CES 2017: Nikon D5600 Price and Release Date

When Nikon announced their next entry level DSLR in November the Nikon D5600 was dropped with its specs but no details on price or when it was coming to the US. This week at CES they announced it’s coming soon, this month in fact. Coming in multiple kits, the Nikon D5600 will be released this month with the AF-P 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G lens for $799, with the AF-S 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G lens for $1199, with the 18-55 and AF-P 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G lenses for $1149, and body only for $699. Actually $100 less than the D5500 when it was announced last year.

Whats New?

• Upgraded Touchscreen features such as cropping and frame advance
• Nikon Snapbridge though WiFI, Bluetooth, and NFC allowing for things such as automatic image transfer, time sync, location info, remote control, and more
• In-Camera Time-Lapse movie function brought from the higher end models

Available For Pre-Order at

Nikon D5600 with18-140mm Lens

Nikon D5600 with18-55mm Lens

Nikon D5600 with18-55mm and 70-300mm Lenses

Nikon D5600(Body Only)

Specifications

• APS-C 24.2 MP CMOS Sensor
• DX-Format
• Expeed 4 Image Processor
• 5 fps continuous shooting
• 25,600 max ISO
• Removed low-pass filter
• 39-point AF System
• 3.2” articulating touchscreen
• 1080p Video at 60fps
• Snapbridge using Bluetooth, WiFi, and NFC
• Time-Lapse Movie Recording
• Dimensions (WxHxD) 4.9 x 3.8 x 2.8" / 124.0 x 97.0 x 70.0 mm
• Weight 1.02 lb / 465 g

Canon 5D Mark IV Articulating LCD Hack

In my 5D Mark IV Review I complained about the lack of articulating LCD screen - several of you commented with the suggestion that you can use your phone with the Canon Camera Connect app as an articulating screen.  Here I demonstrate what that might look like and ask if you think it is viable alternative to actually having an articulating screen on the Canon 5D Mark IV.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPEl_RUQaMUGear NeededPhone Holder Mefoto: http://amzn.to/2dTCn7kHotshoe Mount: http://amzn.to/2fno2W0 Want to travel with me and McKay Photography Academy? Learn more: http://bit.ly/MPA_toby

Canon 5D Mark IV Tips and Tricks- Custom Button Setup

https://youtu.be/Ej9uDCALaFM

Recommendations for custom buttons with the Canon 5D Mark IV

Shutter Button: Metering start (more about back button focus)AF-On: Metering and AF start (default)AE Lock Button: One Shot - ServoDOF preview button: Depth of Field preview (default)Lens: AF-Off (default)M-fn: FEL (default)SET: MagnifyMain Dial: TV shutter speed (default) - this is the front dialQuick Control Dial: AV aperture (default) - this is the rear dialMulti-controller: Direct AF point selectionAF area selection button: Selected AFpt - Cent/Reg AFpt  - I personally want to call this button the nub.(default means I haven't changed it from camera's default setting)   

Yi M1 Mirrorless Camera Just Announced

 

 An entry level camera from China is making the rounds at Photokina this week. The Yi M1 has the design of a Leica camera with a 20.16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor from Sony for only $330. Young Innovators, or YI Technologies in the US, was in the news recently for their move into the action camera market. The YI 4k Action Camera 2 had decent review while undercutting the GoPro by $200. Considering this mirrorless is using tech from Sony it has a good chance of doing okay as an entry level option. Aimed at the entry level crowd the camera itself only has two buttons and no viewfinder, opting for the three inch touchscreen to handle the workload. As for options it’s a Micro Four Thirds with a Sony Sensor allowing for plenty of non YI MFT lenses available. Coming with the camera is a 12-40mm F/2.5-5.6 zoom lens or a combo with a 42.5mm F/1.8 macro prime. As a kit it’s $330, the dual lens set will sell for $450. The Yi M1 uses the 20.16MP Sony IMX269, actually the same sensor in the Olympus Pen-F giving it 4K (30fps), fast continuous shooting, and RAW image capability. This allows it a speed of five frames per second and a 81 point focus system which is good for a entry level camera. As for RAW it saves in Adobe DNG making it work perfectly with Lightroom. Bluetooth and Wifi are included for fast mobile sharing and remote control of the camera. Other accessories such as a backpack (costs $60), filters, and etc. have been announced by name but no details as of yet. The Y1 M1 will be out Sept. 23rd in China and later for the US. As their first real go at the mirrorless market it’s hard not to say it’s a decent try at a entry level option.Specifications:

Mount	Micro Four Thirds
Sensor	Sony IMX269 CMOS
Crop Factor	2.0x
Resolution	20MP (5184px*3888px)
Format	Raw, Jpeg
Aspect Ratio	4: 3, 3: 2, 16: 9, 1: 1
Focus	Contrast Detection
AF	Multi-area, Center, Face Detection, Single AF, Continuous AF, Touch AF, Face Detection, & Touch Shooting
Manual Focus	Focus Peaking & Zoom Manual Focus
Focus Points	81 Points
Screen	3 inch 720 x 480 RGB + Touchscreen
Shutter Speed	1 / 4000s ~ 60s
Exposure Modes	Exposure Modes: Automatic, Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual Exposure, B Door, T Door
Metering Mode	Spot Metering, Evaluative Metering, Center-weighted Metering
ISO	Auto, 100 - 25,600
Bracketing	Yes, Up to 3 Shots
HDR	Yes
Time-Lapse	Yes
Panorama	Yes
Flash	Supports External (Not Available as of Announcement)
Video	4K 3840 × 2160 30fps, 2K 2048 × 1536 30fps FULL HD 1920 × 1080 60fps, 30fps, 24fpsHD 1280 × 720 60fps, 30fps, 24fpsVGA 640 × 480 240fps
Video Format	MPEG-4 / H.264
Audio Format	AAC
Microphone	Stereo
Speaker	Mono
USB	2.0
HDMI	Micro HDMI Connection
WiFi	Yes
Bluetooth	4.1
Remote Shooting	Yes, via Smartphone
Storage Media	SD / SDHC / SDXC (max 512G)
Battery Life	~450 Photos
Color	Silver, Black
Dimensions	113.5mm (W) x 64.3mm (H) x 33.6mm (D) excluding protrusions
Weight	280g
Cost	$330 for Camera + Kit Lens. $450 for Dual Lens Kit.

