October-December 2020's News

Sale on Phil Steele Photography Courses

My friend Phil Steele is having a 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.

30% Off: Understanding Your Camera.

33% Off: Advanced Off-Camera Flash.

33% Off: Secrets of Successful Event Photography.

30% Off: Lightroom Made Easy.

30% Off: Photoshop Basics for Photographers.

30% Off: Pro Portraits with Off-Camera Flash.

Phil has a 60-day money-back guarantee so you can't afford not to try it.

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

27 December 2020, Sunday

Canon EOS-1V and Canon EF 50mm f/1.0 L USM.

Updated: Canon EOS 1V Review & Users's Guide.

Canon's best 35mm SLR of all time. They've appreciated by 50% since 2015 as Canon's not making any more of them.

24 December 2020, Christmas Eve

TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH für LEICA M und all mirrorless cameras.

New: TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Review.

Sharper than my LEICA SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4, for $369!

New: Megadap Any Lens to Nikon Z Autofocusing Adapter Review.

This adapter lets us adapt any lens to Nikon Z — and ADDS AUTOFOCUS, even to old manual-focus lenses!

Now, for the very first time, we can have autofocus with NOCT:

Nikon Noct-NIKKOR 58mm f/1.2 (1977-1997) on AI-to-M adapter and Megadap MTZ11 on Nikon Z6 II.

Updated for 2020: Best Gifts & Bargains for Photographers.

Some examples of what I have myself:


Fuji X100F.	Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 FL.	Mondaine Swiss Railways Watch.	Mac-Case iPad Case.
$799 new on closeout.	$900 Off: $1,897.	Same Swiss quality as $7,000 watches for $487.	World's-best iPad cases.

More at Best Gifts & Bargains for Photographers.

23 December 2020, Wednesday

Half Off Today Only: SmallHD 502 Bright On-Camera Monitor: $529.

Free Overnight Shipping

Adorama and B&H are offering many things with free overnight shipping. It's never too late!

$70 Off: Orlit 300 WS studio strobe: $99!

I use studio strobes like this, never battery-powered flash, in my studio.

Sayonara, Nikon

If you believe what you read from random sources on the Internet, Nikon has fallen on such hard times that it can't afford skilled labor in Japan, and instead is going to offshore everything it does to places where less-skilled people will work cheaper.

I upgraded to Canon in 2013. I've only shot Nikon for nostalgia with my manual-focus lenses ever since, for the most part.

If you don't like this news, vote with your feet and upgrade to Canon as I did. Especially in full-frame mirrorless, Canon is a better company with better products, better support and better domestic Japanese manufacturing.

Supposedly Nikon's not going to make anything domestically in Japan anymore, and will be offshoring everything elsewhere, like Thailand or China, by the end of next year. Nikon's been offshoring more and more over the years, which is among the many reasons I upgraded to Canon.

I'm not the only one who feels this way; this is part of the reason the EOS R5 is still sold out and to get one you have to place your order and be patient.

Like many of you I've owned and shot Nikon every day since 1983. I own or have owned and often reviewed everything they've ever made from 1946 through today. I upgraded to pro Nikon in 1983 from Minolta because all of Nikon's AI and AI-s lenses were all made to pro standards, while Canon's FD lenses varied in mechanical quality depending on how expensive they were.

Well, it hasn't been 1983 for a very long time. Nikon fell to second place behind Canon in the 1990s, and to third behind Sony in the 2010s.

Of course I'm still going to review everything they introduce because you people keep asking. Let's face it; digital cameras are disposable so it doesn't really matter how well they're made. Lenses, however, should last a lifetime, which I doubt from the plastic offshores Nikon sells today. Plastic lenses take great pictures, but I have a problem with new-age thinking that accepts that after ten years you throw a lens away.

Here's the thing about making things in China: they should be close to free. If Nikon wants to offshore and pass the savings on to me, that's one thing, but if they prefer to pocket the profit for themselves and try to gyp me with a made-in-Japan price, fugettaboutit. When a Chinese company makes something domestically in China, like the TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH I'm reviewing, it sells for less than 10% of the same product made in the first world does, and performs about the same. As at least third generation native New Yorker, I don't like being taken for a ride, being sold offshores for the same price as the real thing. You may not care, but I care where my goodies are made. I wear American-made sneakers and even my Bluetooth headphones are Made in GERMANY.

Nikon vs Canon vs Sony Full-Frame Mirrorless.

$400 Off: Japanese-made Nikon Z6 w/offshored 24-70mm & more: $2,197.

$150 Off: Norwegian-made Luxli Timpani 1×1' RGBAW LED Panel: $849.99.

I like mine so much I have another waiting under my Christmas tree for me!

In-Stock: Sony A7S III: $3,498.

In-Stock: A7S III w/160GB CFexpress: $3,846.

In-Stock: A7S III w/16-35/2.8 GM: $5,496.

In-Stock: A7S III w/24-70/2.8 GM: $5,496.

In-Stock: A7S III w/70-200/2.8 GM: $5,896.

In-Stock: A7S III w/Atomos Ninja V & much, much more: $4,354.

$800 Off: Sony A7R III, w/ThinkTank Retrospective bag, free next-day delivery & more: $1,998.

$600 Off: Sony A7 II w/28-70mm, free next-day delivery & more: $998.

$580 Off: Sony A7R IV w/free next-day delivery & more: $2,998.

$300 Off: Sony A7 III w/28-70mm, ThinkTank Retrospective bag, free next-day delivery & more: $1,898.

$70 Off: Ring Doorbell: $159.99.

I love mine!

$30 ~ $100 Off: 12.9" iPad Pros: $769 ~ $1,199.

$200 ~ $300 Off: 13.3" MacBook Airs: $879 ~ $1,249.

HALF PRICE: Tamron 70-210mm f/4 for Canon EF w/tripod mount & 64GB SDXC Card: $399.

HALF PRICE: Tamron 70-210mm f/4 for Nikon F w/tripod mount & 64GB SDXC Card: $399.

HALF PRICE: Tamron 70-210mm f/4 for Canon EF w/tripod, tripod mount & 64GB SDXC Card: $429.

HALF PRICE: Tamron 70-210mm f/4 for Nikon F w/tripod, tripod mount & 64GB SDXC Card: $429.

22 December 2020, Tuesday

$200 Off: Nikon D7500 w/18-140mm: $1,297.

Today Only $150 Off: Metz M400 Flash for Nikon: $129.99.

Today Only $80 Off: Hyper 27,000 mAh / 100W PD USB-C Power Bank: $119.99.

21 December 2020, Monday

Half Off: Gitzo Traveler Tripod & Head: $449.95.

At this price, you can afford the best. These last forever! I'm still loving and using my 1995 Gitzo M1228 tripod every day. That was $500 very well spent over 25 years ago — but I thought the price crazy at the time. Gitzo tripods aren't throw-aways like digital cameras we ditch in two years.

$40 Off Today Only: Senal SMH-1000 Headphones: $44.99.

75% Off Today Only: Denon Pro Outdoor Speaker: $49.99.

$50 Off: Canon EF-M 22mm f/2: $199.

Christmas Sale: e-Scooter Deals.

I reviewed the older X7 model last year.

$67 Off: 24" LG IPS 3-Side Borderless Monitor w/Dual HDMI: $99.99.

$57 Off: 24" LG IPS Gaming Monitor: $89.99.

$30 Off: HD Wi-Fi Security Camera w/2-Way Audio & Night Vision: $49.99.

19 December 2020, Saturday

MacCase iPad Pro Case.

New: MacCase iPad Pro Case Review.

I just got one of these for my new iPad and love it!

18 December 2020, Friday

$50 Off: Nikon Full-Frame AF-S 35mm f/1.8G: $477.

$50 Off: Sony Full-Frame FE 35mm f/1.8: $698.

$50 Off: Sony APS-C E 20mm f/2.8: $298.

$20 Off: Canon SX740 HS: $379.

17 December 2020, Thursday

Audeze LCD-1.

$100 Off: Audeze LCD-1 Headphones: $299.

The Made-in-U. S. A. Audeze LCD-1 are the best sounding headphones I've heard for under $5,000, and even my $5,000 STAX Omega SR-009 and tube-amp combos don't have bass performance as good at these portable LCD-1. I've heard a lot of headphones, and these are the best along with the clumsy electrostatics and the much larger and more expensive, but similar sounding, LCD-X.

The LCD-1 are foldable, have a real lambskin headband and earcups, are 15 Ω, 8.9 oz./251g and come with a case, 3.5mm cord with ¼″ adapter.

I'd get mine for $299 at Amazon; they're $399 at Adorama, at B&H or at Crutchfield.

Use the Apple Lightning adapter or Apple USB-C adapter if your device lacks a headphone jack.

16 December 1770, 250 Jahre Beethoven

$50 Off: Sony 35mm f/1.8 (APS-C): $423.

$50 Off: Sony 18-105mm PZ (APS-C): $598.

$323 Off: Sennheiser EW 100 G4 2-Person Camera-Mount Wireless Microphone System: $1,399.

$300 Off: SmallHD 502 Bright On-Camera Monitor: $699.

$110 Off: Lensbaby Velvet 28mm f/2.5: $439.96.

$90 Off: Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6: $359.96.

$130 Off: Canon G7X Mk II: $499.

$100 Off: Canon G7X Mk III Vidiot Kit: $799.

$50 Off: Canon G5X Mk II: $849.

Deals: "ProGrade" SD Cards.

15 December 2020, Tuesday

Canon Deals

In-Stock & $100 Off: Canon EOS R6 & 24-105 STM: $2,799!

Whoo hoo! Time to step-up to 20 FPS Canon — and finally in-stock!

$100 Off: Canon EF-s 18-135mm IS USM: $499.

This is my favorite Canon APS-C lens.

$100 Off: Canon G7X Mk III (silver): $649. (also in black.)

Nikon Deals

$150 Off: Nikon D3500, 18-55 & 70-300: $597.

Super deal on a favorite, but avoid the included AF-P 70-300 because it lacks VR; get the AF-P 70-300 DX VR as well.

