Peak Design Everyday Backpack Review

I've had the 30L Peak Design Everyday Backpack for a while now going on photo hikes and using it for everyday work. It's a very dynamic bag for sure but is it the one for you? From a Kickstarter that raised millions to a standout brand, you can tell this gear is made by photographers for photographers. It takes a bit to get used to this open side design compared to other bags but it can be a great setup for the photographer on the go.

Nice for Hiking

• Extra compression straps for carrying more gear, including a tripod or sleeping bag
• Can fit a DJI Phantom or Mavic easily
• Raised pads for the back to reduce pressure on the back and increase airflow 
• Sternum and belly straps 
• Waterproof design
• Good to use with the Peak Design Capture Clip
• Top and side handles for grab and go shooting
• More room for other gear, a coat, or food

Great for Everyday

• Sideload design makes it easy for quickly switching lenses.
• Carry-on compliant for air travel
• Luggage pass through to stack on top of a rolling suitcase
• Separate back pocket for a 15” laptop with extra storage for paper.
• Easy access anchor snap for keys or something else
• Theft prevention snaps that cinch down the zippers
• A safe pocket at the top to keep business cards, cash, or other important things safe.

One of the most over-engineered bags out there, as the bag is essentially hollow, the key for the Peak Design Everyday Backpack is the special Flexfold Dividers that Velcro in to form cells to hold your gear. Compared to some bags as the zippers fully cover the bag you can get full access to all your gear simply swinging it around your shoulder. Albeit starting out you'll be trying to remember if a lens is on the left side or right when grabbing a lens. The Everyday Backpack is a well designed and thought out backpack that you'll notice a nice touch or feature days after owning the bag.Being an everyday bag it's a nice dynamic design for shelving when needed for just enough gear and leaving the rest as an open backpack. Each Flexfold divider acts as a shelf in the bag with a folding design to move out of the way for larger lenses or subdivide for smaller ones. Because they do not fully hit the sides like a traditional celled design at times that does mean small items such as a lens cap may float to the bottom. I do wish the 30L came with another divider, both the 20L and 30L come with 3 oddly despite it being bigger. After getting the backpack you can do their survey for $10 and pick one up for $5 with free shipping. All-in-all the Flexfold dividers are quite innovative, find out more in the tips & features video here.As a plus, lots of pockets! I'm usually one to push the Cocoon Grid-it as I can't find enough space in bags for the little things either shooting or working. Peak Design included side flaps with many small pockets, a small pouch on the top, and a safe pocket with a magnet for important items (great for business cards). If you need to store something larger though like a polarizer filter and keep it protected I'd suggest a field pouch or similar bag to help store the things that just don't quite fit. Larger items can be stored in the side areas while not in pockets as they stretch but without more padding, I wouldn't recommend this for fragile items like glasses but it's good for a something like a laptop charger.Thanks to the expanding design the 30L is large enough to load a DJI Phantom internally with extra space for a remote. As you fill the bag with something this large it expands to fit the need. Due to this design, the 20L is actually 12L, and the 30L a 18L bag initially. For those that pack light or have gone mirrorless, the 20L is a great fit. For those with multiple bodies or large lenses would be better off with the 30L. To get that extra space, as you raise the Maglatch top flap up brackets in the bag you gain another 8L at the cost of waterproofing at max size being more open. When hiking I managed to easily fit my duck coat in the top half of the bag this way. If you do somehow manage to max this out compression straps are hidden in the bottom and side pockets to hold a tripod or whatever gear you can't manage to stuff inside.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X9x3Tehhiw[/embed]As an everyday bag, the laptop slot is nice as I can carry a notebook and slim laptop but the area collapses when not in use to not take up space. If you are using a full size 15" laptop it will be a snug fit, especially if the main compartment is full as it expands into that area. If you have to carry a lot of paper for work I wouldn't suggest this bag as it's too tight of a fit for much with the laptop included unless you want to sacrifice a divider space or two in the main area. As the dividers collapse down easily for every day I went with one section with a DSLR, zoom, and a 50mm STM lens with plenty of room for what I need to work on that day.[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="16633,16621,16620,16608,16612,16613,16614,16615,16617,16618,16622,16627,16628,16629,16630,16632"]As a note, it's something simple but if you want plain black it's actually coming soon. I've got their charcoal design to review here but if that's not your style, just recently Peak Design has started to come out with new black designs. As of this article, it hasn't gotten to the 30L yet but can be found in their 20L Everyday Backpack, Field Pouch, and a new 5L sling pouch announced today.Overall when compared to some of the more traditional designs of other bag companies the Everyday backpack certainly catches the eye in looks but is it a good camera bag? That depends a bit on you as there is never a perfect bag ( Toby has tons). The Everyday Backpack is good for quick access but it loses out to efficiency a bit. It is expensive though compared to competition such as Toby's favorite MindShift Gear bag for $40 less which may be more convenient for those that really have to pack a ton of gear. Overall it's quite comfortable and the swing design of the arm straps can angle to size the person while the ribbed back design keeps you cool. If you are looking for something different with a great design and everyday use this might be a great bag for you.Also, check out Peak Design’s new Give a Shot program aimed at connecting photographers with non-profit’s - giveashot.org

Buy the 30L

Buy the 20L

Specs

• Materials

  • Ultralight waxed Kodra synthetic canvas with DWR coating for weatherproofness, poly-spun mixed twill interior, compression-molded high-density EVA foam dividers and protective panels, die-cast and stamped anodized aluminum hardware with sandblasted finish and protective clear coat. Charcoal bags have Hypalon touchpoints, Ash bags have natural leather touchpoints.

•  Lifetime Warranty

30L Everyday Backpack

20L Everyday Backpack

Volume

Min 18L - Max 30L

Min 12L - Max 20L

ExampleGear

Size

13" x 20" (up to 23") x 8"33cm x 51cm (up to 59cm) x 20cm

12" x 18" (up to 21") x 7"30cm x 46cm (up to 54cm) x 17cm

Weight

3.4lbs (1542g)

2.9lbs (1315g)

Flexfold Dividers

3

3

Tripod Carry

Side Pocket + Compression Strap

Side Pocket + Compression Strap

Color

Charcoal, Ash

Charcoal, Ash, Tan, Black

Sony a7R III - Early Review vs a7R II

B&H Photo is including a free FAST SD Card with preorder! 

I was part of a small pool of press who received an a7R III for an afternoon and evening of shooting. What follows are my thoughts - an early review of the a7R III and the Sony 24-105 f/4 OSS G Lens.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12WqGcLm_QE

The Sony a7R II was a warning shot to Canon and Nikon to stop underestimating mirrorless. The a7R II took the lessons learned with the original a7R and provided a high megapixel camera (42.4MP) with enough autofocusing power to easily work with many Canon lenses while offering the best dynamic range in its class, a stabilized sensor, and beautiful 4k video (not cropped)! The result is that over the last two years we have seen Canon and Nikon sales stagnate while Sony has moved into 2nd place, past Nikon. Though the a7R II sold well (and

continues to sell well

) and did entice a noticeable portion of photographers away from their DSLRs, the A7R II was not perfect. It had several drawbacks - poor battery life, a single SD card slot, just 5fps paired with a small buffer that, when full, greatly reduces camera functionality and, with the sacrifices made for the smaller body, a less desirable in-hand feel which lacked a dedicated focus point selector. The menu was a mess too. And, a few more issues that caused pro photographers concern, not directly related to the camera, too many Sony repair center horror stories and a lack of native Sony glass. I can't offer a critique of the repair department at this time except to say that Sony has recently added

Pro level repair centers in New York and LA

and clearly sees this as a priority. And, during the two years since the A7R II was released, Sony has released over a dozen lenses and now offers high-quality glass from wide to telephoto. Though, they are still missing some longer telephoto options and don't have much 3rd party support there either.

