Panasonic GH5 fully Announced

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What you need to know: The Panasonic GH4 is a mirrorless camera that looks like a small DSLR. Capable of shooting photos and video the GH4 was one of the first truly affordable 4K capable cameras that provides a host of features professional videographers love. The GH5 shipping in late March 2017 offers some noteable improvements that look to continue to place it at the top of 4K capable cameras BUT the now more expensive $1999 price certainly provides room for competitors.

My Current Recommended cameras for primarily videoSerious video work - Panasonic GH4 / Sony a6300 or a6500Best vlogging camera - Panasonic G85Smallest 4k video capable I can recommend - Sony RX100 Mark IV

I own and use the Panasonic GH4 daily - it is the camera I use to shoot all of my videos including my travel vlogs (except the recent Alaska trip where I tried the Olympus EM1 Mark II)  The GH4 shoots beautiful 4K video, has a battery that lasts for hours and hours of shooting and it's nicely portable with a fully articulating screen- I could go on but you are here because the successor to the GH4 has just been completely announced- I say completely because we had an official announcement from panasonic about the GH5 last September.  That announcement wasn't complete with some information missing. We now have the complete picture.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPxKZ2MWgdI

Panasonic GH5 Specs

  • 20.3MP Four Thirds sensor with no low pass filter.
  • 4K Video: Internal recording at 4K60/50p (4:2:0 8bit) & 4K30/25p/24p (4:2:2 10bit).
  • Variable Video Frame Rates 4K: Max. 60fps & FHD: Max. 180fps.
  • No additional crop factor when shooting 4K
  • 5-Axis Photo/Video Dual I.S. 2.0 up to 5 stops with compatible LUMIX MFT lenses, plus in-body stabilization support for classic non-O.I.S lenses.
  • Fast and accurate focusing utilizing LUMIX 480 fps DFD focusing system and Venus Engine 10
  • Full size (Type A) HDMI terminal with cable lock included & twin SD Card slots (UHS-II U3 Compatible).
  • 3.5mm mic & headphone terminals - optional DMW-XLR1 microphone adaptor.
  • Eye viewfinder 3680k-dot OLED, 21mm, 0.76x.
  • V-LogL recording with (Optional) DMW-SFU1 paid upgrade

Body style looks very similar to the GH4 with a few differences

  • Dual SD Card Slots
  • Full-sized HDMI port
  • USB-C for data transfer
  • Joystick button for focus point selection & menu navigation (You can also use the touch screen)

Additional firmware updates planned in April and later in 2017 will provide additional bit rates.Price $1,999 an increase over the GH4 and $600 more over the Sony a6500Pre Order the GH5 from B&H Photo

GH5 vs the a6500/a6300

Benefits of the GH5

  • Better Battery Life
  • 4k at 60FPS
  • Better slow mo
  • Higher bitrate files
  • Fully articulated touchscreen
  • Touchscreen works well for ALL camera options
  • Large photo burst rate
  • no overheating. We don't know for sure yet but the a6500 can in some warmer/hotter conditions shut down do to high internal temps.
  • Better lens selection
  • Stabilized sensor vs the a6300.

Benefits of Sony a6500

  • Better low light performance
  • Faster AF
  • Better photos (greater resolution and cleaner high ISO)
  • Cheaper and the a6300 is almost 1/2 the price.

The list certainly looks good for the GH5 but if you need better low light performance or want a more capable photo camera the a6500 or a6300 would probably be my pick. The GH5 wins in usability and offers that fully articulating screen if you need to vlog.Buy the a6500 from B&H Photo  $1,398.00Buy the a6300 from B&H Photo $998.00Pre Order the GH5 from B&H Photo $1,999.00  

Don't Forget to Add or Update Your Metadata Copyright

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Happy New Year! It's time to update your metadata copyright for the new year, and if you haven't been doing this it's time to start. Unlike watermarks on top of your photo you have the chance to add your information in the file's embedded metadata. This consists of EXIF data (aperture, ISO, camera model, GPS, etc) and IPTC data (caption, title, subject, and importantly copyright). This convenient space for copyright affords a bit of protection under the DCMA, a way to show the photo is yours, and making it slightly easier to find online if someone takes the photo.From a legal standpoint it's against the DCMA to remove the metadata. Sites like Facebook tend to strip the data as it saves on storage with millions of files but there has been a bit of pushback on this as of late. As for individual cases it can be up to a $2,500 fine, more if the photo was used commercially. Statistically in most cases if your photo is taken they tend not to strip your metadata making it easy to find. If your wondering which sites do keep this information you can find out here.  It's not a lock tight system, and quite easy to get around, but it's one easy step that helps down the road. This just provides a limited step, for full copyright protection you still have to register your photos with the copyright office and submit the files online.