$70 Off: Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.8G: $677.

Works great on the FTZ on Nikon Z.

14 December 2020, Monday

Sony A7R III and Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G.

$800 Off: Sony A7R III: $1,998. Ends 11:59PM Tonight, NYC time. (also at Crutchfield).

$100 Off: Sony Zeiss FE 55mm f/1.8: $898.

Is anyone still buying Sony in 2020? Apparently not, which is why they're having to dump the prices. For my style of shooting, I prefer anything from Canon, especially the newer EOS RP, which costs half as much.

$150 Off: Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8: $697.

$300 Off: Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8: $1,997.

$100 Off: Canon G7X Mk III: $649.

$200 Off: Fuji XF 18mm f/2: $399 (open box).

$130 Off: Fujifilm EF-BP1 battery pack for EF-X500 Flash: $69 (open box)!

If I needed either of these, I'd totally jump on these open-box deals from Crutchfield.

Oh, Duh

I just added the obvious, the Canon EOS RP and superb Canon RF 24-240mm to my Best Gifts & Bargains for Photographers:

Canon EOS RP and RF 24-105mm f/4L.

I've loved the Canon EOS RP ever since it came out. It's the world's least expensive full-frame mirrorless camera, and also my favorite of all of them for nature, landscape, travel and every kind of photography other than sports and action (for which the EOS R5 and EOS R6 are best).

I'd much rather be shooting with the EOS RP than anything mirrorless from Sony, Nikon, Fuji or anyone. It's that good.

My favorite lens for the EOS RP is the superb Canon RF 24-240mm, which is super sharp, focuses ultra-fast, and comes as part of a kit with the RP as a steal for just $1,499.

11 December 2020, Hanukkah

NEU: LEICA SL-2 S.

10 December 2020, Thursday

Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3.

NEW: Nikon Z 24-50mm Review & Sample Image Files.

Cheap, throwaway Chinese lens that makes priceless images.

Best Gifts


iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Generation case (back). bigger.	iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Generation case (front). bigger.

UPDATED for 2020: Best Gifts & Bargains for Photographers.

These are the treasures and deals I've found this year, ranging from $10 to $5,000, all ideal for yourself or for friends for the holidays.

Still a Steal & a Great Gift for Anyone

**Steal of the Season - $500 OFF: Fuji X100F: $799**!!!

Guess what: I kept my X100F (4th generation on sale today) and sent my X100V (5th generation) back. I greatly prefer this X100F's real 4-way rear controller over the idiotic "touch functions" of the X100V.

If you've ever wanted to join the X100 crowd, this is the time. Yes, this is the previous model, which as I said I kept and sent my newer X100V back as I don't see its benefits over the X100F. Don't let me sour you on the superb X100V, but as a guy who already owns this X100F I can't see enough benefits in the X100V to justify it, and today at $500 off, everyone deserves to own an X100F if you don't already.

As always, Adorama has a 30-day return policy if you don't LOVE yours as much as I love my X100F.

Adorama is also throwing-in a free Fujifilm 32GB USB drive, so how can you go wrong? Just want the Fujifilm 32GB USB drive?

85% (23.70) off: Fujifilm 32GB USB drive: $4.25! The $799 combo deal includes free shipping for all, but you'll have to pay a few bucks to ship you an envelope if all you want is the $4.25 USB drive.

Nikon Steal

Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 FL VR.

$900 Off: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL VR: $1,897. Also at Adorama, at Amazon and at Crutchfield

Ahem, the world's best 70-200mm, a pro lens made in Japan. I prefer it on Z with the FTZ to the far more expensive and more plasticy made-in-Thailand consumer-grade Z 70-200/2.8.

It was $2,797 when introduced just 4 years ago, and was well worth it then, and more than worth it today.

09 December 2020, Wednesday

Canon Deals

$200 Off: Canon RF 24-240mm IS USM: $699.

$200 Off: Canon 5D Mk IV w/24-105/4L IS II: $3,399.

$150 Off: Canon 5D Mk IV w/24-70/4L IS II: $3,249.

Sony Deals

$200 Off: Sony Zeiss FE 24-70mm f/4 G: $698.

$200 Off: Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 GM: $1,998.

07 December 1941, Pearl Harbor Day

Nikon Z5 and Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3.

New: Nikon Z5 Full Review & Sample Image Files.

As I had hoped, the same technical image quality as the Z7 II and Z6 II, but with much better handling with much less size, weight and price.

The Z5, Z7 II and Z6 II all have much better autofocus than the awful autofocus of the old Z7 and Z6. The Z5, Z7 II and Z6 II have surprisingly good tracking autofocus for action.

The Z5 is awesome for Nikon; if you don't need the 45MP of the Z7 II or EOS R5 and don't need 20 FPS of the EOS R5 or EOS R6, the Z5 is the best Nikon mirrorless you can get for general photography.

Z7 Closeout, $900 Off: Nikon Z7: $2,497.

Z7 body-only: $2,497 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield.

Z7 with FTZ adapter: $2,544 at Adorama and at Amazon.

Z7 with discounted Z 24-70mm f/4 S: $3,097 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield.

Z7 with discounted 24-70mm f/4 and FTZ adapter: $3,144 at Adorama and at Amazon.

$250 Off: Nikon Z50, 16-50, 50-250mm, case, card & more: $1,097!!!

For $1,097 you've got everything you need, period.

Apple

$400 Off: 16" MacBook Pro 64 GB/512 GB: $3,299.

$400 Off: 13.3" MacBook Pro 16 GB/512 GB: $1,799.

Lights!

$490 Off: Genarary LED lighting set: $329.

$230 Off: Godox AD600Pro Outdoor Strobe: $669.

Sale: Luxli Lighting.

Camera!

$500 Off: Sony A7R III: $2,298.

$200 Off: Sony A7 III: $1,798.

$200 Off: Sony A7 III w/28-70mm: $1,998.

$200 Off: Sony 24-70/2.8 GM: $1,998.

$200 Off: Sony 70-200/2.8 GM OSS: $2,398.

Olympus!

Sale: Olympus.

Sale: Olympus Lenses.

06 December 2020, Sunday

Nikon Sale

$200 Off: Nikon D750: $1,497.

$570 Off: Nikon D500 w/16-80mm: $2,097.

$250 Off: Nikon Z50 w/16-50 & 50-250mm: $1,097.

$200 Off: Nikon Z5 w/24-50: $1,497

$200 Off: Nikon Z5: $1,197.

It's Back

The Canon EOS RP and RF 24-240mm are my favorite lightweight, high-power full-frame system:

$400 Off: EOS RP & RF 24-240mm: $1,499 at Adorama, at Amazon and at B&H.

03 December 2020, Thursday

Sony Caves to Canon!

I love competition! The Canon R5 and R6 are so completely shutting-down Sony that Sony's having to dump their prices to get us to buy these previous-decade designs:

$500 Off: Sony A7R IV: $2,998.

$500 Off: Sony A7R II: $1,298.

$500 Off: Sony A7 II: $898.

$600 Off: Sony A7 II w/28-70mm: $998.

More Deals

$450 Off: Canon 7D Mk II w/18-135 USM & Wi-Fi Adapter: $1,799.

$400 Off: Nikon Z6 Filmmaker's Kit: $3,597.

78% Off Deal-of-the-Day: Apple Silicone Case for iPhone X: $8.99.

$35 Off: LG 24" IPS Monitor: $134.99.

01 December 2020, Tuesday

New from Sony

Sony now has an App, "Visual Story," that lets us upload images to the cloud directly from the Sony A9 II, A9, A7c, A7R IV or A7S III as we shoot.

From Sony's press release:

This app lets us upload images (even from multiple cameras) automatically, rate, select and edit them, and deliver finished galleries to clients—all in real-time.

The app allows multiple cameras automatically to upload images to the cloud, where they can be arranged, rated, and corrected on the fly. If multiple cameras are used, image filtering can show the images only from specific cameras.

AI-based sorting can organize images based by scene and can find shots where people's eyes are closed.

Visual Story will synchronize images across multiple devices, and galleries—complete with logo and watermarks and social media information—can be delivered instantly.

Edits are stored in XMP files, allowing images to be imported into desktop photo editing programs for further editing and refinement.

New from Sigma

Sigma calls these full-frame lenses the "I" series, which offer ultra performance in smaller sizes because they're so slow:

New: 24mm f/3.5 for Sony and for L mount. Also at B&H in both mounts.

New: 35mm f/2 for Sony and for L mount. Also at B&H in both mounts.

New: 65mm f/2 for Sony and for L mount. Also at B&H in both mounts.

Deals of the Day

$1,500 Off: Canon 1DX Mk II: $4,499. (should be good through January 3rd)

$25 ~ $50 Off: Apple EarPods.

$300 Off: Twin high-power portable strobe kit: $699.

AKG K702.

$200 Off: AKG K702.

I reviewed these in depth back in 2014. Many pros love these as their favorite headphones, although I prefer the Audeze.

$180 Off: Hoya 77mm Variable ND Filter: $149.95.

$150 Off: BenQ EX2780Q 27" 144Hz IPS Gaming Monitor: $449.99. All BenQ on sale.

$80 Off: Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 (14mm eq.) for APS-C: $419.

$70 Off: DJI Osmo Pocket Gimbal: $298.99.

$50 Off: GoPro HERO9: $399.

30 November 2020, Cyber Monday

Most of these sales are only good today until about 11:59PM NYC time (9PM Pacific) and some are flash sales that end an hour after I posted them, so don't delay if you need something. Most include free shipping. These guys all have at least a 30-day return policy if you don't love something:

Adorama

Adorama's Cyber Monday

Adorama's Deals-of-the-Day

Best price ever: Canon EF 50/1.8 STM: $99! Canon's least expensive and sharpest lens.

$600 off: Nikon Z6 & free goodies: $1,643.90!

$300 off: Sony A7 III, FE 28-70mm & pro flash: $1,898! Don't be fooled by the composite photo; it's a big flash.

$300 off: Sony A7 III & pro flash: $1,698! Don't be fooled by the composite photo; it's a big flash.

