April-June 2019's News
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Nikon vs Canon vs Sony Full-Frame Mirrorless Mirrorless vs DSLR
Canon: EOS R RP 1DX II 5DS/R 5D Mk IV 6D II 7D II 80D 77D SL3 SL2 T6 Flash Lenses
Nikon: Z7 Z6 D5 D850 D810 D750 D610 D500 D7500 D5600 D3500 D3400 F6 Flash Lenses
Sony: A9 A7R III A7 III A7R II A7SII A7 II A7 A6500 A6400 A6000 RX10 IV RX100/6 RX100V Lenses
Fujifilm: GFX100 GFX50R X100F X-T3 X-T2 X-H1 X-T30 X-T20 X-Pro2 X-E3 X-T100 X-A5 Film Lenses
LEICA: Q2 M-E/240 M10D M10P M10 M240 M-E M9P M9T M9 M7 M6/TTL CLE M3 IIIf IIIa Lenses
All Reviews: Apple Audio Zeiss Tamron Sigma Hasselblad Contax Olympus Pentax
Recommended Cameras Best Cameras Gifts How to Take Better Pictures random
Links: Adorama Amazon B&H Crutchfield eBay Tutorial Videos Infrared
Adorama's Daily Deals Amazon's Deals-of-the-Day
Crutchfield's Sales B&H's Deals-of-the-Day
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28 June 2019, Friday
NEW: Think Tank "Digital Holster 150" for ultrateles.
This is a bag that holds a body, even pro-sized, and a 150-600mm, 200-500mm, 200-600mm or 300/2.8 all ready to shoot.
NEW: Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 full-frame ultrawide for Sony E.
This lens has excellent optics but second-rate mechanics for much less than half the price of the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM you really want. This Tamron also weighs much less:
| Introduced | May 2017 |
June 2019 |
| Optics | Excellent |
Very, very good |
| Ultrawide zoom range | Full |
Restricted (lacks 16mm and the 29-35mm range) |
| Mechanics | Very good |
Good enough |
| Filter size | ||
| Weight | 24.0oz. 679 g |
14.8 oz. 420g |
| Price | ||
| Available |
27 June 2019, Thursday
DEAL: Creative Cloud photo 1 year subscription & free $25 Gift Card: $119.88.
New Fuji Deals.
Most end next Saturday, July 6th
These Nikon mirrorless deals end Saturday night at 11:59PM NYC time.
These Canon deals end Saturday night at 11:59 PM NYC time.
26 June 2019, Wednesday
Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S.
NEW: Nikon Z 14-30mm Review.
Nikon's best ultra-ultrawide ever, and also the smallest, lightest and least expensive. Bravissimo!
20 June 2019, Thursday
Oben CTT-1000 Mini Tripod with included ball head and Arca-Swiss-compatible plate.
NEW: Oben CTT-1000 Mini Tripod Review.
There's nothing else like this amazing little $99.95 carbon-fibre mini tripod system.
I also updated my general Tripod Recommendations.
Sony 600mm f/4 or 200-600mm for birds?
Easy choice! The 600/4.
Why?
If you shoot them both at 600mm and f/8 there is no difference in sharpness, but that’s not how we shoot birds.
Most likely you’d be using one or two teleconverters and losing a lot of light. You’d need the 2.5 times more light gathered by the 600/4 rather than the 200-600mm, which is only f/6.3 at 600mm.
The 600/4 loves being on teleconverters. Put the zoom on converters and you’re losing more light than you’d like.
In the real world we shoot these wide-open, and you want as much light as you can get at these ultralong focal lengths The 600/4 gathers 2.5 times as much light as the 200-600.
In a magic fairyland even if the two were equally as sharp in the lab on the converters set to 600mm wide-open, once you start shooting you’ll have to use an ISO 2.5x as high with the zoom, or a shutter speed 2.5x longer with the zoom - either of which leads to softer images in the real world, teleconverters or not.
Done.
19 June 2019, Wednesday
Updated: Zeiss Otus 100mm f/1.4 Review.
Zeiss Otus 100mm f/1.4 T✻.
I added a few new sample images from Monday in the California desert.
18 June 2019, Tuesday
Samsung TV Viruses
It's been sensationalized that Samsung TVs can catch viruses.
While the media is trying to get people scared about the complex procedure to check yours, all you do is press SETTINGS > GENERAL > SYSTEM MANAGER > SMART SECURITY > SCAN and your TV will scan itself:
Samsung TV Virus Scan: I tested NEGATIVE!
Adorama wants your D850
Adorama will pay $1,800 cash for your used D850.
They'll pay this for your D850 in good condition. You can use this towards getting a new Z7, or just take your money and run.
Apple Aperture in Mac OS 10.14.5 Mojave
In case you were curious, I updated my Mac Pro about a year ago and my v3.6 copy of Aperture runs great just like everything else. So does Dreamweaver CS5 on which I write this website, Photoshop CS6 and the Perfectly Clear plug-in to optimize and prep my photos, and Phase One Media Pro 2.1 which I use for sorting out what I shot.
If anything, Finder runs a zillion times better than it did an hour ago before I updated my OS.
Dreamweaver CS5 runs even better than it did on 10.13 High Sierra, so well in fact I cancelled Dreamweaver CC which has always run poorly. CS5 runs better for free then CC for $20 a month. Bravo!