Hands-on with the Sony a7R III

https://youtu.be/FXejdcGKNIYThe AF improvements are huge! The a7R II AF does well but it wasn't something I would want to use to photograph any action or sports. Now, with the speed improvements in the a7R III, Sony states the AF is twice as fast as the previous model. This coupled with a greatly improved eye-AF system results in an incredibly capable camera that makes nailing focus easy. Again and again, I watched it accurately track erratically moving dancers and the eye-af worked great for nailing portraits of still or moving subjects - as long as an eye was somewhat visible.  No, it wasn't perfect - I saw AF confusion a few times but overall the AF hit rate was much higher than a comparably priced DSLRs AND the eye-AF made it easy- I don't even need to move the focus point near the eye - the camera just finds it and locks on. The Sony A7R III is now a camera capable of handling real action.

Walking portraits - with eye-af focus was idiot proof and easily locked onto and tracked the eye closest to you.

Improved Ergonomics and Usability

Sony A7RII Focus Point Selector

Custom buttons on the a7R III

Sony a7R III Dual Card Slots

Sony a7R III Battery - Doubles Battery Life

The dedicated joystick (focus point selector) for selecting AF point and a touch to AF LCD screen make this camera MUCH more user-friendly. Along with a dedicated AF-on button as well as an AEL button (that I recommend you assign Eye-AF) greatly increase the usability of this camera.  Overall, the ergonomics of this camera are improved, including the location of the record button. However, if you don't like the small grip size or feel that the space between grip and lens is tight on the a7R II or a9, you will still be disappointed as the a7R III is virtually identical to the a9 and feels the same in my hands. One item I noticed - the customizability of many buttons has been further improved with a huge list of assignable functions.Dual Card Slots! SD, not XQD. One is UHS-II, and I recommend Sony 64GB SF-G Series UHS-II SDXC. You can set the cards up to record RAW to one and JPEG to the other or stills to one and video to the other or simultaneous write (backup) or relay - as one card fills, it switches seamlessly to the other.Battery life has more than doubled from the Sony a7R II. The Sony a7R III uses the new A9 battery, the Sony NP-FZ100, which more than doubles battery life.I shot 1845 photos with the a7R III and 20 minutes of video - that used less than 50% of the battery! And, almost this entire time when I wasn't taking photos, I was playing with the menu and connecting to wifi. We should also see a serious improvement in cold weather performance (I will be testing the A7R III in Alaska in early December). Sony has also added a USB-C 3.1 port and the standard micro USB which means additional charging options while shooting, tethering or connected to a remote trigger or intervalometer. You can also use the a9 battery grip with the a7R III.The 10 FPS makes this a much more versatile camera making it capable of handling sports and action. Having the same speed silently with the electronic shutter is also impressive, though limited, as I do see some rolling shutter issues with moving subjects - this sensor cannot be read-off as fast as the a9 (which exhibits no rolling shutter in silent mode). The buffer and write speed to the card has been improved. In general, this is a much more responsive camera than the a7R II but, when you do fill that buffer up with uncompressed RAWS and shooting simultaneously to two cards, you will be waiting some time. I have only tested with two SD cards so will be reporting on this in more detail in my detailed review. 

10fps of a spinning dancer

Upgraded a7R III Menu - now color coded

 The viewfinder upgrade, now like the a9, is larger with a higher resolution screen and is bright and beautiful. It is a welcomed improvement.Image and video quality do not look drastically different from the already excellent a7R II. I will be testing more with side by side comparisons against the a7R II, Canon 5D Mark IV and Nikon D850 in the near future.The menu is still a bit of a mess, but borrowing from the a6500 and a9 systems it is now color-coded, with more helpful icons and a "my menu" section where you can place your frequently used items.No access to the play memories store - so timelapse fans will need to buy an intervalometer. BUT with the additional USB-C port you can charge the camera while running longer time-lapses. All other apps you may have used on the Sony a7R II or other models is not available in the a7R II. I do not know why they have made this choice.

Should You Buy the Sony a7R III?

I have spent only one day with the camera, but based on my experience, if you have been waiting for a Sony camera that can truly replace your DSLR or you are an a7r or a7ii shooter, this is a camera I can happily recommend. Should a7R II users consider upgrading? I have decided to upgrade based on the increased AF and usability of this camera. I love the a7R II image quality and for landscape or general travel it has been a fantastic camera but anytime I found myself shooting portraits or action (wildlife in Tanzania last year) I was frustrated with the usability of the camera - slow to move focus point, slow to respond after shooting a burst. The upgrades the camera provides in this area are enough for me to make the move. Pair the new Sony a7R III with the new 24-105 f/4 G OSS lens and you have a fantastically versatile camera.Videographers should you buy the Sony a7R III? - No, you should wait and see what the A7S III will bring - hopefully 4k at 60fps.Should you buy the a7R II or the a7R III - With only a slight difference in image quality it comes down to speed and useablity. Do you need the increased speed of AF and do you want a camera that is the more DSLR like in its control and operation? The existing Sony a7R II is still a fantastic camera and an excellent value.I love answering your questions and will be back with more hands-on and answers to your questions in the next couple of weeks. Be sure to watch the linked video and leave your question in the comments.

Preorder the a7R III from B&H Photo 

A FEW RAW FILES FROM THE SONY A7R IIISAMPLE IMAGES

UPDATED: Sony 24-105 f/4 Specs, Thoughts and Preorder Links

Nikon D850 Hands-on Review | Sample Images

The Nikon D850 is easily the best DSLR on the markethttps://youtu.be/foxvRAw3fI0Highlights of the Nikon D850

• This camera feels wonderful in the hand and offers a control layout that just works really well - except auto ISO dial, it's a little awkward to switch that on and off- but bracketing, focus modes, the excellent and dedicated focus nub all make for an extremely pleasing operation.

• Lighted buttons, something they started with the D500 and standing under the stars a few nights ago in Acadia NP - all the other photographers on the trip were quite jealous of my softly illuminated buttons that make low light and night photography a dream

• Beautiful big bright viewfinder AND a vibrant and gorgeous screen that is fully touch-enabled the menus work, touch to focus works even with heavy ND filters on AND it is articulated - though like Sony only tilting.

• Additional features - like intervalometer that makes possible an 8k time lapse - you can drop to 4k and have the video created in camera. The 8k just produces stills that you need to use software to turn into a video. Focus peaking through frustratingly it doesn’t work when shooting 4k, only at 1080p, focus shift for stacking and creating images with huge depth of field which can be useful in some situations.

• Awesome image quality- excellent image quality with lots of room to brighten the shadows before you see noise and great higher ISO performance AND a 45mp sensor. Zooming on these images is lovely - so much detail, so much room to crop.

• 4k video, that isn't cropped AND this is all packaged in a capable and versatile camera.

