July & August 2016
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Nikon: D5 D810 D500 D750 D610 D7200 Lenses Canon: 1DX2 5DS/R 5D Mk IV 6D 7D II Lenses
Reviews: Fuji Sony LEICA Zeiss Hasselblad Contax Minolta Olympus Pentax
Recommended Cameras Best Cameras Gifts How to Take Better Pictures random
Links: Adorama Amazon B&H Crutchfield eBay Video Tutorials Infrared Facebook Twitter
Adorama's Daily Deals Amazon's Deals-of-the-Day B&H Deal of the Day Crutchfield's Sales
Secret Summer Sale on Phil Steele Photography Courses
My friend Phil Steele is having a private sale on his courses. Phil's tutorials are the best I've seen; check out his previews and see for yourself. He has a 60-day no-risk money-back guarantee, so you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. You can watch them from anywhere on just about anything, far better than a book, file or eBook.
SAVE 33%: Secrets of Successful Event Photography.
SAVE 25%: Lightroom Made Easy.
SAVE 15%: Photoshop Basics for Photographers.
SAVE 15%: Pro Portraits with Off-Camera Flash.
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31 August 2016, Wednesday
Lumintop Tool Ti.
NEW: Lumintop Tool Ti Review.
I added the titanium Tool Ti flashlight to my Tool AAA review.
25 August 2016, Thursday
Canon 5D Mk IV and 24-70mm f/4 L IS.
NEW: Canon 5D Mk IV.
Canon's most universal DSLR, with 7 FPS for sports and action with a 30 MP full-frame sensor, the 5D Mk IV is just about perfect for every assignment without compromise. It's the first camera to have this level of resolution with this level of speed.
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L III.
NEW: Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L III.
Canon 24-105mm f/4 L II.
NEW: Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS II.
Is Nikon still there?
I have to laugh. This is the fall roll-out; the Japanese introduce their latest at the end of August each year.
Nikon's best shot last week was the D3400, which is the same as 2014's D3300 with Bluetooth, but with a much weaker flash and no more sensor cleaner, while Canon knocks it out of the park as usual with the 5D Mark IV which pushes photography's envelope even further.
Canon announced a couple of hot new real lenses we actually will use, not plastic dog plops like Nikon's two new ones last week.
I've been watching these introductions continuously for over 40 years. It's really sad to see Nikon give it up like this.
18 August 2016, Thursday
Nikon D3400 and included 18-55mm VR AF-P.
NEW: Nikon D3400.
Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 DX VR AF-P.
NEW: Nikon 70-300mm DX VR AF-P.
San Diego: Photo Club Meeting tonight in PB.
Deals
AUDEZE EL-8 Planar Magnetic Headphones: $349.99 refurbished ($699 for new ones!), with free shipping.
Lenovo IdeaPad 700 15.6" Notebook: $799.99 (Regular $1,099), with free shipping.
Fostex TH-900 mk2 Headphones: $999 (Regular $1,499), with free shipping.
17 August 2016, Wednesday
NEW: Nikon 18-55mm AF-P (non-VR).
Also at B&H.
NEW: Nikon 70-300mm DX AF-P (non-VR).
also comes from B&H.
Deal: Sigma 24-7/2.8 for $599.
15 August 2016, Monday
Nikon DX VR AF-P NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5~5.6 G.
NEW: Nikon 18-55mm AF-P Review.
NEW: Rebates on almost everything Fuji.
MONDAY ONLY: $300 off Olympus OM-D E-M1!
$799 with free shipping and $31.96 in Adorama rewards; also in silver.
Expires at 11:59PM NYC time.
Deals
Pelican 1510 Watertight Hard Case: $119.95 (Regular $149.95), with free shipping.
Tamrac 3365 Aero 65 Video / Photo Bag $7.99, with free shipping.
Tamrac 5531 Adventure Messenger Bag: $9.99, with free shipping.
Tamrac 3535 Express 5 ultra-compact messenger Bag : $12.99, with free shipping.
Tamrac 5723 Zuma 3 camera & iPad Bag: $14.95, with free shipping.
Tamrac 5766 Velocity 6x Sling bag: $17.99, with free shipping.