Pro sorting program for Mac OS 10.15 Catalina
My 55' 4K TV monitor sorting in Phase One Media Pro. bigger.
The next Mac OS will no longer run 32-bit programs, like most of what I run. While I can rent new versions of Photoshop and Dreamweaver to do the same things that my old versions do for free, one critical program that won't run on the new OS is Media Pro, the program I use for sorting through hundreds or thousands of shots to pick the best ones for publishing, which I then drag into Photoshop for optimization.
Pro shooters need a new program to let us see what we have for Mac Catalina this fall.
I ask you folks to suggest — or for someone to create — a photo sorting program to replace Media Pro. I've never found anything that works as well for sorting through hundreds or thousands of shots to pick the best ones, and this is something I do every day because I'm not some kid with a video channel; I'm a guy who shoots every day and I need to get my product out as fast as I can to get on to the next job. Time is money for me.
This sorting, or light table, program, needs to show me what I have and help me select the best to publish and the worst to delete, and lets me move images around to where they need to be filed:
1.) Lets me drag images or folders or folders and subfolders or any random collection of anything from any combination of locations into it and just shows me a "Light Table" or "Contact Sheet" of thumbnail images of what I have
It should also have an Import function in its menu bar (or CMD+I) to import everything in a selected folder, in addition to just dragging anything into its window or dock icon to see what I have.
It doesn't have or need its own on-screen directory display.
2.) It lets me chose everything about my thumbnail displays ("Contact Sheets")
Lets me select thumbnail size, including huge sizes if I only want to see a few at a time on my 4K monitor or 5k iMac. Ideally "snaps" to sizes that fill my monitor horizontally with an integral number of thumbnails (4, 5, 6, 7 etc).
Lets me select thumbnail-frame aspect ratio of square (default as shown above), or other vertical or horizontal ratios. By letting me optimize the shape of the maximum space occupied by each thumbnail I can maximize the size and number of thumbnails on my screen. For instance, if all shots are horizontal, I can select a horizontal thumbnail frame aspect ratio so I don't have wasted space on top and bottom of each thumbnail and thus will see more rows of thumbnails on each screen.
Lets me select what EXIF data is displayed under each image. Never draw anything on the thumbnail, put it below the thumbnails. Let me select as many lines as I want and let me pick the font, color and size of the EXIF fields I want to see.
Let me select background color.
Let me select border size, which I always select as zero or close to it to maximise image to border ratio.
Lets me order display by rating, date, file number, path name, etc.
Lets me drag thumbnails around on the page to change their order.
Media Pro even lets me select the quality level and interpolation modes to create these thumbnails.
In the photo above I've got square thumbnail spaces, dark gray background and five lines of my choices of EXIF data in 14-point DINMittelshrift type. Other times I want different EXIF data displayed, or maybe none at all. All this saves as part of the catalog file, and I can change and save it as I like.
3.) Creates simple catalog files ("Contact Sheets") that may take a moment to create at first, but then open instantly every time I open that catalog file to see what's in it
Catalog files can be saved and named whatever and wherever I want them, and open like any other file.
Catalog files must open instantly. Even catalogs that have 7,000 images in them open and navigate instantly in Media Pro, even on my ten-year-old Macs.
Programs that "interpret" and take a few moments to scan a folder every time you open a folder rather than "compile" and save a catalog file of a folder of images are not acceptable.
In the case of a 7,000 shot job, it's acceptable to take a few minutes to catalog 7,000 images the first time I import them into a catalog — that opens instantly next time.
Once it creates a catalog, it lets me choose to save the file or not, wherever I like and named however I like. I usually name my catalogs name of the folder in which the files were originally found, and then save this catalog in that folder. I usually prefix my catalog names with an underscore so they appear first when I look at a folder in my Mac Finder.
4.) Maximize all image sizes on screen; minimize borders and wasted display pixels.
No matter how big a monitor I've use today or yesterday (today I use a four-foot wide 4K TV on my desk), I want as much thumbnail as possible with minimal if any borders.
This is critical because the more image I fit on my screen, the more images and bigger I can see them to let me sort and choose among them faster. Most programs waste space on backgrounds and borders, while the iPhone's Photos app is ideal in that it shows nearly no borders and just fills its little screen with square crops from inside each image. Do this in a computer program but don't throw away any of each image and you get the idea. No borders = more pictures.
By having bigger thumbnails with no borders I better can see focus, gesture and composition in large thumbnails and not necessarily have to see them fullscreen before advancing them in my selection - or deleting them.
5.) Lets me drag and/or copy images to new folders
Lets me do what I do and doesn't get confused by dragging thumbnails from the sorting program over to Finder or other apps.
6.) Lets me drag images straight to other programs
I can just drag to Photoshop to edit the winners.
7.) Sorting program tracks when images are moved in Finder
It knows when images are moved outside of the program (in the finder, for instance) and tracks if folders or files are moved, copied or re-named.
When I open a catalog file, everything is up to date and not lost.
8.) Follows Photoshop conventions for keyboard shortcuts
Rotate, zoom, copy, paste, save, open, etc.
9.) Shows RGB histograms if I want them
Just show me the histogram, don't waste screen space with a whole bar along the side.
Just tapping the H key should make them appear or disappear.
OK for them to sit in the corner of an image for the moment I need them rather than having to reduce the image size.