• Impressive AF system,

• Access to all of Nikon lenses

• Greatly improved live view experience vs past Nikon cameras

Negatives of the Nikon D850

• Focus during video is terrible, extremely distracting slow, hunting- you can use an AF-P lens and it gets a little smoother but still nothing like the dual pixel AF of Canon or Sony’s smooth AF system.

• Shooting video without a viewfinder is difficult in brighter conditions and the focus peaking that Nikon nicely added doesn’t work during 4k filming

• DSLR focusing systems often need AF adjustments to work their best and while Nikon provides an in-camera system for adjusting focus - it is limiting and I have images that are out of focus due to alignment or shutter shock or mirror slap.

• Disappointing battery life if you find yourself using the screen often

• Customizable buttons are limited in what you can assign

• It’s a BIG camera. Sure for some of you that’s a check mark in the pro column but after using a variety of mirrorless cameras over the last year I appreciate a smaller, lighter camera and yes, if using a full frame Sony as you start to add lenses the weight savings start to disappear but you at least have the option of traveling much lighter at times with lightweight lenses.

Nikon D850 vs D500

The D500 is a little lighter (155g lighter) a little faster (10 fps vs 7fps, though you can bump that up with the battery grip for the Nikon D850) and you get more reach with the D500 crop sensor and can use lighter, smaller crop lenses BUT the D850 has a crop mode that will give you that same extra reach and provides excellent edge to edge AF coverage. The D850 also does much better in low light with that full frame sensor.Buy the D500 if you are dedicated wildlife or sports/action photographer and spend the savings on a nice telephoto lens.Everyone else should buy the D850 for it's excellent all-around image quality and low light performance.Should you upgrade from the Nikon D750. Honestly, the D750 is still one of the best values in DSLRs on the market and continues to perform well. Only upgrade if you have been frustrated with low light performance or AF system.

D850

D850

amazon logo

Sigma 24-105

Sigma 24-105

amazon logo

D500

D500

amazon logo

Sample Nikon D850 Photos

All in all, I would be very happy to use this camera for landscapes where I can use the screen and know that focus is really dialed in. Throw the very sharp sigma 24-105 f/4 on and you have a killer combination. But these days I do appreciate a lighter camera and will often choose a Sony over the Nikon. Especially the new Sony a7R III Use the link squarespace.com/photorectv to save 10% off your purchase of a site or domain name and find the link below for a more helpful guide.

a7R III Now Available for Preorder

https://youtu.be/RCiOGD1_IPEThe Sony a7Riii and FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens are available to pre-order now. Find out more about the a7R III here, and the 24-105 here. With Toby at an NYC conference covering these products make sure to follow our Facebook and Instagram for new info.

Sony a7R III (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera with 24-105mm Lens Kit

Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera with 24-70mm Lens Kit

Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body with Accessories Kit

Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens

Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens

A New Lightweight 24-105mm f/4 Lens From Sony

Along with the Sony a7R III, more on that here, we've also got a new 24-105mm lens this week from Sony. The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens is a nice addition to the current lineup in sharpness, focus, and weight. We'll have more on this lens and the Sony A7R III as Toby is on location with it in New York so keep an eye out for more info.The lightest among the 24-105 lenses out, it's a great wide to mid-telephoto range for photography and perfect for travel, weighing 23.4oz (663 g). Compared to Canon and Nikon it's MTF chart shows a large improvement vs the competition with great corner to corner sharpness. Multiple extra-low dispersion and aspherical glass elements, with a Nano AR coating as well cut down on distortion and reducing flaring while boosting sharpness.Silent and fast featuring DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM), benfits photographers AND videographers. It can handle slow speeds fine with Optical SteadyShot image stabilization to create crisp photos at low speeds. Dust and moisture-resistant design.Preorders start today on the Sony 24-105mm lens for $1,298.00 and the a7R III. If you have been thinking of switching to Sony now is the time. Great performance with a small size should be good on the go for traveling or just as a convenient zoom lens.

Coming SoonPreorders start at10am ET, Thu Oct 26

Sample Photos

[gallery ids="16364,16365,16366,16367,16368,16369"]

Specifications

• Mount: Sony E-mount
• Format: 35 mm full frame
• Focal Length: 24-105mm
• 35mm EquivFocal focal Length (APS-C): 36-157.5
• Lens Groups / Elements: 14-17
• Angle of View on APS-C: 61°-15°2
• Angle of View on Full Frame 84°-23°
• Aperture Range: F/4 - 22
• Aperture Blades: 9
• Minimum Focus Distance: 1.25ft (0.38 m)
• Filter Size: 77mm
• Image Stabilization: Optical SteadyShot
• Size: 3-3/8 x 4-1/2 in (83.4 x 113.3 mm)
• Weight: 23.4 oz (663 g)

Press Release

Sony Expands Full-Frame Lens Lineup with New Compact, Lightweight FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS Standard Zoom Covering Wide-angle to Mid-telephoto rangeNew E-mount FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS Standard Zoom Delivers Serious Still and Video Performance with Compact Design  NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 – Sony Electronics, a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer, has today introduced the latest addition to their expanding full-frame E-mount lens lineup, the FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS Standard Zoom (model SEL24105G).The new full-frame lens covers the commonly used 24 to 105mm focal length range, delivering outstanding G Lens™ imaging performance with the most lightweight design in its class¹, maximizing its versatility and usability.  Therefore, the FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS can be used for versatile shooting such as landscape, portrait, wedding and so on.  This lens also features fast, precise and quiet autofocus capabilities in both still and video shooting, making it an ideal complement for Sony’s extensive lineup of E-mount cameras.High Optical Performance and Outstanding Resolution             Sony’s new FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens delivers excellent corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the entirety of its zoom range, while also producing beautifully rendered ‘bokeh’ or background defocus at all focal lengths.This high image quality is made possible thanks to its advanced optical design featuring four aspherical lens elements, two of which are high precision AA (advanced aspherical) lenses.  There are also three strategically located ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements that work in combination with the aforementioned aspherical lens elements to minimize chromatic aberration and ensure the ultimate resolution is captured.The lens also has Sony’s original Nano AR coating to minimize flare and ghosting, and utilizes a circular aperture to ensure it delivers high quality bokeh that is consistent for all Sony’s G series.Compact, Lightweight Design and Shooting Flexibility            The new FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens weighs in at approximately 663 grams (23.4 oz), making it the lightest lens in its class¹.  When combined with one of Sony’s compact E-mount bodies, it gives photographers and videographers a far more mobile, manageable camera system that greatly increases their shooting flexibility.In addition to the compact design and versatile 24-105mm focal length, the new lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.25ft, allowing for impressive close up detail.  It also includes built-in optical image stabilization to make it easier to produce sharp, blur-free images when shooting handheld.Highly Advanced and Accurate AutoFocusIn order to keep up with fast-moving subjects, the new standard zoom lens features a DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM) system that is capable of rapid positioning of the lens’ focus groups with high accuracy and very minimal noise.  This advanced system combined with a constant F4 aperture at all focal lengths makes the SEL24105G an excellent choice for both still and video shooting.Further adding to its versatility, the new standard zoom lens also features a customizable focus hold button, a dust and moisture resistant design² and a fluorine coating on the front element to help minimize dust, water, oil and other contaminants.Pricing and AvailabilityThe new FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS Standard Zoom Lens will ship this November for about $1,300 US and $1,700 CA.1. Compared to currently available full-frame 24-105mm F4 standard zoom lenses (October 25th, 2017, Sony research)2. Compared to currently available full-frame 24-105mm F4 standard zoom lenses (October 25th, 2017, Sony research)2. Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof

GH5 - 6 Month Review & GH5 Firmware 2.0 & GH5 Tips and Tricks

GH5 - 6 Month Review -

No other camera produces beautiful and stabilized footage at this price point and this easily. The perfect camera for capturing your video needs from vlog style travel to serious documentaries and indie films.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZI1WugGqw[gallery ids="16107,16108,16109,16110,16111,16112,16113,16114,16115,16116,16117,16118,16119,16120,16121,16122"]

Travel Videos Captured with the GH5

Gear Used & Recommended

GH5 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera Lens Options

• 12-35 f/2.8 Lens (Make sure to update your firmware to 2.0)
• Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ASPH. POWER O.I.S.

