Sample Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmLgLAIX028&feature=youtu.behttps://youtu.be/xVjo2G-c01sSample Photos
Mixing a comfortable wide-angle design with an ultra-fast maximum aperture, this 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens from Sigma is a 24mm-equivalent prime for APS-C-format Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras like the a6300 and a6500. With a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture, this lens is well suited for low-light conditions and also affords increased control over depth of field. With a 9-bladed aperture design for smooth background blur. This lens also sports a stepping AF motor for quick, quiet, and smooth focusing performance that suits both still photography as well as video applications. Additionally, a weather-sealed, durable construction enables this 16mm f/1.4 to excel in inclement weather conditions.Suitable for the stars or landscape work as well as an excellent focal length for general walk around photography. Available in Sony and Micro 4/3 mounts.[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="16358,16359,16310"]
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"]
GH5 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera Lens Options
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
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
[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
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.
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 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 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?
Bad
Despite some Coma wide open, this is the BEST lens you can buy for shooting the stars - nothing else is this sharp, this fast. Watch my video review for more information and sample images.
Bad
I struggle to come up with anything bad to say about this lens. Sure it uses 95mm Filters and all but the thinnest filters will add some vignetting but it is one of the only lenses on this list that even takes screw on filters. It is very easy to work with in the dark, the locking focus ring and the click stop at infinity focus are helpful when shooting the stars. It is as sharp as the Sigma too! All of this for just $400!
Bad
On a full frame, 24mm is often plenty wide enough for a nice starry sky or milky way shot. At f/1.4 this is a fast lens, is useful for daytime landscape shots with a normal filter size of 77mm but manual focus only does limit the versatility of this lens and it isn't the sharpest option here.
Bad
The widest & best option for crop users on the list (I don't love the fisheye look for stars or milky way photos) This small, light and affordable lens is hard to beat but the slightly faster IRIX firefly is sharper and offer some nice features that make it worth the sacrifice of a few mm.
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I don't love the look from a fisheye lens for the stars or milky way shots but if you do this would be the lens to grab. The good news, it is super affordable!
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This tiny lens is great for mirrorless crop sensor photographers shooting Sony, Fuji, Panasonic or Olympus. It takes filters, is very affordable and lightweight, not quite as sharp and offers a little more distortion than the IRIX or Sigma but excellent still.
(see linked video below)
Bad
The Tokina 11-16 for Canon and Nikon is one of the best value lenses on this list. It's not the sharpest and certainly has more distortion than the primes but it is a versatile lens with a good range and offer autofocus along with filter use making it possible to tackle a variety of situations.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens - Sharp, fast and relatively little distortion for an ultra-wide zoom lens and accepts regular filters AND is travel-friendly. - B&H Photo for $1,999.00Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD - One of the few ultra wide full frame lenses that offer stabilization. If you are careful you can handhold this at almost a second exposure. Not really helpful for stars/Milkyway but still useful. More distortion and not as sharp as the Canon listed above or the Nikon listed below but still a versatile lens . though be aware it's HEAVY - B&H Photo for $1,099.00Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED Lens - The gold standard for ultra wide angle zooms.Incredibly sharp and useful though it is big and heavy - B&H Photo for $1,896.95
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8An3dzcgCWE
Learn more about the Tokina 11-16 vs the Canon 10-18 and Canon 10-22
Learn more about the more expensive full frame wide angle lens options- Canon 16-35, Tamron 15-30
Headline features LG v30-Available Soon on B&H Photo - View Here
It might look like a GoPro competitor but it is that and MUCH more -
Sure it looks like a GoPro and comes in a rugged, waterproof housing - additional housing available for deeper than 10-meters, but the 4K out via HDMI, the Timecode-Sync and control of multiple units through the app or Remote means this is really focused on VR and multi camera setups in a variety of conditions. Maybe under a drone or mounted to multiple points on a rally car, or on your scuba mask… the options are endless and with that larger sensor and a higher quality lens - we should see some beautiful footage out of this camera.