10.) Lossless JPG rotation
Let me rotate the actual pixel data so rotation flags are unnecessary.
Digital cameras tend only to flag for rotation but don't actually rotate the image data, so some software that doesn't read flags properly display vertical images incorrectly. I need this so that my images display properly to a client regardless of whatever cockamamie software he's using.
For instance, uploading to yearbook or "for-sale" websites often misread rotation flags, and this is how I ensure all my vertical images display properly everywhere.
11.) Lets me correct date, time and other metadata
I don't want to edit images in this program, but I do need it to let me reset time of day or other EXIF data that may be wrong.
Others may want to add or edit IPTC copyright or other data.
12.) Don't change my pixels
Don't do anything to any of my images other than lossless rotation and metadata editing, none of which change the pixel data.
I'll do this elsewhere. This program is just for sorting, housekeeping and picking the best images.
13.) Don't make new folders or move things
Let me do what I want; don't try to dictate to me how to manage my files and folders.Let me move things and keep track of them, but don't have hidden files or archives outside of catalog folders I can seen and file where I want them.
14.) Reads at least the basic photo formats
Should read at least JPG and PSD and GIF.
Ought to read PDF and web archives.
I don't need raw, others will.
I don't need video files read, but that would be nice for everyone.
Of course the more file formats that are understood, the merrier. Media Pro reads just about all kinds of media.
15.) Double-click to see selected images full-screen
CMD+0 toggles full-screen images between fill screen and 100%.
"Full-screen" enlarges images too small to fill the screen otherwise. My older 6 megapixel camera images no longer fill my 4K screen.
Optional: Let me choose if images are scaled to fit, or allow loss of top or sides to fill all of my screen.
16.) Click forward and back among full screen images quickly
I go through hundreds or thousands of images every day. It's amazing how with today's hot rod computers that this still doesn't happen instantly from one image to the next.
Optional: The program might want to allow the option to pre-create screen-resolution images in the catalog file to allow ultrafast full-screen playback. These screen-resolution images must stay in the catalog file, they may not reside in a library or other files I'd have to manage when this sorting program goes obsolete in 2045.
17.) Lets me see a few picks on screen at the same time
Ideally they all fill the screen, and as I delete one from consideration the others grow as the do in Aperture to fill what's left of the screen.
I don't need it, but others prefer to have two-up, with one as the current winner and the other as contenders for the new winner.
18.) One key press (0~9) to rank images
Should also show this as color-coding of the text.
Change the image file's color tag to match in Mac Finder.
19.) 15-minutes idle means make a new catalog on import
This is my invention disclosure as of noon EDT 18 June 2019: if a catalog has sat idle for 15 minutes or more, the next time I drag images into it, either start, or at least ask me to start, a new catalog.
Often I'm working on one project, then another comes in and the first thing I do is drag the new images to Media Pro to see what I have. More often than not I've just dragged images into an open catalog for something else.
20.) Be sure that nothing is moved or dependant on the program
When the program goes obsolete in 15 years make sure I won't care and can use another program to see what I have. Don't move my files or hide anything, and don't use libraries or anything other than catalog files I can just delete if the program goes away.
16 June 2019, Father's Day
Zeiss Otus 100mm f/1.4 T✻.
NEW: Zeiss Otus 100mm f/1.4 Review.
Ein manual-focus Meisterstück für Nikon und Canon.
Updated: Canon Lens Reviews.
Updated: Zeiss Lens Reviews.
I redid these pages with larger, high-resolution images.
14 June 2019, Graduation
Fuji X100F
I love my Fuji X100F for people pictures. I was going to grab my Canon 5DS/R, 580 EX II, 100-400mm IS L II and/or 28-135 IS, but realized I get better grab shots of people with the X100F.
For this snap, I just handed it to my wife. She prefers to look at the rear LCD for composing, and the X100F magically shows her the rear LCD or me the electronic finder all automatically.
Also the X100F's flawless daylight fill flash makes this picture. Without it our eyes and faces would have been dark shadows. That's something my iPhone Xs Max still can't do: daylight fill. With the X100F's great daylight fill flash we look happy and our eyes all have catchlights to make us look alive:
Dad and Ryan at sixth-grade graduation from elementary school. (Fuji X100F, flash ON, f/5.6 at 1/140 at Auto ISO 200, Perfectly Clear.) bigger or full-resolution or camera-original © file.
The X100F's magic digital zoom, programed to the lens' control ring, makes it trivial to zoom-in sitting back in the cheap seats, and its high resolution and magic sensor give me more than enough to crop to get what I need from far away:
Ryan gets his sixth-grade diploma. Actually, there are no diplomas for sixth grade; he got a handshake. (Fuji X100F, no flash, f/2 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 2,000, Perfectly Clear.) bigger.
13 June 2019, Thursday
Adorama wants your LEICA Q
Adorama will pay $2,000 cash for your used LEICA Q.
They'll pay this for your LEICA Q in good condition. You can use this towards getting a new LEICA Q2, or just take your cash and run.
New Reviews of Sony Lenses
These came out on Tuesday, and I spent all Tuesday writing and adding sections, like the 600mm f/4 Falloff section, so if you read these a day or two ago, they probably have much more information today.
Sony FE 200-600mm G OSS.
NEW: Sony 200-600mm G OSS Review.
Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS.
NEW: Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS Review.
07 June 2019, Friday
NEW: Apple Watch Series 4 Review.