In Lightroom

As the most convenient option, Lightroom will handle adding your information to photos while importing. If you don't have Lightroom programs such as Photoshop, Essentials, and many other free applications can add this as well.To Create a New Preset:

  1. Start the Import Module
  2. Go to Apply During Import on the right sidebar.Lightroom Metadata Preset
  3. Click the box next to Metadata and click New
  4. Scroll down to IPTC Copyright and fill out the area with your information
  5. Then fill out IPTC Creator with your information
  6. Click create and import
    1. If you happen to cancel out of import you'll just have to select your preset the next import. After that the choice will be set for every following import.

 Lightroom MetadataFYI, to get that copyright symbol "©" in the box you can enter the keyboard alt code. It's the trick to entering characters not readily available as a key on your keyboard.

  • For Windows: Press and hold the alt key then type 0169 on your keyboard
  • For Mac: Press and hold the option key then press G

To Update a Preset:

  1. Start the Import Module
  2. Go to Apply During Import on the right sidebar
  3. Click Edit Presets
  4. Click the bar at the top next to Preset currently listed as Custom
  5. Select your preset
  6. Change the year of your copyright claim
  7. Click done then press save

If you've been neglecting or haven't applied it to your older photos you can fix that quite easily. Select your older photos while in the Library Module. Right click on a photo, go to Metadata Presets, and select the one you've just created which will write that data to all of your photos. If you'd like the years to match you can select the photos by year when it's finished and edit them as a group under metadata in the right sidebar.

In Camera

Since we now have cameras with file transfer over WiFi or that you just might want to grab a file from the card to share it helps to add your information to your camera as well. You might be overwriting it once it gets to Lightroom anyway but it's a simple backup in the case that you want to share a photo quickly. Canon, Nikon, and Sony have this option available which you can find in your manual. 

Instagram Winners – HoHoHo

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It was your chance to shoot the holidays with the Ho Ho Ho Instagram challenge. You could go festive with a tree or think outside the box and we had a lot of great entries. Shooting a theme like Christmas opens a lot of options for photos, lighting, and ideas so its a nice way to think creatively for a shot or find one.For next week the new challenge fits today with resolution. It's your chance to shoot your goal for the new year. A bit more creative for some depending on your goals but it should be an interesting challenge.To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_resolution.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOh1-FqhTfI/The terrier is lit quite nicely against the tree making for a nice Christmas photo.  Being low light the faster aperture worked nicely and brings your dog out tack sharp while blurring the background well.

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNoePuvhNCK/Going a bit out of the box with the biggest bokeh tree in london made for a great concept. Shooting out of focus makes for some interesting photos and it's a neat idea for a holiday staple.https://www.instagram.com/p/BOYBEBkhZa7/Getting a slight bit of elevation and shooting the whole scene makes for a great shot. Going over the water adds the reflections of the lights making the photo a bit busy but a really nice scene overall.

Your Best Photo of 2016

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Click on Through to watch on Youtube in 4K https://youtu.be/c_FRpwo9vO4  Submission is closed - Finished video will be posted soon on Youtube - Make sure you are a subscriber to be notified.  Click to subscribe and be notified.  UPDATE - iOS devices ignore your file name when you upload and all I get is a IMAGE.JPEG filename. IF THE FILE IS NOT PROPERLY NAMED Yourfirstname_Lastname I will not use.   Please upload from desktop or laptop to avoid this. I am collecting your best/favorite photo from 2016 for the 3rd annual slide show.  Read ALL Directions and Disclaimers. Submit link below the video.Directions:

  • Search your library for your favorite image you captured in 2016.
  • 16:9 crop is preferred but not required. - This fits the video nicely but portrait/vertical orientation is acceptable and should NOT be 16:9 - a much wider aspect ratio would be preferred for vertical.
  • You may watermark your image - I would prefer it not be obtrusive but it is your image.
  • Export as a JPEG - longest side at least 4,000 pixels.
  • Name the file your firstname_lastname and drop into the folder found at the link below. - If your image is not properly named it will not be used.
  • Submit by MIDNIGHT PST December 30th.