Tamrac 5426 Aria 6 Bag: $24.95, with free shipping.
Pioneer DDJ-SB2 2 Channel Controller & Sennheiser HD7 Headphones: $299.99 (Regular $393), with free shipping.
Mackie ProFX8v2 8-Channel FX Mixer w/USB: $129.99 after rebate (Regular $199), with free shipping.
Mackie ProFX12v2 12-Channel Professional FX Mixer w/USB: $169.99 after rebate (Regular $249.99), with free shipping.
13 August 2016, Saturday
Bose QuietComfort 35.
NEW: Bose QC35 Review.
12 August 2016, Friday
I'm Quoted in European CEO Magazine
Check out this article on the supposed comeback of film.
Not that I necessarily agree with this article written by outsiders for outsiders, but what the heck. The funny thing is I've never stopped shooting film; digital is just for fun and commerce, and film is for making art. Photography is film, film is for photos worth making and keeping, and digital is for photos you can delete without having to pay for them. No news here.
They quote a lot from some other guy named Rothwell; that's not me. Keep reading for my quote under Je ne sais quoi.
Lots more from me at How to Shoot Film.
Facebook and Hasselblad
While we're talking about photos we make just so we can forget and delete them, did you ever notice how Facebook tends to be optimized for square images?
Square images are shown the largest, while horizontal or vertical ones are shown smaller on most platforms. Shoot or crop to the square (like on a Hasselblad), and your Facebook images will be the biggest.
Why does ISO go up when I pop up the flash?
Good question!
Nikon and Canon both increase ISO, often to crazy values in Auto ISO, to try to keep detail in the background which will be lit only by ambient light.
The camera closes down the aperture based purely on the ISO.
The cameras aren't smart enough yet to use a larger aperture and lower ISO when the distance isn't too close. They stop down the aperture so they can limit potential overexposure at high ISOs for close objects.
Back in the 1980s for Canon and 1993 for Nikon SLRs, they knew the focus distance from the lens. Canon cameras would optimize the aperture based on flash distance, but no more.
This is why it's not uncommon for a shot to be made at something nutty like ISO 6,400 at f/7.1 with flash indoors. I would shoot it at ISO 1,600 at f/3.5 for cleaner results, but the DSLRs oddly aren't this smart lately.
DSLRs are getting smarter; the Nikon D500 and D5 now let us program Auto ISO differently for shots with flash and without flash, but ultimately leaf-shutter cameras like the Hasselblad C series, Fuji X100T and Sony RX10 Mk III do flash so much better than DSLRs which are limited by their focal-plane shutters.
New: LEICA SF-64 Flash.
Free: Enter to win a free LG 34" monitor.
Deals
Canon 70-300mm IS: $449.
Canon 55-250mm IS: $119.95, refurbished.
11 August 2016, Thursday
Lobstermania. Nikon D3300, Nikon 18-55mm AF-P at 31mm, f/4.2 hand-held at 1/13 at Auto ISO 12,800, Perfectly Clear. bigger.
Who needs mirrorless when a gray-market D3300 and superior 18-55mm AF-P sell for just $410, complete with the good, new AF-P lens not yet sold in the USA? The DSLR always wins for picture quality, and the D3300 weighs less than many mirrorless cameras.
Deals
Brenthaven Collins Shoulder Bag for 15" Laptops: $24.95 (Regular $59), free shipping.
Targus Backpack for 14" Laptops: $29.95 (Regular $59), with free shipping.
Case Logic CPL-108 camera & iPad backpack: $24.95 (Regular $64.99) with Free Shipping.
Manfrotto 680B Compact Monopod: $52.88 (regular $89), with Free shipping.
Rode Microphones VideoMic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone: $79 (regular $99).
Rode Microphones NT1-A Quiet Studio Condenser Microphone: $189 (regular $229).
10 August 2016, Wednesday
New: Rokinon 50mm f/1.4 for full-frame Sony E mount.
Deals
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3: $999 and 10% reward.
Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8: $699 and 4% rewards (Reg Price: $999).
Apple 13.3" MacBook Air: $849 (reg. $1,199).
Apple 21.5" iMac : $899 (Reg Price:$1,299).