The world's best watch. The Apple Watch Series 4 is the world's most accurate, most legible and most functional watch ever created since man first invented the watch over 500 years ago.
06 June 1944, D-Day
75 Years
Today is the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, the largest military operation in human history.
The Allies (that's the USA, Canada, France, the UK and the other good guys who were pretty much the rest of the world) invaded German-occupied France and started what became the end of WW2 in Europe.
As I recall from numerous documentaries, the Germans screwed-up royally because Hitler both distrusted the judgment all of the men under him and also never let anyone wake him. When the invasion started before dawn, Hitler was snoozing and no one dared to wake him. No one was allowed to make any decisions about moving German resources from another part of the country where they were expecting the invasion until after Hitler decided to get up that day. By the time Hitler woke up many hours after the invasion had started and Germany could finally do something about it, the course of the entire war had been changed. When you snooze, you lose.
100 Years
TODAY ONLY: $700 off Gitzo 100th Anniversary Tripod & Ball Head.
Expires midnight tonight, NYC time.
0 Years
NEW: Profoto B10 Plus, also at B&H.
This is a battery-powered ultra-flash and continuous light. It's the size of a long lens and packs the power of ten regular Nikon or Canon flashes.
NEW: Godox V1 dedicated flash.
Uses an included lithium battery and comes for all camera brands.
01 June 2019, Saturday
New from Panasonic for Micro 4/3
NEW: LEICA VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm f/1.7. (also at B&H.)
20~50mm equivalent! f/1.7!
NEW: DMW-STC14 1.4× teleconverter (compatible with 70-200mm). (also at B&H.)
NEW: DMW-STC20 2× teleconverter (compatible with 70-200mm). (also at B&H.)
Submarine Drone!!!
NEW: CINEGEARS Submarine Drone!!!
This is a miniature submarine with a camera and lights and motors you can send down to 300 feet (100 meters) to shoot whatever crazy things you want.
31 May 2019, Friday
Deals: 4K & 5K iMacs starting at $999!
30 May 2019, Thursday
Sony Deals
A7R III: $600 off ($2,598) at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.A7R II: $500 off ($1,498) at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield
A7 II: $500 off ($898) at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
A7 II w/28-70mm: $600 off ($998) at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
A9: $1,000 off ($3,498) at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
28 May 2019, Tuesday
NEW: iPod Touch 7th Generation.
Comes in 32 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB in 5 colors.
27 May 2019, Memorial Day
Perfectly Clear Software: 30% off for Memorial Day.
SALE: Perfectly Clear: 30% off for Memorial Day.
Perfectly Clear is the software I use for most of my photos to make them look better, faster than I can do manually in Photoshop. I use it as a plugin in Photoshop and it also works in Lightroom or all by itself.
See my for loads of examples, like this photo:
I used Perfectly Clear for this photo, and pretty much every other photo I publish. It makes good pictures better, faster. Nature, Landscapes, faces, you name it.
Perfectly Clear even fixes yellow teeth and smooths skin and blemishes and brightens eyes and does even more for people pictures, and the most important part for working pros is that it does it all completely automatically; there's no need to move sliders or show it the faces. It finds faces and does its magic automatically, all saved with one click. You don't have to touch a setting or slider unless you want to; that's the whole point.
The 30% off is available now through Monday, June first. You've got nothing to lose, it's got a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can get a free trial.
26 May 2019, Sunday
NEW: All Apple Watches Compared.
See also Why You Need an Apple Watch.
I'm working on a review of the awesome Apple Watch Series 4, but had to write those articles first for it all to make sense. I had to sort out which models do what.
24 May 2019, Friday
Updated: All Fujifilm Cameras Compared.
I added photos and the new Fuji Medium Format Cameras to that page.
I also realized that Fuji's cameras haven't changed very much since they were introduced, and cameras that were excellent back when they sold for $1,000 brand new, like the X-E1 — and even better, the X-E1 sells for about $150 used if you know How to Win at eBay today, and it's 90% the same as everything else they sell today.
Even better than the $10,000 GFX 100, the X-E1 has real shutter speed and exposure compensation dials, a real cable release socket, a 4-way rear controller, a higher frame rate, a slightly higher flash sync speed and a built-in flash all sorely lacking in the GFX 100, so the X-E1 will let me take better pictures faster! Not bad for 1½% of the price and you don't have to wait till the end of next month for the X-E1.
The GFX 100 looks cool with it's clean, stark top deck, but we olde-tymers prefer real dials.
23 May 2019, Thursday
Fujifilm GFX 100 and GF 23mm f/4 R WR (18mm equivalent).
NEW: Fujifilm GFX 100 Review.
100 Megapixels at 5 FPS with 41 shot buffer (14 raw).
22 May 2019, Wednesday
Nikon NIKKOR 135mm f/2 AI-s.
NEW: Nikon NIKKOR 135mm f/2 AI-s Review.
A fantastic pro secret for a world-class portrait lens.
All the Nikon manual-focus lenses I've reviewed recently have great Vibration Reduction when used on the FTZ with Nikon's full-frame mirrorless cameras.
Looking at the three very similar three fast teles I've reviewed these past days (180/2.8, 180/2.8 ED and 135/2), it's striking that this 135/2 sells today for four times what the original 180mm f/2.8 AI does, and the 180 is probably a better portrait lens — and the 180 sold for much more than the 135/2 when new!