$210 off: 600 WS portable 2.4 GHz strobe: $339!

$100 off: Bushnell 700 × 60mm Telescope: 49.99! I had a Tasco 700 × 60mm as a kid and loved it for years. I even adapted it to my cameras as a 700mm f/11! Here's the manual for the Bushnell scope with more information.

$50 off: Bose Solo 5 Soundbar: $149!

56% off: VEO Carbon-Fibre Tripod & Head: $109.95!

57% off: Fuji Instax Instant Camera: $29.99!

Amazon

Amazon's Cyber Monday

Amazon's Deals-of-the-Day

$100 off: Bose QC35 II Noise-Cancelling Headphones. These are the new version of the QC35 of which I own two sets. They stop jet lag!

Over Half Off: Newest 4th Gen Echo Dot w/free smart bulb: $28.99 or with $5 smart outlet.

$30 off: Newest 4th Gen Echo: $69.99. My family lives by our Alexii: playing the local radio stations in the morning, setting cooking timers making dinner and looking up facts at the dinner table. We got one as a joke a couple of years ago on Cyber Monday, and now our home is full of these. Why have a house full? Because we use these to call the kids for dinner with the free room-to-room voice calling. Just say "Alexa: Drop-in on Katie" and boom!, we can call her with our arms full. They work as voice-controlled speakerphone to speakerphone, and they get smarter all the time.

Echo Subwoofer: $129.99. What? Yes, a bluetooth subwoofer that works with the Alexa speakers, and is smart enough to let you run them as stereo subwoofers, as you always should do.

$60 off: Echo Link Audiophile Music Interface: $139.99. A do-it-all DAC, ADC, crossover, volume control & etc. for those of you for whom a simple 3.5mm to RCA cord isn't enough to plug into your serious tube gear or other Hi-Fi setup.

B&H (all subject to end at any time regardless of what's said below; this stuff changes minute-to-minute)

B&H Cyber Monday

B&H's Deals-of-the-Day

B&H's Holiday Deals

Ends at 6PM: DJI Mavic Mini w/Nanuk 910 Case: $359!!! (ends 5:59 PM tonight, NYC time)

$300 off: 2020 13.3" MacBook Pro Quad i5 / 16 GB/ 1 TB: $1,699!!! (this was introduced earlier this year. Sale ends 5:59 AM 01 December 2020, NYC time.)

$200 off: 2020 13.3" MacBook Air Quad i5 / 8 GB / 256 GB: $899!!! (this was introduced earlier this year. Sale ends 5:59 AM 01 December 2020, NYC time.)

$200 off: 2020 13.3" MacBook Air Dual i3 / 8 GB / 256 GB: $799!!! (this was introduced earlier this year. Sale ends 5:59 AM 01 December 2020, NYC time.)

$100 ~ $150 off: Newest M1 13.3" MacBook Pros. (these are the newest models just introduced. Sale ends 11:59 PM tonight, NYC time before anyone at Apple comes back in the office and busts them for these low prices.)

$50 ~ $150 off: Newest M1 13.3" MacBook Airs. (these are the newest models just introduced. Sale ends 11:59 PM tonight, NYC time before anyone at Apple comes back in the office and busts them for these low prices.)

$150 off: Newest 12.9" iPad Pro 256 GB: $949. (while supply lasts at this price)

$875 off: LG 43BN70U-B 43" 4K IPS Monitor: $599!!!

Half off: LG 32BK50Q-WB 32" IPS Monitor: $247.

Deal: Dell P2419H 24" IPS Monitor: $147.

Deal: WD 14TB USB External Drive $259.99.

$125 off: Capture One Pro 20 full: $174.95. (ends 11:59PM Tuesday 01 December 2020, NYC time and has free upgrade to v21 when released)

$39 off: Capture One Pro 20 for Sony, Fuji or Nikon: $90. (ends 11:59PM Tuesday 01 December 2020, NYC time and has free upgrade to v21 when released)

Deals: Panasonic GH5S Cameras. (some of these valid through Christmas.)

$30 off: SpiderPro Hand Strap: $35. I don't have one of these crazy-looking things, but a friend does and he loves it! Sale good through December.

$80 off: Pelican 1615 Wheeled Air Travel Case. In yellow or sea-rescue orange; sale good through December

$850 off: Olympus E-M1 Mk II.

$350 off: Olympus E-M10 Mk III w/14-42mm.

$125 off: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 Carbon Fiber Tripod.

Robus Sale on Big Tripods

Luxli Lights on Sale! Made in Norway. I love mine.

Crutchfield

Crutchfield's Cyber Monday

Crutchfield's Sales

New: Canon PIXMA Pro-200.

Think Tank

Think Tank's 40% off Cyber Monday

Think Tank's 40% off clearance

28 November 2020, Saturday

Nikon Z6 II with Nikon Z 24-50mm.

New: Nikon Z6 II Review.

Same as the Z6, with much better autofocus and a second card slot.

$50 Off: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN for Sony E: $429 w/free shipping.

26 November 2020, Thanksgiving

$470 OFF Today ONLY: 12.9" iPad Pro, 4G LTE, 256 GB: $829!

It was originally $1,299, and I almost bought one yesterday when it was a steal at $350 off.

I refreshed the page I had left open in my browser hoping they hadn't sold out today, and it had become a B&H Deal-of-the-Day for $470 off, and I immediately bought one for myself.

Get yours while you can. Yes, it's a blow-out of last year's model, brand new! The only significant difference is the $1,199 model for 2020 has a different camera, but I never use my iPad camera except for FaceTime and I'm perfectly happy with the one in my 2015 iPad I've been using these past five years. For $470 off, I'm STOKED!

20 November 2020, Friday

Pre-Black Friday Mega TV deal

85" Sony XBR TV: Top-of-the-Line Sony 85" Full-Array XBR TV: $1,998 — with free shipping!

How good is this monster 100-pound-plus state-of-the-art TV? It's so good I've bought TWO of them for my house, and now it's $600 off for the next few days. You also can get it at Amazon. The actual image area is 3½ feet tall and over six feet wide!

This is a "Full-Array" (local dimming) set, meaning the LED backlight array adjusts itself magically in all the different picture areas tor black blacks and brilliant whites. Lesser "Direct-Lit" or "Edge Lit" sets merely vary the brightness of the entire backlight, robbing us of deep blacks in typical scenes, or making dark scenes simply look dull.

XBRs are Sony's top TVs. I'm sure you can find lesser "Direct-Lit" or "Edge Lit" sets for less money; this is a top-of-the-line Sony and not one a more pedestrian model, and certainly not loss-leader rubbish like Visio or TCL. I've bought Visio sets before, and two of them broke! I've never had a problem with Sony TVs.

I'm really impressed. I use one in my completely dark movie theater where the blacks and whites and all the colors shine, and another as a regular TV where its commanding size and super brightness breathtakingly pull you into the picture.

Getting a top-of-the-line XBR that looks this fantastic for two grand is simply astounding. It works really well with my Apple TV 4K, and I'm finally getting YouTube and Netflix in real 4K - which is breathtaking at 85." I've never seen my own still images look so good, as you can see in full-resolution sample images in my reviews at KenRockwell.TV.

I don't use any of the "smart" features I use this only as a picture monitor fed from my Apple TV 4K with sound going through my custom professional sound system. I disable the motion manipulation features at Settings > Picture > Motion > OFF (or something like that) so that my 24 FPS movies still look like Hollywood movies and not smooth 120 FPS video, but that's another day's discussion (most TVs try to smooth motion, but it is precisely the juddery motion among other things we see at 24 FPS that helps us connect better with the story being told in a movie; it helps with what we call "suspension of disbelief" by putting the images behind a bit of a perceptual veil; but set this as you like).

It also comes in 55", 65" and 75". Get the 85" if you can for its fully impressive image, but Sony cautions to use three men to lift it. Luckily I didn't read the manual and I got it up with just one helper. The fact that you can get it with free shipping is insane! It makes the 65" Samsungs it replaces in my house look like baby TVs. Sony's ergonomics and integration with the rest of my system is also so much better.

TVs have come a long, long way each year. I worked in TV back in the 1970s, helped develop HDTV in the 1980s before we even settled on 16:9 and everything was analog and CRT displays and helped get Hollywood up and on the air and on Blu-Ray in HD back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I loaned scans of my 4x5" still film images for the earliest demonstrations of 4K in Hollywood in the early 2000s long because digital cameras didn't had that much resolution yet! I wrote about HDTV here back in 2008, when 4K was still a laboratory curiosity and LCD TVs were pretty bad and I wrote " I've never seen a plasma or LCD set with a good enough picture not to distract me with inaccurate colors and problems with dark scenes." Today, they look great. I'm really impressed at how far this all has come.

19 November 2020, Thursday

Oben CTT-1000L Compact Tripod.

NEW: Oben CTT-1000L Compact Tripod.

17 November 2020, Tuesday

Audeze LCD-X.

New: Audeze LCD-X Headphones.

With all the time we're spending at home, we may as well enjoy it with these superb American-made professional headphones.

Unlike cameras, imported bluetooth headphones, TVs and electronic equipment, these are passive, corded headphones that will never go obsolete. I'm still using and enjoying my other high-end passive headphones I bought back in the 1970s and 1980s. If you'll enjoy these, you should get them because you'll be enjoying them for the rest of your life, not just tossing them out in a few years.

New: Sony FX6 Double-Frame Cine Camera.

New: Sony FX6 Double-Frame Cine Camera w/24-105mm.

Double-frame, but it's 24×36mm? Correct on both counts.

In the beginning (the late 1800s), 35mm film was only for movies. There were no 35mm still cameras until the next century. Cine film ran vertically and shot 24×18mm frames, which is why movies and early television were all 4:3 aspect ratio, which lives today in many digital still cameras.

When Saint Oskar Barnack wanted to make a tiny still camera while he worked for a company that made cameras that shot short-ends of 35mm movie film for exposure tests (LEITZ) in 1917, he modified the advance mechanism to advance two frames for each shot, opened the gate to expose both 24×18mm frames at the same time to give a larger 24×36mm image needed for still shots (projecting multiple frames greatly reduces perceived film grain which doesn't work with still images), and rotated the whole thing by 90º for horizontal shots.