Affordable Zoom Lumix G Vario 45-200mm f/4-5.6 II POWER O.I.S. Lens Rode VideoMicroAvoid 3rd party Batteries and buy PanasonicFor stable walking footage, Zhiyun-Tech Crane v2 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer

Fuji Vs the Competition (Sony, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic)

Scroll down for recommended lenses and comparisons against the competitors

https://youtu.be/OKew22eOUQIDownload Fuji X-T2 Raw files - Sign up for my occasional and non-spammy newsletter

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 [gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="16055,16056,16057,16058,16059,16060,16061"] The Fuji X-T2 is one of the most well-rounded, mirrorless, camera on the market today. You can even drop the mirrorless qualifier and I feel the statement still holds true. But, this camera isn't for everyone and there are a host of fantastic cameras to choose from. In this post, I share some thoughts on worthy Fuji Competitors and how they match up.I mentioned in the video

The Canon 6D Mark II (Full Frame DSLR) vs Fuji X-T2 (APS-C Mirrorless)

Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR Camera (Body Only) $1,999.00Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens $1,899.00Canon wins with low light performance and a huge lens selectionCanon loses on size, weight, video features and lack of dedicated AF joystick and single card slotThe Canon is larger, heavier and uses larger and heavier full frame lenses - making the entire package a good bit more serious to carry around BUT the 6D Mark II does better in low light and offers a HUGE selection of Canon and 3rd party lenses, many of which are quite affordable and some help with the portability (pancake primes like the 40mm f/2.8). The Canon also has a fully articulating touch screen which makes recording yourself easy though you are limited to 1080p at just 60fps and the quality while decent isn't exciting.  The Fuji provides 4K at 30fps, better AF coverage, much faster burst rate and a dedicated joystick for AF control along with dual card slots. Travel photographers and landscape photographers that are hiking to destinations, I think you will find the smaller size and weight of the Fuji and associated lenses to be a serious advantage along with the ability to charge on the go. 

The Sony a6300/a6500 (APS-C Mirrorless) vs Fuji X-T2 (APS-C Mirrorless)

Sony wins on price, weight and video performance (especially a6500 stabilized)Sony loses when you compare ergonomics, aps-c lens(selection and quality) and lack of dual card slots.Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Lens & Free Kit $998.00Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens $1,899.00While the Sony a6xxx series is more traditional in the sense of a mode dial and layout, the Fuji is a far more physical camera with well-marked buttons and dials for just about everything a photographer could need.  The Sony weighs less - offers similar image and video quality and offers nicely portable lenses like the Fuji but- there are only a handful of APS-C lenses for sony that are really exciting and very little is weather sealed. For the sharpest glass, you will likely buy full frame Sony- expensive and heavy. Also in a battle of the kit lenses - Fuji kills Sony's little 16-50 lens which is exceptionally travel-friendly but not the highest quality. Note - the a6500 offers a stabilized sensor.

The Panasonic G85/GH5 (Micro 4/3rds Mirrorless) vs Fuji X-T2 (APS-C Mirrorless)

The Panasonic wins on video features, battery life and massive selection of micro 4/3rd lenses along with a FULLY articulating touchscreenThe Panasonic loses on AF and AF tracking.The Panasonic G85 and GH5 are amazing video focused cameras. While the GH5 is a serious video tool, offering dual stabilized 4k footage up to 60fps it also takes great photos but this is one of the easiest matchups on the page - if you are serious about video the Gh5 or the smaller, cheaper lighter G85 offers lots to love. If you are serious about photos and videos is secondary - the Fuji X-T2 does very well.Note- the G85 is a much cheaper version of the Gh5 and while it lacks some of the pro level video features it offers a great value. My Full Review of the G85Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera (Body Only) $1997.00 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 12-60mm Lens $997.99Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens $1,899.00

Sony a7ii (Full Frame Mirrorless) vs Fuji X-T2 (APS-C Mirrorless)

Sony wins in low light performance, stabilized sensor and priceSony loses in ergonomics, dual card slots and lack of 4k videoSony Alpha a7 II Mirrorless Digital Camera with 28-70mm Lens and Accessory Kit $1698.00Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens $1,899.00The Sony weighs about the same as the Fuji X-T2 but requires full frame lenses and quickly gets heavier. However, the Sony does do better in low light, offers a stabilized sensor and decent ergonomics but not as nice as the very physical feeling Fuji. What else would you like to see matched up against the Fuji X-T2?

Bug 3 $130 drone vs DJI Spark $500 drone vs DJI Mavic $999 drone

Bug 3 $130 drone vs DJI Spark $500 drone vs DJI Mavic $999 drone. Which one would you want?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwB2rRnvHeA

Go Cheap for a First Drone?

I was curious. The DJI Spark at $500 ($699 for the recommended Fly More Combo) is still pretty pricey for someone considering their first drone and I wondered how these much more affordable drones on Amazon compared. So I picked up the Drocon Bug3 on Amazon - $130 bucks, throw in a cheap action camera that does 1080 or even 4K for $60 and you have some significant savings versus the DJI Options - is it worth it?  There is a common misconception that ALL drones are hard to fly and you should practice with something cheaper so crashes aren't as costly. It isn't a bad idea BUT most of the time the cheaper drones ARE much harder to fly. With DJI drones like the Spark and the Mavic you press a button and the drone takes off and hovers at 3 feet, waiting for further instructions. You don't need to do anything. Then press the stick up it goes up. Stop pressing the stick up it stops and hovers. Move it forward toward an obstacle and it will warn you before stopping short of running into the tree/wall etc. Yes, DJI still makes drones you can crash, it's just that they are easy to fly carefully as you practice.The Drocon Bug3 is not like this. The $130 drone does not provide one button take off, altitude hold, GPS, a gimbal for stabilized footage, no way to see what the camera is capturing, no way to control the camera. It does provide a touchy, racing style drone that is fun and challenging to fly. Just know that I crashed it more times on the first day of flying than all the other drones I have ever flown combined!  I do not recommend it as a first drone or a drone to buy if you desire good photos/videos from the air. For aerial photography/videography, the DJI drones have a big advantage AND are much easier to fly.

