https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E89e--fS1ng&feature=youtu.beLet's talk about ways to carry your camera - with experience using Black Rapid Straps, Capture Clips, Spider Holster and Backpacker system, messenger bags, slings and backpacks - I show you the best of each method and share my "perfect" system for carrying gear these days. What's your favorite method of carrying a camera and or lens?
Gear Mentioned in this video - your use of these links helps support our work (it really does)
For those wanting to make the jump to a Canon full frame but disappointed in the lack of an articulating LCD (swivel screen), Canon may have just fixed that with the Canon 6D Mark II LCD. Via NokishitaCamera, with the Canon Bodies going through certification at the moment a few specs have been leaked. If rumors hold true we'll be seeing the 6DMII announced in July with the SL2 and shipping shortly thereafter.As Toby has said before having an articulating LCD is a must with today's cameras. Beyond just selfies the variable angles allow you to get shots that otherwise would be more than a bit difficult. Out of all the things for the 6DMII this was the one make it or break it item for many photographers I've talked to recently. Unfortunately playing devil's advocate though this does have its drawbacks. It's yet to be known how this affects the standard waterproofing found in Canon's higher end cameras. For those looking for a rugged full-frame camera, this might be an issue as well as adding another breaking point for their gear.With this leak is somewhat confirmed it's an interesting development and we'll find out shortly in the official announcements. As of this point with the SKU number's we should be seeing three different kit options and the 6DMII available as body only as well.Overall it's an exciting change as I expected it to go without the articulating LCD, we'll have more information out come July.Updated additional specs leaked (Via Nokishita Camera) :Following the updated specs of the t7i/77D the 6DMII looks like it's specs are roughly the same coming out as the recently released rebels. For current 6D owners getting 45 cross-type AF points using dual pixel autofocus should be a welcome upgrade. Missing unfortunately, is no 4K video, being a dealbreaker for some I'll bet.New specs coming out this week
26.2 MP
45 cross-type AF points
Dual-Pixel AF
DIGIC 7
98% viewfinder coverage, .71 magnification
6.5 frames/sec, 4 when using servo AF in live view
ISO 100-40,000 (extended ISO 50, 51200, and 102400)
Shutter speed 1/4000 to 30 seconds, 1/180 flash sync speed
Adobe released updates this week for Lightroom 6.10.1, CC 2015.10.1 and Camera Raw 10.1. Included are updates supporting the Sony a9 (Read Toby’s Review of the great Sony A9!) and Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 Lens as well as bug updates for a smoother performance.Installation InstructionsPlease select Help > Updates to use the update mechanism in the Creative Cloud app.Buy the Sony a9 now at:
[quote_box_center]New Camera Support in Lightroom CC 2015.10.1 / 6.10.1
Fixed issue causing color cast on images from some Fujifilm X series cameras shot in CH/CL modes.
Fixed issue where images taken on the Fujifilm GFX 50s with top 3 extended ISOs appear over exposed.
Fixed issue where some images converted to DNG from the Hasselblad H6 contained a color cast.
Fixed issue with Hasselblad X1D images losing highlight details at high ISOs.
Known Issues
We have an issue where customers are unable to use the Develop module with GPU enabled. This only occurs when using an AMD graphics card using driver Version 17.4.4 (released 4/23/2017) on Windows. Please see this note for more details and workarounds.
[/quote_box_center]
[quote_box_center]New Camera Support in Camera Raw 9.10.1
Fixed issue causing color cast on images from some Fujifilm X series cameras shot in CH/CL modes.
Fixed issue where images taken on the Fujifilm GFX 50s with top 3 extended ISOs appear over exposed.
Fixed issue where some images converted to DNG from the Hasselblad H6 contained a color cast.
Fixed issue with Hasselblad X1D images losing highlight details at high ISOs.
