August & September 2023's News
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Nikon vs Canon vs Sony Full-Frame Mirrorless Mirrorless vs DSLR
Canon: EOS R3 R5 R5C R6 II R6 R R8 RP R7 R10 R50 R100 1DX III 1DX II 5DS/R 5D Mk IV 6D II 90D T8i SL3 T7 T100 Flash Lenses
Nikon: Z9 Z8 Z7 II Z6 II Z5 Zf Z fc Z50 Z30 D6 D850 D780 D7500 D3500 Flash Lenses Best Nikon Lenses
Sony: A1 A9 II A9 A7R V A7R IV A7R III A7 IV A7 III A7R II A7S III A7CR A7C II A7c A7 II ZV-E1 ZV1 II A6700 A6600 A6400 A6100 A6000 ZV-E10 RX10/4 RX100/7 RX100/6 Flash Lenses
Fujifilm: GFX 100 II GFX100S GFX100 GFX50R X100V X100F X-H2 X‑H2s X-T5 X‑T4 X‑T3 X‑T30 X‑Pro3 X-S20 X‑S10 X‑E4 X‑T200 Film Lenses
LEICA: SL2 SL2 S Q3 Q2 Q2M M11M M11 M10-R M10M M10P M10 M240 M-E M9P M9T M9 M7 M6/TTL CLE M3 IIIf IIIa Lenses
OM SYSTEM: OM-1 M.Zuiko ED 90mm f/3.5 IS
All Reviews: Apple Audio Zeiss Tamron Sigma Tokina HASSELBLAD Contax Olympus Pentax
Take Better Pictures How to Shoot Film Recommended Cameras Best Cameras Gifts random
Links: Adorama Amazon B&H Crutchfield eBay How to Win at eBay Tutorial Videos Think Tank Infrared
Adorama's Daily Deals Amazon's Deals-of-the-Day
Crutchfield's Sales B&H's Deal Zone B&H Holiday Deals: MacBook Pros, Fuji Cameras, Oben Tripods & Loads of Hand-Picked Accessories.
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
30% off: How to Create Images with AI.
We've all read and heard about it, but how many of us actually have any idea where to start?
My friend Phil Steele just came out with a course teaching us how to use AI tools from the ground-up to create images, so of course I plan to try it myself.
New: 12 ~ 14 November 2023: Route 66!!!
Signs, Barstow, California, 4:00 P.M., 05 February 2016. 1989 Hasselblad 903 SWC with B60 Heliopan KR 6 warming filter, 10 feet focus distance, Fuji Velvia (ISO 50) in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, f/9.5 at 5 seconds (metered EV 4/5 and added ⅓ stop for reciprocity failure, split-toned print from color transparency). More technical details. bigger.
Route 66 Trip Info, Details & Registration
Photos from 2016's Route 66 trip.
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29 September 2023, Friday
In Stock: Sony A7C II.
New: Sony ECM-W3 Wireless Mics Kit.
This is two good remote mics and a wireless receiver that slips into your Sony's flash shoe.
You put it up by music or people speaking
and don't need cables to get great stereo or separate voice channels.
New: Sony ECM-W3S Wireless Mic Kit.
This is one good remote mic and a wireless receiver that slips into your Sony's flash shoe.
You put it up by the talent and don't need a cord.
New: Sony ECM-S1 Wireless Mic Kit.
This is a really good remote mono mic and a wireless receiver that slips into your Sony's flash shoe.
You put it up by the talent and don't need a cord.
27 September 2023, Wednesday
New: Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8. (also at Adorama.)
Nikon finally makes it to the 135mm f/1.8 party after Sony and Canon. To give Nikon its due, they created the world's first 135mm f/2 back in 1975, which is still sought after today for its great bokeh and still works when adapted to mirrorless. Canon didn't have a 135mm f/2 until 1980.
You can ignore Nikon's clever marketing slant on "Plena." All they did is claim to have eliminated mechanical vignetting, which impresses optical designers, but:
1.) In-camera corrections have eliminated this vignetting for us for a decade or more anyway, and
2.) I usually want natural vignetting for portraiture and most uses of this lens. When you eliminate the mechanical vignetting you have to add it later to highlight your subject to make it pop out, otherwise you get a fairly bland image with no central focus.