Also the Nikon 180mm f/2.8 ED AI-s still has absolutely state-of-the-art optical and beyond state-of-the-art mechanics when compared to today's lenses, and sells for half of what the 135/2 does.
The 135/2 is just very popular, and none of these lenses is that expensive today.
If money matters, this original 180/2.8 is a huge bargain, but even the 135/2 for $500 used if you know How to Win at eBay is still a huge bargain compared to any of the newest plastic lenses.
NEW: Olympus TG-6 Underwater Camera.
NEW: 13" MacBook Pro.
NEW: 15" MacBook Pro.
Which naturally leads to a sale on 2018 MacBook Pros.
21 May 2019, Tuesday
NEW: Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 for Sony Full-Frame.
Also at B&H.
Nikon NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8 AI.
NEW: Nikon NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8 AI Review.
85% of the performance of the NIKKOR✱ED 180mm f/2.8 AI-s for half the price!
20 May 2019, Monday
Nikon NIKKOR✱ED 200mm f/2 AI-s.
NEW: Nikon NIKKOR✱ED 200mm f/2 AI-s Review.
Incredible bokeh, and priced accordingly!
19 May 2019, Sunday
Nikon NIKKOR✱ED 180mm f/2.8 AI-s.
NEW: Nikon NIKKOR✱ED 180mm f/2.8 AI-s Review.
Classic glass that rocks the Z7, Z6, D5 and D850 cameras, and every other Nikon camera. One of Nikon's legendary sharpest lenses!
18 May 2019, Friday
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L.
NEW: Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM.
16 May 2019, Thursday
UPDATED: Fujifilm GFX 50R Review and GF 32~64mm f/4 R LM WR Review.
Obviously, after using them in Yosemite for a week I've added a lot more to both reviews, and especially to my Fuji GFX 50R User's Guide.
15 May 2019, Wednesday
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 100-200mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR.
NEW: Fujifilm GF 100~200mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR Review.
13 May 2019, Monday
The Half Dome.
NEW: Photographs from Yosemite on the Fujifilm GFX 50R and iPhone Xs Max.
I was in the field shooting all last week, so haven't had the time to update the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 which was formally released and is now orderable.
12 May 2019, Mother's Day
Back from Yosemite
I just returned from a week of shooting the Fujifilm GFX 50R in Yosemite.
Fuji GFX 50R and GF 100-200mm covered in spray at the base of Yosemite Falls. bigger.
Taking a first look at my snaps, this example should clarify a common misconception that you can't edit JPGs, which is all I shoot:
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Yosemite Valley, as shot. bigger. |
Yosemite Valley, after Perfectly Clear v.3.7 and some fast adjustment layer adjustments in Photoshop CS6. bigger. |
08 May 2019, Wednesday
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM.
Just Announced: Canon Mirrorless RF 85mm f/1.2.
Canon announced the development of this lens in February, and has now announced the lens so we can order it.
07 May 2019, Tuesday
B&H will now PAY your sales tax for you!
NEWS: B&H has a new plan by which they'll pay your sales tax for you!
This is great; back when I lived in California I used to have to pay my accountant to submit Use Tax returns to pay the taxes that weren't collected. (even if an online store doesn't collect sales tax, most states require you pay it as Use Tax as I do.)
This is like an across-the-board 8% discount at B&H now. Whoo hoo!
But wait - it gets even better! I now live on Long Island, and even in NY they, for the first time in history, will pay my NY state sales tax. That means an 8-5/8% discount at B&H for me that I've never gotten and that I can't get elsewhere!!!
06 May 2019, Monday
Mom wants a D3500 system for under $400!!!
DEAL: Nikon D3500, 18-55mm & 70-300mm: $397! also at B&H.
Under $400 for a complete DSLR kit, delivered? Love you, Mom!
B&H throws-in a free system case, 16GB card and Nikon School online photo course.
The only gotcha for these kits is that while the 18-55mm is Nikon's state-of-the-art 18-55mm AF-P DX VR and the newest 70-300mm DX AF-P, sadly the 70-300mm is the non-VR version. For Mom's birthday you may want to get her the 70-300mm DX AF-P VR version, and even better just get her the 18-300mm and you're done.
Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR.
NEW: Fujifilm GF 32~64mm f/4 R LM WR Review.
05 May 2019, Cinco de Mayo
Fujifilm GFX 50R and Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4.
NEW: Fujifilm GFX 50R Review.
Medium format quality without all the weight, expense or fuss. The GFX 50R makes medium format so practical that it's worth considering stepping straight up to medium format mirrorless and skipping right past Nikon, Canon or Sony full-frame mirrorless, especially for people, portrait, event and group photography.
Una Súper Venta: Cinco de Mayo Sale at Adorama!!!
Precios más baratos del mundo!
Precios más baratos del mundo!
Precios más baratos del mundo!
03 May 2019, Friday
HOLY COW! Medium-Format vs. Full-Frame Image-Quality Comparison!!!
Now under $4,000 with the Spring Sales, the Fujifilm GFX 50R is awesome. It handles just like Fujifilm's APS-C cameras and outperforms full-frame at the same time. (I'm still working on its detailed review.)
01 May 2019, Wednesday
Big Fujifilm Sales
Fuji Sale at Adorama and Fuji Sale at B&H.