Known Issues
We have an issue where customers are unable to open Camera Raw with GPU enabled. This only occurs when using an AMD graphics card using driver Version 17.4.4 (released 4/23/2017) on Windows. Please see this note for more details and workarounds.
https://youtu.be/Yseaxsh23bgI have said it before.. and I will say it again - drones are fun! Did DJI just release the most fun, most capable drone yet? Before we talk about the DJI Spark I do want to say that drones are more than fun. They are useful in creating more interesting content and accessing angles and views you wouldn't otherwise be able to capture and share. And this is true for photos or video. See the beautiful drone footage from Croatia. They really open up some interesting possibilities but they aren't cheap, they can be intimidating and have typically required a commitment to bring along - The DJI Mavic pro made big steps in solving that with a compact size that still offers serious performance. Now with the newly announced DJI Spark it's clear DJI sees a market for smaller, cheaper and less intimidating drones. The size and weight of the Spark is impressively small- almost exactly 300 grams or .66 lbs. For comparison the Mavic Pro is 1.66lbs and noticeably larger, even when folded.Cool Feature - using just touch and hand signals the drone can take off from your hand, rotate around you, follow you, snap selfies or group shots and perform a few other prescribed routes while tracking you. Range of course is limited with gestures and even with the app you are limited to less than 100 meters distance. Buy the Fly More Combo for $699 and you get the controller that gives you a 2000 meter range, that's more than a mile, an extra battery and charger, prop guards and a carrying case. Charging is done via USB which helps to keep this all very portable - though charging through the drone is slow at 80 minutes via USB, charging through the hub included in the fly more combo is faster at 52 minutes and is capable of charging more than one battery at a time.The DJI Mavic offers a 21-25 minute fly time - records 4k at 30fps as well as additional frame rates at lower resolutions including some for excellent slow mo - offers RAW or JPEG capture with a 28mm f/2.2 and a 3 axis gimbal correcting for roll, pitch and YAW - the footage I have captured with the mavic is just so buttery smooth - I suspect the Spark is going to be close, but some movements or in some winds footage is likely to be a little less smooth. Speaking of wind - The Mavic states a max of 24 MPh while the Spark gets a max rating of 18 mph.Your range on the Mavic is significantly increased and with that additional flytime you can feel safe in going further and higher and knowing your drone will return. The Mavic sells for $999 which includes a remote- you can fly the mavic with just your phone but range is greatly limited, similar to the Spark and the Mavic does not offer gesture control for movement though you can do the selfie shot and simple tracking. The fly more combo gets you three batteries, a smart 3 battery charger (sequential- not simultaneously), extra props, a carry case and doodad that lets you turn a battery into a phone charger for $1299.
Which Drone Should You Get?
If you are looking for ultra portable, fun and easy the Spark will do the job. I just said on a recent video the best drone is the one you have with you and being able to always have this along is pretty sweet. But if you need to go higher, further and/or want 4K - you should consider the Mavic. And if you really don’t care about portability get the Phantom 4. The DJI Spark will sell really well. Though everyone should get the fly more kit - 16 minute flight time and an 82 minute charge time doesn’t really set you up for lots of fun. Having at least ONE extra battery is in my opinion mandatory. Additional extra batteries will cost you $49.More details and a complete spec comparison of the Mavic, Phantom 4 and Spark can be found at photorec.tv/spark. I'd love to know which drone you are most interested in and why - is the Spark enough for you? Leave those in the comments below. Your use of my affiliate links is my salary - Please use these links for all your purchases.BUY FROM B&H PHOTO (No Sales Tax Outside NY)SPARKSPARK Fly More Combo (recommended)MAVIC PRO MAVIC PRO Fly More Combo (recommended)BUY FROM AMAZONSPARKSPARK Fly More Combo (recommended)MAVIC PRO MAVIC PRO Fly More Combo (recommended)
This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_leadinglinesA fun but harder subject this week as we did have some entries that did not qualify as we needed a strong line in your photo. Leading lines in a photo is a harder composition as you need not just lines in a photo, but strong lines this week to draw your eye to a subject. Falling back on architecture and landscapes while out shooting you can find many things that can focus your photos from a road to a river or a sign.Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_photojournalismFind out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtvYou can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:
A post shared by Martin Snicer Photography (@martinsnicerphotography) on
lines don’t always need to be so clear to lead the eye - the broken egg shells do a great job leading up to the bowl and I like the rest of the arrangement in this shot.