Thus 35mm still cameras were called "double-frame" 35mm cameras for many decades, as "35mm film" most often meant 24×18mm cine film for most of the 20th century.

Coming from Hollywood, I still call 35mm still cameras "double-frame," and that's why I call this Sony thing double frame. If it was "full frame" or "full gate" 35mm it would only be 24×18mm.

This concludes today's imaging history lesson.

Today only: Fuji Instax Portable Phone printer, $90 off: $79.00! Also comes with two packs of film for $89.99.

16 November 2020, Monday

62½% off, Today only!!: Bushnell 10×25 Binoculars: $29.95 with free shipping!

6.8º wide field. I haven't tried these, but at this deep a discount these will be great gifts for anyone.

They're rubberized and include a case, strap and covers. These are at Adorama, who offer at least 30 days where if you don't love them you can return them for a full cash refund.

6.8º is really good; my beloved LEICA TRINOVID 10 × 50 BN binoculars that sell for about $1,000 used are only rated at 6.6º!

iPhone 12 Pro Max

I've only barely got my iPhone 12 Pro Max provisioned, and my first shots are very encouraging.

As expected, the 13mm-equivalent camera is sharper than in my iPhone 11 Pro Max, the long lens is longer (65mm versus 52mm equivalent; 7.5mm versus 6mm actual) and Night Mode works with all three cameras instead of just the main camera as it does on my iPhone 11 Pro Max. This significantly expands what I can do with my iPhone 12 Pro Max compared to my iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Most people refer to the iPhone's three lenses, while in fact it has three complete separate cameras and sensors, one complete camera and sensor per lens. It has a 1.5mm f/2.4 ultrawide (13mm equivalent), 5.1mm f/1.6 wide (26mm equivalent) and 7.5mm f/2.2 (65mm equivalent). The crop factors are different for each as each uses a different-sized sensor: 5.1× for the main camera and and 8⅔× for the tele and ultrawide cameras.

Balcony, 8:34 AM, 16 November 2020. iPhone 12 Pro Max native Camera app, 7.5mm (65mm-equivalent) tele camera at f/2.2 at 1/803 at Auto ISO 20 (LV 14¼), as shot. bigger or full-resolution.

The new tele camera is sharp and has loads of depth-of-field! What really should impress anyone who remembers shooting film is how masterfully and instantly the iPhone 12 Pro Max handles highlight and shadow. The above shot is in harsh daylight, and everything from highlight to darkest shadow looks exactly as it did to my eyes. We never could get results like this with film; with transparencies like my beloved Velvia 50 we would expose not to lose the highlights and expect that the shadows would simply be black blobs.

North Pole, 5:24 PM, 15 November 2020. iPhone 12 Pro Max native Camera app, 5.1mm (26mm-equivalent) main camera at f/1.6 at 1/30 at Auto ISO 500 (LV 3.9),perspective correction in Photoshop CS6, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full-resolution.

I shot this hand-held, and my iPhone 12 Pro Max just grabbed a photo that looked exactly as it did to my eye. Film would never have caught all the highlights and shadows, and on Velvia 50 with a $1,800 24mm f/1.4 lens on my Nikon or on my Canon I'd have to expose for 1/4 of a second at f/1.4. No 24/1.4 lens is stabilized, so 1/4 is pushing it, and on full-frame I'd not have the huge depth-of-field I enjoy on iPhone.

In other words, the longer you've been shooting, the more you can appreciate how great the iPhone shoots!

Photoshop Update

Have you noticed I've been using Photoshop CS6 ever since it came out in 2012? I haven't changed to a newer version as Photoshop CS6 was the last version of Photoshop actually sold. Newer "CS" versions are rented, but never sold outright. Even at only $10 a month you're paying $120 a year, every year.

While Photoshop CS6 was very expensive when new, I hadn't realized you can get Photoshop CS6 on DVD today for about $150 at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay, and never have to pay any subscription fees!

I've used CS6 since 2012 and still use it every day on Mac Mojave OS 10.14.6. It won't run on Catalina or Big Sur, and it ran even better back at least as far as Snow Leopard.

I tried renting Dreamweaver CC 2018 and CC 2019, and it was awful, with lots of crashes (what is this, 1974?), bugs and missing some features I use every day to make this site on Dreamweaver CS5.

Seeing how bad Dreamweaver CC 2019 was, I don't want to chance updating my operating system and having to rent Photoshop and Dreamweaver, since my older versions won't run on Catalina. I see mention of a Rosetta 2; it would be glorious if newer OS could run these with this, but I doubt it.

Photoshop CC may be just fine, but seeing how bad was Dreamweaver CC I'm too scared to try newer versions. If I get a newer Mac with the newer operating system like the amazing new MacBooks which for the first time use Apple's own chips for more speed, longer battery life and smaller size of course I'll update to the rental versions, but for now, I'm fine.

Friday the Thirteenth of November, 2020

Sale: Apple Deals at B&H.

12 November 2020, Thursday

I know my Canon EOS R5's flash performance is great for shooting moving wildlife at 12 FPS, but I hadn't noticed that it's so well programmed for balancing fill-flash with ambient light. It is significantly better than anything I've shot other than my Fuji X100V-series cameras indoors! It's smart enough to ramp-up Auto ISO as needed at the required shutter speed along with balancing the flash power for great results indoors.

Here are snaps of me made indoors during the day with my Canon 580 EX II flash simply popped on top of my R5 and handed to a non-photographer asking "let's snap before and after photos!" I left it at my defaults of Program exposure and Auto ISO.

Not only does my R5 magically just focus on my eyes, it bumped-up ISO to capture just the right amount of ambient light to balance with the light from my 580 EX II flash:

Before	After
Ken with nine months of uncut lockdown hair, 8:46 AM, 10 November 2020. bigger. Canon EOS R5, Canon RF 24-240mm IS at 240mm at f/7.1 at ¹/₂₅₀ at Auto ISO 6,400 (LV 7.6), Canon 580 EX II flash, Perfectly Clear.	Ken after the first haircut in nine months, 12:33 PM, 11 November 2020. bigger. Canon EOS R5, Canon RF 24-240mm IS at 240mm at f/6.3 at ¹/₂₅₀ at Auto ISO 6,400 (LV 7.4), Canon 580 EX II flash, Perfectly Clear.

Nice bokeh from my RF 24-240mm IS, huh? I love this lens!

It's scary how different I look. These are from the same location at the same focal length!

$200 off: Sony A7 III & free goodies: $1,765.

$200 off: Sony A7 III, 28-70mm & free goodies: $2,025.

11 November 2020, Veteran's Day

Half off: Advancing Your Photography eBook.

Marc also has a special package of on-line video classes that go along with his book that you should check out when you order the ebook.

Advancing Your Photography.

Marc Silber's Advancing Your Photography is a better than average photo book that tries to help you see and make better pictures. Marc is giving it away if you'll cover $9.97 for shipping and handling, or it's half-price for the eBook.

While no one has ever written a book that fully explains artistic synthesis (as opposed to analysis of existing images or explaining technology), Marc has a couple of chapters that stress and explain the critical importance of visualization and the importance of worrying more about your photo than about your gear. In fact, it specifically call out the two biggest barriers to good photography, which are 1.) wasting your time worrying about your gear, and 2.) wasting time trying to adhere to "rules."

I've never seen a book fully illuminating artistic synthesis, which why and how to envision exactly what you want your image to be before you create it, but Marc touches the subject more than most. All the books I've seen talk about this, but none ever gets to the core of exactly how to create; creation is still a divine thing like consciousness itself. Many people have talked about or creative synthesis, but no one has ever described exactly how to create, or explained what is consciousness. We can talk for days about consciousness, but no one has the foggiest idea of where it comes from, how it develops in a baby, what it actually is if you had to create it yourself, or where it goes when we die.

So while Marc's book does have chapters filled with talk about apertures and ISOs and lenses and computer screen shots like every other camera book, the good news is that there is some meat about how actually to put all this to good effect.

Marc also covers the rest of the story, which is how to display and promote your work. Every nerd has a book about photo software; Marc's book goes beyond by covering what to think about before you pick up your camera, and what also to do with your work once it's completed.

For those of you who like to read, you might want to check it out, especially chapter 2, chapter 4 and chapter 6.

It usually sells for much more at Amazon.

10 November 2020, Tuesday

Canon 1DX Mark III and Canon EF 50mm f/1L USM.

NEW: Canon 1DX Mark III Review & Sample Image Files.

NEW: LEICA Q2 Monochrom.

It's a black-and-white version of the LEICA Q2.

09 November 2020, Monday

Cyber Monday at Adorama

$500 off: Nikon AF-S 24-70/2.8E VR & free goodies: $1,597.

$400 off: Sony A7R IV, free big flash, battery & more free goodies: $2,998.

$230 off: 400 WS portable strobe system: $419.

Over Half Off: Lowel 21×21" soft light: $199.95.

$50 off: Fuji Instax Mini Instant Camera: $79.95.

$30 off: Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM: $119.

05 November 2020, Thursday

More New Stabilizers at Crutchfield

Yesterday it was the DJI RSC 2 and DJI RSC 2 Pro Combo Stabilizers, and today it's the:

NEW: DJI RS 2 Camera Stabilizer.

NEW: DJI RS 2 Pro Combo Stabilizer.

Did you catch that: yesterday it was the RSC stabilizers, and today new are the RS.

04 November 2020, Wednesday

New from Canon

NEW: Canon RF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM. Also at B&H. Comes with ET-83G(WIII) hood.

NEW: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Also at B&H. ES-65B hood optional.

Ha! Told you so. Canon continues to fly ahead of old Nikon and Sony with lenses we actually need, while those other brands must still be on vacation.

For instance, it Nikon's first 70-200/4 only came out in 2012 while Canon has been making them since the 1990s.