Apple 128GB iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi, Silver): $499 (Reg Price: $699).
Apple 128GB iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi , Space Gray): $499, reg. $699).
Dell 13.3" Touchscreen Notebook: $919.99 (Regular $1,199), with free shipping.
AUDEZE LCD-2 Planar Magnetic Headphones: $699.99 (Regular $995), with free shipping.
09 August 2016, Tuesday
Deals
Davis & Sanford Tripod: $9.75 after rebate (Regular $24.75), with free shipping.
LG Electronics 34UM68-P 34" Monitor, 2,560x1,080: $347.99 (Regular $599), with free shipping.
Lenovo 12" Tablet w/ Keyboard: $499 (Regular $679), with free shipping, limit one.
Samson Go Mic USB Microphone: $29.99 (Regular $39.99), with free shippng.
Shure SE215 IEMs & iFi Nano-iDSD USB DAC Decoder: $199 (Regular $298), with free shippng. Also in clear, all with free shippng.
08 August 2016, Monday
Nikon SB-5000.
NEW: Nikon SB-5000 Review.
Deals
Lexar 64GB 1066x CF Card: $59.95 (Was $69.95)
Lexar 128GB 1066x CF Card: $109.95 (Was $142)
2-Pack of Lexar 32GB 1066x CF Cards: $68.95 (Was $74.95)
2-Pack of Lexar 64GB 1066x CF Cards: $109.95 (Was $149.95)
2-Pack of Lexar 128GB 1066x CF Cards: $199.95 (was $279.95)
Canon MF726CDW All-in-One Color Laser Printer: $274.95 (Regular $344.99), with free shipping.
ZOOM H4n 4-Track Recorder & Ultrasone PRO550 Headphones: $279.99 (Regular $368), with free shipping.
05 August 2016, Friday
Canon 80D and 50mm f/1.8 STM.
NEW: Canon 80D Review.
UPDATED: Nikon Flashes Compared.
New from ThinkTank: Pro Video carrying cases.
Deals
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TS6 Wi-Fi Enabled Waterproof Shockproof Digital Camera (Camouflage): $169 (Regular $199), with free shipping.
Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13" Laptop and Camera Bag, also in tan: $169.95 (Regular $219), with free shipping.
Samsung U24E590D 23.6" LED Monitor, 3,840 x 2,160: $249.99 (Regular $349), with free shipping.
LG Electronics 27MP65HQ-P 27" 1,920 x 1,080 LED Monitor: $159.99 (Regular $199), with free shipping.
MeFOTO 52mm Circular Polarizer Filter: $22 (Regular $36), with free shipping.
MeFOTO 67mm Circular Polarizer Filter: $35 (Regular $62), with free shipping.
MeFOTO 72mm Circular Polarizer Filter: $38 (Regular $63), with free shipping.
MeFOTO 77mm Circular Polarizer Filter: $42 (Regular $76), with free shipping.
Xerox Tektronix Phaser 6500/N 24 PPM Color Laser Printer: $159.99 (regular $199.99), with Free Shipping.
FiiO X5 Digital Music Player: $129 (refurbished) with free shipping.
Polk LSiM 706C Center Channel Speaker, Black: $599.97 (Regular $1,199), with free shipping.
Polk LSiM 705 47" Floorstanding Tower, Black, also in cherry: $749.50 (Regular $1,499), with free shipping.
Polk LSi M 707 Floor Standing Speaker: $997.97 (Regular $1,999), with free shipping.
Tascam DP-008EX 8-Track Recorder: $114.99 (Regular $179.99), with free shipping.
Yamaha P-45 Digital Piano: $329.99 (Regular $449), with free shipping.
01 August 2016, Monday
Nikon D5 with 85mm f/1.4 AI-s.
NEW: Nikon D5 Review.
I'm impressed; my D5 really is far better than anything that's come before. It shoots faster and better than anything ever from Nikon.
Updated: Nikon 14mm f/2.8 Review.
Updated: Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S Review.
Deals
Free One Day Shipping at Ritz: use code KRSHIP for free one-day shipping on orders of $150 or more. Be careful; Ritz offers a lot of gray-market merchandise, which also means you can get the D3300 with the good 18-5500 AF-P we can't otherwise get in the USA!