In preparation for an upcoming lengthy international trip, I decided to purchase the ThinkTank SubUrban Disguise 10. I already own the ThinkTank CityWalker 20 (which has been discontinued but is very similar to this model) and a LowePro backpack (this model). Currently, I use the CityWalker for day trips and other shorter excursions and the LowePro backpack for airplane travel and other longer trips. I love both of these bags and have been very happy with them for these purposes. However, for my impending trip, I wanted a smaller bag that will hold a limited amount of gear safely without weighing me and my 5'2" frame down too much. I will be doing a ton of walking in warm weather and will be in and out of historic sites and small restaurants and cafes with a larger travel group, which means a big bag isn't ideal. After consulting with the Photorec support group and the ThinkTank support staff, I settled on the ThinkTankSubUrban Disguise 10.In my ThinkTank SubUrban Disguise 10: Unboxing + Initial Thoughts post, I discuss the following points.
Exactly how I received the bag in the mail
The camera gear, camera accessories, and other items I plan to carry in the bag and how everything fits in it
All of the pockets and compartments and how I plan to use them
The other elements of the bag, such as the rain cover
How I love being able to rest my Canon 80D with varying lenses on top of the bag
My final initial thoughts, including the construction of the bag and how I think the bag is going to work for my upcoming trip
I also include detailed photos, showcasing every aspect of this camera bag and the exact gear I plan to carry in the ThinkTank SubUrban Disguise 10.Read the full post over on roseclearfield.com: ThinkTank SubUrban Disguise 10: Unboxing and Initial Thoughts.Please note that this post is only the unboxing and my initial thoughts. It is not a comprehensive review of the ThinkTank SubUrban Disguise 10. Following my trip, I do plan to write a full review. When it's available, I'll link it to this post.
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:
https://vimeo.com/216570035As you can see in the Sony a9’s speedy video above we recently had the 143rd Kentucky Derby on May 6th and veteran journalist Nick Didlick came toting a rolling case filled with Sony a9 mirrorless cameras using G Master lenses. With Six Sony a9s making the trip to Churchill downs it became a baptism by fire for the new 20fps mirrorless camera. After strong storms through the past week the A9’s would be shooting in rough, wet, conditions with little light from strong clouds making shooting at speed a challenge.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/Yseaxsh23bgDJI has just announced the Spark. The DJI Spark takes the idea of a seriously portable drone, first introduced with the Mavic Pro last year, and makes it even smaller.Spark is smaller and lighter than the Mavic Pro, but also supports all of the Mavic Pro’s Intelligent Flight Modes and introduces new features like QuickShot and advanced gesture controls like PalmControl. Described in the launch keynote as easy, intuitive and fun. This really reminds me of the Lily, the failed kickstarter drone that was focused on easy selfie photos and videos. One feature borrowed from recent innovations in smartphone cameras - fake depth of field with shallow focus mode- intentional background blur.While it can produce professional results the lack of 4k, 16 minute flight time and probable issues in wind make this less ideal for serious aerial photo or video needs. Those that desire a more versatile drone need to consider the Mavic Pro or a higher model.$499 will get you the drone and one battery. You can charge the drone via Micro USB(a first for DJI). Control with hand gestures or the DJI app on your smartphone - range is limited to approximately 100 meters.$699 for the Fly more combo which includes - extra props, prop guards, 1 extra battery (2 total), a remote and a carry case. The remote extends the range to 1.24 miles and while the remote is similar to the DJI Mavic it is much simpler without the LCD Screen.Shipping June 21st - Preorder from Amazon or B&H Photo (No sales tax outside NY)https://youtu.be/74Cm1p3fr0g[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Size[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]335mm (Extended) 83mm x 83mm x 198mm (Folded)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]350mm[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]143×143×55 mm[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Weight[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]1.64 lbs (743g)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]3.04 lbs (1380g)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"].66lbs (300 g)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Operating Temp[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]32° to 104° F ( 0° to 40° C )[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] 32° to 104°F (0° to 40°C)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]32° to 104° F (0° to 40° C)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Ascent /Descent Speed[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]16.4 ft/s | 9.8 ft/s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]19.7 ft/s | 13.1 ft/s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] 9.8 ft/s (3 m/s) | 9.8 ft/s (3 m/s)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Flight Time[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]27 Minutes[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]28 Minutes[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]16 Minutes[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Flight Distance[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]8 mi (13 km)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Tilt Angle[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]S-mode: 42°A-mode: 35°P-mode: 15°[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Angular Speed[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]S-mode: 200°/sA-mode: 150°/s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Wind Speed Resistance[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]10 m/s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Sensor[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]1/2.3” (CMOS), Effective pixels:12.35 MP[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]1/2.3” CMOS, Effective pixels:12.4 