Today's Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is less than half the price ($199) of Nikon's Z 50mm f/1.8 ($497), and the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is also a fraction of the size (less than 6 oz. compared to almost a pound) and I'm sure just as sharp in actual use. I know my EF 50/1.8 STM is one of the sharpest lenses I own, and it's also tiny!

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM focuses to just under one foot (0.3m) with a maximum macro ratio of 1:4, while the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 only focuses to 1.3 feet (0.4m) with a maximum macro of only 1:6.7.

Bravo Canon!

Ding dong! My Canon RF 85/2 Macro just arrived from B&H as I was writing this. Let the fun begin; look for its review in about a week.

NEW: Canon PIXMA Pro 200 Printer. Also at B&H.

NEW: Canon NB-CP21LI battery for portable printers.

More Nikon Deals (don't forget yesterday's deals below, all still good)

$500 Off: Nikon AF-S 24-70/2.8E: $1,597.

$200 Off: Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro: $697.

$100 Off: Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8: $497.

Sony Deals

$510 Off: Sony A7R IV & free goodies: $3,123.

$500 Off: Sony A7R II & free goodies: $1,338.

Fuji Deals

$500 Off: Fuji X-T3 & free goodies: $999.95.

$200 Off: Fuji 55-200mm OIS & filter: $499.95.

New from Panasonic

NEW: Lumix S 85mm f/1.8.

Olympus Deal

$100 Off: Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro: $399.

New at Crutchfield

NEW: DJI RSC 2 Camera Stabilizer.

NEW: DJI RSC 2 Pro Combo Stabilizer.

02 November 2020, Monday

Nikon Deals

DEAL: Nikon D850: $2,497 at B&H, at Adorama, at Amazon and at Crutchfield.

BETTER DEAL: B&H has a kit with a free bag and nice card for the same price.

EVEN BETTER DEAL: Adorama has a kit with even more free stuff for the same price.

$500 Off: Nikon AF-S 24-70/2.8E, filters & free goodies: $1,597.

$300 Off: Nikon AF-S 500/5.6E: $3,297.

$200 Off: Nikon AF-S 105/2.8 VR Macro: $697.

$200 Off: Nikon AF-S 105/1.4, tripod & more free goodies: $1,897.

$100 Off: Nikon AF-S 28-300mm, filter & free goodies: $847. (The most popular lens for FX DSLRs!)

$100 Off: Nikon Z 50/1.8 & free goodies: $497.

$70 Off: Nikon AF-S 18-300mm, filters & Free goodies: $627. (The most popular lens for DX DSLRs!)

$50 Off: Nikon Z 35/1.8 & free goodies: $497.

The Holidays Just Started at B&H

Top-Seller Holiday Gift Guide.

B&H's Top Accessories of every imaginable kind and those that are on extra sale.

SUPER SALE: $2,400 off Canon 5DS and 5DS/R

$2,400 OFF: Canon 5DS: Just $1,299!

$2,400 OFF: Canon 5DS/R: Just $1,499!

Canon 5DS and 50mm f/1.2 L.

The Canon 5DS/R is my favorite DSLR. The world's highest resolution DSLR, it's the standard in nature and landscape work. I paid over twice today's prices for mine, and love it to death. Get it now while you can.

I love mine so much that I never took the time for proper in-studio product shots; this is my 5DS sitting on my stoop!

The only difference between the 5DS and 5DS/R is Canon's claim of less of an optical low-pass filter at the sensor in the 5DS/R, for which they charge much more.

I've owned both and compared them directly. The only visible difference between the images is in the EXIF where the 5DS/R images are tagged "5DS/R." The images themselves are indistinguishable. The reason I paid extra for the 5DS/R is because I figured that when I sell it it will sell faster and for as much extra as I paid extra, since most people of course want the 5DS/R, thinking it's sharper.

31 October 2020, Saturday, Halloween

iPhone wins again!

First, its brilliant auto-accumulate-and-stack night mode shoots moving things hand-held under moonlight:

Ryan looking at Jupiter through Dad's original 1970s Made-in-U. S. A. Celestron 8-inch telescope and Vixen 22mm LVW Wide Angle Eyepiece, as lit by full moonlight! iPhone 11 Pro Max 4.25mm wide camera, f/1.8 at 1.1 seconds hand-held, default Apple Camera app with its automatic time-exposure accumulation mode at Auto ISO 5,000 (LV -4.0), exactly as shot. bigger.

And then simply by holding it up to the eyepiece, gets great shots so much more easily than trying to bolt a camera on the back of my scope:

Blue Moon. iPhone 11 Pro Max 4.25mm wide camera held up to my Vixen 22mm LVW Wide Angle Eyepiece on my original 1970s Made-in-U. S. A. Celestron 8-inch telescope, f/1.8 at ¹/₃₅₅ at Auto ISO 32 (LV 11.8). bigger or full size.

Yes, I probably could get better results by putting my EOS R5 or Z7 on the back of the scope, especially since it has a clock drive to track the moon, but I never got around to it as I was tickled pink with the hand-held results.

29 October 2020, Thursday

Fujinon XF 50mm f/1 R WR.

NEW: Fuji 50mm f/1.0 Full Review & Sample Image Files.

A landmark lens at a reasonable price; the sharpest f/1.0 lens I've ever tested.

Now orderable: ZEISS ZX1.

Three Kings Sale

I'm stoked: all three of my very favorite cameras are now on sale. The Canon 5DS/R is less than half of what I paid, and it's still my favorite.

$2,400 off Canon 5DS and 5DS/R

Canon 5DS and 50mm f/1.2 L.

$2,400 OFF: Canon 5DS: Just $1,299!

$2,400 OFF: Canon 5DS/R: Just $1,499!

Sale ends Sunday night, 01 November 2020, at 11:59 PM NYC time.

Nikon D850 Sale

Nikon D850 with 50mm f/1.4G.

DEAL: Nikon D850: $2,497 at B&H, at Adorama, at Amazon and at Crutchfield.

BETTER DEAL: B&H has a kit with a free bag and nice card for the same price.

EVEN BETTER DEAL: Adorama has a kit with even more free stuff for the same price.

Canon EOS RP Sale

Canon EOS RP with Canon EF 50mm f/1.0 L & EF Adapter with Control Ring.

DEAL: EOS RP body: $899 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield.

DEAL: EOS RP & RF 24-105mm STM: $999 at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.

Nikon Z5: on sale already?

Nikon Z5 with Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3.

$100 off: Nikon Z5: $1,297.

The Z5 is so new I don't even have mine yet! I expect to like it more than any of the Z7 II, Z6 II, Z7 or Z6; it has much better controls, and it's half the price, too.

$200 off : LG 34WL85C 34" Monitor: $599.

28 October 2020, Wednesday

NEW: Firmware for Fuji X-T3.

NEW: Firmware for Fuji X-H1.

NEW: Fuji owners can get a free year of Flickr Pro.

27 October 2020, Tuesday

New at Crutchfeild

NEW: Nikon Z 7II.

NEW: Nikon Z 7II & Z 24-70mm f/4.

NEW: Nikon Z 6II.

NEW: Nikon Z 6II & 24-70mm f/4.

Another snap from the Fuji 50mm f/1.0

From last night:

Fountain, 6:23 PM, 26 October 2020. Fuji X-T30, Fuji XF 50mm f/1 at f/1 at ¹/₈ at ISO 160 (LV 2.3), Perfectly Clear. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © JPG file.

24 October 2020, Saturday

Holy Cow!

I just got the Fujinon XF 50mm f/1 R WR, and unlike the boring items that have been wasting my time like Nikon's old Z7 II and Z6 II rehashes that are 90% the same as over two years ago, the Fujinon XF 50mm f/1 R WR is a landmark!

It's the world's first affordable f/1.0 lens, and it's the world's first autofocus f/1.0 lens since Canon's EF 50mm f/1.0L of 1989.

This new Fuji lens is amazing because not only is it small and inexpensive as exotic lenses go, it's sharp corner to corner, especially at f/1.0. It's way sharper, smaller and less expensive than the EF 50mm f/1.0L or LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50mm f/1. Technology marches on!

It's an eminently usable and affordable f/1.0 lens that opens new horizons. I LOVE stuff like this that lets me do things I didn't used to be able to do.

I'm still writing the review, and the key is this new lens is a total winner at a fraction of the size, weight and price that used to define f/1.0 lenses, and of course it's autofocus, not just a poser manual-focus paperweight like Nikon's foolish $8,000, 4½ pound 58mm f/0.95, LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50mm f/1 or LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH.

Of course the other $4,000~$12,500 lenses are full-frame and this Fujinon is APS-C, but for the first time the photographer who really wants to step up to the f/1.0 club and see it all as the human eye does, can.

Here are some snaps from the past few hours:

Ryan eagerly working on his computer, 3:01 PM, 22 October 2020. Fuji X-T30, Fuji XF 50mm f/1 at f/1 at ¹/₇₅ at Auto ISO 5,000 (LV 0.6), Perfectly Clear. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © JPG file.

f/1.0 and you can count his eyelashes, even at ISO 5,000. My Fuji X-T30 found the eyes all by itself. It was very dark; he's lit almost entirely by his screen.

Green Agave, 9:21 AM, 23 October 2020. Fuji X-T30, Fuji XF 50mm f/1 at f/1 at ¹/_1,300 at Auto ISO 160 (LV 9⅔), 100% auto dynamic range, Perfectly Clear. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © JPG file.

Fish Taco, 10:59 AM, 23 October 2020. Fuji X-T30, Fuji XF 50mm f/1 at f/1 at ¹/_2,900 at Auto ISO 160, -0.7 exposure compensation (LV 10.8), Perfectly Clear, perspective correction in Photoshop CS6. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © JPG file.

Agave, 11:14 AM, 23 October 2020. Fuji X-T30, Fuji XF 50mm f/1 at f/1 at ¹/_11.000 at Auto ISO 160 (LV 12¾), Perfectly Clear. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © JPG file.

1971 Camaro Z28, 7:41 PM, 23 October 2020. Fuji X-T30, Fuji XF 50mm f/1 at f/1 at ¹/₇₅ at Auto ISO 1,250 (LV 2.6), Perfectly Clear. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © JPG file.

