Photo Mish Mash 90 - All Good Things

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Canon 80D- Noticeable Improvements in Dynamic Range?

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Canon 80D at BH PhotoDpreview 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.Click Through to see the full DPreview Article 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!

Instagram Winners - Forced Perspective

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Last week’s challenge, #PRTV_forcedperspective, was fun! Picking a winner was difficult, it always is! They are listed below along with some awesome honorable mentions.  You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s challenge #PRTV_freelens.You can follow us – Photorectoby | Christinabernales on InstagramToby’s Winner:https://www.instagram.com/p/BC-U00FxoUz/Toby’s Honorable Mentions:https://www.instagram.com/p/BC6JFCwDYRI/https://www.instagram.com/p/BC9pXVRN55G/Christina’s Winner: https://www.instagram.com/p/2aHMkJqVqf/Christina’s Honorable Mentions:https://www.instagram.com/p/BAbWxi5I3eu/https://www.instagram.com/p/94IkkJqVu_/

Photo Mish Mash 89 - Oh NO! Instagram!

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Instagram Feed Changes- BUMMER!?

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Instagram announced today that they will be changing your feed from chronological to Algorithmic! Similar to Facebook Instagram will use what it knows about you to display posts it thinks are most relevant to you first.   For now they say that ALL posts will still be visible but I have to say it feels just like a matter of time until certain posts get buried and after that- maybe needing to pay to promote...   I do know I have seen more ads on instagram in the last few months.    What are your thoughts? See the complete post below -Screenshot_20160316-142734 FROM INSTAGRAM

See the Moments You Care About FirstMARCH 15, 2016You may be surprised to learn that people miss on average 70 percent of their feeds. As Instagram has grown, it’s become harder to keep up with all the photos and videos people share. This means you often don’t see the posts you might care about the most.

To improve your experience, your feed will soon be ordered to show the moments we believe you will care about the most.

The order of photos and videos in your feed will be based on the likelihood you’ll be interested in the content, your relationship with the person posting and the timeliness of the post. As we begin, we’re focusing on optimizing the order — all the posts will still be there, just in a different order.

If your favorite musician shares a video from last night’s concert, it will be waiting for you when you wake up, no matter how many accounts you follow or what time zone you live in. And when your best friend posts a photo of her new puppy, you won’t miss it.

We’re going to take time to get this right and listen to your feedback along the way. You’ll see this new experience in the coming months.

Based on your comments on my FB post - you feel the same - this is not a good idea

Matt Granger Quits Using Sony

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In short he has had a series of pretty terrible repair & support issues which for a pro photographer can be an absolute deal breaker.  Now Matt is in Australia, I have heard from US Sony users that support is much better here but it is something I mentioned in my review of the Sony A7RII.  You can hear all of Matt's thoughts in the video below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apCc5JD4PYs

Samsung NX1 Discontinued at B&H

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We have seen the signs, heard the rumors and now here in the US at B&H Photo Store- the NX1 with Lens is listed as discontinued.  It is clear this line of cameras from Samsung is completely dead and done. A real shame - I really liked the NX1 as a camera though I did worry about the ecosystem.   I still miss it's beautiful OLED screen and smart features like over wifi firmware updates.No more NX1They do still have stock of Body Only models - not sure how long that will last but the price is decent. $1099 Slightly related - Amazon's deal of the day is the older NX3000. For $399 you get the camera, 20-50 and 50-200 lens. This is an excellent deal - just think of this as a point and shoot and it's a fantastic deal with good wifi connectivity and even a cheap tiny prime, 30mm f/2.0 lens you can add for additional portability.The NX3000 is a 20MP APS-C camera that does very well in low light. flip up touchscreen and the ability to take 3D photos (when using a 3D lens) round out the features.Samsung NX300 - Super deal  

Rokinon 14mm - Best Budget Lens for Astrophotography!