MP[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]1/2.3" CMOSEffective pixels: 12 MP[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Lens[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FOV 78.8° 28 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.2Distortion < 1.5% Focus from 0.5 m to ∞[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FOV 94° 20 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.8 focus at ∞[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FOV 81.9° 25 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.6(shooting range: 2 m to ∞)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Gimbal[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]3-Axis[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]3-Axis[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]2-Axis[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]ISO Range[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]100-3200 (video)100-1600 (photo)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]100-3200 (video)100-1600 (photo)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Video: 100-3200Photo: 100-1600[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Shutter Speed[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]8s -1/8000s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]8 - 1/8000 s[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]2-1/8000 s[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Image Size[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]4000×3000[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]4000×3000[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]3968×2976[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Still Photography Modes[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Single shotBurst shooting: 3/5/7 framesAuto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV BiasInterval[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Single shotBurst shooting: 3/5/7 framesAuto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV BiasTimelapseHDR[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Single ShotBurst Shooting: 3 framesAuto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV biasInterval: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Video Recording Modes[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]C4K: 4096×2160 24p4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p2.7K: 2720x1530 24/25/30pFHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/96pHD: 1280×720 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]UHD: 4096×2160 (4K) 24 / 25p3840×2160 (4K) 24 / 25 / 30p2704×1520 (2.7K) 24 / 25 / 30pFHD: 1920×1080 24 / 25 / 30 / 48 / 50 / 60 / 120pHD: 1280×720 24 / 25 / 30 / 48 / 50 / 60p[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]-[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Max Video Bitrate[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] 60 Mbps[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] 60 Mbps[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]24 Mbps[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Supported File Systems[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FAT32 ( ≤ 32 GB ); exFAT ( > 32 GB )[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FAT32 ( ≤ 32 GB ); exFAT ( > 32 GB )[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]FAT32 (≤ 32 GB)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Photo[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]JPEG, DNG[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]JPEG, DNG[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]JPEG[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Video[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Supported SD Cards[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"] Micro SDMax capacity: 64 GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Micro SDMax capacity: 64 GBClass 10 or UHS-1 rating required[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"]Micro SDMax capacity: 64 GBClass 10 or UHS-1 rating required[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"]Buy it Today![/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row]Recommended Micro SD Cards for the DJI Spark[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"]Sandisk 16 GB SDHCSandisk 32 GB SDHCSandisk 64 GB SDXCKingston 16 GB SDHCKingston 32 GB SDHC[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"]Kingston 64 GB SDXCSamsung 16 GB SDHCSamsung 32 GB SDHCSamsung 64 GB SDXC[/vc_column][/vc_row]
This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_architecture2In Architecture 2 looking up above, finding a hole to frame a composition, or even going for a mural worked out this week for some really nice shots. Compared to most things we shoot architecture is tricky since the subject is so much larger than most we shoot, limiting options in cases, but creating some in others. Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_leadinglinesFind out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtvYou can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:
Roy’s Features:
Finding a bit of symmetry works great for this shot and it’s cropped with a nice border.
Sony has just announced two new lenses and I have had early access to both, shooting on an a7RII and a9 and have sample photos and thoughts below.https://youtu.be/G73lzUHaniY
The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Wide-angle Zoom Lens
This nicely rounds out Sony's f/2.8 offerings (16-35, 24-70, 70-200 - the f/2.8 trinity) and looks to be an excellent lens. I was impressed with edge to edge sharpness, lack of vignetting and smooth bokeh. Most lenses in this category have 9 aperture blades, the new FE 16-35 f/2.8 has 11. This lens is seriously sharp - Sony is designing it with future ultra high resolution sensors in mind. It is dust and moisture resistant too. Below are a few sample photos I shot. Lens will be available in late August. Price $2,199 PREORDER from B&H Photo[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" link="file" ids="14849,14848,14847,14846,14845,14844"]I do love the focus hold button included on G Master lenses - its primary function is to lock focus when recomposing, but you can customize to a number of other functions depending. In addition to Focus Hold, custom functions include: Eye AF, AF On, Aperture Preview, Shot Result Preview or Bright Monitoring.Additional 16-35 f/2.8 Specs -
Weather Sealed Design
Product weight (oz): 24 oz (680 g.)