Only the front passenger-side turn signal and Z28 badge are in perfect focus; everything else isn't in perfect focus. The passenger-side headlight is a little too close, so spherochromatism gives its highlights slight magenta tinges, and likewise highlights of objects in the background like the chrome trim on the front passenger-side rim have slight green tinges.

If all I had was the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR, then I'd have had to have shot it at ISO 10,000 at f/2.8 at the same shutter speed to get this exposure, and the results would not be anywhere near as sharp. With the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS I usually carry, I'd need to be at ISO 20,000 at f/4 at the same shutter speed.

22 October 2020, Thursday

IN STOCK: Canon EOS R6.

NEW & In-Stock: Profoto A10 flash.

NEW & In-Stock: Venus Laowa 50mm f/2.8 2x Macro for M4/3 (review of 65mm version for APS-C).

NEW & In-Stock: Pentax K-1 Mk II - in Silver!

20 October 2020, Tuesday

NEW: DJI Pocket 2 Gimbal-Stabilized Camera, also at Adorama: $349.

20mm equivalent lens.

19 October 2020, Monday

Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8.

NEW: Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 Review & Sample Image Files.

17 October 2020, Saturday

Nikon Z6 II and Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S.

NEW: Nikon Z6 II Review.

Lesser cameras at lower prices than Canon. Big yawn. Go EOS R5, R6, RP and R!

As I said when Nikon first teased us with the Z6 II and Z7 II model numbers two weeks ago, if these were just boring rehashes of 2018's Z7 and Z6, then Canon has won the mirrorless race.

Canon has won. Nikon lacks the budget to develop what we need. I wouldn't let friends throw any more major money into Nikon mirrorless; I'd upgrade to Canon as soon as you can.

I'm serious. I've owned and shot Nikon every day since 1983. The world has changed, and it changes even more quickly today. Canon has shot way to the head of the mirrorless pack with the new EOS R5 and R6 that have been shipping since the summer, as well as with Canon's brilliant series of lenses ideal for mirrorless rather than Nikon and Sony's fat old-school lenses simply dug up from DSLR designs.

There's a lot of reasons the EOS R5 and R6 are so popular that you can't even get them today. See How to Get It: order and be patient.

Yes, I'm suggesting no one buy any more Z full frame bodies or lenses. The prudent thing is to save that money and jump up to Canon when you can. I don't want you people to come crying to me in a couple of years asking why I didn't warn you today to stop throwing money at Nikon in the hope that they magically will leapfrog back to life.

Lots of you are old-timers like me who remember back when Nikon was number one in news and sports, the 1960s through 1990s. Well, it's not 1983 anymore. You really have to work had to find anything quality-made of metal or Made in Japan with Nikon. Almost everything from Nikon today is offshored plastic; throwaway gear to use a few years and forget.

Heck, it's not 2013 anymore either. Sony is history, too. With the EOS R5 and R6 Sony still hasn't caught up, and their ergonomics and menus were awful, and their color rendition second rate to Nikon and Canon.

I shoot all this stuff every day so the differences are obvious. My EOS R5 and R6 have clairvoyant, instant autofocus, great pictures, great tech support, superb handling and ergonomics and almost everything in the Canon system is quality-made in Japan. My Z7 lenses are offshored (even my Z 70-200/2.8 is now dumped-out to Thailand), and the Z7's autofocus is really slow and crummy by comparison. When you shoot all these all the time it makes me much less accepting of iffy autofocus; even the R6 is in a completely different class than the Z7 if anything's moving or if you have a group of people.

So go ahead, keep buying Nikon and Sony. I'll keep reporting on them as I always have, and it will keep giving Canon competition to keep them on their toes. It just bugs me when I've had to spend the past two days reporting on Nikon's old news instead of something innovative.

Honestly, I prefer my Canon 5DS/R to any of the Z system, and the 50 MP Canon 5DS is on sale for just $1,299 and the 50 MP Canon 5DS/R for just $1,499! The 5DS/R is still the state-of the art in consumer digital imaging short of a medium format back with the same price as a new Mercedes — and I prefer Canon's colors over anything I've used in digital medium format.

The Z7's finder system is poor at night. The finder image is very soft, noisy and grainy because the system lacks low light sensitivity (haven't tried the Z7 II at night yet). Here's an actual view through the Z7 finder. Know that when you actually try to use the finder at night that even if the image is still, the image you see has all sorts of active video noise all over it:

Actual Z7 electronic finder image as seen through the eyepiece. bigger.

The level is too big and annoying to use at the same time as composing an image, and the data doesn't rotate for vertical shots. I hope the Z7 II will be better, but I'll wait and see. Even the Canon EOS RP is much better at this.

Even though the finder image is poor at night, the resulting photos are great. Here's what came out of this:

Seven Palms Oasis, 7:22 PM, 30 September 2020. Nikon Z7, Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 wide-open at f/1.8 for 25 seconds at ISO 64 (LV -2.3), Perfectly Clear. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © JPG file.

Only some of the palms are in perfect focus at f/1.8. The close stonework and the distant parts are out of focus.

My favorite of all the Z series so far is the Z50, which handles much better than the Z7 or Z6. I have high hopes that the similar - but full frame - Z5 may become my favorite. I'm still waiting for my Z5 to arrive.

16 October 2020, Friday

Nikon Z7 II and Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S.

NEW: Nikon Z7 II Review.

15 October 2020, Thursday

NEW: Fuji X-S10: $999. (also at Adorama.)

NEW: Fuji X-S10 w/18-55mm: $1,399. (also at Adorama.)

NEW: Fuji X-S10 w/16-80mm: $1,499. (also at Adorama.)

26 MP, IBIS, 14.6 oz./415g, DCI 4K/30, 1,080/240, only 30 minutes maximum video lengths, 1/8,000 ~ 900-second shutter speeds, 1/180 sync.

Sadly it loses the shutter speed dial and instead retrogrades to a PSAM/AUTO dial. Sad; this camera is intended for people who cannot figure out the brilliant way in which you swap exposure modes on the better Fujis.

Great news is it does add C1, C2, C3 and - yes - a C4 mode on this dial. Only time will tell when I get one in my hands if this was designed properly to save and recall all settings as Canon does, or if it's defective like Nikon and only saves and recalls 3/4 of what it needs to.

I hear that C1234 may be clairvoyant, that is, that these modes don't use menus to set. Instead, I believe they simply save whenever you turn away from them, and recall when you switch back. In other words, any changes you make in any of them are saved as the new setting and there is no way to lock them. We'll see when I get mine.

NEW: Fuji 10-24mm f/4 OIS WR R: $999.

Same optics as the previous great 10-24mm, and now adds an aperture ring with a lock at A.

Now at Crutchfield

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2.

Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8.

Sony LA-EA5 DSLR to Mirrorless Lens Adapter.

14 October 2020, Wednesday

$2,400 OFF: 50 MP Canon 5DS: Just $1,299!

$2,400 OFF: 50 MP Canon 5DS/R: Just $1,499!

Wow, bigger news than the still-behind Z7 II and Z6 II, B&H has the Canon 5DS and 5DSR on sale for a fraction of the price I paid for mine. These 50 megapixel monsters are the masters of pro landscape, portrait and architecture shooting. Mirrorless is fun, but when I want it done right, I always grab my 5DS/R. Hallelujah!

Here's a snap from five years ago with my 5DS/R, for which I paid the full $3,900 back in 2015:

Dawn at South Tufa, 7:29 A.M., 20 October 2015 Canon 5DS R, Canon 16-35mm L IS at 24mm, f/10 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger.

NEW: Canon EOS M50 Mk II, Big EL-1 flash and odd compact PowerShot Zoom 100-400mm P&S.

HUGE SALE: Amazon Prime Day II.

13 October 1999, Creation of KenRockwell.com

KenRockwell.com is 21 years old today!

Here's my home page from 20 years ago. More Archived Home Pages. Random page.

Did you know that this is a real photography site, not just digital tinkering? Most of the photos even on today's Home Page were shot on film! Back in 1999 everything was shot on film, and we had to scan it to share online. What a pain!

I'm the last remaining original, major individual photo website still run by its founder. All the others either died out, sold-out to big business to make you buy more, and/or their founders have passed away. I'm the last authentic guy still left — just one guy writing, shooting and sharing all of this for the sheer fun of if. Accept no imitations.

One man.

One vision.

No BS.

KenRockwell.com.

The $6,000 Zeiss ZX1 came out last week and I've already forgotten about it. Its foolish "ethos" (there's a poser word) of Shoot, Edit, Share is stupid and ensures boring pictures. If you have to edit or "fix" your pictures, why did you bother taking them in the first place?

In real photography, pictures aren't broken. All the work happens before the shutter opens: you have to pay attention before you shoot — not after. To create worthwhile photos, shooting is the last thing we do. In real photography, the mantra is See, Feel, Shoot — or as one vulgar guy wrote: F.A.R.T.: Feel, Ask, Refine, Shoot. When the shutter closes, you're done. Printing is also a fine art, but your composition, lighting, point of view and what and when is in your picture all have to happen before the shutter opens.

This is hard work. It requires a lot of creative thought to make a great picture. Unless you own a LEICA, you can't just wave a camera around and expect to capture magic without any thought or artistic synthesis on your part. As the great Scott Kelby has pointed out, there is no "unsuck" button in Photoshop!

NEW: Panasonic BGH1 4K M4/3 Streaming Video Cube Camera. (also at Adorama.)

NEW: Ball Head w/Phone Adapter: $19.95.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM.

Updated: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM.

One of Canon's sharpest lenses of all time, the 50mm f/1.8 STM is also Canon's least expensive lens. I often use it as a reference. It's that good. I first wrote that page over five years ago; I just updated it to high resolution to look great on today's devices.

10 October 2020, Friday

Free Book for $9.97: Advancing Your Photography:

Advancing Your Photography.

For those of you who like to read, you might want to check it out, especially chapter 2, chapter 4 and chapter 6.

