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Week in Review / Intro:

Aurora Photography - Cold Weather Report
Groupon Deal & Last Video …. Video.
Zone System for Black and Whites
Capturing family photos in front of holiday lights

PEN Members! - It’s a new month, don’t forget to join the December PPA level image competition!

Lightroom Tips

Photo Enthusiast Network members can submit photos to get a little help live during the show!

News

Gear News

Mavic Mini Firmware Update - Sub zero flying
DP Review Guys End of Year - https://www.dpreview.com/articles/0279741740/have-your-say-best-gear-of-2019
New FW update for Sony a7 series.. Menu redesign
https://www.dpreview.com/news/3228623333/nikon-announces-z6-z7-raw-video-output-upgrade-new-firmware-adds-cfexpress-support
https://www.dpreview.com/news/6137048375/canon-users-report-issues-with-front-focusing-with-new-rf-70-200mm-f-2-8
https://petapixel.com/2019/12/16/canon-to-use-moving-sensor-in-eos-r-camera-with-hybrid-ef-rf-mount-report/
https://petapixel.com/2019/12/09/employees-reveal-instagram-is-hiding-likes-to-make-you-post-more-report/

Shooting & Workflow

https://fstoppers.com/business/client-wants-all-unedited-images-very-small-amount-what-do-you-do-437356

Steel Wool from the Air!

Q&A

Now go watch -

November 29, 2019

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Photography Deals 2019

November 29, 2019/ Photorec Toby

Photo deals for Black Friday / Cyber Monday.

November 24, 2019

Drone Deals/Drones Ranked - Savings on DJI Drones for Black Friday 2019

November 24, 2019/ Photorec Toby

DJI Has announced savings of up to $350 off select drones!! This is a huge savings on some of the best drones currently on the market. Below you will find my favorite drones of 2019 at various price points.

#1 Dji Mavic Pro 2

*Mavic 2 Pro - Save $350 during the holiday*

The BEST drone on the market - The DJI Mavic 2 Pro w/ 1” sensor - Providing awesome photos, great video paired with 360-degree obstacle avoidance, long flight times and easily customizable cinematic movements. I have traveled the world with this drone and I am impressed EVERY time I fly. It is a pro-level drone but is still easily one of the best drones to start with. Occusync connection between drone and controller provides a rock-stable connection with crystal clear video even when the drone is MILES away! I have over 200 flights with the Mavic 2 Pro and it continues to perform flawlessly.

My Original Review | SALE!!! $350 OFF at B&H PHOTO | Save on Amazon

*Captured with the Mavic 2 Pro - Awesome for sunsets*

The Mavic 2 Zoom is not currently discounted - at $1429 it is not a drone that I typically recommend over the Pro version. Having the zoom is nice but the larger sensor in the Pro model makes it much better for photos. If you plan to ONLY do video you may find the zoom capabilities more useful but not enough that I would recommend it over something like the Autel Evo.

#2 Autel Robotics EVO Quadcopter

4k at 60fps with a smart controller makes this $999 price even more attractive.

I tested the Autel Evo earlier this year and was impressed! This drone is capable of 4k at 60fps. DJI’s Mavic series max out at 4k at 30fps. 60fps is nice to capture more crisp action or playback at 1/2 speed which can often make the footage look just that much more epic. It’s not a big deal but it does give you, as a content creator, additional flexibility. For photographers, the quality is on par with the original Mavic Pro or the current Mavic Zoom. But this drone does have a few advantages beyond the 4k at 60fps.

Screen built into the remote - No smartphone required and setup is faster!

The remote includes a screen! You also get great build quality, and FREE VR hookup all makes this a compelling alternative to DJI’s dominance. The Drone is $999 but I recommend the Autel Robotics EVO Quadcopter with On-The-Go Bundle This kit brings you the EVO quadcopter with all its standard accessories plus a shoulder bag for easy travel, two additional batteries, and one additional pair of propellers.