Product Dimension (L*W) inch: 4.875” x 3.5” (121.6 x 88.5mm)
Nano AR Coating
ED glass w/ multi‐coating reduces chromatic aberration
The Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G Ultra Wide-angle Zoom Lens
Sony surprised us with this small, unassuming ultra wide angle lens. I can't quite believe how compact and lightweight it is while still providing full frame coverage of 12-24! Weighing just over a pound and nicely fitting in your hand the 12-24 provides a constant f/4 aperture, focus hold button and integrated/fixed lens hood. It does have a bulbous front element requiring an adapter to use filters. While it doesn't seem quite as sharp as the GMaster 16-25 f/2.8 it still provides very good sharpness and nothing else offers this wide a view on full frame at this size and weight unless you go with a prime lens. You could use an adapter with the Sigma 12-24 but that lens weighs twice as much and is significantly larger. The lens will be available in Late July for $1,699 PREORDER from B&H Photo[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" link="file" ids="14854,14853,14852,14851,14850,14860"]Additional 12-24 f/4 G Specs
Weather Sealed Design
Product weight (oz): 20 oz (680 g.)
Product Dimension (L*W) inch: 4.625” x 3.5” (117.4 x 87mm)
7 Bladed Aperture Design
Super ED and ED glass w/ multi‐coating reduces chromatic aberration
Customizeable Focus Hold button
Canon offers an 11-24 f/4 lens for $2,699 and it is larger and heavier. Sigma offers a slightly cheaper model but as mentioned it too is a good bit heavier and bulkier, also not weather sealed. Once the lens is released I will make comparisons and publish the results here and on Youtube.Pre-order these lenses at B&H:
When you first purchase a DSLR camera, you don't know what type of lens you need. So you buy the camera with the kit lens. Major camera manufacturers offer multiple DSLR packages with a camera body and a kit lens. Brand new to DSLR photography, a kit lens is a great place to start.
Once upon a time, kit lenses had numerous issues including chromatic aberration and fringing, lack of sharpness, and low built quality with slow, noisy auto focus. Over the past couple of decades, kit lenses have come a long way. While a kit lens doesn't offer the focus speed and sharpness of a high-level lens, it's an extremely good value for a $150-$200 lens.Equipped with an entry-level DSLR and kit lens, you have the tools to create fantastic images. A few tips to maximize the potential of your kit lens will help you transform your good images into polished, professional images.
Use the entire focal length range of the kit lens
The standard focal length range for a kit lens is 18-55mm. It may be tempting to purchase a lens with a much greater focal range, such as 18-200 or 70-300. Unless you're buying a high-end lens, you'll compromise image quality for greater focal range. 18-55 is an extremely versatile focal range, allowing you to explore landscape photography, street photography, portrait photography, and even macro photography with ease. If you want to shoot closer than 55mm, extension tubes are an affordable way to get a little more length and can be used with any other lenses you may purchase in the future.
With that being said, the extreme ends of the focal length tend to get a little soft. You'll produce sharper images shooting at 24mm than 18mm and at 50mm than 55mm. Take care to shoot just under the extreme focal lengths.
Find the "sweet spot" of the lens
Typically, kit lenses perform best with an aperture in the range of f/5.6-f/8. Unless you're trying to create a shallow depth of field or you're shooting in very low light conditions, try stopping down your aperture to create sharper images. When you're shooting at 18mm, stop down from f/3.5 to f/5.6. When you're shooting at 55mm, stop down from f/5.6 to f/8.
Move to get your shots
When you're shooting with a zoom lens, it's tempting to do all the zooming with the lens. Of course, a zoom lens is a powerful tool to create images at a range of focal lengths. However, you should also move physically with your camera to produce great images. If you're not happy with your composition and can't fine tune it by zooming with the lens, move your feet. Adjusting 15 or sometimes even five feet can make a big difference.