07 October 2020, Wednesday

Ryan plays Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. iPhone 11 Pro Max 4.25mm wide camera, f/1.8 at 1/12 (default Apple Camera app with its automatic time-exposure accumulation mode) at Auto ISO 500 (LV 2.9), Perfectly Clear v3.7. bigger.

Ryan plays Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. Canon 1DX Mk III, Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L at f/1.4 at 1/60 at Auto ISO 1,000 (LV 3.7), Perfectly Clear v3.7. bigger.

iPhone wins: its tiny sensor and short lens gives it much more depth of field than my Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L at f/1.4 so Ryan's ear and his screen are all sharp enough. Also iPhone's magic exposure stacking time-exposure mode, which just came up all by itself as I shot, retained much more detail in the screen. What you don't see here is that the original 1DX Mk III file (not shown) had to be much darker so the bright screen didn't blow out and I thus had to lighten much of the 1DX Mk III shot to get what we have here.

To get a great shot with a pro camera like the 1DX Mk III I should have used all sorts of supplemental lighting to light Ryan, while with the iPhone, I just got the shot.

The great news is both cameras found the face and eye in autofocus. While the 1DX Mk III doesn't claim eye recognition with normal viewfinder shooting, it does have face recognition, and ever since my Nikon D3 I've found good face recognition always finds the nearest eye anyway (this was back in 2008!). In other words, Face Recognition is all we need; Eye Recognition is simply a marketing upsell.

RIP: Eddie Van Halen.

A virtuoso reaches la fine (the end) entirely too soon.

Eddie Van Halen was an innovator as well. As any other artist, he first imagined the sounds he wanted to create in his head, and invented whatever equipment or techniques were needed to realize them.

As I've said in photography, the image first exists in our minds, and then we do whatever we have to to render it in tangible form. Cameras don't make pictures; people's imaginations do.

05 October 2020, Monday

NEW: ZEISS ZX1 Point & Shoot: $6,000 of Supremacy.

36 MP (iPhone does 60 MP panoramas).

35mm f/2 lens (iPhone has 13mm f/2.4, 26mm f/1.8, 26mm f/2.2 (front) and 56mm f/2 equivalent lenses).

35mm f/2 Bokeh (iPhone lets us set the aperture, 50mm equivalent, from f/1.4 to f/16 — even after we've shot our photo!)

3 FPS (iPhone shoots continuously at 10 FPS, just hold shutter button and slide left).

ISO 51,200 (iPhone shoots under moonlight and the Milky Way hand-held).

4.3" rear touch LCD (iPhone 11 Pro Max is 6.1" OLED).

Built-in Lightroom CC (iPhone App Store has zillions of free apps like my favorite Snapseed, and $6,000 buys a lot of paid apps like PhotoPills I use to see where the sun and moon will be).

512 GB internal SSD (my iPhone also has 512GB of storage).

Potential for automatic backups (iPhone does this magically with iCloud).

4K 30 video (iPhone does 4K 60).

Ability to organize photos into collections (iPhone does this automatically).

No flash (iPhone has a color-changing self-optimizing LED for a flash).

Looks like a Sigma body (iPhone looks like an iPhone).

No card slot.

No GPS (iPhone has GPS, critical to sorting and finding photos by location in the future, and also always sets the clock perfectly).

No mention of battery life. (iPhone runs all day and night).

No mention of weather sealing. (iPhone is sealed).

WOW! (just kidding)

Does it beat LEICA at their own game?

Does it beat iPhone and the Snapseed app? I doubt it. The ZX1 has WiFi and Bluetooth — but no cellular — so maybe you can connect it to your iPhone while actually out shooting to connect.

This reminds me of Mercedes and Porsches lately. The Germans get all excited with a 675-page manual on how to use their in-dash systems to get weather reports and sync contacts and maybe "browse the Worldwide Web" using an expensive and optional cellular data plan, and any of which takes hours of reading the manual to figure out how to do what we all know how to do with one finger on our iPhones in an instant. I actually read my manuals and saw all this in modern cars, scratched my head and asked my car dealer "If I already have an iPhone, does any of this in-dash stuff do anything for me?," and he replied "of course not. The Germans just wanted to put it in to try to sell data plans."

The ZX1 has no cellular data ability or a plan; it has to connect to something else, like your iPhone, by WiFi or Bluetooth.

The ZX1 is for people who deserve the very, very best of everything. You people know who you are: the LEICAMEN.

Zeiss should start an exclusive club for ZX1 owners so they can compliment each other's great taste, like Mercedes' AMG Private Lounge. Maybe they have — and consciously chose not to invite me. I LOVE Zeiss, Mercedes and Porsche, but for doing what they have always done best, not for trying to imitate iPhones.

If I want a camera, here's something I shot in Yosemite a year ago— on my iPhone 11 Pro Max:

Tree in Glorious Backlight, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California, 2:17 P.M., 18 October 2019. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max, 4.25mm standard camera (26mm equivalent) at f/1.8 at 1/1,397 at Auto ISO 32 (LV 13.8). bigger.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S.

NEW: Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 Review & Sample Images.

04 October 2020, Sunday

Nikon Z 24-200mm VR.

NEW: Nikon Z 24-200mm Review & Sample Images.

A great little lens. It's what's usually on my Z7!

01 October 2020, Thursday

?

NEW: Nikon Z7 II and Z6 II.

No one knows what these are yet.

Sadly the model numbers imply same old, same old, with some minor tweaks and refinements. Nikon has finally gotten behind Canon and Sony and instead of envisioning new model numbers each time, simply "marking" next year's models.

If these are landmark cameras that should be called Z9 and Z3 that run at 24 FPS at 55 MP and have superb autofocus to go with that (the Z7 and Z6 have crummy autofocus as I documented two years ago), I'll raise my eyebrows, but if it's just minor firmware tweaks, it even more solidly supports most people's feelings that Canon has won the mirrorless race.

Canon came out on top back in 2018, and with July's introduction of the world's best EOS R5 and R6 and innovative lenses like the new 100-500mm, 600mm and 800mm unmatched anywhere, my very clear crystal ball says it's going to be Canon in the lead for quite a few years.

Sony lacks the ergonomics and vivid colors, Nikon no longer has the resources and support to keep up, and Fujifilm doesn't even make full-frame cameras, while Canon's mirrorless system already has the most innovative lenses and the best, fastest and least-expensive full-frame mirrorless cameras.

I've been doing this a very long time, and see when one maker has both the resources and intelligence to have the best products today, and the brightest future. I'd be very careful before sinking any more money into Nikon's system — it's not 1979 anymore. I get tired of fielding all the technical support calls that Nikon can't solve and how ticked I am that Nikon's sloppy system with numerous technical incompatibilities means that half my lenses won't autofocus on the FTZ - while every one of my Canon EF lenses work flawlessly on their EF to RF adapters, especially my 50mm f/1.0L and 300mm f/2.8L, both of which came out in the 1980s.

This is why Nikon released the model numbers of these new cameras early, with out any other details. So many people are upgrading to Canon that Nikon is trying to delay some of you old-time Nikon shooters (like me) before you upgrade, hoping maybe you'll hold off in a blind hope that Nikon miraculously has something that leads the industry, rather than something that just gets a little closer to the leaders.

Show me under $1,000 or more than 20 FPS or more than 45 MP, or go home.

We'll see. I'm more excited about the Z5, which has the newer, better controls of the Z50 and a great price. Another mystery is why didn't Nikon call these the Z7s and Z6s, which has been their naming convention for many, many decades for newer models. That certainly would have been classier, especially to Nikon old-timers, who are most of whom buys the Z system.

NEW: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro for Sony E or LEICA L.

Now at Crutchfield

NEW: Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S. (review)

NEW: Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S. (review)

What Was New in:

May~September 2020: Canon EOS R5, Canon EOS R6, Canon EOS R, RP, R5 & R6 Compared, Canon RF 15~35mm f/2.8L, Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS, Canon RF 24-105mm IS STM, Canon RF 24-240mm, Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L DS USM, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L versus f/1.2L DS, Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, Canon RF 100-500mm, Canon RF 600mm IS STM, Canon RF 800mm IS STM, Canon RF 1.4× extender, Canon RF 2× extender, Canon 90D, Canon Rebel T8i (EOS 850D), Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8, Nikon Z 24-50mm, Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2, Nikon Z TC-1.4× teleconverter, Nikon Z TC-2× teleconverter, Sony A7c, Sony A9 II, Sony A7S III, Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, Sony LA-EA5 Adapter, Apple Watch Series 6, Fuji X-T4, Fuji X-T200, Fuji XC 35mm f/2, Fuji XF 50mm f/1.0, LEICA M10-R, LEICA Q2, LEICA Q2 User's Guide, LEICA Q2 vs Fuji X100F vs iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Canon 90D, LEICA vs iPhone vs Fuji vs Canon, LEICA SF-24D, Hasselblad 907X 50C, ZEISS SONNAR 50mm f/1.5, Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4, Luxli Timpani, Cello and Viola², Audeze LCD-1 Headphones.

April 2020: Fuji XF 16-80mm f/4 Review, Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 STM, Canon C300 Mk III, Canon 25-250mm T2.95 Cine, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mk III, Irix Full-Frame, Manual Focus 45mm f/1.4, Laowa 210º 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye, Lensbaby Velvet 28mm f/2.5, Rokinon AF 75mm f/1.8, Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony, DJI Mavic Air 2 , DJI Mavic 2 Pro 4K , BlackMagic Pocket Cinema 6K, Zoom H6 Recorder Review.