Just a minor and mild refresh of the existing E-M10 MK II. The new version upgrades the processor and now supports 4k video, updates to the AF system and a bump to 121 AF points vs 80 in the Mark II. Slight change to the mode dial as well. The M10 offers a very compact interchangeable lens system at an affordable cost. Nearest competitor - the Panasonic G85 (see my full review of the G85).Shipping later this year. Preorder on B&H Photo now $699 Body Only | $799 w. 14-42 kit Silver and Black bodies available.Which new announcement are you most excited about.
First Impressions of the Canon 6D Mark II, Fuji X-T2, Irix 15mm f/2.4, Sigma 14mm f/1.8, Samyang 14mm f/2.8, Rokinon 35mm f/1.8, DJI Spark and a discussion of the best travel camera system. Which of these items are you most interested in hear/seeing a full review about?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwoprlMPzsESee a complete list of the gear I am taking to Joshua Tree for Star Photography - https://kit.com/photorectoby/joshua-tree-adventure
As an update, the Sony A9 starts shipping starting tomorrow, order now and get your brand new a9 soon! If you haven't yet, check out Toby's review of the sportier A9 everyone has come to love. At 20fps and speedy autofocus, it pushes the envelope for what's possible.Buy it now at:
Shooting solo, the plan coming to the race was four cameras set as remotes with a mid-range zoom and the other a longer telephoto. For walkaround gear, Didlick focused on the new 100-400mm G Master with a 2x converter for head on shots. A 24-70mm G Master worked as an all purpose lens on the second a9 to complement the telephoto, and he carried a 70-200 f/2.8 G Master lens as well. Overall he covered his bases nicely for somewhat wider shots to the closest portraits of the horse and jockies.Logistically with the small size of the a9 and lenses, it’s actually a relatively small and lightweight setup considering the competition for Didlick. Six Cameras and eight lenses plus accessories fit into one case making it a cakewalk to cart around Churchill Downs. Even out on the track, Didlick was carrying three a9s with their remote setups while others struggled with two DSLRs. The a9’s set to fire as a remote lasted six to eight hours on one battery making no need to hurry to check on them through the day as well.This Kentucky Derby was the Sony α9’s first major foray into big-time sports photojournalism. With Didlick’s guidance, the camera lived up to its potential. You can check out some of the day’s photos below.
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
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[/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]
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[/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"]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] 
Every once in awhile there is a product that comes along that really pushes the technology envelope and causes us all to rethink what is possible. The original iphone is one example - is the Sony a9 another?
The new Sony α9 is capable of shooting 20 fps and can do so completely silently. Watch/listen to the demo I shot in my hotel room last week with the Sony α9 hands-on-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6iHmGp4nMo
Sony is going after Canon/Nikon in a BIG way. While Sony cameras continue to sell well - their aps-c line and full frame, the sidelines of sporting events are still dominated by Canon and Nikon. The newly announced Sony a9 hopes to change that. With the a7R II and a7S II already pushing Sony full frame sales above Nikon for the 2nd spot, this is an exciting announcement.