DJI Spark vs DJI Mavic

I love the portability of both. The Mavic folds small and fits nicely in my camera bag where my 70-200 lens usually sits.  The Spark doesn’t fold up, but still easily fits in my camera bag though it feels a little more awkward. The Spark is lighter, the batteries are smaller and it can charge via USB making it extremely portable. When you sit it next to an unfolded Mavic you realize just how much smaller it is- and that makes the flying fun - I found myself launching this indoors and outdoors in environments that the Mavic just felt too large to comfortably fly in - and that’s pretty cool.You trade off some features for the smaller size of the Spark. While the Mavic is capable of 24 minutes flight time, closer to 30 with the new Platinum. The Spark offers just 16 minutes in ideal conditions and in flying both of these - I am almost always done with getting the shots I need with the Mavic and have plenty of battery left. With the Spark, it feels fairly urgent to get the shots I need in that shorter timeframe. The Mavic is faster and while you can switch the Spark into sports mode I have struggled to get very cinematic looking shots when it that mode, the Mavic in normal mode is fast enough and remains smoothly controllable. You also sacrifice range - the Mavic can be flown nearly 4 miles away, the Spark just over a mile when using the controllers for each- honestly here in the United States, you need to keep them both in sight at all times so the difference doesn’t bother me much. And it’s important to mention that the spark at $500 does not come with a controller - you control with the DJI app on your phone - that range is much more limited, just 100 meters and while the Mavic is capable of this too it’s really not something I recommend. The lack of tactile feedback and trying to keep your eyes on the drone plus the screen that your fingers are partially obscuring just make it awkward.Difference in the external controllers too with the Mavic providing an LCD screen with some basic info (though everything important is also displayed through the app so you don’t really miss out on info but I find it nice to have my altitude and distance in a dedicated spot), you also have a 5 way configurable stick that is replaced by a simple button on the Spark controller and a few additional customizable buttons on the Mavic controller.But of course the Spark can be flown without any controller at all via gesture mode and not something available on the Mavic - it feels a bit gimmicky and at times I struggled to get it to do much other than take off and land on my palm but when it works it is fun to use and certainly impresses your friends.Both cameras share the same sensor though the mavic is capable of shooting RAW stills that gives you more editing capabilities, offers a slightly wider fixed aperture f/2.2 vs f/2.6 in the spark and, shooting 4k video with 3 axis gimbal support vs just 1080 and 2 axis gimbal in the Spark at a lower bit rate. I my testing I certainly see an advantage with the Mavic in stills and video quality, especially in lower light. The spark isn’t bad - it just feels a touch behind what the Mavic provides in quality. I haven’t really noticed a difference between the 2 axis and 3 axis gimbals - the spark video looks just as stable smooth.You do see a noticeable difference in control options for both photos and video in the app - Not only does the Mavic provide the RAW shooting you have color profiles for video and you can customize the speed of the gimbal for very controlled, cinematic looking shots - not possible on the Spark.The Spark is cheaper, lighter, smaller and in some ways more fun to fly but does not provide 4k and its image quality/video quality is decent but not quite as good as the Mavic.The Mavic costs more but offers image and video quality that I love using in my travel videos along with the extended flight time and faster speed while remaining cinematic and still being portable enough to bring along just about everywhere.I think the Spark makes a great first drone but the Mavic has those additional advantages that make it worthwhile for the serious content creators that need to travel.I recommend the Fly More Combo for both drones - the extra batteries are useful and having the multi-charger for both drones makes a big difference in how quickly you can get flying again.  I recommend buying from B&H Photo - no sales tax outside of NY state. 

DJI SparkFLY More Combo 

DJI MavicFly More Combo

Specifications

DJI Spark

DJI Mavic Pro Platinum

Flight Time

16 minutes (no wind at a consistent 12.4 mph (20 km/h)15 minutes (no wind) Hovering

30 minutes (no wind at a consistent 15.5 mph (25 kph)27 minutes (no wind) Hovering

Range

1.2 miles (2 km) (unobstructed, free of interference)

4.3 mi (7 km) (unobstructed, free of interference)

Gimbal

2-axis (pitch, roll)

3-axis (pitch, roll, yaw)

Sensor

Type: 1.2/3" CMOSEffective Pixels: 12 MP

1/2.3” (CMOS)Effective pixels:12.35 MP

Lens

FOV 81.9°Focal Length: 25 mm (35 mm-format equivalent)Aperture: f/2.6Focusing Distance: 6.6' (2 m) to ∞

FOV 78.8°Focal Length: 28 mm (35 mm format equivalent)Aperture: f/2.2Distortion < 1.5% Focus from 0.5 m to ∞

Photo

JPEG only

JPEG, DNG

Video

1920 x 1080 (Full HD) at 30p

C4K: 4096×2160 24p4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p2.7K: 2720x1530 24/25/30pFHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/96pHD: 1280×720 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p

Size

143 x 143 x 55 mm

Folded: 83 x 83 x 198mmExtended: 335 x 335mm

Cost

$499

$1099

Cost with Fly More Bundle

$699

$1399

Shop all the DJI Spark colors at B&H Photo

Canon 6D Mark II Review - Does it make my recommended camera list?

The 6D Mark II takes beautiful photos - is that enough in 2017 to make it to my list of recommended cameras?https://youtu.be/AAa8KNFTAVIDownload Full Raws - Canon 6D Mark II

• Buy the Canon 6D Mark II From B&H Photo

Sigma 135mm f1.8 A Fantastic Portrait Lens

 https://youtu.be/Zbc7P9NQh14 Before we get into the specifics of this lens let’s chat for a minute about portrait lenses. Some of you might be thinking - I thought the 50mm lens was the best for portraits. And some of you might be thinking - I thought the 85mm was best for portraits, and those focal lengths are really nice, along with the 24, 35, 200 and, the 135mm. Generally, it is accepted that longer focal lengths provide a more flattering look for people. Some of you might not like that over simplification because truthfully it is the distance from subject to the camera that really impacts the look you get. SO a better way to describe this- a lens like the 135mm allows you to fill the frame with your subject and be at a distance that gives very pleasing results. That coupled with the fact that Sigma 135mm ART offers f/1.8, is exceptionally sharp wide open AND is weather sealed. And like the other Sigma lenses in the ART series is well built, has no issues with flaring or chromatic aberration. I also found autofocus to be snappy. The Sigma 135mm ART is also relatively affordable at $1400 which leads me back to my original statement - this is quite possibly the best portrait lens for outdoor photographers who own Canon or Nikon cameras.

this is quite possibly the best portrait lens FOR OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO OWN Canon or Nikon CAMERAS.

Inside I think you will find yourself running out of space except for the tightest headshots, unless you have a larger studio space. And while I did mostly shoot and test this lens on a Sony a7Rii using the Sigma MC-11 adapter, I can’t recommend it, Eye AF works but it is slow and autofocus, in general, is slow with more hunting than I would like. My MC-11 firmware is up to date with the Sigma 135 on the compatible list but it seems to need more work. On Canon or Nikon you will be just fine though it's possible you will need to do some micro focus adjustments and or use the Sigma dock that this lens is compatible with. While I have not personally compared the Sigma 135 f/1.8 to the Canon 135mm f/2 I know from reviewers I trust that the Sigma is sharper, especially at the edges and doesn’t have issues with chromatic aberration that you do see in the Canon. And the Canon 135L is not weather sealed.Buy the Sigma 135mm ART from B&H Photo $1,399Full Raw Downloads

Outdoor portrait photographers who like to shoot backlit or get shots with wonderfully creamy bokeh that are rich in colors and contrast - this lens is awesome, however, If you are a Sony user hoping to use this with the MC-11 adapter, I can’t recommend it at this time.What’s your favorite portrait lens?My Favorite Portrait LensesBuy the Sigma 135mm ART from B&H Photo $1,399 (your use of these links supports our work here - we could not do this without you!)