Nikon's demo images show round blur circles out to the corners which impress physics majors, but a viewer's eyes shouldn't be drawn to blur circles. Vignetting helps focus viewers attention on our intended subject. Highlighting the subject by surrounding it with darker areas naturally draws the viewers' eyes to our intended subject, making stronger images. Ansel Adams darkened his edges and corners manually in printing, calling it edge burning. Corners are supposed to be darker and softer so our eyes aren't drawn to them and out of the picture.
Since our cameras have corrected for this for a decade the fact that this new lens may have less native vignetting doesn't mean much, since after the corrections, which are ON by default in most cameras, it will look the same as everything else has.
So, great lens I'm sure (I'll let you know as soon as I get mine) and hats off to Nikon making a marketing splash and pushing out the envelope of optical design, but to me, it's just another big, heavy, fast 135mm lens. Gear never matters much; vision does.
All modern 135mm f/1.8 lenses are equally ultra sharp; that's the least important aspect of comparing them.
In Stock: Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM.
They've been hard to get this past year. I ordered mine and was patient, or you can try to grab one today before they sell out.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Speaking of 135mm, I do have my iPhone 15 Pro Max and I'm just starting to play with it. It seems to have amazing low-light ability hand-held, and it still has the ghost in its tele camera (live shot from right now):
Foggy Sunrise, Toscana, Italia, 7:00 AM, Wednesday, 27 September 2023. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 5× (15.7mm actual or 120mm eq.) camera at f/2.8 at 1/3,344 at Auto ISO 50 (LV 15⅔), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). bigger.
I love that the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max' longest camera now is 120mm equivalent. I'm just starting to play with it and of course I'll have a full review. I'll be giving it a full workout in a few weeks on my Eastern Sierra Fall Color Photo Trip, to which you're all invited.
I love the FineWoven case. It feels nicer than the previous leather cases. I found the previous leather cases were hard and uncomfortable, not at all like the soft and luxurious MacCase cases. The FineWoven cases have a unique texture I prefer. I don't miss the leather at all.
More good news is that Amazon has the whole iPhone 15 lineup, including my iPhone 15 Pro Max in natural titanium, although I can't address the specific terms, conditions and carriers which seem to change every day there.
Just for kicks, here's the same scene shot on my R6 II:
Foggy Sunrise, Toscana, Italia, 6:58 AM, Wednesday, 27 September 2023. Canon EOS R6 II, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS II USM on EF to RF Ring Adapter at 148mm at f/5.6 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 13.0), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). bigger or camera-original 24MP © LARGE NORMAL JPG file (7 MB).
Don't read too much into the differences between the iPhone and R6 II shots, which are mostly exposure and how the fog shifted from moment to moment and I I had my R6 II's saturation cranked to +4 as usual.
Here it is shot at the regular focal length:
Sunrise, Toscana, Italia, 7:00 AM, Wednesday, 27 September 2023. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 1× (6.9mm actual or 24mm eq.) camera at f/1.8 at 1/6,410 at Auto ISO 80 (LV 14.6), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo), cropped to a square. bigger.
Here's a night shot with the new iPhone:
Antibes, La Côte d'Azur, 8:51 PM, Monday, 25 September 2023. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 1× (6.9mm actual or 24mm eq.) camera hand-held at f/1.8 at 1/9 at Auto ISO 2,500 (LV 0.23; night mode), exactly as shot. bigger.
In Stock: Fuji GFX 100 II.
22 September 2023, Friday
New: Tamron 17-50mm f/4 for Sony Full-Frame!
In Stock: Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 for Nikon Z.
In Stock: Sony A6700.
In Stock: Sigma 100-400mm for Sony.
In Stock: Sigma 150-600mm for Sony.
In Stock: Sigma 100-400mm for Fuji.
New: Bose Quiet Comfort ANC Headphones.
You got me; I can't tell what's new over my well-loved QC-35.
New at Crutchfield: Sony A7 C II.
21 September 2023, Thursday
Nikon Zf and Nikon Z 40mm f/2 Special Edition.
NEW: Nikon Zf Review.
NEW: Nikon MH-34 Charger for the common EN-EL15 series of batteries.