Manfrotto 694CX Carbon Fiber Monopod: $99.88 after rebate (Regular $139), with Free shipping.
AUDEZE SINE Headphones w/Built-in Mic: $319.99 using coupon code 0N2AUGUST at checkout (Regular $449), with Free Shipping.
Polk Audio 240W Sound Bar & Subwoofer: $179.99 using coupon code 0N2AUGUST at checkout (Regular $299), with Free shipping.
Lenovo IdeaPad 700 15.6" IPS Notebook: $799.99 (Regular $1,099), with free shipping.
Asus VivoBook X541UA-WB51 15.6" Notebook: $449 (Regular $499), with
Free Shipping.
29 July 2016, Friday
New: SLIK travel tripods.
Deals
Ends Tomorrow, Saturday: Nikon Lens Rebates and $500 off the D500 & 16-80mm kit.
Up to 50% off Flashpoint brand lighting gear, all with free shipping.
Lowepro Scout SH 100 Shoulder Bag: $19.95 (Regular 49.95), with free shipping.
Lowepro Scout SH 120 Shoulder Bag: $24.95 (regular $59.95), with free shipping.
Dell 34" U3415W Curved Ultra Wide Quad HD IPS Monitor: $699.99 (Regular $748), with Free Shipping.
Lenovo Miix 700 12" Tablet with Keyboard: $599.99 (Regular $1,079), with Free Shipping.
27 July 2016, Wednesday
Nikon 105mm f/1.4.
NEW: Nikon 105mm f/1.4.
The world's fastest 105mm lens.
Nikon also pointed out that this marks 100,000,000 NIKKOR lenses made.
Deals
Nikon Lens Sale. Good through Sunday.
26 July 2016, Tuesday
Deals
Lenovo Flex 3 14" Touchscreen IPS Notebook: $420 (Regular $520), refurbished, with Free Shipping.
Polk RTiA3 Bookshelf Speakers: $249.99 the pair, (Regular $399), with Free Shipping.
Yamaha FGX800C Acoustic Electric Guitar: $219.99 (Regular $299.99), with Free Shipping.
DSLR or Mirrorless?
My friend Phil Steele just released a free video tutorial looking at DSLRs versus mirrorless cameras. If you think this is helpful, check out the rest of his free tutorials and full-length photography courses.
22 July 2016, Friday
Canon T6 with 18-55mm IS II.
NEW: Canon T6 Review.
LAST DAY: 33% off Perfectly Clear
Today, Friday the 22nd, is the last day you can get 33% off Perfectly Clear. Perfectly Clear is the software I use on most of my images that either makes my images look better than they did before, or leaves the few perfect images alone, all automatically.
They have a 30-day money back guarantee so you can't afford not to try it. I'd be lost without it; it makes my pictures look better faster than any other way.
Not only does it bring out details in shadows, it magically identifies faces and clarifies eyes and teeth. It's not like other software that expects me to locate faces for it; Perfectly Clear just finds them and does what's needed.
It's also fantastic on film scans, bringing detail to otherwise black shadows. Sometimes I run it twice to pull loads of detail out of my Velvia scans.
Sure, I can spend hours trying to get similar effects in Photoshop the hard way, but since Perfectly Clear does the same thing in just one automated click, I use it most of the time. It fixes highlights and shadows, increases sharpness and brilliance, corrects colors, and does a zillion things I need, all on its own under my command. Of course I can move sliders if I want a different result, and the key is that I rarely need to. For me, time is money, and Perfectly Clear lets me make more and better pictures faster.
Get it now while it's 33% off. You can make your mind up if you love it or not after the sale ends.
Deals
$290 off the Sigma 17-80mm f/2.8
Canon PIXMA MG2520 Inkjet Photo All-in-One Printer: $18.99, including ink! Use coupon code CAPRINTD at checkout, with Free shipping.
Panasonic DMC-GX8, 12-60mm lens and Adorama $150.00 Gift Certificate (also in silver): $1,197.99 with free shipping.
Case Logic CPL-108 Backpack: $24.95 (Regular $64.99) with free shipping.