I am here in New York for the Sony a9 announcement and hands-on shooting. I just recorded my thoughts in a short videohttps://youtu.be/1AixQ_rbqko
Preorders start 10am Fri Apr 21 - B&H LINK for Sony a9 PRICE: $4,499.00Also announced -
Preorders start 10am Fri Apr 21 - B&H LINK for Sony FE 100-400 PRICE: $2,499.00
UPDATE: NEW VIDEO - 6 MONTHS WITH THE GH5I have had the GH4 for three years, the GH5 for three days - Here are my early thoughts on the GH5https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLTkpT6hBVQSummary Review:
The Gh5 form and button placement is very similar to the GH4 - though we do have a little joystick nub - useful for menu navigation, focus point selection, the record button has moved up top and the whole camera is slightly bigger and about a 1/2 lb heavier. I am a little bummed that they went bigger heavier, I really like the size of the GH4 but it did allow them to upgrade the viewfinder -which is noticeably bigger and add dual card slots - in the years of hard use and abuse the Gh4 has seen - including shooting days worth of footage in hot Tanzania - I have never had a card or camera write error but having two slots gives you backup, or split video and stills OR just have a massive amount of storage. We also have a full HDMI port and a USB C connection, I am so glad, I hate those fiddly usb3 connections. The USB-C allows for fast image download but does NOT support charging over USB. if you want to charge on the go you need to pick up one of these - And while the Gh5 uses the same battery it does seem like battery life is marginally shorter -likely do to the slightly higher resolution LCD AND the stabilized sensor.A stabilized sensor! And like the G85 I just reviewed and the Olympus OMD em1 Mark II - when paired with certain lenses you get dual stabilization - useful for longer exposures , though so far I can’t can’t seem to hand hold reliably past a 1/2 second -
with the olympus I could get 4 seconds and that was without the dual IS lens. But for video you now have silky smooth footage and can throw on small primes and still get decently smooth footage.Let’s take a look at the rest of the features4K at 60fps, nothing else close to this price offers 4k at 60FPS and full sensor use for 4k, no additional crop at 4k like you had with the GH4 - wide lenses stay wide and this provides slight low light improvements. You also have 10 bit recording internally- this means the files respond better to grading and improved slowmo with 180fps at 1080 vs just 120 fps in the Gh4. And with 60 fps at 4k you can do the kind of cinematic slow mo at 30fps and stay at 4KYou now have AUTO ISO available when shooting in Manual Video mode - something I personally appreciate.And while this isn’t a difference from the Gh4 - it's important to mention as I get asked often - there is NO recording limit on the GH4 - as long as you have space on the cards and power, the camera will continue to record. It will NOT stop at 29:59 seconds!And also important for me to mention that you can continue to record 4k even when using the very capable wifi remote - something that sets this camera apart from Olympus and fuji.It’s not just on the video side, this is a more capable stills camera - with a 20MP sensor ,improved low light handlingDOWNLOAD FULL RESOLUTION FILES FROM BOTH CAMERAS
Sony a6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm & 55-210mm Lenses and Mic KitReg Price: $2,146 | Instant Savings: $350 | You Pay: $1,746 –NO TAX OUTSIDE OF NY & FREE SHIPPING (USA)Sony a6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm & 55-210mm Lenses & Free KitReg Price: $2,096 | Instant Savings: $150 | You Pay: $1,846 –NO TAX OUTSIDE OF NY & FREE SHIPPING (USA)Sony a6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-70mm Zeiss Lens & Free Accessory KitReg Price: $2,396 | Instant Savings: $100 | You Pay: $2,296 –NO TAX OUTSIDE OF NY & FREE SHIPPING (USA)Sony a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm & 55-210mm Lenses KitReg Price: $1,496 | Instant Savings: $250 | You Pay: $1,246 – NO TAX OUTSIDE OF NY & FREE SHIPPING (USA)Sony a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Lens and Free Accessory KitReg Price: $1,148 | Instant Savings: $100 | You Pay: $1,048 –NO TAX OUTSIDE OF NY & FREE SHIPPING (USA)Sony a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body with Free Accessory KitReg Price: $998 | Instant Savings: $50 | You Pay: $948 –NO TAX OUTSIDE OF NY & FREE SHIPPING (USA)Sony a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-70mm Zeiss Lens KitReg Price: $1,996 | Instant Savings: $150 | You Pay: $1,846 –NO TAX OUTSIDE OF NY & FREE SHIPPING (USA)Sony a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm and 55-210mm Lenses & Mic KitReg Price: $1,498 | Instant Savings: $250 | You Pay: $1,248–NO TAX OUTSIDE OF NY & FREE SHIPPING (USA)Sony a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-70mm Zeiss Lens and Mic KitReg Price: $1,996 | Instant Savings: $150 | You Pay: $1,846 –NO TAX OUTSIDE OF NY & FREE SHIPPING (USA)
B&H Photo Battery Grip Sale - Canon | Nikon | Sony | Panasonic | Fuji
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpERpJG7VDYAnd an updated mirrorless camera! SO Canon just announced - a Canon T7i (800D), a 77D (9000D) and the M6 (mirrorless camera) - If you are trying to figure out where the new 77D fits in the line up you are not alone - I have had a handful of confused readers write in over the last week, based on our post about the leaked specs, asking what the Canon 77D offers vs the Canon 80D. I have a quick comparison below but briefly the 77D is the successor to the T6s and the T7i is the successor to the Canon T6i. Canon will continue to offer the T6i making their line of Rebels quite large with a T5, T6, Sl1, T5i, T6i, T6s, T7i, 70D, 77D, 80D ALL still being offered/sold.. That's quite the lineup. The big headline - DUAL PIXEL AF is in the new cameras!! That is the fast and smooth AF during live view - immensely helpful for video and makes using live view a much more pleasant experience. Additionally Canon has shrunk the T7i a bit more, this makes me think we will not see a SL2 anytime soon.A quick comparison of the two new DSLRS the T7i and the 77D with the older T6i/T6s and the 80D. below the chart I have a few more differences between the 77D and the T7i and some recommendations about which you might want to buy.