I'm more excited about the new MH-34 Charger which replaces the hated MH-25A. The new MH-34 has an LED which blinks to show charge state, something Canon's chargers have done for decades but the basic Nikon charger has never done. I don't know yet if the new charger has a built-in retractable plug, or if it retains the idiotic external plug stub of the old MH-25A. I've always hated the MH-25A and it was one of the many reasons I've preferred Canon since 2012.
I also hope the new MH-34's LED changes color from amber to green when done charging, but we'll have to wait and see.
I don't see that the Zf comes with the MH-34 since it most likely charges over USB, and again we'll see.
20 September 2023, Wednesday
NEW: Think Tank Retrospective EDC Backpack Review.
Think Tank Retrospective EDC Backpack.
Ahhh, the same luxurious and lasting quality hewn from full-grain leather and canvas as my Think Tank Retrospective camera bags. I love it!
19 September 2023, Tuesday
Canon Deals
$300 off: EOS R5: $3,599.
$300 off: EOS R5 & 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: $4,699.
$300 off: RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM: $1,199.
$300 off: RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM: $2,099.
$300 off: RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM: $2,499.
$300 off: RF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro: $999.
$300 off: RF 100-500mm L IS USM: $2,599.
Some of these below need Coupon Code SAVECANON during checkout to get all the discounts. There are both instant rebates and/or coupon code discounts on these:
Mirrorless Cameras
$500 off: EOS R6: $1,799.
$500 off: EOS R6 & RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: $2,899.
$500 off: EOS R6 & RF 24-105mm IS STM: $2,099.
$200 off: EOS R7: $1,299.
$200 off: EOS R7 & RF-S 18-150mm IS STM: $1,699. (one of my very favorite combinations: a tiny camera and lens that does everything well!)
$300 off: EOS R7 Content Creator Kit: $1,799.
$50 off: R50 & 18-45mm IS STM: $749.
$50 off: White R50 & White 18-45mm IS STM : $749.
$100 off: R50 Content Creator Kit: $899.
Mirrorless RF Lenses
$500 off: RF 5.6mm L Dual Fisheye: $1,499. (Only works on R5 and R5C).
$150 off: RF 15-30mm IS STM: $399!!! (My favorite ultralight ultrawide, almost free!)
$50 off: RF 50mm f/1.8: $149. (Among Canon's sharpest lenses, nearly free!)
$200 off: RF 600mm f/11 IS STM: $599. (ultratele for ultracheap.)
$200 off: RF 800mm f/11 IS STM: $799. (ultratele for ultracheap.)
DSLRs
$200 off: EOS 6D Mk. II: $1,199.
$200 off: EOS 6D Mk. II & EF 24-105mm L II IS USM: $2.299.
DSLR EF Lenses (use an EF to RF Adapter for Mirrorless)
$150 off: EF-S 10-22mm USM: $499. (Canon's very first APS-C ultrawide, introduced in 2004.)
$300 off: EF 16-35mm F2.8L III USM: $1,899.
$130 off: EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 IS USM: $749. (Canon's very first APS-C fast zoom, introduced in 2006.)
$600 off: EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II USM: $1,699. (Canon's state-of-the-art DSLR fast normal zoom. I paid the full $2,300 for mine in 2012 when it came out, which was equivalent to $3,000 in today's dollars!)
$100 off: EF 50mm f/1.4: $299. (This one's been in Canon's catalog for over thirty years!)
NEW at Crutchfield: Sony A7C II: $2,498.
NEW: AirPods Pro 2nd Gen w/USB-C.
NEW: Samsung 57" 7,680 x 2,160 HDR 240 Hz Curved Ultrawide Monitor & FREE $500 gift card: $2,499.99.
Crazy!
16 September 2023, Saturday
Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM.
NEW: Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM Review & Sample Images.
15 September 2023, Doeday
Here's to APS-C!
APS-C rules for telephoto, birds, bugs and macro shots because it gives you more magnification (and more depth-of-field) for free. There is very little to no technical difference today for most shots; the real question is do you want a wide selection of ultrawide lenses (go full frame) or do you want to get close (go APS-C).
Here's a spider I just shot — from twelve feet (four meters) away!
A Different Spider and His Prey, 2:00 PM, Thursday, 14 September 2023. Canon EOS R100, Canon EF 100~400mm L IS II at 400mm on my EF 2× II Extender on my EF 1.4× II Extender on my EF to RF adapter, wide-open at f/5.6 (equivalent to f/16 on the extenders) at 1/400 at Auto ISO 6,400 (LV 8.6), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). bigger.