Review your images
There are a lot of decent images out there that just aren't great because of an issue such as being slightly out of focus or having a person's feet getting partially cut out of the frame. Reviewing your images just after you've shot them allows you to make corrections on the spot, fixing minor issues and creating stronger, sharper compositions.
Get out of auto mode
It's easy to leave your camera in auto mode, believing that the camera will make better setting choices that you will. It doesn't take a lot of time experimenting with manual camera settings to appreciate how much more control you have over your images. Initially, learning to shoot in manual is often frustrating and even overwhelming. However, it's well worth the effort and will help you take your kit level photos to a whole new level.Related reading: Making the Transition from Auto Mode to Manual Mode
Embrace the low weight and versatility of the kit lens
A kit lens is lightweight and offers a versatile focal range you'll be hard pressed to find in many high-end lenses. The less weight you're carrying, the more time you'll enjoy exploring new sites with family and friends. While you won't have the capacity to shoot at a low aperture like you would with a kit lens, you also won't have to spend time changing lenses to shoot at different focal lengths.
Do you have any additional tips for maximizing the potential of the kit lens?
We will return to Croatia for a photo tour - This tour will likely sell out quickly. Add your name to the pre-notice list to be notified when it opens for sign up. Please notify me of the next Croatia Tourhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz4JRlKer2g&feature=youtu.beComplete List of gear - GH5, DJI Mavic (and more)Itinerary and Photos -We started our Journey in Trogir- a fascinating old town with twisting alleyways and a medieval castle that protected the harbor.
Our Guide - Tanya Jucik Braculj was awesome - contact her to arrange any type of fantastic trip in and around Croatia - tanja.jukicb@gmail.com
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
This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_reflectionOur 100th challenge with almost 200 entries, nice job guys! For this week Toby’s early callout on YouTube from Croatia and Rose’s Article hopefully gave you some ideas. Your challenge this week had you looking for the reflections in your surroundings with some great finds and as creating your own nice shots as well. Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_architecture2Find out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtvYou can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:
Roy’s Features:
A really great shot for the challenge, using the floor to reflect the museum’s roof turns it into a tunnel view effect drawing the eye to the statues.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk0m0e5Ways[/embed]With Toby traveling across the globe we've got a few MUST HAVE gear that always comes along on every trip/shoot. Here are our favorite pieces of non-photo gear with links to buy below.
Spring is here and with that a bundle of new rebates from all the major companies. The D750, D810, and D500 from Nikon all come with a free grip and accessory package. Including the discount, it's a great deal if you are looking to upgrade.Nikon Free Grip link - B&HAmazon Free Grip Link - D750 | D810 | D500Amazon Free Grip Link (Body Only) - D750 | D810 | D500Beyond rebates as always remember to check out our Camera & Photo Deals section for great savings on gear you need.
Just posted - Complete Lightroom edit of my Scotland Lighthouse Photo. This is a Photorec.tv Member's only video. Not yet a member? Join now to access this and my entire training catalog of Lightroom and Photoshop videos along with an awesome support group. JOIN NOW
As a note we've switched to a new format for challenges. Same great challenges, just with a new look!This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_afeeling#PRTV_afeeling had you thinking about your shot with feeling, composing your photo with emotion to connect to the viewer. This can get a little tricky as not only do you have to think about light, placement, settings, but also the connection to your subject and a bit of creativity in cases to get what you need. Happy faces, somber moments, and feeling the balance this week with some nice shots that show the emotion in your photos. Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_reflectionFind out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtvYou can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:
Toby’s Features:
Showing a feeling without a face makes for a great shot in this feature
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?