| Spec | Canon 80D | Canon T6s/T6i (750/760D) | Canon T7i (800D) | Canon 77D (9000D) |
| MP | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| ISO | 100-16,000 | 100-12,800 | 100-25600 (expands to 51200) | 100-25600 (expands to 51200) |
| Processor | Digic 6 | Digic 6 | Digic 7 | Digic 7 |
| Number of AF pts | 45 (all cross type) | 19(all cross type) | 45 (all cross type) | 45 (all cross type) |
| Viewfinder | 100% pentaprism | 95% pentamirror | 95% pentamirror | 95% pentamirror |
| Live View AF speed | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Top Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/4000 | 1/4000 | 1/4000 |
| Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/200 | 1/200 | 1/200 |
| FPS | 7 (live view 5 with AF) | 5 (live ~1 with AF) | 6 | 6 |
| Low Light focusing | -3 EV (very good) | -0.5 (ok) | -3 EV (very good) | -3 EV (very good) |
| Video | 1080p60 | 1080p30 | 1080p60 | 1080p60 |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | No | No | No |
| Mic Jack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | WIFI/NFC | WIFI/NFC | WIFI/NFC/Bluetooth | WIFI/NFC/Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 960 shots | 440 shots | 600 Shots | 600 shots |
| Weight | 730g (1.61 lb / 25.75 oz) | 565 g (1.25 lb / 19.93 oz) | 532 g (1.17 lb / 18.77 oz) | 540 g (1.19 lb / 19.05 oz) |
| Current Price | $1499 with 18-135 | $1099 Body | $1049 T6s with 18-135 | $849 Body | $1299 with 18-135 |$749 Body | $1499 with 18-135 | $899 Body |
The T7i/77D now offer Dual Pixel AF, much improved low light AF performance and 45 cross-type AF points, Digic 7 processors which should provide slightly better low light/high ISO performance, Bluetooth and a new battery providing better battery life over the T6s/T6i models. And a video time-lapse mode. And this is all in a slightly smaller, slightly lighter body.
So what is different? Like the T6i/T6s cameras the difference is mostly in the body with the 77D offering a very slightly larger body that offers a top LCD screen, a rear dial, lock switch and an eye sensor used to turn off the LCD when you bring your eye up to the viewfinder. They both use the same NEW battery.
Canon 77D(left) vs Canon T7i(right) top view
This is easy - If you are considering these cameras I expect you want to shoot manually and the 77D with the rear dial and top LCD screen make this a more manual friendly camera. I talk more about this in my T6s review If you are on a strict budget the T7i saves you some money that you could use to buy the 50mm f/1.8 STM lens
This is a tougher decision. The real strengths of the 80D - bigger battery providing almost 1,000 shots per charge, weather sealing and a significantly faster top shutter speed at 1/8000 of a second along with a headphone jack make this a more professionally capable camera for photographers and videographers. If you are a casual photographer the 77D offers savings and a camera the will provide more than enough power for you. If you plan to become more serious about your photography or videography the 80D offers just that much more room to grow that I do recommend purchasing.
it is NOT replacing the M5, this will be an additional model alongside the M5. The improvement between the two will be the M6 includes stabilization for video and they have removed the EVF - providing an optional EVF you can attach in the hotshoe. This makes the camera a little more compact but in my opinion a lot less desirable. I want an EVF on ALL my cameras - otherwise bright sunny conditions make it very hard to see what's happening on the back of the LCD. (more soon)
These new cameras now offer Bluetooth LE for additional connectivity options and Canon is releasing a Bluetooth wireless remote. The BR-E1, price $50, is capable of triggering the camera up to 16 feet. It can also control that lens zoom, PZ-E1, that was released with the 80D.
