News

It's worth a read of the link to Dive Magazine's article on the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch report on Red Sea liveaboard incidents.   The report makes for sobering reading: 16 boats lost in 5 years.   https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025-SB1-RedSeaDiveBoats.pdf

The Dutch dive show, Duikvaker, was held in Houten on 1-2 February.   The German boat show which includes diving, Boot, is massive in comparison, but Duikvaker being purely diving is, as a result, very manageable.  Many of the dive companies who exhibited at Boot were at Duikvaker so a large array of equipment was there both from distributors and dealers to poke, prod, try on and lust over. I was very tempted by the heated vests from Venture Heat!    PADI ran its annual Membe

The annual German "Boot" show took place on 18-26 January. I visited on 25 January to see what might be new in the dive and underwater photography world and met up with other Waterpixelers.   I was also tasked with tracking down the new unicorn of the underwater photography world, the Inon Z-xxx   Boot is a massive show spread over 13 exhibition halls. It wouldn't be hard to spend a few million euros there - assuming you had them in the first place. Diving was maybe one and a

Incredible though it may seem, Nikon have just announced a firmware upgrade to that much-loved Nikon D500.   The new version, 1.40:  Changed the default password displayed on the connection menu after all the camera's settings were reset. The upgrade is available here:   https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/544.html

A further update to Adobe Lightroom Classic is available: v14.1.1    This follows soon after v 14.1.......    

A new Nikon firmware update is available to v5.10   Nikon lists the changes as:   Note: The changes listed below under “Video Recording” and “Controls” are detailed in the Supplementary Firmware Update Manual. Note: Due to the addition of new menu items, some Custom Settings menu items have been renumbered. ■ Video Recording • Hi-Res Zoom is now available when the image area is set to “DX”. • Added a [Power/Hi-Res Zoom collab]* item to the [CUST

At their DEMA booth, Keldan showed their new tiny RC2 wireless remote control. Designed for minimal size and weight. Range up to 2-3m. It is compatible with all KELDAN remote controllable lights.       Keldan have also updated their 4X light. The new version 4XR has impressive 11000lm with a small form factor and can be operated with their wireless remote controllers.      Keldan wants to thank Hergen Spalink for his excellent presentation abo

The Ocean Art 2024 Underwater Photography Competition is NOW Accepting Entries! The Underwater Photography Guide is proud to announce that we are accepting entries for the 13th Annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition! Ocean Art is one of the world's largest and most prestigious underwater photo competitions. This year’s

INON is pleased to announce that existing INON accessories for HERO12 Black are confirmed compatible with HERO13 Black when housed in its genuine dive housing (Protective Housing). Existing INON lenses including UFL-G140SD, UCL-G165II SD, UCL-G100 SD, UCL-G55 SD are usable for HERO13 Black as well at the same condition for HERO12 Black.     INON Action Camera Wet Lenses Usage Tips   INON " SD Front Mask for HERO9 " or " M67 Filter Adapter for HERO9 " doesn'

An upgrade is available to the Nikon Z6III firmware to version 1.02   Nikon announce that this has fixed the following issues: - The camera would fail to record videos correctly on some CFexpress memory cards. - Uploading pictures via Ethernet would fail with an error.

Another, seemingly small, update to LR Classic - to version 13.5.1   This seems to be minor bug fixes.

Issue 140 of the excellent Underwater photography Magazine, UWP, is now available.   https://www.uwpmag.com/

The San Diego Undersea Film Festival has released the screening schedule of films in competition for 2024. The screenings will be held at Qualcomm Hall (5775 Morehouse Drive) Friday, October 4th (7pm) & Saturday, October 5th (5:30pm) 2024. Moreover, many of the competition videos will be available for viewing online on October 7.   https://www.sdufex.com/2024-festival-schedule    

X-Ray Mag 126 Released     https://xray-mag.com/magazines/127    

Nikon announced today firmware upgrades to v3.70 from 3.60 for the Z6 and Z7 models. As far as I can see this upgrade is for the Z6 and Z7 only and not the Z6II or Z7II - nor the Z6III   Nikon's website says the update will:   Changed the default values for the following settings displayed when connecting wirelessly: - Encryption keys - The password displayed after the camera's default settings are restored • Fixed an issue that would

U39 · Jul/Aug 2024 Visit https://www.uwpmag.com to download.      Editorial   Competitions, RIP Martin Edge RIP Martin Edge  by Alex Mustard  News, Travel & Events 2024 Monterey Shootout - August 23-25, 2024 Inaugural Underwater Awards Australasia Imaging Competition Reef Species of the World Bunaken Oasis 2025 Photography Workshop with Alex Tattersall ‘Word on the Reef’ podcast

In a move likely to be embraced by DIY camera enthusiasts, Nikon has introduced a new portal providing repair manuals and parts for self-repair of their cameras. This represents a notable change from Nikon's previous stance of not supplying spare parts to independent repair shops. The new portal offers consumers detailed information on repairing Nikon cameras, including step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting guides, and comprehensive parts lists. Currently, only the 28-400mm F4-8 VR len

A further update to Lightroom Classic arrived on my system this morning, v13.3.1. It describes itself simply as "Bug Fixes".   The updated loaded without a hitch......   Details are here: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/whats-new.html  

https://xray-mag.com/magazines/126     https://xray-mag.com/magazines/126

Adobe have announced upgrades to Lightroom with Classic moving on to v13.3.   Improvements to Lens Blur and an AI-supported "Generative Remove" feature seem to be the main changes. Additionally there is a new Filter by Exported Images option as well as upgrades to Sync Performance and Tethered Shooting with a Sony. Adobe's list of changes is below.   I loaded the update on to my Mac Studio this afternoon and all seems fine......          

U38 · May/Jun 2024 https://www.uwpmag.com     Editorial   Lens nirvana, Hybrid history, Concentration & Blackwater business News, Travel & Events   Baja Mexico Sardine Run & Diving Cabo Pulmo Bali Workshop With Alex Tattersall Bikini Atoll – Pacific Master  Underwater Portrait Photography Workshop Raja Ampat Underwater Photography Workshop  with Tim Laman and Zafer Kizilkaya

Nikon have announced a firmware upgrade for the Z8 to v 2.0.1   This tackles various bugs including a "green colour cast occurring with some pictures taken". 

Product Features Fast-aperture ultra wide-angle zoom lens Compact and light weight Outstanding optical performance MOD of 0.15m (5.9”) and maximum magnification ratio of 1:4 High performance autofocus RXD stepping motor for both still and video use [1] Di III-A: For APS-C format mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras [2] The full-frame equivalent of 17.6-32mm.   Tamron Co., Ltd. announces the development of TAMRON’s first CANON RF mount lens, 11-20mm F/2.8 Di II

The TIPA 2024 awards were announced today in the US and among the winners for best camera equipment of the year is Laowa's 10mm F/2.8 rectilinear full frame AF lens. Laowa announced this as an architectural, astro, landscape and portrait lens but it is also a fantastic underwater photography lens with an AOV of 130 degrees.  Attached are just a few photos from last weeks trip to the North Florida Springs. The 10mm is paired with the Sony A7R V in a Marelux housing with the Marelux 230mm dome po

https://xray-mag.com/magazines/125