Yamaha P-115 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano: $469 (regular $599.99), with Free shipping.
Polk TL1600 5.1 System with Powered Subwoofer: $269.99 (Regular $399), with
Free Shipping.
Canon MP27D 2-Color 12-Digit Desktop Printing Calculator: $29.99 for one or $19.99 each when adding two or more to cart (Regular $69.99), with Free Shipping.
Dell 7000 Series 13.3" Touchscreen Notebook: $619.99 (Regular $699) with Free Shipping. Limit one per customer
Polk Audio Omni SB1 WiFi & Bluetooth Sound Bar w/ Wireless Subwoofer: $449.99 using coupon code 1HEATINGUP at checkout (Regular $699.95), with Free Shipping.
Fender American Elite Stratocaster Electric Guitar: $1,309.99 after rebate using coupon code 1HEATINGUP at checkout (Regular $1,799.99), with Free Shipping.
Fender American Elite Telecaster Electric Guitar: $1,309.99 after rebate using coupon code 1HEATINGUP at checkout , with Free Shipping.
Pair of Fender Fortis F-12BT 12" 1300W 2-Way Powered Speakers: $899.99 Using coupon code 1HEATINGUP at checkout (Regular $1,299)
21 July 2016, Thursday
Fujifilm X70.
NEW: Fuji X70 Review.
In Stock: Sony RX10 Mk III. (RX10 Mk III review)
Neues von LEICA (New from LEICA)
LEICA 50mm f/2 ASPH APO-SUMMICRON-M - in silver!
Just what you need for your chrome LEICA M3.
Grip Deals
Prices below are after applying coupon code SOOOGOOD at checkout, and all ship free:
Canon LP-E4N Battery Pack for most EOS-1D series: $139 (Regular $164.95)
Nikon MB-D14 Battery Grip for D600 & D610: $199 (Regular $224.95)
Canon BG-E11 Battery Grip for 5D Mark III & 5DS/R : $249 (Regular $274.95)
Nikon MB-D12, Battery Grip for D800 & D810: $330.99 (Regular $363)
Nikon WT-7A Wireless Transmitter: $649 (Regular $749.95)
Lens Deals
$250 off the Tamron 90mm Macro full frame - and 4% rewards!
$40 off the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 full-frame lens.
Up to $400 off and more on many Sigma lenses.
$290 off the Sigma 17-80mm f/2.8.
$200 off the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8.
More Deals
MacBook Air 13": $799.
Samson MTR101A 1" Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone with Shockmount and Pop Filter: $49.99 (Regular $79.99), with free shipping.
Ricoh SP C250DN Color Wireless Laser Printer: $69.99 (Regular $104.99), with free shipping.
20 July 1969: Nothing is Impossible
Aldrin on the Moon, 20 July 1969. bigger.
47 years ago today, Buzz and Neil landed on the moon.
This showed the world that nothing, no matter how crazy, ridiculous, far fetched or downright ludicrous, is impossible if you put your mind to it.
For hundreds or thousands of years the world's brightest scientists had proved that heavier-than-air-flight and supersonic flight were physically impossible, but by ignoring the naysayers (regardless of how brilliant they were at other things), America made it to the moon and back, and we did it five more times for a total of twelve Americans who walked on the moon and made it safely back to Earth.
You can see what I posted seven years ago about this at my Apollo 11 Journal.
Deals
Brenthaven Collins Sleeve Plus Bag for 15.4" Laptops: $24.95 (Regular $59), with free shippibng.
Tascam DR-60D MKII Recorder: $124.99 using coupon code 1HEATINGUP at checkout after rebate, with free shipping.
Tascam DR-70D 4-Channel Recorder: $184.99 using coupon code 1HEATINGUP at checkout after $30 rebate, with free shipping.
Lenovo 12" 128 GB tablet & keyboard: $499 (Regular $679) with free shipping. Limit one per customer.