My Favorite Portrait Lenses

Hands-on Nisi Filter System for Long Exposures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIJnUuIhy-wI have used the Nisi Filter System for over a year now and think this is the best system out there.To start you pick up the V5 Pro kit for $180 - I recommend you purchase from B&H Photo This includes a nice protective case, high-quality circular polarizer that is integrated into the 82mm ring, the filter holder and adapter rings (that allow the holder to be used with lenses that have 67mm, 72mm, or 77mm front filter threads. Additional rings are available for purchase)I recommend you add:

• Nano IRND 1.8 Filter (6 Stop) [Buy from B&H Photo]
• Nano Soft-Edge Graduated IRND 0.9 Filter (3-Stop) [Buy from B&H Photo]

The 6 stop allows you to easily do long exposures in cloudy conditions or near sunrise/sunset. If you want to achieve long exposures in bright conditions pick up the Nano IRND 3.0 Filter (10 Stop) [Buy from B&H Photo]  The Nisi V5 Pro holder is their latest edition and it's improved over the original. Earlier models were very difficult to slide the glass plates in/out of and this updated version is much better while still holding them securely in place.Advantages of Nisi over LeeThe NISI system comes in a nice leather carrying case everything is protected and a silent soft magnetic latch makes it easy to access. Downside - it is a little bulkyNisi offers an integrated circular polarizer often times when I'm using these filters I'm photographing water and I do want to use a circular polarizer to control or cut the amount of Reflections and it's so easy to rotate with little dials on the edge of the filter holder.The Nisi system comes with a variety of adapters that allow you to use it with lenses- 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, and 82mm Adapter Rings. Additional adapter rings are available for purchase. Quality - Extremely sharp and no color casts. I found the Lee system to have strong cool or blue color casts in their stronger ND filters. Why do I recommend the NISI system over stacking several circular filters?

• Flexibility- this system allows me to use graduated filters AND circular polarizers together and easily.
• no vignetting even on my widest lenses.

Iceland Travel - 2017

Sometimes it feels like everyone you know has been or is in Iceland - if you haven't visited you might be wondering why - is it the Donuts?[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_T-30mjDCg&feature=youtu.be[/embed]

Shots from Iceland!

[gallery columns="1" size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="15458,15459,15460,15461,15462,15463,15464,15465,15466,15467,15468,15469,15470,15471,15472,15473,15474,15475,15476,15477,15478,15479,15480,15481,15482,15483,15484,15485,15486"]Filmed with:

• GoPro Hero 5
• Panasonic GH5

• DJI Mavic Pro
• Sony A7RII

Full Itinerary from the trip -Day 1: Started in REYKJAVIKDay 2:  GULLFOSS / STROKKUR GEYSER / SKÁLHOLT CHURCHDay 3: BARNAFOSSAR WATERFALL & AKUREYR / LAKE MYVATNDay 4: LAKE MYVATN / GODAFOSSDay 5: LAKE MYVATN / DETTIFOSS/ HÖFNDay 6: HÖFN/ JÖKULSARLON GLACIER LAGOON / HÖFNDay 7: HOFN/ VATNAJÖKULL GLACIER/ VIKDay 8: VIK/VESTMANNAEYJAR (B)Day 9: VESTMANNAEYJAR /HEIMAEY / VESTMANNAEYJARDay 10: VESTMANNAEYJAR / SELFOSS/ REYKJAVÍKDay 11: REYKJAVÍKDay 12: Departures from REYKJAVÍKJoin us on a future trip! 

Hands-on Review Canon T7i (800D) vs Nikon D5600

The Nikon D5600 and Canon T7i (800D) share several specs

• 24-MP (APS-C) Sensors

• ISO range 100-25,600

• 3 inch LCD Touchscreen though the D5600 is a little bigger (3.2") and offers the touchpad function when it is up to your eye.

• 1080 at 60 fps

• Bluetooth, WiFi and NFC connectivity - Though the D5600s snapbridge is a little more automated, automatically sending files across - with the Canon it is more of a conscious choice. I have been very frustrated with Nikon Snapbridge in the past - finding it flaky, confusing and downright broken, with the D5600 I have had a very smooth experience and prefer it to the Canon - But the Canon app provides a better experience for controlling the camera.

A few important differences - Nikon offers 39 AF points, 9 cross-type, Canon offers 45 AF points all cross-type - cross-type offer higher accuracy and when you have higher accuracy points the more likely you are to get moving subjects in accurate focus. Canon also offers dual pixel AF in live view - this is a very smooth and capable video focus, also useful for still photos in live view - Nikon’s video focusing is still distracting (it hunts more and is very noticeable when it refocuses) and while it’s a little quieter and smoother with their new AF-P lenses you still don’t want the lens to refocus during video, canon, however, is smooth and SILENT when paired with STM lenses The Canon is faster offering 6fps, vs 5 in the Nikon and more importantly, the Canon offers a deeper buffer - up to 148 jpegs and 24 raw images before slowing down. Nikon slows down at 100 JPEGS and just 8 raws.  The buffer and the additional higher accuracy AF points make the Canon T7i my choice for any type of action, like sports or birds in flight, over the Nikon.  The Nikon is capable of fast focus and operation but you will find yourself limited to very short bursts if shooting RAW. The Nikon D5600, however, has an edge in image quality, especially as the light levels drop. I see a clear difference, the Nikon has no AA filter and provides more detailed images and as you raise the ISO less noise (you can also pick 1/3 stops of ISO - canon is limited to full stops) 

Nikon D5600 Frustrations (Especially for beginners)I find myself spending more time in live view - especially when I have a nice articulating screen that lets me set up for different angles and if you happen to have manual video mode on you are blocked from changing the aperture in manual mode in live view and you can’t select shutter speeds below 1/30 of a second.  There are workarounds, the easiest is to switch to aperture priority or shutter speed priority OR turn off manual movie mode but then frustratingly when you go to shoot a movie you have no idea what settings and no control no matter which mode you use. AND I really miss exposure simultaion when using the Nikon D5600 the T7i does and actually every other camera besides Nikon offers exposure simulation in Live view. When inn manual mode I would like to see the screen change to reflect my exposure and the Nikon only does that if you are in manual movie mode and once again we are back to being blocked from changing the aperture and from setting shutter speed below 1/30 of a second. These two issues are in no way deal breakers but they certainly make the camera more frustrating for me and when I work with beginners, teaching photography all over the world - being able to switch to live view and get that easy feedback of your exposure before you take a photo is a really useful tool.

Summary and Conclusion - Nikon D5600 vs Canon T7i (800D)

Reasons you might want to pick the Nikon D5600 - you value the smaller size, the better image quality (especially in lower light), The additional features like time lapse (Canon only offers movie lapse) and the exceptionally easy and automated Ssnapbridge image sharing. Reasons you might choose the Canon - Video is important to you, the Dual Pixel AF is smooth and sneaky good, you plan to photograph action and or you want a straightforward manual control experience.