Samples12-40mm F/3.5-5.6 Lens

42.5mm F/1.8 lens

Fuji brings it’s beautiful sensors to a medium format camera – should the mere mortals get excited?

Since June Fujifilm’s been rumored to have a “medium format killer” in the works set to change the game and now we’ve finally got a look in their Photokina announcement. The new Fuji GFX 50S is a sub $10,000 camera that will bring great image quality on a budget comparatively to other medium format options available at the moment. The first in a new GFX line of medium format camera’s with the GFX 50S slated for early next year.  Using a new Fujifilm G sensor that’s sized up to 43.8×32.9mm in 51.4 megapixel resolution you’ll be needing more hard drives to store your photos. Defaults for the sensor will be a 4:3 aspect ratio but can be set to other formats. Being mirrorless another option for shooters is a removable viewfinder allowing the user to choose to use the viewfinder when needed or the back screen. The GFX 50S will be weather and dust sealed, to what degree they did not specify, giving it the durability for outdoor shots. As Fuji the camera should deliver great image quality for professionals shooting commercial, fashion, or landscapes.

For the new G Mount system Fuji has released a new set of lenses to go with the camera. As follows we’ve got a set of 5 primes covering the field, one being macro, and a standard zoom so far. The Fuji GFX 50S is expected to ship 2017 alongside their 63mm, 120mm, and 32-64mm lenses.

• Ultra-wide “GF23mmF4 R LM WR” (equivalent to 18mm in 35mm format) Coming mid 2017
• Wide “GF45mmF2.8 R WR” (equivalent to 35mm in 35mm format) Coming late 2017
• Standard prime “GF63mmF2.8 R WR” (equivalent to 50mm in the 35mm format) Coming early 2017
• Fast aperture mid-telephoto “GF110mmF2 R LM WR” (equivalent to 87mm in 35mm format) Coming mid 2017
• Mid-telephoto macro 1:0.5 “GF120mmF4 Macro R LM OIS WR” (equivalent to 95mm in 35mm format) Coming early 2017
• Wide-angle standard zoom “GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR” (equivalent to 25-51mm in 35mm format) Coming early 2017

As for those pixel peepers out there they’ve released a sample image showing how much detail the sensorcan pull from an image. With the new CMOS sensor putting out 51.4MP files it’s hard to complain looking at the photo zoomed in this far.

With the announcement of the FX 50S Fuji released a few videos of development and testing to watch. Development of Professional-use Mirrorless Camera System “GFX”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggikv6m8FNsGFX challenges with Hiroshi Nonamihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHhAkirFH-QGFX challenges with Satoshi Minakawahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4wvnA4iO6s

Canon Rep Responds to Criticism over 5D Mark 4 Release

A video from Korey Rowe at the Canon Experience Center in Costa Mesa, California getting hands on with the 5d Mark 4. The Canon Experience Center, built in 2014, while acting as a service center it also includes a product showroom and theater experience for customers to view products. This is an official Canon promotional event for the new EOS 5D Mark 4 (iv) and 16-35mm L (iii). He asked some hard questions to the cinema rep at the event. Covering the reasons for the SD and CF cards, cropped 4k Video, and large files sizes of the h.264 codec found in the camera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Iyu_kT84U

Canon 5D Mark IV - Official

Click for My Full Review of the Canon 5D Mark IV

Below is my earlier video based on specs.The Canon 5D Mark IV has been announced and after all the leaks the most surprising bit of info is how soon it will actually be released - in just two short weeks. Preorder NOW if you want this camera in the first few months as it will likely sell out.

Order from B&H Photo 

• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera with 24-105mm f/4L II Lens $4599.00
• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera with 24-70mm f/4L Lens $4,399.00
• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera (Body Only) $3,499.00
• Preorder from Amazon

Canon 5D Mark IV Specs

• 30.4MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
• DIGIC 6+ Image Processor
• 3.2" 1.62m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor
• DCI 4K Video at 30 fps; 8.8MP Still Grab
• 61-Point High Density Reticular AF
• Native ISO 32000, Expanded to ISO 102400
• Dual Pixel RAW; AF Area Select Button
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Movie Servo AF
• 7 fps Shooting; CF & SD Card Slots
• Built-In GPS and Wi-Fi with NFC

Canon 5D Mark IV - What you need to know

One of the most anticipated and recently leaked cameras has been officially announced.  The 5D Mark IV follows the widely popular Canon 5D Mark III and looks to offer decent, evolutionary upgrades from its predecessor.