Sony a9 FULL RAW FILES FOR DOWNLOADI spent a day shooting with the Sony a9 - about 4500 photos at various events that Sony had setup for us and I am ready to share some thoughts.Blackout-Free Continuous Shooting at up to 20 fps for just over 200 raw images or nearly 400 jpegs - It’s absolutely works and if desired, completely silently. This is amazing and yes as a few of you commented in my earlier videos - it’s not the first the camera to be able to shoot silently but it is the first to do so on this level with this AF performance, nothing else is close in the mirrorless world to this AF performance, low light performance and speed, silently and when we compare to DSLRS you need to spend at least a $1,000 more for a 1DX Mark II or D5 and they aren’t as fast and maybe even have fewer hit rates.The AF system in this camera is impressive - nearly edge to edge coverage with over 360 AF points - I watched it again and again accurately track fast moving subjects, intersecting subjects, erratically moving subjects and the in focus rate I had with this camera was astounding. Between the 20fps and the AF system it's unlikely you are going to miss a shot because of the camera. And the whole operation is fast - we had hockey at one end of the rink and figure skating at the other, for awhile I was in between and if I glanced over and saw a figure skater about to jump - I could bring my camera up to my eye, get focus and fire off a series of images without missing the actual jump!It feels nicer in the hand and as an a7RII user I am really jealous of that little joystick for focus point selection and the bigger brighter viewfinder. I have additional specs on the website along with additional sample photos including full RAW images for download but I want to take a few minutes and answer a few questions people posted on my earlier videos.silent shooting which is also electronic shutter has previously exhibited some serious drawbacks like rolling shutter - in still images if you or the subject is moving everything gets slanted - it’s not good. I didn’t see it in a full day of shooting with the a9 unless I tried hard to make it happen - swinging the camera back and forth. Image quality and dynamic range have also suffered in previous models when shooting silent and I am happy to say I could not see any differenceOverall High ISO performance is excellent - very similar to the a7RII which I compared it to.Battery life - I shot over 4,000 images on a single battery, other reviewers have gotten even higher numbers - I suspect not having to physically move a shutter makes a huge difference in the power required. Dual SD card is nice although they need to tweak the options for setup - it’s not very logical at the moment. The screen is touch sensitive, like the a6500 which means it's just ok - I don’t love it, always feels a little off to me but the touch to focus generally works well.It’s not all wonderful -Video system no S-log is a lame move and looks like Sony is holding back to protect their a7S line or a future a9S - something new for Sony as they typically have been the manufacturer to put it all in - this is not as strong a hybrid shooting machine because of it.More importantly They are still lacking a few of the longer fast lenses that pro photographers desire - though with this excellent ISO performance the new 100-400 should satisfy some AND Sony support system is nowhere near what Canon CPS offers thought Sony made it a point to talk about the changes they will make to their support system in the US and abroad in the coming year but I do think many pros will wait to see how that works out.And while this camera might not be as game changing as the iphone was for the smartphone market it certainly signals a serious shift and showcases just what is now possible - I don’t think it will be much longer before this sound is a thing of the past.I’d love to know your thoughts - what is most exciting to you about this camera? What do you think is the biggest issue? Leave your thoughtful comments below! If you found this video helpful give it a quick thumbs up and don’t forget to subscribe and follow me on instagram for more content between these videos.
Making the transition from auto mode to manual mode is a tough process for most amateur photographers. You're familiar with the terms ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. But you don't really understand any of these terms, let alone how they work together. Typically, beginner photographers leave their cameras in auto mode because they think their cameras will select better settings than they will. However, as soon as you start learning the camera settings, you'll start making better selections, consequently, creating higher quality images. The process of making the transition from auto mode to manual mode isn't easy. But it's well worth the effort.Shooting in manual mode is a lot like riding a bicycle or learning to drive a stick shift. Even with great teaching, at some point, you just have to jump in and attempt it on your own, knowing you'll make a lot of mistakes. I've spent years shooting in manual made. While I do feel comfortable with it, I still make plenty of mistakes. Until I started keeping my camera in manual mode the majority of the time I was shooting, I didn't fully appreciate how much power and freedom it would offer. I promise that when you give it a try, you'll quickly experience this same power and freedom, and you won't want to go back.In making the transition from auto mode to manual mode, I cover the following tips.
Learn everything that you can about manual camera settings
Start paying attention to your settings while shooting in auto mode
Start using your auto settings as a guide for shooting in manual mode
Attempt shots that require you to use a manual mode
Shoot in manual mode in controlled light settings
Seek out opportunities to practice manual mode on your own or with fellow photographers