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Hands-on review with the budget-friendly Rokinon 14mm full frame lens - Is this the BEST budget lens for shooting the night sky full of stars? And you all have suggested some great alternatives I listed below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TSrFKLzsrQUPDATE SEPT- 2017 The IRIX Firefly is sharper with better features for Full Frame astrophotographers and is now my pick for budget astrophotography lens.Watch this updated video and learn more Buy the IRIX Firefly from B&H Photo $400.00Using my links for purchase or shopping of ANYTHING helps support the work we do here.

 Alternative options

Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 (manual focus)  $429 - Buy from B&H Photo

Good

  • Faster Aperture
  • Full Frame compatible
  • Takes Filters
  • Lovely walk around focal length for general photography

Bad

  • On crop 24 = 36mm, less exciting for wide starry skies

Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS Lens $429 - Buy from B&H Photo (best option for crop DSLRS)

Good

  • 16mm on Crop - nice and wide

Bad

  • Crop Only
  • Still no filter threads

Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye Lens with Removable Hood - $232 - $299 - Buy from B&H Photo

Good

  • WIDEEEEEE!
  • CHEAP!!!!

Bad

  • Crop Only
  • No filters
  • f/3.5
  • Fish eye even more limited in use.

Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS $299  - $399 - Buy from B&H Photo (my pick for MIRRORLESS crop alternative)

Good

  • Very portable
  • Takes filters
  • Fast f/2.0

Bad

  • Not available for DSLRS- only mirrorless

Rokinon 16mm f/2.0 $351 - $380 - Buy from B&H Photo (decent alternative - just not very wide)

Good

  • Takes filters
  • Fast f/2.0

Bad

  • Crop only
  • Barely wider than kit lens

 Learn more about the Tokina 11-16 vs the Canon 10-18 and Canon 10-22Learn more about the more expensive full frame wide angle lens options- Canon 16-35, Tamron 15-30 

Lighting 101 - Basic 3-point lighting setup

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4u_92uRsWc 

Lighting 101: 3-Point Lighting

  For this setup you will need:Key Light -  The Key Light defines the most visible lighting and shadows on the subject and acts as the primary source of illumination.  You can use just about any light source as your Key Light, whether it be the sun, a window, a lamp, or a video/photography light. For this video, we’ll be working entirely with constant lights for portrait lighting. Fill Light - The Fill Light softens and extends the illumination provided by the Key Light, making the subject more visible and softening the harsh contrast and dark shadows cast by the Key Light. Your Fill Light can simulate natural light from the sky, or secondary light sources such as a table lamp. A lamp or video light can be used, or one can use a reflector to do this as well.Rim Light - The Rim Light creates a bright line around the edge of the subject, to help visually separate the subject from the background and bring them further into the foreground of the photo. This too could be a carefully positioned reflector or another light source.Let’s get started:Step 1: You will want to set up or turn on a work light to establish your subject and frame. Bear in mind, this setup can be completed within 15 minutes but can take up to half an hour or longer depending how much adjusting you do, so you’ll want to make sure your subject is comfortable before you begin or use a stand in for practice until your talent arrives. Once you have your subject and frame established, you want to block off any natural light in the room that will add a glow or ambient light to the room.Step 2: Now we’ll set up our Key Light. You will want to position your Key Light 15-45 degrees to the right or left of your camera, to illuminate your subject. This will create a strong contrast between the light on the near side of your subject, and the dark shadows on the far side of your subject (away from your Key Light). You will want to elevate your Key Light a foot or two above the height of your subject, until you just begin to see a Rembrandt Lighting pattern (link to video/show short clip of the pattern). Your Key Light should be your brightest and strongest lighting source, and the additional lights will work to soften and shape the base light from the Key Source.Step 3: Next, we’ll add in the Fill Light. This is the point where you’ll begin to shape the light on your subject. The position of the Fill Light will be 15-45 degrees to the side of your camera, opposite the placement of your Key Light. So, if we placed the Key Light on the right side of the camera, our fill will come from the left side. Your Fill Light will be about half as bright as your Key Light, to soften the shadows cast by the Key source, without beginning to cast shadows of it’s own, which will often look unnatural and draw attention away from the subject.The Fill Light may be raised to the subject’s height, but should remain lower than the Key Light. Adjust the height of the Fill to see what appeals to you aesthetically. Alternatively, you can also bring in a reflector or bounce to act as your Fill Light, reflecting light from the Key Light back onto the subject to fill in the darker shadows.Step 4: Lastly, we’ll bring in our Rim Light. The Rim Light will be placed behind your subject, across from the camera, just off frame, and raised above the subject at level with the Key Light. Adjust the Rim Light to give you a bright outline, highlighting the top or side edge of your subject. The intensity of your Rim Light can be as bright as necessary to achieve the intensity of the highlight you want around the edge of your subject. The positioning of your Rim Light and the focus of light behind your subject is key, to ensure the light falls only on the subject and does not illuminate the background. You want to keep your background darker, so the Rim Light around the edge of your subject pulls the subject forward and away from the background.And that’s it. Three Point Lighting can be a great starting point for lighting just about any subject, person or otherwise. With this basic setup, you can adjust the height, positioning, intensity and source of lights to create your own look and feel for any lighting setup. For a darker, moody look, pull back the intensity of the fill to give the shadows a darker contrast. For a mysterious look, focus on backlighting your subject, and lower the intensity of your Key and Fill Lights. There are many options for you to customize the look and feel of each setup you want, but don’t feel like you have to have professional lights at your disposal to accomplish the looks you want. This setup can be implemented with basic table lamps, or even outdoors using the sun and a reflector.