• 30MP is a good balanced file size that provides plenty of resolution while still offering a responsive 7 frames a second.
• High ISO of 32,000 with a mention of improved dynamic range - While the 80D, Canon's most recent camera, does offer dynamic range improvements they still appear to be behind the competitors, especially at the higher ISOs - I don't expect to be blown away by the improvements.
• The LCD is now a touchscreen, this combined with the dual pixel AF will make for very easy video focus and the dual pixel AF is fast enough for use in still shots.  Additionally Movie Servo AF looks to track moving subjects smoothly and capably.  No other DSLR provides such easy and smooth live view focusing.  The LCD is not articulating or even tilting.
• 4k with a catch - the 5D Mark IV will offer 4k but only at 1.74 crop factor. This means your 24-105 lens becomes a 42mm - 182mm lens, you lose the wide angle.  To be fair the very popular Panasonic GH4, which has been my go to camera for 4K for the last 18 months, offers 4k ONLY at a 2x crop factor BUT and here is the BUT- panasonic offers loads of lenses that make sense at that crop factor, Canon does not.  Also Sony's a7SII and A7RII around the same price point offer full frame 4K (no crop) with additional features the 5D Mark IV is missing (More about that in the Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R2 / A7S2 post)
• The photo AF system borrows from the top of the line Canon 1DX Mark II which offers fantastic, mind blowingly fast focus and accuracy.   This is all good.
• WIF and NFC- Finally. There was some worry that you would need a secondary device but they have included connectivity and remote control (hopefully as good as the 80D - you can focus, switch to MF and start and stop video) AND GPS is included too.  Time to finally sell my GP-E2
• Dual Pixel RAW - I can't yet tell if this is going to be a gimmick or actually useful- When this feature is enabled you can shift focus slightly using Canon provided software Think of this like an after the fact micro focus adjustment.  as it currently will only work with the DPP software this might be more gimmick but I could certainly see fixing minor focus errors on critical pictures - a few other caveats  - your file size doubles and your frame rate and buffer will slow.
• Still uses CF and SD card slots - great if you didn't want to buy new expensive cards like CFast or XQD but one of the major complaints about the 5D Mark III was the bottleneck provided by the SD card slot, even with the fastest card in there the write speed to the SD card slot is slow enough to slow the whole camera down - this looks to be true with the 5D Mark IV too.
• Body styling and button placement is identical to the 5D Mark III with a slight change to the joystick.

Bottom line - the Canon 5D Mark IV offers some noticeable improvements over the 5D Mark III and will represent a decent upgrade for many still photographers and those hybrid shooters who are desperate for easy 4k video should be happy.   It is, however, a crowded market and Sony's year old A7RII may still be a better buy for those that want more serious 4K features - S-Log, focus peaking and better dynamic range. Preorder links - I do think this camera will sell well early on and be difficult to get in the first few weeks, maybe months if you do not preorder now.

• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera with 24-105mm f/4L II Lens $4599.00
• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera with 24-70mm f/4L Lens $4,399.00
• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera (Body Only) $3,499.00

Canon 5D Mark IV Leaks, Announcements for Photokina

With Photokina in a month we’re starting to hear about the LONG awaited 5d Mark IV. A lot of features we’ve expected after the release of the 1DX Mark II. Going along with previous news there' the "DSLR first" rumors that were floating around supported by the dual pixel raw file spec.Specifications via Digicame-info, Canon Rumors, and Nokishita. 

• 30.4MP
• 7 fps
• 150,000 actuation rating for shutter
• DIGIC 6+
• 100% viewfinder
• Magnification: 0.71
  • LCD tone adjustment (warm / standard / cool1 / cool2)LCD: 3.2 inches 1.62 million dot touch panel
• Dual Pixel AF
• Dual Pixel RAW File: Records one normal and one dual pixel file for post processing
  • Image Micro Adjustment to increase sharpness and resolution
  • Bokeh Shift to change position of foreground bokeh
  • Ghosting Reduction to reduce ghost and flare
• Updated noise reduction
• 61 Point AF, with 41 crosstype points
• 150,000 pixel RGB + IR Sensor
• EOS iSA system
• EOS iTR system
• Anti-flickr
• ISO 100-102400
• 24/30 fps video at 4K, while 60 fps at 1080p, and 120 fps at 720p
• 8MP still images from 4K video
• Full HD: ALL-I (For editing / I-only), IPB (Standard), IPB (Light)
• HD: ALL-I (I-only)
• Raw file sizes
  • Raw: 6270 x 4480, 36.8MB
  • DPRAW: 6270 x 4480, 66.9MB
  • M-RAW: 5040 x 3360, 27.7MB
  • S-RAW: 3360 x 2240, 18.9MB
• Touchscreen LCD
• New Picture Style “Fine Detail”
• Dust and weather sealed
• Mirror vibration control system (MVCS)
• Time-lapse movie mode
• Built-in interval timer and valve timer
• Electronic Level, 2 axis
• Built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and NFC
• FTP · FTPS can be transferred wirelessly also only in the body
• SD, SDHC, SDXC and CompactFlash (not Cfast 2.0)
• USB 3.0, HDMI, and microphone
• Battery: LP-E6N / LP-E6
• Estimated 900 shot battery life
• Dimensions: 116.4mm x 150.7mm x 75.9mm and Weight 890g (1.96lbs)

 [gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="12066,12067,12068,12069,12070"]With the leak there's the unofficial Canon announcements for Photokina from Digicame-info. We’ll have Scott in Germany next month for the show so expect to hear more soon. We’ve still got rumors of that 24MP full-frame mirrorless from Canon but it’s still missing at this point. Coming with the new 5d is a refresh of the 24-105mm and 16-35mm lenses possibly with the new nano USM design.

