01-05: Dean Burman (forum username DeanB), a widely respected Wetpixel community member with over 3,000 forum posts, dies. ([1])
- 2019-01-15: Sony announces the a6400 APS-C mirrorless camera with Real Time Tracking AF, plus significant firmware updates for the a9, a7R III, and a7 III. ([2])
- 2019-01-23: BOOT 2019 show report from Dusseldorf. ([3])
- 2019-01-24: Olympus announces the OM-D E-M1X: a vertical-grip Micro Four Thirds body aimed at professional sports and nature photographers, priced at $2,999. ([4])
- 2019-01-25: A scientific paper publishes findings that underwater electronic flash has little measurable behavioral impact on marine subjects — providing evidence-based support for flash use in underwater photography ethics debates. ([5])
February
- 2019-02-01: Panasonic formally announces the S1R (47MP) and S1 (24MP) full-frame L-Mount mirrorless cameras. ([6])
- 2019-02-01: Sharkwater Extinction — Rob Stewart’s posthumously completed film — is released. ([7])
- 2019-02-01: World ShootOut 2018 results announced: Andy Schmid wins Best Picture of the Year; Mike Bartick wins the “5 Best Images” category with a diving vacation prize worth $20,000. ([8])
- 2019-02-05: Adam Hanlon publishes an editorial on subject manipulation in underwater photography, focusing on a boxer crab image staged on an upside-down sea star — continuing the community’s evolving ethics debate. ([9])
- 2019-02-07: Anilao Slugfest documents a world-record 591 nudibranch species identified at a single dive site — a landmark for nudibranch taxonomy and citizen science in diving. ([10])
- 2019-02-14: Canon announces the EOS RP — a compact, entry-level RF-mount full-frame mirrorless body at $1,299, making full-frame mirrorless accessible to a broader audience. ([11])
- 2019-02-17: Our World Underwater 2019: Luc Rooman wins Best of Show. ([12])
- 2019-02-24: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019: Richard Barnden wins the overall title. ([13])
- 2019-02-25: Isotta announces a housing for the Nikon Z6 and Z7, entering the Z-mount ecosystem alongside Nauticam. ([14])
March
- 2019-03-06: Blackmagic Design adds Blackmagic RAW support to the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K via firmware 6.2, with constant bit-rate (3:1 to 12:1) and constant quality options. ([15])
- 2019-03-29: DEEP Indonesia 2019 competition: Grant Thomas wins the overall competition. ([16])
- 2019-03-31: Nauticam ships the NA-BMPCCII housing for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. ([17])
April
- 2019-04-18: Dr. Samuel “Doc” Gruber dies — a pioneering shark researcher and founder of Bimini Biological Field Station in the Bahamas, known for decades of lemon shark research and for training generations of shark biologists. ([18])
- 2019-04-22: Nauticam ships the NA-XT3 housing for the Fujifilm X-T3. ([19])
- 2019-04-24: ADEX 2019 Singapore celebrates its 25th anniversary at Suntec Convention Center; Nauticam and Seacam are the biggest housing exhibitors, with many smaller manufacturers absent. ([20])
- 2019-04-30: Apple confirms that Aperture will cease working after macOS Mojave, marking the end of an era for the photo management app used by many underwater photographers. ([21])
May
- 2019-05-15: DJI announces the Osmo Action camera: natively waterproof to 11m, 4K 60fps, $349 — DJI’s first entry into the action camera market, directly competing with GoPro. ([22])
- 2019-05-22: Olympus announces the TG-6 compact camera, the latest in the popular Tough series — waterproof to 15m with microscope mode focusing to 1cm. ([23])
- 2019-05-24: Nauticam announces an adapter kit enabling use of the Laowa 24mm probe macro lens underwater — a creative tool for unique macro perspectives. ([24])
- 2019-05-24: Nauticam ships a housing for the Panasonic S1/S1R full-frame mirrorless cameras. ([25])
- 2019-05-31: The liveaboard Majestic Explorer founders in the Galapagos Islands; passengers and crew are safely evacuated. ([26])
- 2019-05-31: Panasonic announces the S1H — its first 6K/24p mirrorless camera at ~$4,000, targeting cinema production and subsequently receiving Netflix approval for original content acquisition. ([27])
June
- 2019-06-02: Nauticam NA-EM1X housing for the Olympus E-M1X begins shipping. ([28])
- 2019-06-08: West Papua receives the Global Conservation Hero Award in recognition of its community-led marine protection efforts. ([29])
- 2019-06-21: Atlantis ImageMakers 2019 event held at Atlantis Dumaguete and Puerto Galera, Philippines, hosted by Marty Snyderman as Atlantis imaging ambassador. ([30])
July
- 2019-07-03: Canada passes legislation banning the import, export, and trade of shark fins — a significant step in international shark conservation policy. ([31])