Other Options -The Panasonic G85 is even smaller, especially when you start comparing lenses - the micro 4/3rd system stays small even when you have a few primes in your bag AND shoots beautifully stabilized 4k video.  The Sony a6300 also shoots 4k and does very well in low light though it isn’t as user friendly as either of these cameras.   Which would you choose - I’d love to know your opinion?   

And don't forget to pick up a prime lens or twoCanon T7i Strengths

Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 Best lens for APS-C Cameras

The Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 remains my pick for BEST crop (APS-C) sensor. Pairs well with Canon and Nikon. It is also possible to use the Sigma 18-35 on Micro 4/3 cameras, like the Panasonic GH4 and GH5 with Metabones Speed Booster Ultra (Canon EF-mount). Using the speed booster gives you an extra stop of aperture!Buy the Sigma 18-35 from B&H Photo Canon | NikonWant more zoom? The Sigma 50-100 is heavy but also fantastichttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWo3y7_8vcA

Preview - Canon 6D Mark II

https://youtu.be/gaSmBmCgV3gPreorder Canon 6D Mark IIPreorder Canon 6D Mark II (Body only $1999 | with 24-105 f/4 II | with 24-105 STM)Best Place to buy used gear"EOS 6D Mark II and EOS Rebel SL2 DSLR Cameras Provide Photographers with Improved Features over Predecessors".Canon’s own marketers couldn’t come up with a more exciting opening statement than - we made them better than the old ones?!?!I have some thoughts to share on the newly announced Canon 6D Mark II.Let’s run through those improved features -

• 26 Megapixel Full-frame Sensor up from 20MP of the 6D
• 45-point All Cross-type AF System, serious upgrade from the 11 points with ONE cross type and this AF system is identical to what’s in the 80D
• Dual Pixel AF for smooth and capable focus in live view - stills or movies
• 1080 at 60fps but you do have electronic IS - NOTE this is JUST for movies - and identical to what is offered in the 77D.
• DIGIC 7 Image Processor supporting an ISO range from 100-40000
• High-speed Continuous Shooting at up to 6.5 fps
• And YES, YES YES - we have a Vari-angle Touch Screen, 3 inch LCD - do you know how many times I have heard you ask for an articulating screen on a full frame Canon
• Updated connectivity we see on all the recent Canon releases with Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth and GPS technology

I have seen this described as a full frame version of the 80D and that is fairly accurate - You do lose the pop-up flash and your top shutter speed decreases to 1/4000 vs 1/8000 in the 80D, disappointing but otherwise this should perform very similarly to the 80D - same focus system, almost the same burst rate - so if you are an existing Canon shooter and you have been waiting for a full frame option with articulating screen - here you go. But is that enough?What may be deal breakers for some -Single Card SD slot - you need to go with a 5D Mark III or 5D Mark IV if you want the peace of mind of two card slots - Wedding and portrait photographers capturing can’t miss moments like the insurance of having these photos saved to two cards simultaneouslyTop Shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second - this isn’t about capturing fast action- this is about being able to use fast prime lenses outside in bright light and a flash sync speed on the low side at 1/180 of a second.No 4K video recording - you know - I work with photographers of all abilities - either through my support group or when teaching with Mckay photography academy and 95% of them are photographers and don’t really care about 4K video or care about video at all BUT as I said in my 5D Mark IV video - Canon at one time was groundbreaking in offering cameras that were great hybrids and competitive in both photos and videos and when you have headlines and youtube reviewers left and right saying No 4k it makes you consumers stop and wonder if this is a good value and while today video features might not matter to you - when you spend two grand on a camera I expect you expect to be using it for awhile and it’s a bit of a joke to not include 4k now and in just a few short months it’s going to feel quite dated.  And as I said many of you don’t care about 4K but can you be sure you won’t care about it next year or the year after? Between the headlines, the tweets the Youtubers - the lack of 4k on this camera will hurt its sales. And no headphone jack makes this a less desirable hybrid shooting tool too. In short - no one and I mean no one should be buying this for video.Let’s wrap this up -Photographers with Canon lenses dying for an articulating screen on a full frame camera- this looks very nice and seriously, I don’t mean to make light of how useful an articulating screen is for landscape and general photography and that is who this camera is targeted at and does represent a decent offering. However, For professionals wedding - family portrait etc - I would consider a used 5D Mark III that can be bought for cheaper and gives you the dual card slots plus the better shutter speed and flash sync speed.Once the 6D ships, I will do a hands-on review. Make sure to subscribe to be notified.I’d love to know your thoughts - is this the camera you have been waiting for. Did they offer enough improved features over the predecessors? What is the next most exciting camera to anticipate - Nikon D760, Sony a7III? Or something else? Leave those thoughts in the comments below. 

DJI Spark Announced - A New Small Option

https://youtu.be/Yseaxsh23bgDJI has just announced the Spark.  The DJI Spark takes the idea of a seriously portable drone, first introduced with the Mavic Pro last year, and makes it even smaller.Spark is smaller and lighter than the Mavic Pro, but also supports all of the Mavic Pro’s Intelligent Flight Modes and introduces new features like QuickShot and advanced gesture controls like PalmControl.   Described in the launch keynote as easy, intuitive and fun. This really reminds me of the Lily, the failed kickstarter drone that was focused on easy selfie photos and videos.  One feature borrowed from recent innovations in smartphone cameras - fake depth of field with shallow focus mode- intentional background blur.While it can produce professional results the lack of 4k, 16 minute flight time and probable issues in wind make this less ideal for serious aerial photo or video needs. Those that desire a more versatile drone need to consider the Mavic Pro or a higher model.$499 will get you the drone and one battery. You can charge the drone via Micro USB(a first for DJI).   Control with hand gestures or the DJI app on your smartphone - range is limited to approximately 100 meters.$699 for the Fly more combo which includes - extra props, prop guards, 1 extra battery (2 total), a remote and a carry case. The remote extends the range to 1.24 miles and while the remote is similar to the DJI Mavic it is much simpler without the LCD Screen.Shipping June 21st - Preorder from Amazon or B&H Photo (No sales tax outside NY)https://youtu.be/74Cm1p3fr0g[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Size[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]335mm (Extended) 83mm x 83mm x 198mm (Folded)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]350mm[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]143×143×55 mm[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Weight[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]1.64 lbs (743g)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]3.04 lbs (1380g)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"].66lbs (300 g)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Operating Temp[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]32° to 104° F ( 0° to 40° C )[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] 32° to 104°F (0° to 40°C)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]32° to 104° F (0° to 40° C)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Ascent /Descent Speed[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]16.4 ft/s | 9.8 ft/s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]19.7 ft/s | 13.1 ft/s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] 9.8 ft/s (3 m/s) | 9.8 ft/s (3 m/s)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Flight Time[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]27 Minutes[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]28 Minutes[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]16 Minutes[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Flight Distance[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]8 mi (13 km)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Tilt Angle[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]S-mode: 42°A-mode: 35°P-mode: 15°[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Angular Speed[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]S-mode: 200°/sA-mode: 150°/s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Wind Speed Resistance[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]10 m/s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Sensor[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]1/2.3” (CMOS), Effective pixels:12.35 MP[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]1/2.3” CMOS, Effective pixels:12.4 MP[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]1/2.3" CMOSEffective pixels: 12 MP[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Lens[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FOV 78.8° 28 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.2Distortion < 1.5% Focus from 0.5 m to ∞[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FOV 94° 20 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.8 focus at ∞[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FOV 81.9° 25 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.6(shooting range: 2 m to ∞)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Gimbal[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]3-Axis[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]3-Axis[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]2-Axis[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]ISO Range[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]100-3200 (video)100-1600 (photo)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]100-3200 (video)100-1600 (photo)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Video: 100-3200Photo: 100-1600[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Shutter Speed[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]8s -1/8000s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]8 - 1/8000 s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]2-1/8000 s[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Image Size[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]4000×3000[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]4000×3000[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]3968×2976[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Still Photography Modes[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Single shotBurst shooting: 3/5/7 framesAuto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV BiasInterval[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Single shotBurst shooting: 3/5/7 framesAuto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV BiasTimelapseHDR[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Single ShotBurst Shooting: 3 framesAuto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV biasInterval: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Video Recording Modes[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]C4K: 4096×2160 24p4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p2.7K: 2720x1530 24/25/30pFHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/96pHD: 1280×720 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]UHD: 4096×2160 (4K) 24 / 25p3840×2160 (4K) 24 / 25 / 30p2704×1520 (2.7K) 24 / 25 / 30pFHD: 1920×1080 24 / 25 / 30 / 48 / 50 / 60 / 120pHD: 1280×720 24 / 25 / 30 / 48 / 50 / 60p[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Video Bitrate[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] 60 Mbps[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] 60 Mbps[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]24 Mbps[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Supported File Systems[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FAT32 ( ≤ 32 GB ); exFAT ( > 32 GB )[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FAT32 ( ≤ 32 GB ); exFAT ( > 32 GB )[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FAT32 (≤ 32 GB)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Photo[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]JPEG, DNG[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]JPEG, DNG[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]JPEG[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Video[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Supported SD Cards[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] Micro SDMax capacity: 64 GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Micro SDMax capacity: 64 GBClass 10 or UHS-1 rating required[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Micro SDMax capacity: 64 GBClass 10 or UHS-1 rating required[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Buy it Today![/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row]Recommended Micro SD Cards for the DJI Spark[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"]Sandisk 16 GB  SDHCSandisk 32 GB  SDHCSandisk 64 GB  SDXCKingston 16 GB  SDHCKingston 32 GB  SDHC[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"]Kingston 64 GB  SDXCSamsung 16 GB  SDHCSamsung 32 GB  SDHCSamsung 64 GB  SDXC[/vc_column][/vc_row]