T7iAvailable to pre-order through |
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77DAvailable to pre-order through |
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M6Available to pre-order through |
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18-55mm F/4-5.6IS STM lensAvailable to pre-order through |
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BR-E1 WirelessRemote ControlAvailable to pre-order through |
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Sony has just announced a new lens - The 100mm F2.8 STF G Master with Highest Ever Quality Bokeh for an α Lens - It's a bit of a mouthful and bokeh quality is subjective in my opinion BUT it's nice to see Sony continue to offer high quality lenses at various focal lengths. I'd love to see a serious telephoto 300+ and a few more slightly more affordable options like the $600 85mm f/1.8 that is coming soon.[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="13657,13658,13659"] Preorder - More InfoB&H Photo Sony 100mm f/2.8 STF G Master Lens $1498.00B&H Photo Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens $598.00
Sony Introduces 100mm F2.8 STF G Master™ with Highest Ever Quality Bokeh for an α LensNew Full-frame 85mm F1.8 Mid-telephoto prime lens and Compact Radio-Controlled Flash announced as wellLAS VEGAS, Feb. 7, 2017 – Sony Electronics, a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer, has today introduced two new lenses for their popular line of E-mount interchangeable lens cameras.Sony’s new lenses include one of their flagship G Master Series – an FE 100mm F2.81 STF GM OSS mid- telephoto prime lens (model SEL100F28GM) built to deliver breathtaking bokeh with a unique STF™ (Smooth Trans Focus) design, and a new compact, lightweight FE 85mm F1.8 mid-telephoto prime lens (model SEL85F18) that is a welcome addition to the bag of any hobbyist or enthusiast photographer looking to create amazing portraits.They have also introduced a new powerful, compact flash (model HVL-F45RM) with radio-controlled wireless communication that is ideal for professional shooting with Sony’s lineup of α7 full-frame cameras.FE 100mm F2.81 STF GM OSS Telephoto Prime LensA specially designed mid-telephoto, full-frame prime lens, the new 100mm STF is built to produce truly unique, magnificent and beautiful bokeh while maintaining the exceptional standard of resolution that is showcased by Sony’s entire line of flagship G Master series lenses, making it a powerful photographic tool for any portrait, fashion, nature or wedding photographer.These impressive defocus capabilities are made possible by the lens’ advanced optical structure, as it features a newly designed 11-bladed aperture and a unique optical apodization lens element. Similar to a neutral density filter that increases in density towards the edges, the apodization element creates beautiful transitions of in-focus to out-of-focus areas within an image, making for exceptionally soft, smooth bokeh that adds depth and dimensionality. This allows the subjects to stand out against beautifully defocused elements in both the foreground and background, producing an image that is naturally pleasing to the eye. The design of the lens also ensures that vignetting is kept to an absolute minimum, ensuring optimum image quality.Additionally, the new 100mm lens supports both contrast AF and focal-plane phase detection AF2, and has a high-precision, quiet direct drive SSM (Super Sonic Motor) system that ensures exceptionally fast and accurate AF performance. The SEL100F28GM also offers up to 0.25x close-up capabilities with a built-in macro switching ring, built-in Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization, a customizable focus hold button, AF/MF switch, aperture ring and more. It is dust and moisture resistant as well3.FE 85mm F1.8 Telephoto Prime LensThe new 85mm F1.8 mid-telephoto prime lens offers an extremely versatile, lightweight and compact telephoto prime lens solution for a variety of Sony camera owners ranging from working professionals to emerging enthusiasts that have stepped up to full-frame or APS-C cameras for the first time. With its wide F1.8 aperture, it can produce impressive, exceptionally sharp portraits with soft background defocus that take advantage