Buy the Evo from B&H Photo | Watch my short review of the Autel Evo

#3 DJI Mavic Pro (Fly More Combo)

Yes, this older drone released in2016 is on my list in 2019! I still own this drone and it still provides excellent results. The Fly More package provides everything you need - including a total of THREE batteries for just $929! This is only slightly more than the Mavic Air and unlike the Mavic Air this drone uses Occusync technology which provides a crystal clear video feed to your smartphone/controller - letting you see exactly what you are filming with no issues - it also means you easily maintain control of the drone at ridiculously long distances - miles!! The Mavic Air Fly More Combo is about the same price and does provide it all in a smaller package - but its reliance on WIFI connection means shorter range and more interference depending on where you fly. I really like the Mavic Air but at this price, the original Mavic Pro is my pick.

Buy the Mavic Pro (Fly More Combo) for $929

#4 DJI Mavic Mini

The Tiny and Lightweight Mavic Mini is easy to fly

The brand new, under 250g, drone from DJI is just $399! I have been flying mine for almost two weeks now and I am very impressed. Despite its tiny size and weight, this drone can perform. The interface is simple and the flight is easy. Image quality is similar to the original Mavic Pro and the Mavic Air and video quality is good but does not offer 4k. 2.7k is the highest resolution. The weight means you do not need to register with the FAA and because it is so lightweight I predict you will throw this in your bag on most trips - it weighs only slightly more than a large smartphone! Did I mention it is easy to fly - No other drone at this price point provides this easy to use interface with GPS for precision flight and one-touch landing.

Buy the Mavic Mini $399 - Fly More Combo $499

#5 - Just for Fun - the DJI Tello Iron Man

Currently on sale for $89. This colorful drone is more than a fun toy- it teaches the beginnings of drone flight and while it doesn’t have GPS it does provide a vision positioning system to ensure stable hovering. The small size and prop guards make this easy to fly inside - It does include a camera capable of 720p and 5mp photos. Paired with an app that provides missions, you ( I mean your kids ;) can feel like a superhero!

Buy from B&H Photo

Which drone is on your holiday wish list?

DJI also has discounts on the Osmo Action, Pocket Osmo and the Ronin S.

November 21, 2019

a7r IV Review - Photography Adventure Review & Should You upgrade?

November 21, 2019/ Photorec Toby

I took the Sony a7R IV to Mongolia with http://Mckaylive.com workshops and http://www.nomadictours.asia/ I share my opinion about the A7R iv and as a Sony a7R iii user - will I be upgrading. Watch for awesome adventures in Mongolia.

November 05, 2019

Sony Holiday Savings - $200 OFF the Sony a7iii w/ extras!!

November 05, 2019/ Photorec Toby

It seems we are officially entering the holiday season. Sales are popping up and Sony is one of the first manufacturers to announce significant savings on their a7iii.

This is the first price drop this camera has seen since launch (April 2018). The a7iii remained a competitive camera against the release of the EOS R and the Nikon Z6. Both of those cameras were released months after the a7iii and saw price drops earlier this year. With the firmware updates to the EOS R and Nikon Z6 we have a very competitive field of full-frame mirrorless cameras sitting just under $2000. I feel that the Sony a7iii is still the most versatile with that amazing AF system that is capable of fast action. You also get awesome battery life and dual card slots for backup/peace of mind when shooting. This $1798 bundle does include extras - FAST 32GB SD Card, Spare Battery, Battery Charger and Bag. Note the Sony a7iii can charge from USB or you can use this provided external battery charger.

Screen Shot 2019-11-05 at 8.11.23 AM.png

Buy from B&H Photo $1798 (discount on 24-105 Bundle too $2,996)

Buy from Amazon

Buy the Canon EOS R (Recent Price Drop!) $1799
Buy the Nikon Z6 $1696

Have you bought into mirrorless yet? If so which camera and if not let me know your thoughts.

Join me and David Carr tomorrow for a special LIVE show where we will discuss these latest deals, what else what we can expect to see for Black Friday/CyberMonday and so much more. Click the link to set a reminder.

October 30, 2019

DJI Announces Mavic Mini - So light, no FAA registration required

October 30, 2019/ Photorec Toby

Under the 250 gram FAA registration limit with 30 minutes of flight time!

This 249 gram drone is under the FAA weight requirement - you do not need to register it!

DJI Has announced the Mavic Mini - this tiny drone fits in a jacket pocket while still providing all the smarts that DJI has developed with years of being a drone leader. Easy to fly, easy to capture smooth, stable footage with the 3-axis gimbal and costs just $399.