Hands-on - NEW Sony Lenses 16-35 f/2.8 and 12-24 f/4

Sony has just announced two new lenses and I have had early access to both, shooting on an a7RII and a9 and have sample photos and thoughts below.https://youtu.be/G73lzUHaniY

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Wide-angle Zoom Lens

This nicely rounds out Sony's f/2.8 offerings (16-35, 24-70, 70-200 - the f/2.8 trinity) and looks to be an excellent lens.  I was impressed with edge to edge sharpness, lack of vignetting and smooth bokeh.   Most lenses in this category have 9 aperture blades, the new FE 16-35 f/2.8 has 11.  This lens is seriously sharp - Sony is designing it with future ultra high resolution sensors in mind. It is dust and moisture resistant too. Below are a few sample photos I shot.   Lens will be available in late August. Price $2,199  PREORDER from B&H Photo[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" link="file" ids="14849,14848,14847,14846,14845,14844"]I do love the focus hold button included on G Master lenses -  its primary function is to lock focus when recomposing, but you can customize to a number of other functions depending. In addition to Focus Hold, custom functions include: Eye AF, AF On, Aperture Preview, Shot Result Preview or Bright Monitoring.Additional 16-35 f/2.8 Specs -

• Weather Sealed Design
• Product weight (oz): 24 oz (680 g.)
• Product Dimension (L*W) inch: 4.875” x 3.5” (121.6 x 88.5mm)
• Nano AR Coating
• ED glass w/ multi‐coating reduces chromatic aberration

Currently the Canon 16-35 f/2.8 III sells for $1,999 - I expect this Sony lens to be sharper when we compare them side by side. Make sure you subscribe to the my Youtube channel to get updated news and comparisons when this lens is released.

The Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G Ultra Wide-angle Zoom Lens

Sony surprised us with this small, unassuming ultra wide angle lens.  I can't quite believe how compact and lightweight it is while still providing full frame coverage of 12-24!   Weighing just over a pound and nicely fitting in your hand the 12-24 provides a constant f/4 aperture, focus hold button and integrated/fixed lens hood.   It does have a bulbous front element requiring an adapter to use filters.   While it doesn't seem quite as sharp as the GMaster 16-25 f/2.8 it still provides very good sharpness and nothing else offers this wide a view on full frame at this size and weight unless you go with a prime lens.  You could use an adapter with the Sigma 12-24 but that lens weighs twice as much and is significantly larger.   The lens will be available in Late July for $1,699 PREORDER from B&H Photo[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" link="file" ids="14854,14853,14852,14851,14850,14860"]Additional 12-24 f/4 G Specs

• Weather Sealed Design
• Product weight (oz): 20 oz (680 g.)
• Product Dimension (L*W) inch: 4.625” x 3.5” (117.4 x 87mm)
• 7 Bladed Aperture Design
• Super ED and ED glass w/ multi‐coating reduces chromatic aberration
• Customizeable Focus Hold button

Canon offers an 11-24 f/4 lens for $2,699 and it is larger and heavier. Sigma offers a slightly cheaper model but as mentioned it too is a good bit heavier and bulkier, also not weather sealed.  Once the lens is released I will make comparisons and publish the results here and on Youtube.Pre-order these lenses at B&H:

• Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
• Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G

Croatia

We will return to Croatia for a photo tour - This tour will likely sell out quickly. Add your name to the pre-notice list to be notified when it opens for sign up.   Please notify me of the next Croatia Tourhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz4JRlKer2g&feature=youtu.beComplete List of gear - GH5, DJI Mavic (and more)Itinerary and Photos -We started our Journey in Trogir- a fascinating old town with twisting alleyways and a medieval castle that protected the harbor.

 Our Guide - Tanya Jucik Braculj was awesome - contact her to arrange any type of fantastic trip in and around Croatia - tanja.jukicb@gmail.com        

Croatia Photo/Video Gear

https://youtu.be/UWWsvoKWQAk I just finished a fantastic trip in exploring the coast and islands of Southern Croatia. Beautiful country, friendly people. My goal on this trip was to produce video first and photos second. With video being my primary goal I am calling this the

Videography Travel Bag

Bags & Holster

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Mindshift Gear - Backlight 26LAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Camera Holster - Spider Backpacker KitAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Secondary Bag - Multi-Mount Holster 30Amazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row]

Gear

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Panasonic GH5Amazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Lumix 12-60 f/2.8-4 LensAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Lumix 42.5mm f/1.7 LensAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Lumix 45-200 f/4.0-5.6 LensAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Rokinon 7.5mm f/3.5 lensAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Rode Video Micro ProAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Sony RX1R IIAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]DJI Mavic Pro - Fly More SystemAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Hoya Circular Polarizers for each lensB&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Hoya ND Filters 0.3 for each lensB&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]MeFoto Carbon Fiber Road TripAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"]Olympus TG Tracker WP CameraAmazon | B&H[/vc_column][/vc_row]