30 April 2019, Tuesday
Big day today: two new original Sony lens reviews (scroll down), huge sales on things we need and more new lenses:
Nikon Z on SALE!!!
The Z7 is now $600 off:
Z7 body-only: $2,797 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield.
Z7 with FTZ adapter: $2,947 at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
Z7 with discounted Z 24-70mm f/4 S: $3,397 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield.
Z7 with discounted 24-70mm f/4 and FTZ adapter: $3,547 at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
The Z6 is now $200 off:
Z6 body-only: $1,797 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield.
Z6 with FTZ adapter: $2,044 at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
Z6 with discounted 24-70mm f/4: $2,397 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield.
Z6 with discounted 24-70mm f/4 and FTZ adapter: $2,644 at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H. (Hint: Adorama has it for only $2,546.95 which is probably a typo — grab it fast!)
NEW: Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 for Canon RF: $499.
NEW: Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 for Canon RF: $399.
NEW: Tokina FiRIN 100mm f/2.8 Macro for Sony E: $500.
NEW: Zeiss Otus 100mm f/1.4 for Canon EF: $4,990!
NEW: Zeiss Otus 100mm f/1.4 for Nikon F: $4,990!
NEW: Aputure Spotlight Mounts for Bowens.
SALE : Lexar cards on sale at B&H.
TODAY ONLY: SanDisk 128GB 150 MB/s SDXC card: $27.99.
TODAY ONLY: SanDisk 256GB 150 MB/s SDXC card: $52.99.
TODAY ONLY: SanDisk 512GB 170 MB/s SDXC card: $179.99.
More at B&H's Deals-of-the-Day.
More Spring Sales
Big Nikon sale at Adorama
Canon, Sony, Nikon & more deals at B&H
Nikon Sale at B&H
Canon Sale at B&H
Sony Sale at B&H
Canon Holiday Deals at Adorama
Sigma Spring Sale at Adorama
Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS.
NEW: Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS Review.
A tiny, fast normal APS-C lens with optical stabilization, all at a low price.
Sony E 30mm f/3.5 Macro.
NEW: Sony E 30mm f/3.5 Macro Review.
A bargain of an ultralight, fast-focusing APS-C macro for well under $300.
28 April 2019, Sunday
Sony E 20mm f/2.8.
NEW: Sony E 20mm f/2.8 Review.
Just as small and so much better than the Sony 16mm f/2.8.
Marketwatch
I was right, people are paying a lot more for good 35mm cameras today than they did several years ago.
Winners like the Nikon 35Ti sell for about $500 used today if you know How to Win at eBay. They sold for only $300 used back in 2016.
The Nikon F3HP sold for about $150 used in 2012, and sells used for about $300 today if you know How to Win at eBay.
The Nikon FM3a sold for about $600 used in 2014, and sells for about $800 used today if you know How to Win at eBay.
No one is making any more good 35mm cameras other than LEICA and the Nikon F6 today, so the prices will go wherever the demand sends them — and the good ones like these are always in demand.
27 April 2019, Saturday
Fujifilm X-H1 with Fujifilm 16mm f/2.8.
NEW: Fujifilm X-H1 Review.
It's all about the huge finder, comfy grip with the shutter button where it belongs and its ultra-smooth and quiet mechanical shutter.
Nikon F2AS and Noct-NIKKOR 58mm f/1.2 AI-s.
I added quick links to everything at the top of my Nikon Reviews page, and even added quick links to my reviews of all of Nikon's 35mm cameras made since 1946:
35mm: F6 F5 F4 F3 F2AS F2S F2 F SP S3
F100 N90/s N80 N75 N65 N60 N55
FM & FE series: FM3a FA FE2 FE EL2
What really took me all of yesterday was bringing all these pages up to modern standards and updating the links for where you can get all these. Most of these pages were designed to play on 1990s web browsers with links to where you used to be able to buy them back when they were new.
Now these pages are all bright and shiny to look great on your big screens, iPhones and iPads, with links to where and how to get these classics today.
Here's a snap from the 35Ti:
The Eastern Sierra, October 2013. Nikon 35Ti and Fuji Velvia 50. Compared. bigger or full-resolution.
21 April 2019, EASTER Sunday
Apple iPhone Xs.
NEW: iPhone Xs Max Review & User's Guide.
I know, I know, you've seen my images and comments since I got mine last September, and here's now some more thoughts on the iPhone Xs Max and how to use it well.
20 April 2019, Saturday
Fujifilm X-T20 with Fujifilm 16mm f/2.8.
NEW: Fujifilm X-T20 Review.
The X-T20 is 99% the same as the newer X-T30, and I prefer the X-T20 because it has a real 4-way controller on the back rather than just a nubbin like the X-T30.
For $300 less than the new X-T30, check out the X-T20, and for only about $210 used if you know How to Win at eBay, the X-T10 is also almost the same as the X-T20.
18 April 2019, Thursday
Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR.
BRAND NEW: Fujifilm 16mm f/2.8 Review.
A jewel of a tiny, all-metal lens with great performance for $399 in black or $399 in silver.
Magenta in Spring, 16 April 2019, 4:07 P.M. iPhone Xs Max wide 4.2mm wide camera, f/1.8 at 1/325 at Auto ISO 25, exactly as shot. bigger or full-resolution.
iPhone continues to be my favorite closeup camera. Admit it: it's easier to hold it out to your close-up subject and see what you're doing and get it all in focus than to have to bend over and squint through a viewfinder or a dimmer, smaller screen on the back of any camera. Bravo, iPhone!