Specs -

12MP/2.7K Quad HD 3-Axis Gimbal Camera
Up to 30 Minutes of Flight Time
Stream HD Video From up to 2.5 Miles
Includes Controller & Flight Battery

This looks to be an excellent drone and a perfect first drone with easy one touch flight modes, landing and built in tutorials. The $399 price does include a small, compact controller. I also think this will be a fantastic travel drone. I preordered the fly more combo the moment it was announced at $499 it includes 2 spare batteries and a multi battery charger along with prop guards and a carrying case. Well worth the extra $100 in my opinion.

There are some drawbacks to this small drone. It does not shoot 4k. 2.7k at 30fps and 1080 60fps are the highest quality/fastest fps available and the sensor is just 12mp with no RAW capture. And with a drone this light you are more susceptible to wind - 17mph is listed as the max wind speed which may feel limiting in some situations. The drone does not provide manual WB control and no shutter speed control during video. Serious photographers and videographers might find that pretty limiting. Overall I expect this to sell incredibly well and perform well for most people.

Preorder from B&H Photo - Mavic Mini | Mavic Mini Fly More Combo

Preorder from Amazon - Mavic Mini | Mavic Mini Fly More Combo

Shipping begins Nov 11th. I will share more thoughts and answer your questions on today’s LIVE Photo Mish Mash - our weekly live show about all things photography (and drones) - Click here to set a reminder - 2pm PDT.

October 22, 2019

$19K of Camera Gear in Mongolia - What's in my camera bag 2019

October 22, 2019/ Photorec Toby

The most complete look at EVERYTHING I bring on trips and workshops

I went to Mongolia with 19,433.16 worth of camera gear on my back - This also happens to be what I bring with me on most workshops and photo travels.

See complete list - with cost and links to purchase

September 09, 2019

New XPERIA 5 - New Sony Phone has eye-af??

September 09, 2019/ Photorec Toby

Sony Announces Xperia 5 Smartphone

Xperia 5 joins Sony’s flagship series, bringing creative entertainment experiences in a sleek and compact design

Triple camera array with critically acclaimed Eye AF technology from Sony’s Alpha™ cameras, continuous burst shooting at up to 10 fps AF/AE tracking (Auto Focus and Auto Exposure) with increased calculations up to 30 fps
21:9 CinemaWide™ 6.1 inch Full HD+ OLED display with BT.2020 color accuracy
Sleek and compact body with a sophisticated pocket friendly design
Improved Game enhancer allows you to record your gameplay as well as change your voice

September 5, 2019 –Sony continues its smartphone evolution with the introduction of Xperia 5, the latest addition to the flagship series, bringing key technologies from Xperia 1 into a compact, stylish and sleek smartphone design.

“With Xperia 5 we’ve brought what our customers loved from Xperia 1 into a smaller design with the latest award-winning technology from Sony,” said Mitsuya Kishida, President, Sony Mobile Communications. “Xperia 5 continues to bring uncompromised performance and leading experiences to a smartphone, only possible with Sony.”

Triple camera system with Eye Autofocus

Xperia 5 features an advanced triple camera system with 12 MP sensors on each module, as well as Sony’s powerful BIONZ X™ image processor for mobile and Optical SteadyShot™image stabilization.With a 16mm lens for super-wide angle shots, a versatile 26mm lens and a 52mm portrait and tele lens (35mm equiv.), you can capture great moments in any occasion.

Additionally, the new Xperia 5 includes Sony’s acclaimed Eye AF technology, plus continuous burst shooting at up to 10 fps with AF/AE tracking (Auto Focus and Auto Exposure) calculations happening at up to 30 fps, allowing it to capture moving subjects with precision focusand optimal exposure. The main 26mm camera features a bright F1.6 lens and Dual Photo Diode image sensor with extremely large 1.4μm pixel pitch, enabling it to produce beautifully sharp low-light images.