19 July 2016, Tuesday
New Canon Printers
Canon MAXIFY iB4120: $149.99
Canon MAXIFY MB2120 All-in-One: $179.99
MAXIFY MB2720 All-in-One: $199.99
MAXIFY MB5120 All-in-One: $299.99
MAXIFY MB5420 All-in-One: $399.99
Deals
SanDisk One Day Sale - Starts Midnight 7/19 NYC time and all with free shipping:
SanDisk 256GB Class 10 U3 Extreme SDXC UHS-I Memory Card: $99.95 (Regular $119.95)
SanDisk 512GB Extreme Pro UHS-I U3 Class 10 SDXC Memory Card: $249.95 (Regular $299.95)
SanDisk 256GB Cruzer Ultra CZ48 USB 3.0 - up to 80MB/s Transfer Speed, with SecureAccess: $44.95 (Regular $58.50)
Pair of Mackie CR5BT 5" 50W Multimedia Monitors with Bluetooth: $149.99 after rebate (Regular $249), with free shipping.
Ricoh SP 213SNw 3-In-1 Monochrome Multifunction Wireless Laser Printer - Print, Copy, Scan: $59.99 (Regular $99.99) with Free shipping.
FiiO X5 Music Player : $129 (refurbished) with Free shipping.
Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II with Inline Microphone for Apple in black or in blue, or for Android & Samsung in black or in blue: $129 with free shipping and $6.45 in Adorama Rewards.
This Thursday: San Diego Photo Club Meeting
San Diego's largest and oldest photo club meets in PB Thursday night at 7PM.
They will have several speakers like Steve Cirone presenting about how to take better bird pictures, doing local Lightroom adjustments, backing up your photos and how to do photo projects as opposed to just snapping individual images.
The 7PM meeting is free at
Wesley Palms
2404 Loring Street
San Diego, CA 92109
Be sure to see more details about the meeting, and how to send images ahead to share at the meeting.
16 July 2016, Saturday
Deals
Panasonic DMC-G7, 14-140mm, 25mm f/1.7 & Adorama $150.00 Gift Certificate: $997.99 with Free Shipping. Limited supply at this price.
The rest of these need coupon code 120MOREOFF at checkout for these prices:
Manfrotto 190Go! Carbon Fiber Tripod:
$219.88 (Regular $399.88), with free shipping.
Manfrotto 190Go! Carbon Fiber Tripod & 3-Way Head:
$269.88 (Regular $469.88), wiht free shipping.
Manfrotto 190Go! Carbon Fiber Tripod & Center Ball Head:
$269.88 (Regular $469.88), with free shipping.
Rokinon 50mm T1.5 Cine DS Lens for Nikon, for Canon or for Micro 4/3: $379, with free shipping.
Vanguard Abeo Plus 363CT Carbon Fiber Tripod: $199.99 (Regular $429), with free shipping.
Computer Deals
HP 8040 Wireless All-In-One Printer: $149.99 (Regular $249.99), with free Shipping.
LG 34UM68-P 34" Class 21:9 FHD UltraWide IPS Monitor: $349.99 (Regular $599), with
Free Shipping. Limited supply at this price.
Planar-Magnetic Headphone Deals
AUDEZE EL-8 Open-back Planar Magnetic Headphones:
$399.99, refurbished, with Free Shipping. Made in USA.
AUDEZE EL-8 Closed-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones: $399.99, refurbished, with Free Shipping. Made in USA.
Audio & Music Deals
Samson R21S Microphone, clip, MK10 Boom Stand, 18' cable: $31.99 w/ Free shipping.
Fender Classic Design CD-60CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar (Natural): $214.99 (regular $299), with free shipping.
Fender Classic Design CD-60CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar (Sunburst): $214.99 (Regular $299), with free shippuing.
Fender Classic Design CD-60 Acoustic Guitar (Natural): $174.99 (Regular $229.99), with Free shipping.
Tascam DR-22WL 2-Channel Recorder w/ Wi-Fi: $80.99 Using coupon at 1DAIGANSHT checkout (Regular $149), with Free Shipping.
13 July 2016, Wednesday
New Sony E-Mount Lenses
As expected, more serious E-Mount lenses for Sony's E-Mount full-frame cameras. These of course work on the APS-C bodies like the A6300 as well.
NEW: Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G.
NEW: Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 FE ZAl also at B&H.
NEW: Sony 2x Teleconverter.
NEW: Sony 1.4x Teleconverter.