15 April 2019, Monday
Sony Deals
$1,000 off Sony A9 w/free Hard Drive & Bag: $3,498.
$600 off Sony A7 II w/28-70mm OSS: $998.
$200 off Sony A6000 w/16-50mm PZ & 55-210mm: $648.
$100 off Sony A5100 & 16-50mm PZ: $448.
$100 off Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA w/free polarizer: $898.
$100 off Sony HVL-F60RM Wireless Radio Flash: $498.
11 April 2019, Thursday
Nikon Z6 and Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S.
NEW: Sample Images in my Nikon Z6 Review.
I was so excited to have written-up my review earlier this week that I forgot to add any images. Two key points are that with a nice little zoom like the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 you can carry your Z6 everywhere as you run errands and get great shots every day, and it works great with any lens ever made for a 35mm camera on adapters:
Nikon Z6 and 1946 5cm (50mm) f/2 NIKKOR-H•C. The lens is on a Nikon S rangefinder to LEICA M adapter which is on a second LEICA M to Nikon Z adapter. These adapters all come from eBay.
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 and EF-S 18-55mm IS STM.
NEW: Canon SL3 (EOS 250D).
Canon's lightest DSLR ever.
10 April 2019, Wednesday
NEW: Nikon Z6 Review.
What? Yes, it's taken me since November to write this. I've been busy with the Z7, which is the same thing except 33% slower and $1,400 more expensive.
NEW: Nikon Z6 User's Guide.
NEW: Nikon Z7 User's Guide.
Both in plain-English along with my secret downloadable settings files for each.
UPDATED: Nikon Z6 vs Z7.
Most importantly I added a resolution comparison. There isn't any difference between 45MP and 24MP except on paper, and then only if you're printing at least 6 feet (2 meters) wide. For any online use or printed 3 feet (1 meter) wide or less, they're the same. When was the last time you really printed 3 feet wide and looked at it from 6" away?
UPDATED: Nikon vs Canon vs Sony Full-Frame Mirrorless.
I update this all the time, and have added lots of details the past week.
09 April 2019, Tuesday
One More Month to our Spring Light in Yosemite trip (07~10 May 2019, Tuesday ~ Friday)
Our spring trip is all about water. Snowmelt from winter's snow it at its peak and the waterfalls are usually at capacity.
Here's more of what I shot on this trip last year.
Hope to see you there!
05 April 2019, Friday
Fujifilm X-T30 and XF 8-16mm f/2.8 WR.
NEW: Fujifilm X-T30 Review.
A jewel of a baby camera.
NEW: Panasonic G95, also at Adorama.
NEW: Panasonic 14-140mm OIS, also at Adorama.
03 April 2019, Wednesday
Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM.
NEW: Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Review.
A superb lens!
01 April 2019, Monday
Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8.
NEW: Fujifilm 8-16mm f/2.8 Review.
What Was New in:
March 2019: Nikon Z7 Review, Nikon Coolpix A1000, Nikon Coolpix B600, Sony E 16mm f/2.8 Review, Sony E 18-200mm OSS PZ Review, Sony E 18-200mm OSS LE Review, Sony RX0 II, Canon IVY CLIQ Instant Camera, Canon IVY CLIQ+ Instant Camera, Fujinon XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro OIS Review, LEICA Q2, LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH, Pixel X900 Flash Review, Rokinon Full-Frame ultra-ultra-wide 10mm f/3.5 for Canon EF, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Ultra-Ultrawide for Canon RF, Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 for Canon RF.
February 2019: Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, Canon EOS RP Hands-On Review, Canon EOS RP User's Guide, Canon EOS RP vs EOS R, Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Review, Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM Review, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, Canon RF 24-240mm IS USM, Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM, Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM, Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, Fujifilm X-T3 Review, Fujifilm 23mm f/2 Review, Fujifilm 200mm f/2 Review, Fujifilm 50mm f/2 Review, Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 WR, Fujifilm X-T30, Panasonic S1 Full-Frame System, Polaroid POP cameras, Ricoh GR III, Ricoh WG-6 underwater, Ricoh WG-6 in Orange, Ricoh G-900, Tokina Opera 16-28mm f/2.8, Tamron 35-150mm, Tamron 35mm f/1.4.
January 2019: LEICA M10-P Safari Edition, LEICA SUMMICRON-M 50mm f/2 Safari Edition, Verum 1 Planar Magnetic Headphones review, Olympus OM-D E-M1 X, Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S review, Sony 10-18mm Review, Sony A6400 Review, Sony 18-135mm Review, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 ART, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S and Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro Review.
November & December 2018: Moment 18mm review, Photos from Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra, Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF Review, Adapted Rangefinder Lenses on Nikon Mirrorless, AlienBoard Hoverboard review, LEICA D-Lux 7, Why You Need an Apple Watch, Sigma 60-600mm Review.
October 2018: Loads of Canon and Nikon mirrorless revelations, First Chinese Nikon Z adapters, Canon EOS R Review, Canon EOS R User's Guide, Wimberley Gimbal Tripod Head Review, Sony 400mm f/2.8 Review, How to Photograph Air Shows, LEICA M10-D.