• EOS 5D Mark IV body
• EOS 5D Mark IV + 24-70 lens kit
• EOS 5D Mark IV + 24-105 lens kit
• Battery grip Canon E20 BG
• Wi-Fi adapter Canon W-E1
• 7D Mark II with 18-135 USM lens kit
• 7D Mark II with W-E1
• Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS II USM lens
• Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM lens

Case Remote - Wifi Remote Control for your DSLR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXQXXK3ViDc Back the CASE Remote AIR on indieGOGOThis is the Case Remote AIR - this tiny device allows you to remotely control your camera, download photos, including RAW files and adds several really sweet features to your otherwise dumb camera - now some of you might wonder why we need this when most current Nikon and Canon cameras  provide some sort of wifi control via an app - and my answer - have you actually used those apps? They are so barebones it is frustrating AND the case remote works with older Canon and NIkon cameras that don’t offer wifi control and even allow you to start and stop video remotely. The Case Remote creates its own WIFI hotspot so you can use this anywhere, you don’t a data connection, you connect directly to the device.   The connection info is printed on the device and apps are provided for Android and iOS with desktop Mac and Windows software in development You connect the device to the camera, you can position it in the hotshoe or attach it with the strap connection if you need to put a flash in the hot shoe, it really is very light. Turn it on, Turn the camera on and then connect to the wifi, launch the app.  And you should see the camera listed.  Click to launch the controls where you can then turn live view on or OFF, touch to focus and bring up the camera settings - adjusting them on the fly.if you have wanted GOOD wifi control of your camera with smart features - there is nothing else that provides this level of value. I’d love to see a few features added, like bramping but overall I appreciate the wifi control of older cameras and the ability to transfer RAW files from newer cameras. Back the CASE Remote AIR on indieGOGO

Hands-on Canon 80D Review vs the 70D, a6300 and more

I have been using the 80D for the last 30 days and I am now ready to share my opinion of Canon's successor to the popular 70D. You want to know - what’s changed, do I recommend upgrading from the 70D to the 80D and how does this camera hold up in a crowded field of DSLRS and mirrorless cameras like the a6300, D7200, D500, GH4 - etc. Link for more informationhttps://youtu.be/tLQI_Jba3pMQuick reminder of my opinion on the Canon 70D- I loved the dual pixel AF, it tracked so well - even without STM lenses - that coupled with the very nice articulating touchscreen made this camera super easy to use for video and that articulating touchscreen is useful for photos as well. 70D Image and video quality are very good and at the time of release very similar to other cameras on the market.Buy the Canon 80D from B&H Photo and support this website.  Your use of these links allows me to continue to review gear (and have health insurance) Thanks!

What has changed with the Canon 80D vs the 70D

• 24MP sensor vs 20MP in the 70D
• 45 Cross type points vs 19 in the 70D, 27 of those AF points work at f/8 - this is important and helpful to photographers working with longer telephoto lenses and teleconverters and makes it even better than the 7D Mark II when using longer lenses with teleconverters.
• Improved low light focusing capabilities
• 100% viewfinder coverage vs 98%
• A deeper buffer (70d buffer already was decent)
• Flicker detection like the 7D mark II and D500 for more consistent exposures in gyms/arena etc
• 1080p 60fps!!! The 70D only offered 60fps at 720 and you have Mp4 format now too
• The ability to control the speed of auto focus in movies.
• Intervalometer AND time lapse movie mode!
• A headphone jack!! And it is positioned to not block the rotating screen
• NFC AND WIFI while the 70D only had Wifi and the 80D wifi allows control during video - something not possible with the 70D - you also have the option of adding
• Two custom modes on the dial

No other camera provides this level of performance while remaining so easy to use.

So what does all that translate to in real world use? The Canon 80D is a very good camera that is incredibly user friendly with an approachable menu system. No other camera provides this level of performance while remaining so easy to use. I am talking about really using the camera - not just leaving it on auto. Any camera is easy to use on auto. This sounds great? Right?  Frustratingly Canon sensor tech is still behind the competitors, despite all the buzz from the increased dynamic range. Yes it is better but still behind the competitors in dynamic range, high iso and overall image quality. The 80D just does not match up against the current Nikons (or even last years d7200) or the Sony a6300. And it lacks many of the more pro level video features you find in the Sony a6300 and Panasonic Gh4 like focus peaking, slog format and 4k video.  About 4k - some of you will be angry that it isn’t included in a camera that clearly is proud of it’s video features and some of you are angry that people are angry it wasn’t included, a few of you just don't care. Just recognize that not everyone uses cameras these days for just photos and despite the fact that you might not know anyone with a 4K TV - it can still be useful to have a camera that shoots 4K and many do mid-2016.

Who cares about 4k Video?

So I set you up - a great camera that is really easy to use BUT doesn't match the competition in image quality or features.  Just keep in mind that for the most part that quality difference isn’t huge and for the vast majority of us - the image or video quality provided by the Canon 80D isn’t going to hold us back. You can make fantastic images and video with this camera.  Another advantage of the 80D is the Canon ecosystem - your lens selection is HUGE with loads of affordable options. This is something Sony hasn’t matched yet and even Nikon doesn’t have quite the same affordable selection. Though at the pro level I will call them tied. I do want to give a special shoutout to the 55-250 STM, this really is such a nice lens and an awesome value. Not only a good telephoto, also useable as a macro!  I would recommend you pick up the Canon 80D with the 18-55 and 55-250 STM unless you want power zooming that the new 18-135 nano USM lens provides when paired with the PZ-E1 adapter and you can even zoom via the canon app.  And remember that vs Nikon - Canon's dual pixel AF provides smooth and silent autofocus during video.  Nikon has introduced some new lenses to try and match but the underlying tech still makes nikon DSLR focus slow and distracting when used during filming.