Instagram Challenge Winners- Street Art

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Last week's challenge, #PRTV_STREETART, was colorful, gritty and fun! Picking a winner was difficult, it always is!They are listed below along with some awesome honorable mentions.  You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week's challenge #PRTV_forcedperspective.You can follow us - Photorectoby | Christinabernales on Instagram

Toby's Winner

https://www.instagram.com/p/q8H4REO6Tw/

Toby's Honorable Mentions

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCtN_RwwB8w/https://www.instagram.com/p/BChXjjSoPWW/

Christina's Winner

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCtN_RwwB8w/

Christina's Honorable Mentions

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCtS9pdxE5I/https://www.instagram.com/p/BCrHsbMSNeu/ 

New Canon DSLR- EOS Rebel T6 (1300D)

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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. Canon T6

  • 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.

Canon t6 Back Buy the Canon T6 from Amazon (available April 15th) $549.00Buy the Canon T6 from B&H Photo

Photo Mish Mash 88 - 6D Mark II or 5D Mark IV first?

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Instagram Challenge #PRTV_flags

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Last week's challenge, #PRTV_flags, was challenging but we celebrated flag day with awesome images of flags. Picking a winner was difficult - they are listed below along with some awesome honorable mentions.  You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week's challenge #PRTV_streetart.You can follow us - Photorectoby | Christinabernales on Instagram

Toby's Winner

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCYy2cQFdG5/

Toby's Honorable Mentions

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCNO1xzFucF/https://www.instagram.com/p/yQdTx_maXR/

Christina's Winner

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCTzoj9kkU3/

Christina's Honorable Mentions

https://www.instagram.com/p/8f_u8fIMrQ/https://www.instagram.com/p/BCNO1xzFucF/

Sony a6300 Hands-on Review (Draft)