Disclaimers:

  • By submitting your image here you authorize photorec.tv to share your image in a slideshow on Youtube.  Your image will not be used for anything else without your express permission.
  • I will not return images - make sure you don't give me the ONLY copy.
  • I am not responsible for copyright violations that occur on Youtube.
  • I cannot guarantee that I will use your image

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wrbJ5NVCAo

 >> Submit here >> CLOSED for 2016.  See you in 2017!!

Instagram Winners – Cold

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It's getting chilly outside and is a perfect time to shoot that weather for the cold Instagram challenge. Especially considering a large number of fair weather photographers out there that miss this great season. You can hunt for color, go for an all grey scale shot with this snow, or even a family photo of the kids playing outside.It’s the time of the year for your Christmas shots and this week it’s your challenge. As everyone does not participate in Christmas you can upload anything of the holiday season or your respective religion.  Merry Christmas, now get shooting!To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_hohoho.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOXxM1TBJWW/Frosty bits on the kale just pops with that color. The frostiness of the kale makes me feel cold and it works perfect for this challenge.

Toby's Honorable Mention:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOP5pZqDh76/I love this tree! The post processing is great with a crisp black and white. The composition is perfect with the straight on shot of the tree cropping the buildings.https://www.instagram.com/p/BOD_NcyhTSd/I love this photo from Ursula. I saw this and it made me smile, it's got a great balance with a tall flag and teeny tiny snowman.

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOKW8HbjfVA/A nice chilly fit for the winner of #PRTV_cold. The black and white with a low contrast really help to push the feeling of the photo. I do tend to think though a shorter aspect ratio would really help to focus the shot.

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOM9aj3Djgu/As I said, cold was not limited to snow and Tony did just that. It’s a good out of the box shot and the color contrast between the flower and berries works quite well.https://www.instagram.com/p/BOMowMUh6hO/Roger makes it in on a edited image using a tutorial making the rounds on social media. In this shot he’s transformed a grassy scene into an icy one with a bit of editing making for a nice frosty photo.

Your Photos Suck - Tips for Sucking Less as a Photographer

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I have just a few quick tips to help you suck less as a photographer - or at the very least fool your friends into thinking you are improving greatly! This is a great video to share with your friends and family who post way too many photos on facebook. A couple of simple tips will get everybody taking better photos.https://youtu.be/ihaz1_xmxFk

Quick Tips to better photos

  1. Share only your best work - if you have three photos of a tree PICK ONE, the best one and only share that one image. I used Facebook in the video but if you upload to more than one photo to Instagram at the same time you are doing it WRONG.
  2. Post process your images- Nothing major requiring hours - just add a little clarity, make sure your horizon is straight - learn just how easily it is, you can even do it automatically on import!
  3. Be deliberate in your framing, leveling and timing(see tip 4) - I talk more about framing in my tips for photographing cities.
  4. Timing - don't just snap a photo and walk away - wait for the moment that frames people, objects nicely.
  5. Take time to learn the basics of your camera and understand aperture, shutter speed and ISO

Do you have additional simple tips for sucking less? Leave a comment on the video Thanks to Nick Sharples for helping me film Follow @nsharplesFilmed withPanasonic GH4 and 12-35 f/2.8 LensHandheld Shots with Crane gimbal

Instagram Winners – Color

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Sometimes it pays to be bold and let that color be strong and saturated. That was the goal this week with the color Instagram challenge. It's difficult to hit that right balance but sometimes we can find color for the best shots, especially with the winter season at the moment. Light painting with a Christmas tree,  diffused light, advertisements, and dyed hair made for great out of the box choices and you all did well!As it’s currently 17F out it’s time to photograph the cold weather, or ice cream for the Aussie’s. Cold is a temp, a feeling, so shooting it can be a bit subjective and abstract, thinking out of the box. So it’s your turn to get a bit chilly for great photos like Toby had to in Alaska. To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_cold.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNzfgNEjxmu/I love the two solid colors that dominate the image!