The perfect camera for...

I see the 80D really appealing to 

• Wildlife photographers on a budget - if offers excellent AF performance with longer lenses - pair it with the 55-250 STM and you do have one of the best all around performers (see below for additional lens recommendations)
• Youtubers/Amature videographers looking for good quality in an exceptionally easy to use package - Youtubers especially, this camera combined with the wifi app makes recording talking head videos like most of what is on my channel, extremely easy.
• Photographers looking for a decent all around camera that offers plenty of room to grow as a photographer and cover a variety of photographic needs.

See below for recommended lenses and accessories forThose who want the absolute best performance in low light and image/video quality should consider the a6300 (my review of the a6300) or Nikon D7200 or Nikon D500 (My Review - current king of APS-C cameras in terms of performance and focusing power)Those that want more serious video options should choose the a6300 or GH4Should Canon 70D users upgrade? While there are certainly improvements, better dynamic range at lower ISOs and less noise at higher ISOs - the differences are not massive and your money is better spent on a nice lens, especially a prime lens or saving for a future model or full frame. Exceptions to this, if you want to start using teleconverters with longer focal lengths or want the better video features and wifi app control over video.The best Canon 80D Package - 18-55 + 55-250 STM | Buy from B&H PhotoWildlife Photographers on a BudgetCanon 80D with 18-55 and 55-250 STM Or For massively more reach - Canon 80D with 18-55, Sigma 1.4x Converter and Sigma 150-600 C - Total potential zoom here is over 1300mm! YoutubersCanon 80D with Canon 10-18 for handheld, stabilized selfie video and a nice prime lens like the 40mm f/2.8 for pro looking videoGeneral PhotographyCanon 80D with 18-55 and 50mm f/1.8 STMRecommended Canon 80D Accessories

• Best SD Card for the Canon 80D: SanDisk 64GB Extreme
• Best Tripod: MeFOTO RoadTrip Aluminum Travel Tripod Kit
• Backpack: Think Tank Photo Perception 15 Backpack
• External Flash: Yongnuo Speedlite YN600EX-RT (how to use)

Would you like to have a detailed discussion about what gear is going to work best for you? I provide that in my support group.  Join for just $5/month - your contribution supports the work we do here and you get access to all the Lightroom videos, the support group and more. 

Nikon D500 Review

D500 - The briefest review!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnZ3OeIoVLAAs I often like to do I will give you the summary of my review up front. This is now the king of APS-C cameras. There is NOTHING better- but does that mean it is the best camera for you?  Let’s discuss what I love and what I less than love about the D500.  But before we do let's mention the previous champ of APS-C - the Canon 7D Mark II. The 7DM2 was the king in this class and I loved the AF peroformance and ergonmics but even when it was released I was frustrated with lack of articulating touchscreen and wifi, I feel like Nikon looked at what was missing there and said here you go - oh and we have stuck an excellent sensor in there with files that while not noise free are certainly clean enough to deliver to clients at 12,800The D500 Offers

• No AA filter for noticeable sharper images vs Canon 7D Mark II
• 10 FPS
• The BEST AF system of any APS-C camera to date
  • FAST
  • Aaccuratelyy tracks moving subjects (in low light on the dance floor IT WORKS)
  • Excellent AF customization options
  • AF Point Coverage across the frame.   
  • The little thumb joystick for moving the AF point is perfectly placed
• 4K UHD Video Recording at 30 fps
• Rugged articulating touchscreen
• Wifi with smart bluetooth NFC system that once set up automatically transfers the images

In the hand this is the nicest feeling Nikon camera I have ever held.  Typically I have found the grips to be a little too narrow on Nikon cameras and with the D500 they have rounded that out nicely.  And typical of most Nikon prosumers the physical control buttons are excellent with little need to spend time in the menu - which is good because although the camera has a touchscreen you can only use it to select focus in live view and navigate playback, it does not work for menu navigation.  If you consider that a downside the only other downside I can come up with is the focus in video -Nikon still does not off dual pixel AF system like canon so we very much have that womp womp effect while it searches for focus (demonstrated in the video above)  - if you don’t need autofocus while filming you can ignore this issue.  Overall the 4K video quality is VERY good. Now lots of people made a big deal about the 2x crop factor when shooting 4k  Just go buy a slightly wider lens and you will be fine. I think many people watching this video and reading this post will be trying to figure out if they should go with the Nikon D7200, The D500 or a full frame camera like the Nikon D750.    That full frame sensor on the D750 is still going to give you slightly better results in low light, The D7200s strength is saving you $1,000 and still providing an excellent all around camera capable of shooting sports and wildlife as well as being slightly more travel friendly.  As much as I love the D500 it is more camera than most of us need and you could put that $1000 toward a nice lens or TWO that will do more for your photography than buying the more expensive body UNLESS you Really that AF system for FAST subjects - FAST action sports, birds in flight or maybe you do want to record in 4K video too.  Benefit of the D7200 vs the D500/D750

• Smaller and Lighter - almost 1/2 lb lighter than the D500.
• Cheaper - Buy the Nikon D7200 from B&H Photo (Body only $1046)
• Vs the D750 you only need DX lenses which are cheaper and lighter too.