For mobile cinematography, the new Xperia 5 features Cinema Pro “powered by CineAlta” application. Developed in partnership with engineers from Sony’s professional digital cinema camera division, Cinema Pro “powered by CineAlta” allows users to create multiple video projects with different settings or looks, as well as offering more flexibility and customizability for video shooting by adjusting white balance, manual focus and audio recording levels. Individual clips can also trimmed and merged together. These powerful capabilities compliment the ability of the Xperia 5 to record video in multiple high-resolution formats including full native 4K resolution.

Xperia 5 is also compatible with Sony’s ‘Imaging Edge™ Mobile’[i]application, for easy transfer and social sharing of images and video from compatible Alpha or Cyber-shot™ camera.

Experience superb content immersion with a 21:9 CinemaWide display and Dolby Atmos sound

Xperia 5 brings the 21:9 cinematic aspect ratio to a smaller form factor, for a viewing experience that is true to creators’ intent.

The 21:9 CinemaWide 6.1-inch Full HD+ OLED display is powered by Sony’s award-winning BRAVIA® TV technologies with X1™ for mobile engine bringing HDR (High Dynamic Range) remastering technologies for more contrast, color and clarity.

Xperia 5 also has Creator mode inspired by Master Monitor color reproductionbringing precise color accuracy in your hands. As with Xperia 1, Xperia 5 also has 10-bit tonal gradation[ii] representing a myriad of colors and delivering deeper blacks, while colors appear more natural. The display, together with originally developed image processing, supports wide color space ITU-R BT.2020 as well as DCI-P3 with Illuminant D65.

The entertainment factor is further enhanced by Dolby Atmos, tuned in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, for an immersive entertainment experience that flows all around you with breath-taking realism when using headphones or Xperia 5’s built-in stereo speakers. While Sony’s audio technologies, Hi-Res audio for both wired and wireless[iii], DSEE HX and Stereo speakers empowers you to hear music in its purest form.

The expansive 21:9 display also takes mobile gaming to the next level by offering a deeper unrestricted field-of-view of all your gameplay, while Game Enhancer optimizes the performance and blocks unwanted notifications, as well as enables you to record gameplay and find game tips online. In addition, you can now power up your gaming with improved Game enhancer allowing you to record your game play with burst screen capture at 20fps and synthesize your voice with Game enhancer’s voice changer feature.

Advanced technology in a sleek and compact design

Xperia 5 brings the best of Xperia 1 into a smaller footprint while keeping the 21:9 CinemaWide display. The sleek metal frame is protected with the help of durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6 on the front and back, while Xperia 5’s IP68/IP65certified water resistance[iv]guards against the elements. The device will have Android™ 9 Pie pre-installed.

Stay connected and entertained all day

Xperia 5 features ‘Smart connectivity’ to make sure you’re connected to the most optimal network. It uses Sony’s deep learning engine (Neural Network Libraries) to analyze Wi-Fi signals and predict near-future connectivity issues. Smart connectivity will automatically switch to LTE when it predicts any compromise in Wi-Fi connection to ensure you always have optimal connectivity.

Xperia 5 has the latest flagship Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 855 Mobile Platform with the integrated X24 LTE Modem for enhanced performance with gigabit LTE connectivity. It features 4 x 4 MIMO technology supporting all LTE bands, uniquely including low-bands, so you’re connected even in areas with weak signal coverage.

Xperia 5 also features Smart Stamina, USB PD fast charging and a 3140mAh battery to keep your device running all day.

Availability

Xperia 5 will be available in the United States at Best Buy, Amazon, B&H Photo & Video, and other participating retail outlets on November 2019 with a retail price of $799.99. Xperia 5 is operable on GSM networks and certified to work on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. For more information on all technology and features contained in Xperia 5 please visit https://www.sonymobile.com/us/products/phones/xperia-5/

Full specifications for Xperia 5 can be found here:

https://www.sonymobile.com/us/products/phones/xperia-5/features/

September 06, 2019

Sony a6600 Hands-on Review with a6100, 16-55 f/2.8 and 70-350 reviews

September 06, 2019/ Photorec Toby

I am back from the Sony launch event for the NEW Sony a6600, the a6100, the 16-50 f/2.8 lens and the 70-350 lens. I have a hands-on review of ALL the new gear.