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For the last few days I have been in Miami shoot with the Sony a6300, 24-70 f/2.8 GM series and the 85mm f/1.4 GM.  I will have a full video review soon (subscribe to my Youtube Channel to be notified) - below are some thoughts after spending three solid days with the Sony a6300 and shooting 3,000 photos.Sony a6300 with 24-70 GM f/2.8 Lens - 6 Seconds Sony a6300 Review - The headline features: Redesigned 24MP sensor, Improved AF system (4D Focus) with 425 Phase detection points - almost complete coverage of AF points from corner to corner and improved speed of focus 0.05 seconds. 11fps at high+ mode, 4K including 4k at Super 35mm.01-70 mm_1-1250 sec at f - 4.0_ISO 100a6300 Spoiler Review - This is the best hybrid (photos & video) camera you can buy at this price point: focus is impressive, low light capabilities are some of the best I have seen in a crop sensor and 4K video looks great.   A few small issues hold this camera back from perfection but I would very happy to walk out the door with the Sony a6300 for just about any photo or video task.The Good -Focus system works as advertised, We shot wake boarders, parkour athletes and salsa dancers and I was impressed with the speed and tracking capabilities.  In one example I watched the tracking squares lock on and follow a sprinting, tumbling athlete cross from one corner of the frame to the other. - He moved by people, intersecting objects and it capably tracked him.     When I compare this system to the Sony a7RII or the a6000 I see noticeable improvements and increased intelligence. One of my big complaints about sony is picking the focus point - no touchscreen and no dedicated joystick make it difficult but with the increased smarts the camera selected my subject most of the time and when it didn't a new feature to the a6300 - focus selector, helps.  This allows you to use the directional pad on the back as a joystick to move your focus points without an extra button press.  This does require an extra press to get into the other functions of the directional pad- e.g. ISO, exposure compensation ect. So not perfect but I appreciate the choice.Focus during movies - good, with customizability on speed.  I will have more to say after I send time carefully reviewing all the footage I shot.a6300 Photo Quality - Despite sharing the same MPs (24) as the a6000 they did redesign the sensor, increasing copper blah blah, do you really care. I don't I just want to know the result, and I believe this will be the new king of APS-C low light performance.   I shot 12,800 images that while noise was certainly present it was far below what I expected and I would be happy to deliver those images to a client or bride.100% crop at ISO 6400 - Noise Reduction turned OFF(MORE sample Images from the a6300)Video Quality - Very good - more to say soon.  These are good Codecs with S-Log as an option.Body and Handling - Very similar to the a6000- an additional switch at the AEL button allows a little more customizability.   Still can't assign shutter button to start video :(  Bodies construction is upgraded, honestly not sure I can really tell when I hold but it should be more robust.   The EVF is upgraded - nice rubber cup and it is higher quality with NO lag. With image review off I was tracking and shooting wake boarders without issue. Now with mic jack or you can use Sony's hotshoe mic.  Still no headphone port.Features- I mentioned the focus point selector. It's great! Also new option to magnify live view and focus for ultra precise focusing.  120fps full HD video! And of course 4k and cinema 4K - again, this will be the best performing low light camera for photos or video at this price point and honestly you have to spend significantly more to see improvements.  Custom 1 and 2 on the dial are additional nice touches.   Additional customization options in menu too  but. .The Sony menu system - This isn't particular to the a6300 but as these Sony cameras add additional features it becomes harder and harder to find and set all the variables you need for best performance in certain shooting situations. For example AF options are spread out over multiple tabs and pages and it makes it very difficult to find everything you need.  Additionally no favorites tab or customizable page mean if you want to seriously use this camera you will NEED to spend time memorizing the location of menu items.Anemic Buffer - Sure it can shoot 11 fps but that is a short burst and the camera locks up and is all but useless until it finishes writing to the card - this can be very frustrating in some situations.I will have lots more to say in my video- for now I will repeat the line. This is the best hybrid (photos & video) camera you can buy at this price point: focus is impressive, low light capabilities are some of the best I have seen in a crop sensor and 4K video looks great.I plan to compare the a6300 vs the Gh4, the 70D and 80D and it's big brother the Sony a7RII- but really, is it fair to compare a $1,000 camera vs a $3,200 camera?What else would you like to know or see covered in the review?Sony a6300Sony a6300ORDER the Sony a6300 from Amazon  or B&H Photo. Using my links to purchase is the best way to support my work on this channel- I can't continue to do this without your support. Use the links and visit http://photorec.tv/support to learn more.