of its 85mm focal length and wide F1.8 maximum aperture.The new prime lens features a 9-bladed circular aperture mechanism that ensures smooth, natural looking bokeh, and a double linear motor system to allow for fast, precise and quiet focusing. It also has a focus hold button that can be customized and assigned together with functions in the camera body like the popular Eye AF feature. There is a smooth, responsive focus ring and AF/MF switch as well, and the lens is also dust and moisture resistant 3.New Compact Radio-controlled FlashSony’s new HVL-F45RM flash enhances the radio-controlled lighting system capabilities of their growing system, offering a compact professional shooting solution when combined with the currently available wireless remote controller FA-WRC1M and receiver FA-WRR1.The new flash, which is designed to complement the compact bodies of Sony’s E-mount camera lineup including full-frame α7 models, produces a maximum lighting output as expansive as GN45 4. This ensures sufficient illumination even when shooting with bounce lighting or high-speed-sync (HSS) flash. The radio capabilities of the HVL-F45RM allow it to be used as a transmitter or a receiver at up to 30m (approx. 98 feet5), making it an ideal fit for creative lighting with multiple flashes. Additionally, unlike optical flash systems, radio-control flashes do not require a direct line-of-sight between components to function properly, while also minimizing any impact that bright sunlight has on signal transmission and control.The HVL-F45RM flash has an impressive battery life of up to 210 bursts, and can tilt up to 150o vertically, a complete 360o horizontally and up to 8o downward to maximize versatility. Usability has been maximized with a new large, bright and highly visible LCD display, an LED light, dust and moisture resistant design3 and a revamped menu system that mimics those of Sony’s newest camera systems.Pricing and AvailabilityBoth of the new lenses and the new flash unit will ship to authorized dealers throughout North America.The new FE 100mm F2.8 STF OSS GM Telephoto Prime Lens will ship this March for about $1,500 US and $2,050 CA.The new FE 85mm F1.8 Mid-Telephoto Prime Lens will ship this March for about $600 US and $800 CA.Replacement lens hoods for each of the new models will also be available for purchase as well.The new HVL-F45RM flash will ship this May for about $400 US and $550 CA.
I recently traveled to Alaska with McKay Photography Academy - If you don't follow me on Instagram you missed out on some fun stories! Insta Stories is where I am doing much of my vlogging and behind the scenes content these days. My Youtube vlog is coming soon - in the meantime here is a look at the stunning Aurora Borealis display we got to see - shot over two nights - Gear list and info below the video. We are making plans to return to this awesome viewing location in March -Drop your name and email if you want to be on the pre notice list?Be sure to watch full screen - 4K resolution possible.https://youtu.be/stZKwVzlw94Captured over two nights outside Fairbanks Alaska- KP index was a 1 and 2.- Temperatures were -30°F to -10°F
All the individual shots were placed in Final Cut Pro - :04 seconds in a 30fps video. Notice the shorter exposure shots capture a bit more of the detail but the difference isn't huge between a 4 and 30 second exposure!
Sony A7RII- B&H Photo LinkLenses - Batis 18mm f/2.8 & Laowa Optics 12mm f/2.8Olympus E-M1 Mark II- B&H Photo LinkLenses - 7-14mm f/2.8 and Lumix 12mm f/1.4Mefoto Travel Tripod CFTriggerTrap Kit for SonyJackery Thunder 10050mAh (used to power the Sony)Some additional information: I wanted to shoot more with the Olympus, but in the freezing dark, I found the familiarity of my Sony easier to work with AND I could power the Sony with the external USB for longer time lapses. I was provided only one battery with the Olympus and wanted to save it for some video work. Both cameras performed well in the extreme cold, with one exception. On our first night of shooting, I didn't have the sony plugged into the USB battery and left it running a series of shots. It died in about 40 minutes! I expected that, but it got so cold that the internal battery must have died and I had to reset the date and time.
BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: Sony a6300 - $998 with a $100 B&H Photo Gift Card | More Black Friday DealsI spent the last few days shoot with the Sony a6500 - Also the Sony RX 100 Mark V and the a99 Mark II - more on those cameras soon. The a6500 is what I want to share more about. And a quick reminder that I think the a6000/a6300 are awesome cameras - the a6300 low light performance is fantastic and it was the only camera I took to Moab, Utah last April - leaving my heavier full frame camera at home - I had no regrets. See my original review of the Sony a6300 and my a6300 shooting tips video.https://youtu.be/l-227X1gA_kA few of my favorite Sony a6300 shots from the last yearhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BKtTD4IjvVn/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BKRsUsJj73O/https://www.instagram.com/p/BIXaKc4Degq/
Clearly the a6500 has advantages over the a6300 - but I do think those advantages apply to fairly narrow audience and most photographers would be better saving money on the a6300 or putting those savings toward a nice prime lens that will get you some awesome results.Support this site - Buy the Sony a6500 from B&H PhotoOr Buy the Sony a6300 and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (see my list of recommended Wide angle lenses including sony options)
Sony steps up with the new a6500, serious speed in a very small mirrorless package. The a6500 comes with 5-axis in-camera image stabilization and touchscreen capability; the two major points everyone asked for after the a6300 was released in February. Considering Canon and Nikon’s release schedules are yearly it seems a bit early for a new model but with a 24.2MP sensor, 11 frames per second, and 4k video it’s the little camera that can make a mark.
Sharing the same 4D FOCUS as the a6300 you get fast autofocus times in as little as 0.05 seconds. Not too unexpected considering the a6500 has 425 phase detection AF points and a 169-area contrast detection system. The highest number of AF points on any interchangeable lens camera. Even while tracking fast subjects in continuous autofocus the 11 frame per second speed can capture up to 307 photos. A large part of the boost thanks to using a new front-end LSI chip like the A99 II announced during Photokina.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVIHtPmszwYou also get 4k Super 35mm format video and 1080p 120fps with the a6500. Touch focusing and adjustable focus transitions for video make recording a breeze. Grab any shot you need while recording with 8MP stills available from recording in 4K. A S&Q (Slow & Quick) Motion setting allows full HD video from 1-120fps to control speed and pace your shot for slow motion for faster action. S-Gamut and S-Log shooting allow for post production color grading with a wide dynamic range for better editing for the advanced videographer. With a new magnesium body design to fit ibis hopefully the overheating and rolling shutter issues found in the a5300 were fixed as well in the update.
The first Sony APS-C sensor camera to get Sony’s great in-body stabilization. The a6500 gets a step closer to it’s higher end counterparts while barely increasing the camera’s size. With approximately five steps of stabilization, it can handle any lens you can get to fit on the camera. A feature sure to be a major selling point with adapters such as metabones as it allows a giant lens ecosystem of third party lenses to choose from that ibis can provide stabilization. 
One major complaint of the a6300 has always been that people get the camera then come to realize that it does not have a touch screen. Something available both on Nikon and Canon entry level DSLR’s making it a bit of the odd man out with the competition. Sony's updated the a6500 with this in mind adding a 3” OLED tilting touchscreen that should fit that bill fine. Touch focus is available even when using the viewfinder, swipe while shooting to move the focus point where needed without looking at the screen. Unfortunately while it is touch to focus for photo and video it cannot be used to select menu settings. 
The a6300 to a6500 upgrade has gotten a few other tweaks. The menu system is now rearranged and colored for quick access when you need to find a setting. With the body redesign you gain another custom button, improved grip, better eyepiece, and updated weather sealing (but not listed to what degree). It's slightly larger to fit everything in as well, making it a bit less pocketable while adding a bit more balance with larger lenses (a6300 4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9 in vs a6500 4.75 x 2.75 x 2.125 in).
Time to sell the a6300 to upgrade for that touch screen and stabilization you always wanted? Despite sharing names the a6500 has enough going on that it's another camera almost. At least on paper with 5-axis stabilization, 11fps shooting, a 300+ shot buffer, 4k video, and weather sealing you can't complain that the specifications are not impressive. The a6500 will be available in November starting at $1,400 body only with pre-orders starting soon.