Toby's Honorable Mention:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN5fVkfjjZf/The color against the lack of color and the unique angle - looking almost straight up which makes this stand out to me.

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN4r5ALjJpN/Lightning is always a great subject for color. You’ve got a bright flash that lights up the clouds but the different types of lightning can give different colors to the clouds. Plus being over the city you get the contrast of the yellow city lighting from the older sodium lights. It’s a great shot with nice contrast for that pop of color.

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOEc2JzDdrh/Traditional bright colors with the lighter blue sky make this colorful boat a great shot. Cropping the boat to focus on the paint works well albeit I’d like the shot framed a slight bit more to the left to follow the rule of thirds better. https://www.instagram.com/p/BOC94PnjTDT/Sunsets make for a great subject but also a great backdrop for Edgar’s photo. The duller color of the city has been saturated a bit and with the nice warm background via the sunset it really makes the orange show through for the photo.

Make Photos #001 - Long Exposure B&W

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Part of a new series where I walk you through the capture and post processing of a photo!https://www.instagram.com/p/BODlpZPBypM/Watchhttps://youtu.be/VYD13WQnTd0 Gear Used in this VideoSony alpha a7r iiZeiss Batis 18mmNisi Filters CPL (part of the kit)MeFoto Travel Tripod CFFilmed with:Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIOlympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 

Today Only - DJI Phantom 3 4K $500

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DJI Phantom 3 4KThe big deal of the day today for B&H is the phantom 3 4K for only $500. Unlike the Black Friday deals for the 2.7K versions we've been seeing this is a $800 drone you can get it today only for $300 off!Product Highlights

  • 24 fps DCI 4K / 30 fps UHD 4K
  • Camera Takes 12MP Still Photos
  • Wi-Fi Extender with 3900' Range
  • DJI Go App for iOS / Android
  • Home and Course Lock Flight Modes
  • Follow Me / Waypoint Navigation
  • Point of Interest Orbit Mode
  • Vision Sensor for Indoor Flight
  • Up to 25 Minutes Flying Time
  • Mobile Device Holder Included

Get it now at B&H

Other B&H deals for today:

Black Rapid

Instagram Winners – Passion

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This week we wanted you to show what your passionate about with PRTV_passion. Being the subject of passion, captions were important this week to give your shots a bit of context. It was a chance to show your work, the thing that makes you pick up that camera in the first place and we had some interesting entries this week.As a note, there are some entries that while good are from April or even earlier in this weeks challenge. As it’s a weekly challenge we don’t expect you to shoot exactly on the week, we even have a schedule up, but being relatively around the time of the challenge should count for something. Please try to at least use a somewhat recent photo and not one of your best shots from a year ago.For the next challenge we want to see the color POP in your photos! Winter at least for the northern hemisphere tends to be a bit on the drab and dreary side it seems like which makes for a great time to hunt for color, especially with Christmas decorations coming up. It’s there if you look and makes for some photos that can really stand out. Whether you create a shot or go find a colorful scene it’s up to you and we can’t wait to see what you come up with next Friday.  To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_color.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNx3ZbfA0dc/?tagged=prtv_passionKaren Davis is my winner, when you go to her feed, one she's bundled up and two she has a ton of bird photos. Often I see in my feed her photos, capturing almost every day with these birds in that early morning sun. This eagle is a great shot and what you love to shoot.

Toby's Honorable Mention:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNqHdtLAQIN/This shot immediately caught my eye - lovely tones and while I already know Jeremy is passionate about Alaska and snow sports - checking his feed reinforces that - this is a guy that gets out in all conditions and gets the shot.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BKzAqQ-Aq4i/Justlai87 has a shot where we got two for one. You had passion to wait it out and get two shots through the day. I'd love to see more stripes with time throughout the day.

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNqHdtLAQIN/More Alaska this week with Jeremy’s shot of the mountains from Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau. It’s a great shot with the cool tones of the snow contrasted at the top by the sun just hitting the tips of the mountains. Fitting for passion as Jeremy is out often shooting sport photography and landscapes along the way.

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNxCy0UhZwT/Street photography nails a passion many photographers have as there's just something to hitting the city for a photo and just catching what you can along your way. It’s a nice shot focused on the crowd, going for a black and white portrait certainly helped your shot. https://www.instagram.com/p/BNxbsB9BXZb/As I’ve got a certain 11yo that goes shooting with me occasionally it’s great to see the world through someone a bit younger. You caught a nice candid shot that catches the moment well with some good composition.