January ~ March 2020: Photo Products of the Decade 1820~2020, Nikon D6, Nikon D780, Nikon D780 Plain-English User's Guide, Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8 FL VR, Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8, Nikon Z 24-200mm, Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikon Coolpix P950, Canon 1DX Mark III, Canon Rebel T8i, Canon EOS-R5, Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM, Canon RF 24-105 f/4~7.1 IS STM, Canon QX10 Pocket Portable Printer, Sony A7R IV Review & User's Guide, Sony FE 20mm f/1.8, Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS, Sony E 55-210mm OSS, Fuji X100V, Fuji X100V Plain-English User's Guide, Fuji X-T4, Fuji X-T200, Fuji XC 35mm f/2, Fuji GF 45-100mm f/4 OIS, LEICA M10 Monochrom, LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH Edition "LEITZ Wetzlar, LEICA S3, Tokina 85mm f/1.8 for Sony full-frame, Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2× Ultra-Macro, Think Tank Retrospective Backpack 15, Fringer Canon EF -> Fuji X Adapter, Fringer Canon EF -> Nikon Z Adapter, DJI Mavic 2 Zoom with Smart Controller, Senal SMH-1200 Review.

November & December 2019: Fall Color from Yosemite and California's Eastern Sierra, Nikon Z50 Full Review, Nikon Z50 Plain-English User's Guide, Nikon Z DX 16-50mm VR Review, Nikon Z DX 50-250mm VR Review, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 Review, Nikon Z 24mm f/1.8 Review, Sony A6600 Review, Sony A6600 User's Guide, Canon EOS Ra Astro Mirrorless, Fujifilm X-Pro3 Review, Fuji GFX 100 Review, Fuji GF 50mm f/3.5 Review, Apple Watch Series 5 Review, Apple 32" Pro 6K Display, Apple 32" Pro 6K Display w/nano textured glass, Photo Mechanic Software Review, Tokina 100mm f/2.8 Full Frame for Canon EF, LEICA SL2, Sigma 24-70/2.8 for Sony, Sigma 24-70/2.8 für LEICA L, Turboant X7 Review.

August ~ October 2019: iPhone 11 Pro Max, Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8, Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM DS, Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM, Canon EOS 1DX Mark III, Canon 90D, Canon EOS-M200, Canon M6 Mk II, Fuji X-Pro3, Fuji X-E3 Review, Fuji X-A7, Fuji XC 15-45mm PZ OIS Review, Fuji XC 50-230mm OIS Review, Fuji Touch Screen Settings, Nikon D3500 review, Nikon Z 24mm f/1.8 S Review, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 Review, Nikon Noct-NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95, Nikon Z50, Nikon Z 16-50mm DX VR, Nikon Z 50-250mm DX VR, Nikon 200mm f/2 VR II Review, Panasonic S1H, Panasonic 24-70mm f/2.8, Pansonic LEICA DG 25mm f/1.4 II, Rokinon AF 18mm f/2.8, Sigma fp w/45mm lens, Sony A9 II, Tamron 20mm f/2.8, Tamron 24mm f/2.8, Tamron 35mm f/2.8, Voigtländer Nokton 75mm f/1.5, Auray TT-6220 Telescoping Tabletop Mic Stand Review, Auray PFNY-6 Mic Pop Filter Review, Senal SCM-660 Microphone Review, XUMA MTA-300B iPhone/Smartphone Tripod Adapter Review.

July 2019: Rockwell.TV on YouTube, Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 Review, Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 Review, Canon RF 24~240mm IS, Sony A7R Mark IV, Sony RX100 Mark VII, Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 review, LEICA M-E typ 240, Hasselblad 907X Special Edition, Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR, Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR, ROBUS RC-5570 Tripod Review, Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 for Sony E und für LEICA L, Sigma 35mm f/1.2 for Sony E und für LEICA L, Sigma 45mm f/2.8 for Sony Eund für LEICA L, Sigma fp mirrorless camera.

April ~ June 2019: Nikon Z6 Review, Nikon Z6 User's Guide, Nikon Z7 User's Guide, Nikon Z 14-30mm Review, Nikon NIKKOR 135mm f/2 AI-s Review, Nikon NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8 AI Review, Nikon NIKKOR✱ED 180mm f/2.8 AI-s Review, Nikon NIKKOR✱ED 200mm f/2 AI-s Review, Zeiss Otus 100mm f/1.4 Review, Sony E 20mm f/2.8 Review, Sony E 30mm f/3.5 Macro Review, Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS Review, Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Review, Sony 200-600mm G OSS Review, Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS Review, Tokina FiRIN 100mm f/2.8 Macro for Sony E, Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 for Sony Full-Frame, Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 full-frame ultrawide for Sony E, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 for Canon RF, Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 for Canon RF, Canon SL3 (EOS 250D), Fujifilm X-H1 Review, Fujifilm X-T30 Review, Fujifilm X-T20 Review, Fujifilm 8-16mm f/2.8 Review, Fujifilm 16mm f/2.8 Review, Fujifilm GFX 100 Review, Fujifilm GF 32~64mm f/4 R LM WR Review, Fujifilm GF 100~200mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR Review, Medium-Format vs. Full-Frame Image-Quality Comparison, Apple iPhone Xs Max Review & User's Guide, Apple Watch Series 4 Review, All Apple Watches Compared, new 13" MacBook Pro, new 15" MacBook Pro, Olympus TG-6 Underwater Camera, Panasonic LEICA VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm f/1.7, Panasonic DMW-STC14 1.4× teleconverter, Panasonic DMW-STC20 2× teleconverter, Think Tank "Digital Holster 150" for ultrateles, Oben CTT-1000 Mini Tripod Review.

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.

September and October 2014

July and August 2014

B&H Holiday Specials

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

October-December 2020's News

< < back to Today's News

Sale on Phil Steele Photography Courses

27 December 2020, Sunday

Updated: Canon EOS 1V Review & Users's Guide.

24 December 2020, Christmas Eve

New: TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Review.

New: Megadap Any Lens to Nikon Z Autofocusing Adapter Review.

Updated for 2020: Best Gifts & Bargains for Photographers.

23 December 2020, Wednesday

Half Off Today Only: SmallHD 502 Bright On-Camera Monitor: $529.

Free Overnight Shipping

$70 Off: Orlit 300 WS studio strobe: $99!

Sayonara, Nikon

$400 Off: Japanese-made Nikon Z6 w/offshored 24-70mm & more: $2,197.

$150 Off: Norwegian-made Luxli Timpani 1×1' RGBAW LED Panel: $849.99.

In-Stock: Sony A7S III: $3,498.

In-Stock: A7S III w/160GB CFexpress: $3,846.

In-Stock: A7S III w/16-35/2.8 GM: $5,496.

In-Stock: A7S III w/24-70/2.8 GM: $5,496.

In-Stock: A7S III w/70-200/2.8 GM: $5,896.

In-Stock: A7S III w/Atomos Ninja V & much, much more: $4,354.

$800 Off: Sony A7R III, w/ThinkTank Retrospective bag, free next-day delivery & more: $1,998.

$600 Off: Sony A7 II w/28-70mm, free next-day delivery & more: $998.

$580 Off: Sony A7R IV w/free next-day delivery & more: $2,998.

$300 Off: Sony A7 III w/28-70mm, ThinkTank Retrospective bag, free next-day delivery & more: $1,898.

$70 Off: Ring Doorbell: $159.99.

$30 ~ $100 Off: 12.9" iPad Pros: $769 ~ $1,199.

$200 ~ $300 Off: 13.3" MacBook Airs: $879 ~ $1,249.

22 December 2020, Tuesday

$200 Off: Nikon D7500 w/18-140mm: $1,297.

21 December 2020, Monday

Half Off: Gitzo Traveler Tripod & Head: $449.95.

$40 Off Today Only: Senal SMH-1000 Headphones: $44.99.

75% Off Today Only: Denon Pro Outdoor Speaker: $49.99.

$50 Off: Canon EF-M 22mm f/2: $199.

Christmas Sale: e-Scooter Deals.

$67 Off: 24" LG IPS 3-Side Borderless Monitor w/Dual HDMI: $99.99.

$57 Off: 24" LG IPS Gaming Monitor: $89.99.

$30 Off: HD Wi-Fi Security Camera w/2-Way Audio & Night Vision: $49.99.

19 December 2020, Saturday

New: MacCase iPad Pro Case Review.

18 December 2020, Friday

$50 Off: Nikon Full-Frame AF-S 35mm f/1.8G: $477.

$50 Off: Sony Full-Frame FE 35mm f/1.8: $698.

$50 Off: Sony APS-C E 20mm f/2.8: $298.

$20 Off: Canon SX740 HS: $379.

17 December 2020, Thursday

$100 Off: Audeze LCD-1 Headphones: $299.

16 December 1770, 250 Jahre Beethoven

$50 Off: Sony 35mm f/1.8 (APS-C): $423.

$50 Off: Sony 18-105mm PZ (APS-C): $598.

$323 Off: Sennheiser EW 100 G4 2-Person Camera-Mount Wireless Microphone System: $1,399.

$300 Off: SmallHD 502 Bright On-Camera Monitor: $699.

$110 Off: Lensbaby Velvet 28mm f/2.5: $439.96.

$90 Off: Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6: $359.96.

$130 Off: Canon G7X Mk II: $499.

$100 Off: Canon G7X Mk III Vidiot Kit: $799.

$50 Off: Canon G5X Mk II: $849.

Deals: "ProGrade" SD Cards.

15 December 2020, Tuesday

Canon Deals

In-Stock & $100 Off: Canon EOS R6 & 24-105 STM: $2,799!

$100 Off: Canon EF-s 18-135mm IS USM: $499.

$100 Off: Canon G7X Mk III (silver): $649. (also in black.)

Nikon Deals

$150 Off: Nikon D3500, 18-55 & 70-300: $597.

$70 Off: Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.8G: $677.

14 December 2020, Monday

$800 Off: Sony A7R III: $1,998. Ends 11:59PM Tonight, NYC time. (also at Crutchfield).

$100 Off: Sony Zeiss FE 55mm f/1.8: $898.

$150 Off: Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8: $697.

$300 Off: Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8: $1,997.

$100 Off: Canon G7X Mk III: $649.

$200 Off: Fuji XF 18mm f/2: $399 (open box).

$130 Off: Fujifilm EF-BP1 battery pack for EF-X500 Flash: $69 (open box)!

Oh, Duh

11 December 2020, Hanukkah

NEU: LEICA SL-2 S.

10 December 2020, Thursday

**Steal of the Season - $500 OFF: Fuji X100F: $799**!!!