12 July 2016, Amazon Prime Day
Prime Day
Amazon is running all sorts of hot deals all day today; It's their Black Friday in July.
If you don't already belong, be sure to join Amazon Prime for the best of everything.
Sample deal: GoPro Hero kit: $199 (today only)
Adorama Top Photographer Contest
Adorama is running a contest to pick contestants for Top Photographer, with a $50,000 prize package.
Deals
San Disk Deals (today only)
Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster Plus HSS Electric Guitar: $849.99 using coupon 1OPTIMUS11 at checkout.
AUDEZE LCD-X Planar Magnetic Headphones & Centrance HIFI-M8 XL4 DAC Amp: $1,699 (Regular $2,389), with free shipping.
Cobra CXT1035R-FLT Floating Walkie Talkies: $69.99 (Regular $99), with free shippig.
Case Logic CPL-108 DSLR Backpack: $24.95 (Regular $64.99), with free shipping.
Samson SR950 Headphones: $29.99 (Regular $69), with free shipping.
08 July 2016, Friday
Nikon D500 and 35mm f/1.8 DX.
NEW: Nikon D500 Review.
Yes, the page has been there since January, and I just rewrote most of it with my latest observations after shooting the D500 the past couple of months.
Deals
$150 off the Canon T5 w/18-55mm lens.
Dell XPS 13 9350 13.3" Touchscreen Notebook: $999.99 (regular $1,199), with free shipping.
Brenthaven Shoulder Bag for up to 15.4" Laptops: $24.95 (Regular $59.95), with free shipping
Fender Classic Player Stratocaster HH Electric Guitar: $649.99 (Regular $949.99), with free shipping.
07 July 2016, Thursday
Fuji X-T2 and 18-55mm.
NEW: Fuji XT-2.
NEW: I updated All Fuji Cameras Compared to include the X-T2.
Eken/Gearbest H8R in included 30m/100' underwater housing.
NEW: Eken H8R GoPro-style camera.
A great little camera system for $98.
Deals
AUDEZE SINE On-Ear Closed-Back Headphones with Standard Audio Cable and Built-in Mic: $349 using coupon code 04THOFJULY at checkout (Regular $449), with free shipping. Good only today, July 7th.
LG Electronics 24MP48HQ-P 24" Class IPS Full HD LED Monitor: $99.99 after rebate (Regular $149.99), with free shippikng. Limit one rebate per customer.
Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 FireWire Audio Interface with Microphone Preamplifier: $149.99 (Regular $199), with free shipping.
Mackie ProFX8v2 8-Channel FX Mixer with USB: $129.99 after rebate (Regular $199).
Mackie ProFX12v2 12-Channel Professional FX Mixer with USB: $169.99 after rebate (Regular $249.99), with free shipping.
Sunpak PRO 523PX2 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pistol Grip QR Ball Head: $74.95 (Regular $119), with free shipping.
Pair of Mackie CR4BT 4" 50W Multimedia Bluestooth Monitors: $125 after rebate (Regular $199), with free shipping.
Ricoh Aficio SP 311DNw B&W Wireless Laser Printer: $49.99 (Regular $99), with Free Shipping.
Davis & Sanford Explorer Tripod with 3-Way Fluid Effect Pan & Tilt Head, Quick Release & Carrying Case, Plus FREE Smartphone Adapter: $13.95 (Regular $24.95), wityh free shipping.
Huge Discounts on select VU Sion Filters, and all ship free.
04 July 1776, Independence Day
240 Years of Freedom
For those of you outside of the USA who didn't have the benefit of learning this in elementary school as I did, today is Independence Day, which celebrates July 4th, 1776 when our brave founding fathers formally signed a document announcing our secession from England: The Declaration of Independence. It's the birth of the United States of America. We were ticked at how the British taxed us nearly to death, but provided nearly no benefits, and left us to fend for ourselves out in the New World.
Many of the men who signed it were captured or killed by the British in various nasty ways; it was a war against the world's most powerful military. The few who survived, like Jefferson and Adams, made even more history.
