Aquatica has given Wetpixel permission to post some pre-production shots of their upcoming Fuji S2 Pro digital SLR housing. Keep your eyes peeled for a full review! [see the photos]

Underwater photographer Douglas David Seifert and Dive Magazine editor Simon Rogerson have notified Wetpixel that Dive Magazine has printed their first all-digital cover!

"This is our first all-digital cover, and I'm extremely proud of it. I'm especially happy that our first digital cover should be an animal as majestic as the whale shark. Douglas David Seifert is probably the best shark photographer in the world, and o­nce again was first o­n the scene when an astonishing discovery was made.

"I have noticed certain correspondents arguing that current digital photography is not appropriate for magazine use. Hopefully this cover shot - and an A3 portrait of a great hammerhead we are using in our Shark Special magazine ­ will disabuse them of that notion. Make no mistake - digital has arrived." - Simon Rogerson [read more]

1000th Forum Member!

Congratulations to Wetpixel forum user Dukgose2 (Michael McDonald), who was the lucky 1000th member to register! Dugose2 has won an Epoque DCL-20 wide conversion lens (retail value $299.95), gratiously donated by Wetpixel sponsor Marine Camera Distributors. The DCL-20 is a high quality 0.56x magnification conversion lens that fits the following underwater housings: Olympus PT-005 / 007 / 010 / 012 / 015, Epoque EHS-200 Z, EHC-1000, and EHN-4500.

Wetpixel's 1000 members have logged almost 15,000 posts since Wetpixel was conceived, and the forums are the perfect place to bounce ideas (and images!) off of fellow underwater shooters. If you are not yet a member, please join us!

Field notes and an image gallery from Rod Klein's 3 weeks on board the Bay Islands Aggressor IV with a Sea & Sea DX100-housed Nikon D100. While aboard, Rod conducted digital workshops and gave his DX100 a serious workout.

Frequent contributor Rod Klein is back from three weeks conducting digital workshops aboard the Bay Islands Aggressor IV, where he gave his Nikon D100 and Sea & Sea DX100 housing a serious workout. Wetpixel is proud to host his field notes about the DX100 and a gallery of some of the images he captured while out there. [go to field notes] [go to gallery]

Subal has quietly released the SN80-D Strobecase, a housing for the Nikon SB80DX flash. The Strobecase SN-80D with the Nikon SB80-DX is suitable for lenses of 14mm (with built-in diffuser) or longer focal length. It works directly with cameras via the Nikonos-system TTL cable, and with suitable housing hotshoes can support DTTL underwater. Maximum flash ranges are reduced to approximately 1/2 of the above water values.

The Subal SN80-D Strobecase is available from Wetpixel sponsor Marine Camera Distributors. [more information]

A message from Stephen Frink:

Seacam Austria has announced that we are now able to accept orders o­n the following new housings:

* Seacam for Nikon D100
* Seacam for Canon EOS1Ds
* Seacam for Canon EOS1V

You will note that the Fuji S2 housing is not o­n this announcement. It is delayed 30-45 days, but we remain extremely committed to this platform. Expect midsummer introduction for the Fuji S2 housing.

... housings will start arriving in the United States around June 1st. Still, it will be first-come-first-served in terms of delivery.

Fantasea Line has announced immediate availability of their CP-4 underwater housing. The CP-4 is a compact injection molded plastic housing, which will fit conveniently in photographers’ hands and make underwater digital photography easy for everyone, amateur or professional. The housing is also popular for protecting the Coolpix 4300 while shooting o­n boats and in other outdoor activities, or for family fun at the beach or around the swimming pool.

The watertight housing features a double gasket seal and is rate to a depth of 130 feet (40m). Because it is dedicated o­nly to the Nikon Coolpix 4300 camera and the its predecessor, the Coolpix 885, the CP-4 is very compact, and offers access to camera functions through a series of simple push button controls o­n the outside of the housing.

A message from Cliff Etzel, Publisher of a new web site called UnderWater Digital Video: --- My name is Cliff Etzel and I am the Publisher for UnderWater Digital Video (UWDV.com) - A new portal website dedicated to the realm of creating Underwater Digital Video and the many aspects of what it entails.

We are hoping to provide information, techniques and more specifically catering to those people who have chosen to utilize shooting video underwater to be their creative story telling avenue.

Please visit the website at http://www.uwdv.com to see what we are going to bring our visitors.

The content is sparse right now, so please don't let that be an indication of what the site is - We are working o­n getting writers lined up to provide valuable informational content very soon.

Thanks and I look forward to interacting with each of you. Cliff Etzel - Publisher UnderWater Digital Video

Ocean Brite Systems and Jonah Housings are proud to introduce three new Underwater Digital Camera Housings designed to fit the NIKON D-100 (April) & the CANON D-60 and the CANON 10-D (July). These housings include a 2-year warranty.

See these fine new housings at the following consumer dive shows throughout the Country in 2003: Beneath the Sea-Secaucus, New Jersey 3/28 thru 3/30, Our World Underwater-Chicago, Illinois 4/25 thru 4/27, Ocean Fest-Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 5/16 thru 5/18, Sea Space-Houston, Texas 6/7 thru 6/8 and The Scuba Show Long Beach, California 6/21 thru 6/22.

Ocean Brite Systems is the exclusive California Dealer for the Jonah Housing line that also includes Housings for the NIKON F-100 and the CANON EOS-3 film cameras, as well as a complete line of ports for both wide angle and macro picture opportunities.