My R100 worked great for this. I grabbed it precisely because of its APS-C crop factor so I could shoot this up in the air 12 feet (4 meters) away with this crazy rig which gives, with the stacked extenders and APS-C crop factor, an 1,800mm equivalent (400mm × 2 × 1.4 × 1.62 = 1,800mm)! My R100's SERVO AF easily tracked the spider which was wiggling all over the place working and blowing in the wind. Long live APS-C for nature, telephoto and macro! Here's a video from my R100, with the file data reduced by half for bandwidth's sake.
The video is uncropped, and the still shot is uncropped vertically (I did cut off a little blank space on the left). I amazed myself at how I could catch this guy from far away; mirrorless rules for using tele extenders, and as I keep telling you, use Canon and their original EF or EF II extenders and you can stack them for more magnification, which you can't do with the EF III or RF extenders.
Here's the complete rig I used to shoot this. Note the stacked tele extenders:
Canon EF 100~400mm L IS II at 400mm on my EF 2× II Extender on my EF 1.4× II Extender on my EF to RF adapter on my EOS R100. bigger.
14 September 2023, Thursday
NEW: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony.
13 September 2023, Wednesday
NEW: OM SYSTEM Tough TG-7 Underwater Camera.
The newest version of Olympus' TG series. Also comes in black.
12 September 2023, Tuesday
NEW: Fuji GFX 100 II.
Also at here Adorama. Ships 26 September 2023.
100 MP, 8 FPS medium-format camera with in-body stabilization.
4K/60 with 25 x 44mm image area in 4:2:2 internally, 10-Bot ProRes with Timecode externally.
External SSD Recording
Works natively with Frame.io for Direct-to-Cloud integration with no other accessories.
Lots of cine formats like FUJINON PREMISTA, 35mm, and 35mm Anamorphic.
NEW: GF 30mm f/5.6 Tilt & Shift.
Also at here Adorama. Ships 26 October 2023.
24mm equivalent.
This will be a very useful lens. Fuji is taking medium format very seriously.
It has built-in sensors to record shifts and tilts.
±8.5º tilt.
±15mm shift.
NEW: GF 55mm f/1.7R WR.
Also at here Adorama. Ships 26 September 2023.
44mm equivalent, the "perfect" normal. 27.5 oz.780g
This may be the fastest modern medium format lens ever. I love my ZEISS 80mm f/2 für mein CONTAX 645 System, and this GF 55mm f/1.7 is a half stop faster. Due to its focal length the ZEISS 80mm f/2 still has much softer backgrounds.
NEW: GF 110mm f/5.6 Tilt & Shift Macro.
Also at here Adorama. Ships 30 November 2023.
90mm equivalent.
0.5× macro ratio on 33 × 44mm, which is only equivalent to a weak 0.39× on full frame.
It has built-in sensors to record shifts and tilts.
±10º tilt.
±15mm shift.
This lens is too short. A serious macro would get to 1:1 and would be 250mm (200mm equivalent) for the sake of perspective rendering and working distance. See my image samples of the perspectives seen with 200mm, 105mm and 55mm macros at How to Shoot Macro.
I prefer smaller formats for macro as they give us much more in focus. There is little to no depth of field at macro distances, and it only gets worse as formats grow.
Today I've changed from my Nikon AF 200mm f/4D on Nikon FX to my micro 4/3 OM SYSTEM OM-1 and OM 90mm f/3.5 Macro for my product photography (sample image below, as well as every other product photo here since May 2023).
The OM 90mm f/3.5 is a 180mm equivalent, twice as good and with twice as much in focus considering depth of field as this GF 110mm f/5.6 . Also my OM 90mm f/3.5 goes directly to a 2× macro ratio on Micro 4/3, which is a 4× equivalent on full frame — TEN TIMES better than this GF 110mm f/5.6 if you need to get close.
This Fuji lens has tilt & shift, which you will need at macro distances. While this helps if everything lies in the same plane because tilting the lens lets you shift the plane of perfect focus wherever you like, for real-world things that don't fit in a plane, I'd still rather use micro 4/3 to get depth of field. That's probably why Fuji didn't make this a 250mm macro; nothing would be in focus and people wouldn't be happy.