August & September 2018: Nikon vs Canon vs Sony Full Frame, Mirrorless vs DSLR, Do You Really Need Two Card Slots, Canon EOS-R Review, Canon EF to RF Lens Adapters, Canon RF 24-105mm Review, Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L, Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 Review, Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM, Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS II Review, Canon EF400mm f/2.8L IS III, Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM, Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM, Canon 580EX II Review, Canon 580EX II User's Guide, Sony 24mm f/1.4, Sony RX100 Mark 6 Review, Sony RX100 Mk VI User's Guide, Nikon's full-frame mirrorless system, Nikon Z7, Nikon Z6, Nikon Z6 vs. Z7, Nikon FTZ Lens Adapter, Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4, Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8, Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8, Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF, Nikon D3500, LEICA M10-P, iPhone Xs Max Bokeh vs Full-Frame Professional Cameras, Tokina "Opera" 50mm f/1.4, Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 G2, Fuji XT-3.
June & July 2018: Nikon Mirrorless hinted at, Fuji 8-16mm f/2.8, Fuji 200mm f/2, Fuji XF10, Sony RX100VA, Nikon P1000, Tamron 100‑400mm Review, best 80-400 and 100-400mm zooms compared, How to Win Photo Contests, Tamron 18-400mm review, Sony 400mm f/2.8, Images of Yosemite in Springtime, Kodak Medalist II Review, Canon 70‑200mm f/4L IS II, Canon 70‑200mm f/2.8 L IS III and my Sony RX100 Mark VI review.
May 2018: Marc Silber's Secrets to Creating Amazing Photos, Sigma 105mm f/1.4, Fuji X-T100, Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 IS/VR Review, beyerdynamic Amiron Home Review, Sigma 70mm Full-Frame Macro Art Lens, Nikon D1 High ISO Samples, Vello MB-D18 (BG-N19) Grip Review, Sunpak RD2000 Review, Small Flashes Compared.
April 2018: Irix 11mm f/4 Review,Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Canon 85mm f/1.4 L IS Review,Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VR/IS Review, Best 70-200mm f/2.8 Lenses Compared, Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VR/IS Review, Best 24-105mm Lenses Compared, MindShift 18L Backpack, Fuji GF 250mm f/4, Fuji GF 1.4X TC WR Teleconverter, Fuji MCEX-45G WR Macro Extension Tube, Fuji MCEX-18G WR Macro Extension Tube, Sony RX10 Mk IV Review, Sony RX10 Mk IV User's Guide, beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless Review.
March 2018: Nikon 70-300mm AFP E FX Review, Nikon 28mm f/1.4 E FX Review, Nikon 10-20mm Review, Nikon D7500 Review.
February 2018: Sony A7 III, Yosemite Photos, Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Pancake-NIKKOR review, beyerdynamic DT1350 review, beyerdynamic DT240 review, Canon SL2 review.
Janaury 2018: Nikon 180-400mm, Canon 6D Mk II review, Canon 18-135mm USM review, Fuji X-A5, Sony 18-135mm.
December 2017: Canon 35mm f/2.8 Macro review, Sony A7R III review, Sony A7R III user's guide, Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS review, Sony FE 100mm STF G OSS review.
November 2017: Sony 50/2.8 Macro Review, Sony 90/2.8 Macro Review, LEICA CL, Sony 70-300mm G Review, Panasonic G9, iPhone X Review, How to Make Time Exposures with iPhone, 1X Photo Contest, Tamron 100-400mm.
October 2017: Nikon D850 review, Nikon D850 user's guide, Sony A7R III, Sony 24-105mm G, Sony 85/1.8 review, Canon G1X Mk III.
June, July, August and September 2017: Canon 6D Mk II, Canon SL-2, Canon 85/1.4L, Canon TS-E 50/2.8, 90/2.8 & 135/4, Nikon D850, Nikon 70-300 VR DX AF-P, Nikon 28/1.4E, Metabones Mk V Canon EF -> Sony E-mount adapter.
May 2017: Nikon 10-20mm DX VR, Nikon 8-15mm FX Fisheye, Canon 77D Review, Canon Rebel T7i Review, Canon 18-55mm IS STM Review, Springtime in Yosemite, Irix 15mm f/2.4 Review, Sony 16-35/2.8 GM, Sony 12-24/4 G, Fuji X100F Review, Laowa 12mm Review, Olympus TG-5.
March & April 2017: Nikon D7500, Nikon 19mm PC-E review, Nikon D3400 review, Sony A7 Mk II review, Nikon D5600 review.
February 2017: Canon 77D, Canon Rebel T7i, Canon EOS M6, Sony 24-70/2.8 GM, Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM , Sony 70-200mm f/4 G OSS, Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS, Sony FE 85mm f/1.8.
January 2017: LEICA M10, Fujifilm GFX 50S, Fujifilm X100F, Nikon D5600.
November & December 2016: Fuji X-A10.
September & October 2016: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL, Nikon 19mm PC-E, Sony A6500, Sony RX100 Mk V, Sony Alpha 99 II, Canon EOS M5, Canon EF 70-300 IS II USM, Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro.
July & August 2016: Canon 5D Mk IV, 16-35 IS II, 24-105 IS II, Nikon D3400, Nikon 105mm f/1.4, Fuji XT-2.
Help me help you
I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.
If you find this as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.
The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. eBay is always a gamble, but all the other places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
Thanks for reading!
Ken