Alaska Travel Photography - Vlog 2016

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I spent early December in Alaska with McKay Photography Academy and Salmon Berry tours  - We explored the Matanuska Glacier with ice caves, Sled Dogging (mushing) with Dallas Seavey(an Iditarod superstar), took the Alaska Railroad from Talkeetna to Fairbanks AND saw some amazing northern light displays! The Aurora Display was amazing.https://youtu.be/2CuNHRrECaIJoin Us in March - Sign up for trip noticeMore about the gear used for the Northern LightsGear Used in Alaska:Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIOlympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 LensOlympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO LensSony a7RiiRode VideoMicro CompactVenus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-DZeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 LensTripod MeFoto Roadtrip Carbon FiberFind and Follow me at:http://instagram.com/photorectoby/https://twitter.com/photorectobyhttps://www.facebook.com/photorec.tv500px https://500px.com/photorectoby

Lightroom 2015.8 Released - Reference Image

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Today Lightroom CC(2015.8) / 6.8, Adobe Camera Raw 9.8 and updates to Lightroom for mobile are now available.  Please click here to read the Camera Raw release notes and click here to read all the Lightroom for mobile news.Minor improvements with some speed improvements and one new feature -Reference View  Reference View is a new view mode available in the Develop Module that allows you to compare two different images in order to make them visually consistent. This is helpful when making a group of images from a single event look similar or setting the white balance appropriately in mixed lighting conditions.  For photographers that shoot film and digital this is a great way to bring up a reference film photo and work on your digital images to match the look.To get started

  1. Go to the Develop Module
  2. Click on Reference View. It's on the Toolbar, and you may need to show the Toolbar if hidden
  3. Drag and Drop your Reference Photo onto the left pane. You can change your Reference Photo by either dragging a different image onto the left pane or using the “Set as Reference Photo” context menu in the Library Module.
  4. Edit the active photo. Use the Reference Photo to guide your editing decisions.

 

Performance Improvements

Lightroom CC (2015.8) / 6.8 includes ‘under-the-hood’ changes designed to improve the responsiveness of your Lightroom experience.  You should notice improvements in image editing responsiveness when background tasks (such as Preview Generation) are running, moving files between folders, running catalog backups.

Fit/Fill Improvements

You can now zoom to fit and zoom to fill.  Particularly when using ultra high-resolution (i.e. 4K and 5K) monitors, prior versions of Lightroom would not completely fill the Loupe window.

Additional Features

  • Ability to filter or create a Smart Collection for images that have Snapshots associated with them.
  • Export a Collection Set as a new catalog.

New Camera Support in Lightroom CC (2015.8) / 6.8

  • Canon EOS M5
  • Fujifilm X-A3
  • Google Pixel
  • Google Pixel XL
  • Hasselblad X1D
  • Leica TL
  • Nikon D5600
  • Olympus E-M1 Mark II (*)
  • Olympus PEN E-PL8
  • Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ2500 (DMC-FZ2000 and DMC-FZH1)
  • Pentax K-70
  • Samsung Galaxy S7
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
  • Sony Alpha a6500 (ILCE­-6500)
  • Sony Alpha a99 II (ILCA-99M2)
  • Sony DSC-RX100 Mark V

* denotes preliminary supportNew Tethered Shooting Support in Lightroom CC (2015.8) / 6.8

  • Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

New Lens Profile Support in Lightroom CC (2015.8) / 6.8

Mount Name
Apple Moment Macro Lens for iPhone6
Apple Moment Macro Lens for iPhone6 Plus
Apple Moment Superfish Lens for iPhone6
Apple Moment Superfish Lens for iPhone6 Plus
Apple Moment Tele Lens for iPhone6
Apple Moment Tele Lens for iPhone6 Plus
Apple Moment Wide Lens for iPhone6
Apple Moment Wide Lens for iPhone6 Plus
Apple Moment Macro Lens for iPhone6s (DNG + JPEG)
Apple Moment Macro Lens for iPhone6s Plus (DNG + JPEG)
Apple Moment Superfish Lens for iPhone6s (DNG + JPEG)
Apple Moment Superfish Lens for iPhone6s Plus (DNG + JPEG)
Apple Moment Tele Lens for iPhone6s (DNG + JPEG)
Apple Moment Tele Lens for iPhone6s Plus (DNG + JPEG)
Apple Moment Wide Lens for iPhone6s (DNG + JPEG)
Apple Moment Wide Lens for iPhone6s Plus (DNG + JPEG)
Canon EF SIGMA 12-24mm F4 DG HSM A016
Canon EF SIGMA 85mm F1.4 DG HSM A016
Canon EF SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM S016
Canon EF TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022E
Canon EF TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022E x1.4
Canon EF TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022E x2.0
Canon EF Zeiss Milvus 2.8/15 ZE
Canon EF Zeiss Milvus 2.8/18 ZE
Canon EF Zeiss Milvus 2/135 ZE
Google Pixel (DNG + JPEG)
Google Pixel XL (DNG + JPEG)
Go Pro HERO5 Black (Linear FOV)
Go Pro HERO5 Black (Medium FOV)
Go Pro HERO5 Black (Narrow FOV)
Go Pro HERO5 Black (Wide FOV) (raw + JPEG)
Leica M Leica SUMMARON-M 28mm f/5.6
Nikon F Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED
Nikon F SIGMA 12-24mm F4 DG HSM A016
Nikon F SIGMA 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM A016
Nikon F SIGMA 85mm F1.4 DG HSM A016
Nikon F SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM S016
Nikon F TAMRON SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022N
Nikon F TAMRON SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022N x1.4
Nikon F TAMRON SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022N x2.0
Nikon F Zeiss Milvus 2.8/15 ZF.2
Nikon F Zeiss Milvus 2.8/18 ZF.2
Nikon F Zeiss Milvus 2/135 ZF.2
Ricoh Ricoh GXR A16 24-85mm F3.5-5.5
Samsung Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Rear Camera (DNG + JPEG)
Samsung Samsung Galaxy S7 Rear Camera (DNG + JPEG)
Sigma SIGMA 12-24mm F4 DG HSM A016
Sigma SIGMA 85mm F1.4 DG HSM A016
Sigma SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM S016

 I offer Lightroom training - you can buy the 6+ hours - Currently on sale!! Use Code: slowdown to save 28% or Join my support group $5/mo you get access to these videos, new photoshop videos and more!

Northern Lights Video - Explored

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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

A breakdown of the shots seen in the video

screenshot-2016-12-07-17-33-31 screenshot-2016-12-07-16-52-30 screenshot-2016-12-07-16-53-23 screenshot-2016-12-07-16-58-11 screenshot-2016-12-07-17-03-28 Captured with the Sony A7RII and Batis 18mm - 4 second exposure ISO 3200 Captured with the Sony A7RII and 12mm Laowa - 30 second exposures ISO 1250.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!

Aurora Borealis Camera Gear

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.

Pre Notice List Sign up

Instagram Winners – Indoors

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Shooting indoors is a chance to really think creatively and narrow down a plan for your shot. Traveling for your photos is nice, a great change of pace, but hitting up somewhere familiar is always a challenge. From Lego's to family snuggles and interiors we had a mix and it's great to see people thinking differently about their shots, your guys did well this week.For next weeks challenge it's your passion up for the subject with #PRTV_passion. No this isn’t about lovey dovey photos, unless that’s your thing then go ahead. We want you to shoot what you're passionate about. This can be shooting with a wildlife photo and a caption that shows why you love shooting animals. Or it can be a shot about the project you're currently working on like Patreon member Zoe Strimbeck’s rocket launches for example. And yes, even shooting your significant other counts. If you're doing work, a hobby, or with someone you love it should make you smile and we want to see what all of you are passionate about.To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_passion.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNUtOHrA_5I/They have captured an interesting space so perfectly symmetrical and balanced the exposure nicely as well. Though I would be curious to see what a vertical perspective control did to see if we can get rid of the leaning away shelves noticeable at the beginning.

Toby's Honorable Mention:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNal5trhlQv/What a sweet moment captured with great lighting- I might suggest cropping out the cord/light.

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNYBCZXAZPY/It's a nice clean shot, part of shooting indoors is that your not limited to what you see in the house. Johnny took an image, realized how to pull it off and went to work making this great shot.