Benefits of the D750 vs the D500/D7200

• Full frame sensor better in low light - 24MP full frame vs 20MP crop in D500 and 24MP crop in D7200
• Lighter than the D500
• Offers articulating screen vs the Nikon D7200
• That full frame look (do you hate me for saying this? )
• The best value Full Frame camera on the market (regardless of manufacturer) Buy from B&H Photo (Body only $1996.95)

Benefits of the D500 vs the D750/D7200

• The BEST AF speed, coverage and accuracy
• 10 FPS vs 6ish in the D750/D7200
• No AA filter for increased detail.
• Rugged Articulating touchscreen
• Pro body form and function with manual control for just about everything
• Wifi with Snapbridge for easy auto transfer of your photos
• Vs the D750 you only need DX lenses which are cheaper and lighter too and you have additional "reach" because of the crop factor.
• Buy the Nikon D500 from B&H Photo (body only $1996.95)

For me - If you are a general photographer including travel get the D7200.  If you want better quality in low light get the D750 and if you are photographing action, FAST action the D500 makes the most sense.  Or if you want 4K video with Nikon.I want to know which of the three you would pick and why? And what feature of the D500 is your favorite. Leave a comment below. I will be collecting the best to share in a future video.  Support our work - Buy the Nikon D500: http://bhpho.to/1Ujv6vwBuy the Nikon D7200: http://bhpho.to/1r5CS4qBuy the Nikon D750: http://bhpho.to/24mGXyh

Canon 80D- Noticeable Improvements in Dynamic Range?

Dpreview has their hands on the Canon 80D and"testing shows that Canon's EOS 80D features a sensor with greatly improved Raw dynamic range. The results appear to confirm the company has moved to a new sensor design with lower read noise."Keep in mind that when we get excited about the increased dynamic range from current Sony and Nikon cameras - it's still not something you see or notice in normal day to day shooting - it when you begin to work with the RAW file in Lightroom and increase exposure in the shadows that you start to really see a difference.   Dpreview has some side by side comparisons of the 70D and 80D.Noticeable improvement but before we get excited this seems to still behind what Nikon is offering in the D7200 that was released over a year ago.   Then again the D7200 doesn't have a great touchscreen with Dual Pixel AF and the updated AF system that the 80D offers that looks stellar with longer lenses and teleconverters.   - So it all depends on what you need and what.  You can watch my 80D preview video below and pre order from B&H or Amazon- using these links supports the work we do here.   Thanks. Full DPreview Article Preorder the Canon 80D from B&H Photo  or Amazon - Starts shipping next week!

New Canon DSLR- EOS Rebel T6 (1300D)

Canon has announced a new bare bones, entry level DSLR- the Canon EOS Rebel T6 or 1300D in the rest of the world.  I almost always recommend buying a previous model- e.g. Canon T5i as a better investment (articulating touchscreen, 5fps vs 3 etc) but the T6 does have one advantage- WiFi/NFC. If you are on a tight budget and you want that connectivity it offers, it might be the best option for you at this price point .  Though for just $99 more you can get the Sony a6000 (my Sony a6000 review) with tons more features AND WiFi. 

• 18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) image sensor and high-performance DIGIC 4+ Image Processor for excellent speed and quality.
• ISO 100-6400 (expandable to H: 12800) for shooting from bright light to low light.
• Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity provide easy sharing to compatible smart devices, select social media sites and the Canon Connect Station CS100 device.
• 9 point AF system (including one center cross-type AF point) and AI Servo AF provide impressive autofocus performance with accurate results.
• High-performance Optical Viewfinder helps facilitate quick and accurate focusing by firmly framing and capturing the subject at hand.
• Large, 3.0-inch LCD monitor with 920,000 dots shows fine details and provides easy viewing.
• Scene Intelligent Auto mode simplifies settings for users without extensive photography experience.
• Feature Guide offers short descriptions of shooting modes, settings and effects for easy operation.
• EOS Full HD Movie mode for easy-to-use video capture.
• Continuous shooting up to 3.0 fps to capture action shots.
• Creative options made easy with imaging features like Basic+ and Creative Auto.
• Creative Filters including Toy Camera, Fisheye and Miniature Effect help you capture everything with a new perspective.
• Auto White Balance provides "white priority," adjusting for the warmer tones under tungsten lighting.
• Compatible with the full line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses.

 Buy the Canon T6 from Amazon (available April 15th) $549.00Buy the Canon T6 from B&H Photo

Canon 80D Officially Announced

The Canon 80D has now been officially announced- The leaked specs were extremely accurate - there is additional information to suggest that the dual pixel AF system has been improved and the kit lens is now upgraded to IS USM, no longer STM- read more below.  How does the 80D compare to the 70D and T6s? Watch the video below and visit 80D vs 70D vs T6s/T6i for more info.Preorder Available from B&H Photo  Expected at the End of March.Canon EOS 80D DSLR Camera with 18-135mm Lens $1,799Canon EOS 80D Body Only $1,199 

• 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor (more than the 20MP from the 7D Mark II)
• DIGIC 6 Image Processor
• IMPROVED Dual pixel CMOS AF - noted as significantly better than 70D
• Continuous shooting 7 frames / sec - Live view 5 frames / sec. (AF tracking)
• AF 45 points (all points cross type) 7D mark II has 65 Cross type. 70D has 19.
• 7560 pixel RGB + IR metering sensor
• ISO 100-16000
• flickerless shooting (adopted from the 7D Mark II) - this enables more consistent exposures in gym/arena lighting
• Finder is 100% field of view - up from 98% with the 70D
• 3 inches vari-angle touch screen LCD monitor.- The same as 70D
• 1080p 60 fps - Up from 30fps with the 70D and on par with 7D Mark II
• Time-lapse movie & additional creative filters for video - Something Canon finally started adding with the 5DS series.
• Wi-Fi, NFC - remote shooting by smartphone - I doubt this will include video start and stop- probably only photo remote control as you can do now with 70D.