While the GFX 100 II can give you a solid 100 MP in-focus at a distance shooting color in the Sierras and Yosemite this fall, at macro distances depth of field is what limits resolution, not the camera.
Aside from the physics that make this format and lens less optimal for serious close-up and macro work, adding tilt and shift to this GF 110mm f/5.6 is brilliant for all other kinds of shooting where you need this focal length. Tilt and shift lets you get everything much better in focus for even sharper shots.
NEW: VG-GFX100 II Vertical Battery Grip.
New from Canon
NEW: RF Cine Lenses and PTZ Remote Cameras.
New from Sony
NEW: Sony Burano 8K Cine Camera.
And with it you'll need:
NEW: Sony 1.92 TB CFexpress Type B card.
NEW: Sony 0.96 TB CFexpress Type B card.
New from Panasonic
NEW: Panasonic G9 II.
NEW: Panasonic G9 II w/12-80mm.
NEW: Panasonic "Leica" 100-400mm f/4-6.3 II.
NEW: Panasonic "Leica" 35-100mm f/2.8.
NEW: Panasonic DMW-BG1 battery grip for G9 II.
08 September 2023, Friday
Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM. bigger.
NEW: Canon RF-S 55-210mm IS STM Review & Sample Images.
Laugh all you want, but this lens makes awesome images just about for free.
07 September 2023, Thursday
ULTRA SPECIALS: 50th Anniversary Deal Zone Deals at B&H.
ULTRA SPECIALS: 50th Anniversary Deals at B&H.
Many of these deals show a price in bold, but then in little letters say something like $600 coupon applied in cart, meaning your price is $600 less than you thought! There are serious deals possibly ending today in pretty much everything, like:
$1,150 OFF: EOS R5 & BG-R10 Grip: $3,099.
$300 OFF: RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM: $1,199.
$600 OFF: RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM: $1,799.
$600 OFF: RF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM: $1,799.
$200 OFF: RF 24-70mm f/2L USM: $2,699.
$300 OFF: RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM: $1,299.
$400 OFF: RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM: $2,399.
$150 OFF: RF 100-400mm IS USM: $499!!!
$400 OFF: RF 100-500mm L IS USM: $2,499.
NEW: Polaroid I-2 Instant Camera.
06 September 2023, Wednesday
Canon RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM.
NEW: Canon RF 24-50mm IS STM Review & Sample Images.
04 September 2023, Labor Day
SALE: Nikon Deals at B&H.
SALE: Canon Deals at B&H.
Sony Deals
$400 off: Sony A7R V & Free Flash: $3.498
$400 off: Sony A7R V: $3,498.
$200 off: Sony A7 IV & 28-70mm: $2,498.
$300 off: Sony A7 III, 28-70mm & Free Flash: $1,898.
$200 off: Sony A7 IV: $2,298, also at Crutchfield.
$200 off: Sony A7C & free goodies: $1,598.
$600 off: Sony A7 II, 28-70mm, card & pod: $998.
$150 off: Sony A6100 & 16-50mm: $698.
$200 off: Sony A6100, 16-50m & 55-210mm: $898.
$150 off: Sony ZV-1 & free goodies: $746.
$150 off: Sony A6400, 18-135mm & free goodies: $1,148
$100 off: Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS: $1,198.
$100 off: Sony FE 200-600mm & free goodies: $1,898.
$50 off: Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G & free goodies: $548.
02 September 2023, Saturday
Canon EOS R100 and RF-S 18-45mm.
NEW: Canon EOS R100 Review & Sample Images.
NEW: Ken Rockwell's EOS R100 User's Guide.
NEW: Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 for Fuji.
NEW: Sigma 23mm f/1.4 for Fuji.
NEW: Angeniéux EZ-3 45-165mm T2.3 S35 & 68-250mm T3.5 Cinema Zoom Kit ARRI PL, Super35 & Full-Frame.
Don't laugh; Pierre Angénieux invented the zoom lens and invented the wide-angle retrofocus lens for SLRs. Without Angenieux we'd still be shooting fixed lenses and they'd all be 40mm or longer!
30 August 2023, Wednesday
EOS R100 and RF-s 55-210mm IS STM
I'm astounded at the images I'm pulling off Canon's cheapest body and tele lens combo.