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEbsSMJujlW/A bit of interior photography is on the nose but this is done well. Considering the mixed lighting its lit nicely and you pulled back allowing the building to frame your shot.https://www.instagram.com/p/BNVPJ7xhROD/Thinking outside the box made for a great subway B&W shot. Always a popular topic to shoot, you did well composing the photo with a centered portrait and not going super wide for the shot as it follows the lines of the shot better.

Save BIG on Lightroom, Tutorials, and a MeFOTO Tripod - TODAY ONLY

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B&H photo has the Creative Cloud Photography Plan - this is the full version of Photoshop and Lightroom - available for just $88.95. This is a significant savings over the normal price and is good for TODAY ONLY.adobe-cc-photography-planMaybe you feel like you don't know where or how to get started with Lightroom? Well in honor of this special deal I am adding my training tutorials - over 6 hours of content that teaches you the very basics of getting Lightroom installed all the way to editing professional looking landscapes and portraits.Lightroom for Beginners Complete Series 01-09

Use the code todayonly for the largest discount I have ever offered!!!!

MeFOTO DayTripAnd finally, if your looking for a new tripod B&H has a great deal on a MeFOTO travel Tripod.  You can get the MeFOTO DayTrip (Purple Only) for half off at just $49.95. While keeping your photos stable its a small travel sized unit at 24" but folds down to only 9.4" making easy storage in your pack. 

Going Lighter, Faster, Further

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Can the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II replace my Sony a7Rii and the panasonic GH4? I talk about the potential and possibilities of leaving behind my GH4 and A7RII - It might be grass is greener on the other side or the sheep are lighter or something but it is very appealing to me to go lighter and simpler with my gear.Watch - Ditching Sony Full Frame for Micro 4/3rdshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgOT5C99v48

Gear List  -

Current Gear:Sony a7Rii - https://bhpho.to/2fyeCr6Canon 24-70 f/2.8 - https://bhpho.to/2fybxqUCanon 70-200 f/2.8 - https://bhpho.to/2gCcC0PSigma 50mm f/1.4 - https://bhpho.to/2gt0DzqPanasonic GH4 -https://bhpho.to/2gS742HPanasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 -https://bhpho.to/2fMXfBtTripod MeFoto Roadtrip Carbon Fiber - https://bhpho.to/2g1VCxeNew Gear ? Micro 4/3rds GearOlympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II - https://bhpho.to/2gS26TtOlympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 - https://bhpho.to/2gFqiFGOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 - https://bhpho.to/2g1NbC7Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 Lens - https://bhpho.to/2gS6d26Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO Lens - https://bhpho.to/2gfDtiEVenus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D - https://bhpho.to/2gtCyc2Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 Lens - https://bhpho.to/2gSsJYF Follow me on Instagram

Cyber Monday Camera Deals 2016

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Black Friday 2017 Deal List Live - Photorec.tv/BF2017

Cyber Monday 2016 (updated hourly) we will post all current Cyber Monday Camera, lens, photography and accessories like tripods, SD cards and more below. Follow me on Instagram for posts on the best deals!For the Month of November, I am offering my Lightroom for Beginners video series at 25% Off . Over 6+ hours of Video, 30+ presets and much more.  Learn More.completeseries01-09photo travel with McKay Photography Academy

The BEST Gift for YOU or the photographer in your life - An Amazing Travel Experience DISCOUNTED!

Check out Amazon and B&H for the best photo deals you can find!

Amazon Cyber MondayBH Cyber Monday

Deals

screenshot-2016-11-27-22-14-44NOW!! 3DR Robotics with Gimbal and spare battery $349.95

Camera Rebates

Canon Sale Nikon Sale Sony Sale

olympus savings

And More!

BH Pro Audio BH Lens Rebates

deals

Instagram Winner – Thankful

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 Being that in the US it's Thanksgiving this week it was fitting for a Thankful Instagram Challenge. With the holiday I know everyone is tied up so thank you to those who entered, you did great as always. Glad to see some new faces enter this week and I hope you continue the weekly challenges.As it’s getting a bit colder out for us in the Northern United States (35F in Michigan atm) it’s a good chance to shoot indoors. Something a lot of people discount is the chance to shoot in their own home. Whether that means family portraits, pets, tabletop photography, interior photography, or something out of the box it's up to you for next week's Instagram challenge #PRTV_indoors.To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_indoors. Find all the past challenges, winners, and a schedule on the PRTV Instagram Challenges page.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby and Roy's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNC8S5dgMW7/Being a holiday, Toby and I have picked one winner this week for the thankful challenge. Trelina has a great shot of her daughters and a caption to fit the holiday spirit. Not to mention It’s good lighting with a fitting pose that works well for the photo. 