Dial of the 70D compared to the 80D - really the only exterior difference I can find other than the viewfinder upgrade.80D looks to add Custom 1 AND Custom 2 to the dial along with filters for video (possibly) (between SCN and C2)These look like decent upgrades - nothing ground breaking and compared to other options, like the newly announced a6300, this looks like Canon is still behind the curve but if you have a rebel, and a few canon lenses this does represent a decent upgrade and a solid hybrid camera - video and photo capable.The 80D will be bundled with a NEW 18-135 lens - no longer STM - But USM with a new designation of NANO USM. I suspect this allows for the continued smooth and silent focusing that STM provided but with additional speed to support the faster AF system in live view/dual pixel AF What do you think of these specs? Enough to warrant an upgrade from a 70D? How about T5i or even T6i/T6s owners?The battery grip offered on the page is the same as the 70D- as we suspected the body is identical and use of the 70D battery grip is possible.Preorder Available from B&H Photo  Expected at the end of March.Canon EOS 80D DSLR Camera with 18-135mm Lens $1,799Canon EOS 80D DSLR Camera with 18-55mm Lens $1,349Canon EOS 80D Body Only $1,199Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens $599And if you wished your DSLR was more like a camcorder you can addCanon PZ-E1 Power Zoom Adapter for just $149

• Provides Electronic Zooming Control
• Smoother Zoom Movements for Video
• Zoom Mode and Speed Settings Switches
• Integrated Locking Mechanism

Nikon Announcements - D5 and D500

Nikon announced two new cameras at CES - The D5 and the D500. The D5 is Nikon's flagship, replacing the still excellent D4s.  Full Frame 20MP, awesome focusing powerHeadline features of the D5

• 20.8MP FX-Format CMOS Sensor
• 3.2" 2.36m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor (review functions only)
• 4K UHD Video Recording at 30 fps (limited to 3 minutes internally)
• Multi-CAM 20K 153-Point AF System
• Dedicated AF processor and 99/153 focus points are cross-type. (first to offer dedicated AF processor)
• Native ISO 102400, Extend to ISO 3280000  (Yes, that's 3 million ISO)
• 12 fps Shooting for 200 Shots with AE/AF - Huge Buffer for full raw
• 180k-Pixel RGB Sensor and Group Area AF
• 14-Bit Raw Files and 12-Bit Raw S Format
• Two versions of the D5 a dual XQD card slot version and a dual CF card slot (same price)

Available in Mid March for $6500 - Preorder from B&H Photo or AmazonThis is a beast of a camera - suited for professional sports photographers and others that need amazing speed, focusing power and excellent low light capabilities.  Interesting that it does allow 4K recording but limits that to just 3 minutes.  If you record to an external device like an Atomos Shogun you can record for much longer.    I am not sure what else to say about this camera- it's heavy, expensive and powerful. Offering a nice step forward in the evolution. You can purchase a model with dual CF cards (they are still way faster than SD of the even fast XQD memory slots- they are similar in size and shape to compact flash but offer speeds up to 1 Gbit/s read and write speed. Nikon Also announced the D500 Headline Features of the Nikon D500

• 20.9MP DX-Format CMOS Sensor (crop sensor)
• 3.2" 2,539k-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD - complete touchscreen control- set focus point, menu navigation etc.
• 4K UHD Video Recording at 30 fps (also limited to 3 minutes internally)
• Multi-CAM 20K 153-Point AF System (same focusing system as D5- this means coverage across frame from focus points is excellent - cross type points all the way to edge of frame)
• Native ISO 51200, Extend to ISO 1640000
• 10 fps Shooting for Up to 200 Frames
• Built-In Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC  (Low Power Bluetooth is used to keep a constant connection to smartphone, like Samsung NX1 - can push images to phone automatically)
• In-Camera Time Lapse, Up to 9999 Frames
• SD and XQD memory card slots.
• Pentaprism optical viewfinder offers 100% frame coverage

Sold Body only or with DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR Lens

• Preorder Nikon D500 DSLR Camera with 16-80mm Lens from B&H Photo | Amazon $3,066.95
• Preorder Nikon D500 Body Only from B&H Photo from B&H Photo | Amazon $1,996.95

This camera is going to be very interesting to do a Canon 7D Mark II vs Nikon D500. I feel like Nikon looked at the complaints about the 7D Mark II and said - yea, we can give you a camera like that and fix ALL of your complaints and then some!    This also shows that Nikon is committed to the crop sensor format.     Taking the same focusing system from the $6500 D5 and putting it in a crop sensor like the D500 is impressive - this gives you coverage out to the very edge of the frame with the higher accuracy cross type points! And I am sure this camera will be excellent at tracking fast moving subjects.Nikon has introduced a tilting touchscreen that provides full control of the camera -menu navigation and settings control, and is usable while shooting, giving you the ability to choose a focus point or an area to set the white balance from. The screen can also be used as a keyboard for quickly entering notes, copyright info, or IPTC information.  4K capable, though limited to just 3 minutes internally - if you need longer pickup an external device like an Atomos Shogun. And Nikon has introduced a wifi/bluetooth connectivity system similar to the excellent system in the Samsung NX1. You have the ability to have a low power constant connection to your smartphone pushing images as you take them.  No more fiddling with connections each time you want to grab an image.  I loved the NX1 version of this and I am happy to see it adopted by Nikon.  Hopefully canon will follow suit.I'd love to know what you think about these two cameras?  Leave a comment below.Also announced is a new Flash System with radio, the Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight, similar to the Canon 600RT system we use at weddings and love.  See the complete list of new gear from Nikon. Canon shooters feeling jealous? We should know more about the 1DX Mark II later this month and the 5D Mark IV in early March - if not sooner.   As far as crop sensor cameras go we will not see any updates on the 7D Mark II for at least a year- it is a fantastic camera, I just wish they had added some connectivity options and a touchscreen. 