Support my work - Grab a beautiful Squarespace website for 10% OFF

Shop B&H Photo for Sony Gear -

Sony a6600 (Body only and Lens Combos listed here) $1398
Sony a6100 (Body only and Lens Combos listed here) $748
Sony 16-55 f/2.8 $1398
Sony 70-350 f/4.5 - 6.3 $998

Chart comparing all the Sony a6xxx series cameras

Sample Photos - a6600

September 06, 2019

Sony a6600 vs a6500 vs a6400 vs a6300 vs a6100 vs a6000 - Chart Comparing the Sony a6000 series

September 06, 2019/ Photorec Toby

At the end of August, 2019 Sony announced TWO new APS-C camera - the a6100 and a6600. This brings the total of Sony APS-C cameras to SIX different models you can buy. Check the chart below for a quick look at the important differences and my thoughts on each.

Sony a6600 vs a6500 vs a6400 vs a6300 vs a6100 vs a6000 - Chart Comparing the Sony a6000 series

See original chart on Google Sheets

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G
1	Model	a6000	a6100	a6300	a6400	a6500	a6600
2	B&H Photo Buy	Sony a6000	Sony a6100	Sony a6300	Sony a6400	Sony a6500	Sony a6600
3	Body PRICE	$448.00	$748.00	Discontinued	$898.00	$1,198.00	$1,398.00
4	Body + Lens	$548.00	$848.00	$1,148.00	$998.00	$1,598.00	$1,798.00
5	Headline feature	CHEAP	CHEAP w/ the newest AF system and 4k video	Updated & more robust version of a6000	Real time tracking AF and eye af system borrowed from a9 - impressive AF in such a compact camera.	A stabilized version of the a6300	Z battery for awesome battery life and the best AF for photos and video of all current 6xxx series cameras
6	MP	24	24	24	24	24	24
7	FPS	11	11	11	11	11	11
8	Video	1080	4k	4k	4k	4k	4k
9	IBIS	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES
10	Viewfinder Resolution	1.4 million dots	1.4 million dots	2.3 million dots	2.3 million dots	2.3 million dots	2.3 million dots
11	Screen Articulation	Yes	Yes - Flips 180°	Yes	Yes - Flips 180°	Yes	Yes - Flips 180°
12	Battery	Small Poor	Small OK	Small OK	Small Decent	Small OK	Large Excellent
13	AF Performance	Decent	Excellent for still/Very Good for Video	Very Good	Excellent for still/Very Good for Video	Very Good	Excellent for stills and video with real time eye-af during video
14	Battery Life CIPA	360	420	400	410	350	810
15	Weather Sealed	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
16	Body Construction	Plastic Composite	Plastic Composite	Magnesium Alloy	Magnesium Alloy	Magnesium Alloy	Magnesium Alloy
17	Verdict	Serious budget constraints? Still an excellent value	The current go to camera for budget consious but want that eye-af system	SKIP	It doesn't offer the IBIS, the bigger battery or real time eye af during video but it does save you $500 vs the sony a6600 and for most photographers an excellent value.	Skip unless you are a videographer dying for IBIS and don't have the money for the a6600	The current best and it is an excellent camera - that Z battery provides all day (and more) battery life, the autofocus system is excellent for photos AND video and the built in stabilization can help for hand held shots and video.

Kodiak Bear Photography Workshop

September 05, 2019/ Photorec Toby

What an amazing experience! Take a moment to watch this quick video summary of our recent photo workshop in Katmai NP, Alaska!

Highlight reel of an amazing adventure aboard the Island-C in Katmai NP, Alaska!

September 05, 2019

Sony Landing Page

September 05, 2019/ Photorec Toby

Links to all Sony Content

Sony a6600 Review Video

Sony a6600 Sample Photos (including downloads)

Sony a6xxxx chart comparing ALL version of the a6xxx APS-C cameras

August 29, 2019

Sony a6600 Sample Photos w/ Sony 16-55 f/2.8 and 70-350 f/4.5-6.3 G Lenses

August 29, 2019/ Photorec Toby

Two days of shooting in New York City with the Sony a6600 and the new 16-55 f/2.8G and the 70-350 f/4.5-6.3. And one shot with the Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens. Overall I am impressed with image quality and I am VERY happy with the performance of these two lenses. They should perform well - they are on the expensive side for APS-C glass.