- 2019-07-08: Don Silcock publishes a first impressions preview of the ONEUW ONE160x strobe. ([32])
- 2019-07-09: Seacam ships the Silver housing for the Nikon Z6 and Z7, designed for use with or without the FTZ adapter. ([33])
- 2019-07-10: Alex Mustard publishes his review of the ONEUW ONE160x strobe. ([34])
- 2019-07-16: Sony announces the A7R IV: 61.0MP, 15-stop dynamic range, EUR 4,000 — the highest resolution full-frame camera yet available, setting a new benchmark for underwater imaging. ([35])
- 2019-07-24: Wetpixel experiences an outage during a server migration for infrastructure updates. ([36])
August
- 2019-08-01: Aquatica announces the AZ6/7 housing for the Nikon Z6 and Z7. ([37])
- 2019-08-28: Canon announces the EOS 90D (32.5MP APS-C DSLR, $1,199) and EOS M6 Mark II. ([38])
September
- 2019-09-02: The liveaboard Conception catches fire while anchored off Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands, California. 34 people — 33 passengers and one crew member — die, making it the deadliest US recreational diving accident on record. ([39])
- 2019-09-02: Hurricane Dorian makes landfall in the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm, causing catastrophic destruction across Grand Bahama and the Abacos — major dive tourism destinations. ([40])
- 2019-09-06: Canon announces the EOS C500 Mark II: 5.9K 60p full-frame cinema camera with Cinema RAW Lite recording, $15,999. ([41])
- 2019-09-19: CMAS World Underwater Photography Championship held in Tenerife, Canary Islands. ([42])
- 2019-09-20: PHIDEX 2019 opens in the Philippines (September 20–22) — the inaugural Philippine International Dive Expo, establishing a new regional trade show for the dive industry. ([43])
- 2019-09-26: Nauticam NA-A7RIV housing for the Sony A7R IV ships at $3,050. ([44])
October
- 2019-10-01: GoPro announces the HERO8 Black with improved HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilization and a new modular accessory system. ([45])
- 2019-10-03: Sony announces the a9 II: same 24.2MP sensor as the original a9 but with improved AF (693 phase-detection + 425 contrast AF points), updated Bionz X processor, and enhanced connectivity; $4,500. ([46])
- 2019-10-10: Nikon announces the Z50 — its first APS-C Z-mount mirrorless camera, $860. ([47])
- 2019-10-15: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019: David Doubilet wins the Under Water category with an image of garden eels at Dauin, Philippines. ([48])
- 2019-10-15: Ned and Anna DeLoach with Paul Humann announce the second edition of Reef Fish Behavior, a definitive reference work for underwater naturalists, shipping November 1. ([49])
- 2019-10-17: Olympus announces the OM-D E-M5 Mark III: 20MP, 5-axis IBIS, 121-point phase-detection AF, Cinema 4K, $1,199. ([50])
November
- 2019-11-07: Getty Images eliminates Rights Managed licensing for most content, shifting entirely to Royalty Free — a significant change in the economics of professional underwater image licensing. ([51])
- 2019-11-15: DEMA 2019, Orlando: major product launches include Seacam Seaflash 160 Digital (€1,780); Nauticam WACP II and WWL-C wide-angle water-contact lenses; and Backscatter MF-1 Mini Flash ($399) with OS-1 Snoot ($149) — a compact strobe/snoot system aimed at travel photographers and macro shooters. ([52], [53])
- 2019-11-22: The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act passes the US House of Representatives, banning the purchase and sale of shark fins within the United States. ([54])
December
- 2019-12-14: Seacam formally announces the Seaflash 160 Digital — the flagship strobe from the Austrian housing maker, priced at €1,780. ([55])
- 2019-12-17: Nikon releases a firmware update for the Z6 and Z7 enabling Apple ProRes RAW output via HDMI to an Atomos external recorder, priced at $199.95 — the first firmware-enabled RAW video output for a mirrorless camera. ([56])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 5, 2019: Rip Dean Burman ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2019: Sony Announces A6400 Camera And Firmware Updates To A9 And A7 Models ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2019: Show Report Boot 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 24, 2019: Olympus Announces The Om D E Mx1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 25, 2019: Paper Published On The Effects Of Underwater Flash Impacts On Subjects ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2019: Panasonic Announces Lumix S Series Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2019: Sharkwater Extinction Released ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2019: 2018 World Shootout