The Americans who fought for independence were fueled by courage and belief in the cause for which they fought. As far as a war goes, we Americans at the time were just a bunch of very cunning hillbillies fighting on our home turf against the world's best-equipped military — and we won. We didn't sit around chit-chatting in a coffee shop or online; we went out and took care of the problem. This has characterized America ever since.
The Declaration of Independence is an excellent read, written with great thought by some very serious and intelligent men after a lot of consideration. I never actually read it in school, and glad I did recently. It explicitly lists exactly why we were not happy, how we had asked very nicely for the British to take care of these problems, and why therefore, since they ignored our repeated requests, that we were "Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown."
In other words, we said the heck with you guys who treat us like garbage, we're not paying you any more taxes or having anything more to do with you; we are now the United States of America, free to do absolutely anything we like as "Independent States may of right do."
Today isn't a day off. It's a day to recall the sacrifices made by our founding fathers, and to remember that freedom isn't free.
We had to be willing to lose in order to win; it's the same thing in photography. If we were too worried about taking risks and the lives we would lose in a war, we never would have accomplished anything. We'd still be paying obscene taxes and playing second fiddle to the King of Britain, who would still be doing nothing for us in return. We took a huge chance for seven years, lost the lives of a lot of men, women and children, but for those seven years of war we won 233 years of freedom to become the world's most important, powerful and productive country ever in the history of Mankind. Who invented the telephone, film, the airplane, practical electrical power, the light bulb, the practical (triode) vacuum tube, radio (Tesla), RADAR, the transistor, supersonic flight, the integrated circuit, air conditioning, atomic power, the LASER, the personal computer (both Mac and PC), the Internet (the ARPAnet, on which the www rides), the digital camera, Photoshop, the iPhone and just about everything on which the rest of the world depends? Who else has sent men to the moon? As Americans, it's not just a privilege; it's a duty to think crazy thoughts, to take risks, to do crazy things and to take the chances on the impossible to create and do what no one else dares to do.
Today we remember why we are Americans, and not some timid colony still pledging allegiance and sending the fruits of our labors to some abusive overseas power.
You have to be willing to lose in order to win. At least that's how I see it.
Fireworks!!! (Nikon D800E, Nikon 24mm f/1.4 G, program auto gave f/1.4 at 1/30 at Auto ISO 6,400, Matrix meter, autofocused once on Ryan then set to MANUAL focus to hold, VIVID Picture Control at +3 Saturation, A3 M1 AWB.)
How to Photograph Fireworks
Deals-O-Plenty: Nikon Refurbished — and more!
NEW: Olympus Rebates
03 July 2016, Sunday
NEW: Nikon Sale
Nikon calls these instant rebates, but what that means is simply lower prices that they reserve the right to increase by canceling the rebate when they feel like it.
$500 off: Nikon D500 & 16-80mm DX VR: $2,566.95 with free overnight delivery!All lenses below ship free and include a filter (or filter kit) & a Corel software kit. Most also include other goodies.
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX: $166.95
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S: $176.95
Nikon 40mm f/2.8 DX Micro (Macro): $246.95
Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 DX 180º Fisheye: $596.95
Nikon 12-24mm f/4 DX: 946.95
Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 DX $1,196.95
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S: $1,796.95
All also at B&H, with free filters and expedited shipping.
02 July 2016, Saturday
Deals
Nikon D3300 & 18-55mm VR AF-P: $399.99, new (gray-market). This is the kit with the hot new AF-P lens that we can't get in the USA yet - unless you get the gray market kit I did. The AF-P lens focuses ultrafast as well as much more quietly than the old AF-S lens the USA version still gets. This new AF-P lens also has immediate manual focus override simply by turning the focus ring; something no other Nikon 18-55mm lens has - touché! I have a review coming in the new AF-P kit lens, and it's by far Nikon's best yet.
New Rebates on Canon Digital Cinema gear. Save up to $9,000! Also at B&H.
Case Logic CPL-108 Backpack: $24.95 (Regular $64.99), free shipping.
Asus R556LA 15.6" Notebook Computer, Intel Core i5-5200U 2.2GHz, 6GB RAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 10: $379.99 (Regular $459), free shipping.
Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Grand Piano: $649.99 (Regular $799), with free shipping.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB audio interface: $99.99 (Regular $124.99), free shipping.
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