Instagram Winners – Golden Hour

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The Golden Hour Instagram Challenge was a chance to shoot during the best time of the day. A callback from Toby’s Time of Day & Quality of Light video. Great landscapes and amazing portraits were something special this week and came out great with that golden light.You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #PRTV_thankful. Here in the US it’s Turkey Time; family, food, friends, and the fall weather makes it a good time to reflect on what you're thankful for in your life. So with the holidays in spirit we want you to think a bit out of the box and post what you're thankful for this year. To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_thankful.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKy3xO0glMZ/Fantastic shot - love that you choose to capture these horses backlit - the warm sun perfectly outlines their bodies, catching all that hair.

Toby's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BH3uMYcgNuH/The warm tones, the sharp glass - it is all a lovely contrast and capture.https://www.instagram.com/p/BBIDZi0NgKQ/Love the leading line of the waves, the misty/haze of the distance and everything is bathed in warm light.

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BH3uMYcgNuH/Aidan’s shot focuses on quality of light with a nice golden bokeh from the light hitting the leaves in the background. The soft lighting makes the glass exposed well and focuses on the sand grains falling. Nice shot!

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BM9aB5ahs1L/Golden hour is the best chance to shoot portraits in soft warm light without faking the shot or using a lightsource. Shooting under a overhang made for a nice touch as you can control the light and it give the background a nice repeating pattern.https://www.instagram.com/p/BBIDZi0NgKQ/Joe’s landscape nails golden hour on it’s head freezing the action with a nice warm glow to the shot. Cutting off the sun partially and catching the wave coming in made for nice touches to a great photo.

Sony a6500 Sample Images / Early Review

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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/ 

A6500 Review -

Remember the a6500 is NOT being positioned as a replacement for the a6300- rather a higher model that offers several advantages over the earlier model.

Advantages of the a6500 over the a6300

  • Stabilization! The sensor in the a6500 is now stabilized like the a7Sii, A7Rii and the new a99ii - this means every lens you attach, even old legacy lenses via adapters, are stabilized. Good for slower shutter speed shooting when using a handheld video or not using a tripod. In my testing, the difference is noticeable and the stabilization is useful.
  • Faster and more responsive. Deeper buffer with internal changes means the a6500 can capture 107 RAW images at 11FPS. The a6300 was limited to just 21 RAWS. And, you can now start to preview images as they are writing to the card. The a6500 also provides an indication of where it is in the writing process with a little meter in the top left corner of the screen. The a6300 does not provide this and, at times, it feels very slow to clear and be ready for any action again. In two days of shooting fast action with the a6500, I found very few frustrating slowdowns. It is a much more responsive camera.
  • The a6500 offers a touchscreen. Unfortunately, it takes some getting used to and is still not at the level of the excellent touchscreen you find on a Canon or the Panasonic GH4 . However, you can use it to touch to focus and, somewhat similar to the Nikon D5500, you can put your eye to the viewfinder and slide your finger around on the touchscreen to change the focus point - this feels a little loose and it wasn't until I found several menu settings that let you adjust this control that I started to understand exactly how it worked. It still isn't great but, better than nothing. Touchscreen does not work for menu navigation or image playback.
  • Slightly deeper grip and an additional customizable button. It does feel a little nicer in hand, especially with longer lenses and I appreciate the VERY large amount of customizability these small cameras offer.
  • A redesigned menu - it is now better organized and colorful :)

Advantages of the a6300 over the a6500

  • Cheaper - a6300 Body Only at B&H Photo $998.00 | a6500 Body Only at B&H Photo $1398.00
    • $400 difference for a more responsive camera, stabilization and a fiddly touchscreen- Worth it to you?
  • Battery life - The touchscreen and the image stabilization do drawn additional power and you get a little less time out of each battery with the a6500.

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)

Sample Images from the Sony a6500

all JPEGS straight out of camera except where noted.