New Bags from ThinkTank - Trifecta Series 8, 10

Our friends at Think Tank Photo have just released two new backpacks designed to allow you three different ways to get at your three “workhorse” lenses.  The Trifecta 10 is designed for DSLR systems, and the Trifecta 8 is designed for mirrorless systems. These innovative backpacks sling for side access from both the left and right. They are the perfect carrying solution for when you are on the move and don’t want to have to take off your backpack to access your gear. The rear panel opening offers complete access to gear.  And don’t forget that when you use my link you receive free gear with your order as well as free shipping.Shop Trifecta Series and All ThinkTank Bags at ThinkTank or Buy from B&H Photo Video

Nikon D5500 Vs Canon T6s/T6i (750D/760D)

Videohttps://youtu.be/NvFlrGEjD58  

Strengths of the Nikon D5500

• Better sensor
  • Improved low light performance
  • Better dynamic range
  • Capable of sharper images without the anti-aliasing filter
• Smaller and slightly lighter
• Innovative touchscreen can be used when camera is up to your face
• Additional scene & effect modes
• Timed bulb mode (press once to start, press again to end for useful for shutter speeds longer than 30 seconds without a remote.
• Intervalometer - short time lapses possible without extra gear
• 1080 at 60p
• Excellent battery life

Weakness of the Nikon D5500

• Smaller size and deeper grip may not be comfortable for all users.
• Locking kit lens slows down first shot
• Smaller buffer - fewer shots in fast burst, especially when shooting RAW + JPEG
• Live view experience
  • Focusing in low light is poor
  • Focusing is noisy
  • Focusing is slower with more hunting
  • Touch to track subject is buggy
  • Exposure simulation only possible in some modes
  • Menu system in live view a bit dense
• Very limited Wifi control- just touch to focus

Strengths of the Canon T6s/ T6i

• Manual control friendly with rear dial and top LCD (only applies to the Canon T6s)
• Slightly larger size and grip will feel nicer in larger hands
• Live view performance
  • Focusing is fast, accurate and silent when using an STM kit lens
  • Focusing in low light is excellent
  • Touch to focus works very well and touch to track subject
• Deeper buffer for slightly more shots in a burst, especially when shooting RAW + JPEG
• Digital zoom in video 3x closer and still full HD with no quality loss- possible to zoom to 10x but quality does decrease.
• Wifi and NFC for easy connection that provides full remote manual control of camera
• Access to cheap prime lenses like the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM, 24mm f/2.8 STM, 40mm f/2.8 STM

Weaknesses of the Canon T6s/ T6i

• Low light/ High ISO performance noisy above 3200
• Larger and slightly heavier
• Battery life, just 440 shots
• Video limited at 1080 30p and HDR video feature is a joke

Full Review - Canon T6s | Nikon D5500Support my work and the reviews I produce - use these links for purchase.Buy the Canon T6s from B&H Photo VideoBuy the Nikon D5500 from B&H Photo VideoSample Images from the Canon T6s and Nikon D5500Auto - Quick Snaps:Close Focusing Abilities with 18-55 Kit Lenses on Auto

Hack your Camera with an Axe?

Youtuber Casey Neistat uses a Canon 70D(among other cameras) to record his popular daily vlogs - They regularly reach several hundred thousand views each day. On a recent blog he got the error "Movie recording has stopped automatically" with his 70D And according to Casey- he get's this often even though he uses a fast card.  His method of dealing with the error is. . well you can guess from the title and you can watch the video below. I have it queued up for you to start right before the camera violence.https://youtu.be/dK9SSu3uZ2Q?t=4m21sI have shot with lots of Canon cameras and have a 70D, and we have two 5D Mark III that we regularly use (see what's in our bag) and the ONLY time I get that error is when I am using a card that is slow or bad.  Before smashing a camera I would highly recommend trying a different card. He shows the card he uses, they are actually on sale today at Amazon, and even though it states it is a fast card and I have never had an issue with Transcend cards - they can and will go bad or even arrive bad.   Also he smashes the lens too which clearly is not part of the problem - it's his gear, he can do what he want but it certainly feels wasteful.    

Should You Buy a Kit Lens?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcR5-DNktVgKit lenses are bad and should be avoided at all costs. . . or do they represent a perfectly decent option for beginners to DSLRS and ILCs? I lay out several reasons why I think most beginners should pick up a kit lens with their DSLR. Additional Reading/Viewing:Recommended lenses for Nikon including the 35mm f/1.8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSJ4trhBfFQCanon 50mm f/1.8 STM Video Reviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5EoXor3x44Canon 24mm and other Prime Lenseshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lra2-HWww0  

Kit Lenses - Poll & Discussion

I am working on a new video discussing the pros and cons of buying a camera with a kit lens.   Take a moment and answer the super simple poll. Feel free to leave additional thoughts in the comments about what has or has not worked for you lens-wise.[yop_poll id="7"]