Results Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 5, 2019: Editorial In The Clearing Stands A Boxer ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 7, 2019: Mike Bartick Slugfest ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 14, 2019: Canon Announces The Eos Rp Full Frame Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2019: Results Our World Underwater 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 24, 2019: Results Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2019: Isotta Announces Housing For Nikon Z Series ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 6, 2019: Blackmagic Pocket Camera Gets Raw Support ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2019: Results Deep Indonesia 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 31, 2019: Nauticam Ships Housing For Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2019: Rip Samuel Doc Gruber ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 22, 2019: Nauticam Ships Housing For Fujifilm X T3 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 24, 2019: Show Report Adex 2019 By Drew Wong ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 30, 2019: Apple Aperture To Stop Working After Macos Mojave ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 15, 2019: Dji Announces Osmo Action Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 22, 2019: Olympus Announces The Tg 6 Compact ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2019: Nauticam Adaptor Kit For Laowa 24mm Probe Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2019: Nauticam Housing For Panasonic S1 Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 2, 2019: Majestic Explorer Founders In Galapagos ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 1, 2019: Panasonic Announces The 6k 24p Lumix S1h Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2019: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Circuit For Nauticam Na Em1x ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 18, 2019: West Papua Wins Global Conservation Hero Award ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2019: Live Reports Atlantis Imagemakers 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 3, 2019: Canada Bans Shark Fin Trade ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 8, 2019: Preview Oneuw 160x Strobes By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 9, 2019: Seacam Ships Housing For Nikon Z6 And Z7 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2019: Field Review Oneuw 160x Strobe By Alex Mustard ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2019: Sony Announces A7r Mark Iv ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 24, 2019: Wetpixel Outage Today ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2019: Aquatica Announces Housing For Nikon Z6 And 7 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 28, 2019: Canon Announces Eos 90d And M6 Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2019: Dive Boat Conception On Fire Off Channel Islands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2019: Hurricane Dorian Devastates The Bahamas And Heads Towards The Us ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 6, 2019: Canon Announces Eos C500 Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 19, 2019: Report Cmas World Underwater Photography Championship1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 21, 2019: Phidex 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 26, 2019: Nauticam Ships Housing For Sony A7r Mark Iv ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 1, 2019: Gopro Announces Hero8 Black And Maxa ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 3, 2019: Sony Announces A9 Mark Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 10, 2019: Nikon Announces The Z50 Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2019: Results Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2019: Second Edition Of Reef Fish Behavior Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 17, 2019: Olympus Announces Om D E M5 Mark Iii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2019: Getty Images Abandons Right Managed Image Licensing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2019: Report Dema 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 22, 2019: Backscatter Announces Mf 1 Mini Flash And Os 1 Optical Snoot ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 22, 2019: Shark Fin Ban Bill Passes Through House ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2019: Seacam Announces Seaflash 160 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2019: Nikon Adds Prores Raw Support To Z6 And Z7 ↩
- raw/articles/2019/ (unknown) ↩