The 70-350 f/4.5 - 6.3 $998 - Preorder

The 16-55 f/2.8 $1398 - Preorder

Sony 70-350 at 289mm - 1/60 f/6.3 ISO 4000

Sony 16-55 at 16mm - 30" f/11 ISO 100

Sony 16-55 at 16mm - 1/200 f/5.6 ISO 640

Sony 85mm f/1.8 1/250 f/2.2 ISO 200

Sony 16-55 2" f/22 ISO 50

Sony 70-350 at 350mm 1/640 f/6.3 ISO 1000

Sony 16-55 at 16mm 1/40 f/5.0 ISO 250

70-350 at 151mm 1/400 f/7.1 ISO 2000

Sony 70-350 at 266mm 1/200 f/6.3 ISO 100

SONY 70-350 at 324mm 1/200 f/6.3 ISO 1000

Sony 70-350 at 70mm 1/400 f/7.1 ISO 250

SONY 70-350 at 328mm 1/250 f/7.1 ISO 640

SONY 70-350 at 350mm 1/200 f/6.3 ISO 1600

SONY 70-350 at 324mm 1/320 f/6.3 ISO 5000

SONY 70-350 at 350mm 1/160 f/6.3 ISO 1600

Sony 16-55 f/2.8 at 55mm 1/100 f/2.8 ISO 1600

SONY 70-350 at 121mm 1/1250 f/6.3 ISO 640

SONY 70-350 at 350mm 1/800 f/6.3 ISO 200

Sony 16-55 f/2.8 at 32mm 2.5" f/22 ISO 100 (Edited in Lightroom)

Sony 16-55 at 16mm 1/15 f/5.0 ISO 5000

Download Photos for Pixel Peeping

August 28, 2019

Sony Announces the a6100, a6600 and lenses 16-55 f/2.8, 70-350 f/4.5-6.3

August 28, 2019/ Photorec Toby

Sony just announced FOUR new products that demonstrate a serious commitment to APS-C. Two new cameras including a flagship model that offers IBIS and uses the larger Z battery for significantly improved battery life and an entry level a6100 that really doesn’t compromise despite a friendly price of $750. Two new G series lenses for APS-C the 16-55 f/2.8 and the 70-350 f/4.5-6.3

Sony a6100 Specs

24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
BIONZ X Image Processor (same as in a9)
UHD 4K30p and Full HD 120p Video
SVGA Tru-Finder 1.44m-Dot OLED EVF
3.0" 921.6k-Dot 180° Tilting Touchscreen
Up to 11-fps Shooting, ISO 100-32000
4D FOCUS with 425 Phase-Detect Points
Real Time Eye AF for Stills and Video
Mic Port, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
W Battery - Standard Sony battery used in prior a6xxxx series cameras
$748.00 Body Only Preorder Soon

Sony a6600 Specs (differences from a6100 bolded)

24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
BIONZ X Image Processor (Same as in a9)
UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas
XGA Tru-Finder 2.36m-Dot OLED EVF
3.0" 921.6k-Dot 180° Tilting Touchscreen
5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
Up to 11-fps Shooting, ISO 100-32000
4D FOCUS with 425 Phase-Detect Points
Real Time Eye AF for Stills
Real Time Eye AF for video
Headphone & Mic Ports, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
Z Battery - Used in a7iii cameras offering 821 shots per charge (actual real world usage will likely be higher)
Magnesium Alloy Body with Dust & Moisture Resistant
$1498 Body Only Preorder Soon

The big differences between the a6100 and a6600 beyond the price. $1498 for a6600 and $748 for the a6100

The a6600 offers IBIS - built in sensor stabilization, a 2.36m EVF vs 1.44m EVF in the a6100 and real time eye af in video. Both cameras have the same AF system for stills and offer real time tracking in video but they a6600 will also do eye tracking during video. And the a6600 offers a headphone jack, a magnesium alloy body and dust/moisture resistance.

Overall the AF system in these two cameras is extremely impressive and the amount of tech/performance built into a $748 camera is awesome but I really did want to see a redesign of the body. The a6600 has a slightly deeper grip to accommodate the bigger battery but otherwise the design remains relativley the same which lacks a front dial and makes these cameras less manual mode friendly. It is a trade off for their lightweight and compact nature but I would love to see Sony really focus on the manual mode useability of this line of APS-C Cameras. I will be shooting hands-on for the next several days with all of the new gear, including the lenses listed below and will be sharing more soon. Be sure to follow me on instagram.

Also announced two new lenses

The 70-350 f/4.5 - 6.3 $998 - Preorder Soon

The 16-55 f/2.8 $1398 - Preorder Soon

Both of these lenses are exciting - the zoom is a much needed lens for Sony APS-C shooters and on a crop that equates to a 560mm reach making this a solid option for wildlife. I will be back with more hands-on with all of this gear soon.

August 28, 2019

Canon 90D DSLR - Capable with Pro Level Features!

August 28, 2019/ Photorec Toby

The latest model in the popular mid-tier DSLR of Canon’s offerings has just been announced.

32.5 MP
45 AF points - All cross type (highest accuracy)
-3 EV for low light capable focusing
10 fps - Fast (up from 7 fps in Canon 80D)
Digic 8 Processor
ISO 25,600
4k 30p not cropped beyond existing APS-C crop
3” 1 mil dot Vari Angle LCD (fully articulating tousch screen)
Thumbstick for focus point movement (80D lacked thumbstick)

That thumbstick near the top right of the articulating LCD screen is borrowed from the 7D line - Good Stuff!

The rumor was the 90D would incorporate some elements of the 7D line and it appears with the 10fps, lower light focusing, Digic 8 processor and thumb stick that this is true. This is not a minor bump in specs from the 80D. This does look like a marriage of the two lines. Jumping to 32MP in a crop sensor is interesting - higher than many entry level full frame cameras that are currently on the market and certainly a larger MP offering than almost all APS-C cameras currently on the market. The cost at launch will be similar to the 80D. I am impressed that Canon has blended elements from the powerful 7D Mark II into the 90D while keeping the price the same as the 80D was at launch.

Canon EOS 90D Body $1199

Canon EOS 90D w/18-55mm STM Kit $1349

Canon EOS 90D w/18-135mm USM Kit $1599

Shipping will begin in Mid-September

The big question I have - how will this 32MP sensor perform? I feel that Canon has at times in the past relied on megapixels to grab attention and fallen behind on low light performance and dynamic range- stats that more and more photographers care about. There is a chance that although they crammed more megapixels in here it won’t perform noticeably better than prior sensors. Overall I think this will represent a solid upgrade for existing 70D and 80D owners and I think will make the decision between staying with a crop sensor body and upgrading to a full frame a bit more difficult. The Canon 6D Mark II with fewer megapixels is almost the same price - though you will need to factor in the cost and additional weight of new lenses. And we are rumored to be just hours away from new Sony APS-C cameras too that offer a lighter, more compact body built around some of the best APS-C sensors on the market. And while we are talking about weight - more and more I hear from people tired of carrying a big DSLR around and the 90D is basically the same size and weight. And there is Fuji with the BEST mirrorless APS-C, the XT-3. And finally Canon’s own EOS M6 Mark II- a mirrorless camera designed around the same sensor. That’s all to say - it’s a crowded field these days and I am anxious to see just how well this new sensor performs but it’s clear Canon has played to its strengths here with a well built, decently specd camera offered at a good value. Combine that with their ease of use, friendly Canon interface and 1 bazillion Canon lenses and I think the Canon 90D will sell to those not already switched to other cameras or on the fence. I don’t think it offers anything compelling enough to pull photographers and videographers back from other systems. What do you think?

July 31, 2019

Tamron 17-28 f/2.8 vs Sony 16-35 GM- I can save you $1300!

July 31, 2019/ Photorec Toby

Recommended Sony Gear -

Buy Links:

Tamron 17-28 f/2.8 $899
Sony 16-35 f/2.8 $2198

I can happily recommend the new Tamron - it's as good and better in many cases than the Sony. There - I just saved you $1300 bucks. Hit that play button on the video above and watch for details and sample photos.

Download Full Resolution Raw from Tamron 17-35 f/2.8 and Sony 16-35 f/2.8 using Sony a7RIII