This dinky, toy-like plastic camera and lens easily knock out brilliantly sharp and colorful images:
BMW X5 M Competition, 9:34 AM, Tuesday, 22 August 2023. Canon EOS R100, Canon 580EX II flash for fill, Canon RF-s 55-210mm IS STM at 66mm at f/8 at 1/160 at Auto ISO 100, -1 stop exposure compensation (LV 13.4), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). bigger or full 24 MP resolution.
Fill flash is important. I used my favorite old 580EX II flash on top of my tiny EOS R100 even shooting with the sun to fill-in under the car, the tire treads and inside the grills. It's easy, just slide in the flash and leave it set to TTL.
Sure, I could split hairs in the lab, but for actual shooting, this tiny combo knocks out hit after sharp, brilliant, colorful and beautiful hit! I have no problem churning out tons of great photos with Canon's cheapest. I love the way colors and images look from my Nikons and Canons, and within the same brand the images look the same from the cheapest to the most expensive. The differences are only visible in the lab (who cares) and in how easy it is to shoot each one. Like fancy cars, they all get you there; the difference is in how comfy or fun they may be, but they all get you there just the same.
Look at this snapshot. Focus is on the spider on the right, and the light and bokeh and everything are great!
Spider (on Far Right) and His Web, 7:19 AM, Tuesday, 29 August 2023. Canon EOS R100, Canon RF-s 55-210mm IS STM at 168mm at f/7.1 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 320 (LV 12.3), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). bigger.
There are more Sample Images at my developing (haha) EOS R100 review.
Bluetti AC180 Power Station.
NEW: Bluetti AC180 1.8 kW Power Station Review.
I got these right before catastrophic hurricane Hilary so I'd have power for everything electronic if we lost power indefinitely.
Bluetti PV200 Solar Panel.
NEW: Bluetti PV200 200 W Solar Panel Review.
29 August 2023, Tuesday
NEW: Sony A7CR (also at Adorama).
Tiny 18.1 oz./513g full frame.
61 MP, 8 FPS, ISO 100-32,000 (also ISO 50L to 102,400 H2).
NEW: Sony A7C II (also at Adorama).
Tiny 18.2 oz./515g full frame.
33 MP, 10 FPS, ISO 100-51,200 (also ISO 50L to 204,800 H2).
Also comes as a kit with FE 28-60mm lens, (also at Adorama).
NEW: Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II (also at Adorama).
82mm filters, 19.3 oz./547g, 0.7'/0.22m close focus, 0.32× macro ratio.
Sony claims it's 20% lighter and 10% smaller than the old FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM, which took the same 82mm filters and weighed 24.0 oz./679g with an 0.9'/0.28m close focus and an 0.22× macro ratio.
Not only is this new Mark II lens smaller and lighter than the old one, it also focuses more closely. The old one had a real metal filter thread, I doubt the new one does.
25 August 2023, Friday
NEW: HASSELBLAD XCD 28mm f/4 P.
23 August 2023, Wednesday
Canon EOS R8 and RF 24-50mm IS STM.
NEW: Canon EOS R8 Review & Sample Images.
NEW: My Plain-English EOS R8 User's Guide.
20 August 2023, Sunday
New: HASSELBLAD X1D II 50C kit with 45mm f/4.
15 August 2023, Tuesday
New: Shure XLR to USB-C Mic Adapter.
It even has +48V Phantom power so you can use any modern or classic mic of any kind with modern audio systems. Brilliant!
This is pro gear from Shure, who's been making pro mics at least since the 1940s. Shure is so good that they replaced my two 40-year-old SM-81s that needed repair with brand-new ones for half the cost of buying new ones; that's their fixed-price repair program.
Canon Flash Trick
I spent an hour yesterday swapping flashes and bodies trying to figure out why all my flash shots were wildly overexposed.
I determined that my 320EX had failed and was firing at a uniform high power level regardless of subject distance.
It wasn't until 8 hours later I came to wonder if maybe the settings were somehow mis-set to MANUAL inside the flash (if that was even a thing), and aha!, that was the problem!
It wasn't until I went, in my R8, to MENU > CAMERA > External Speedlite control > Flash function settings > and only there realized it had been set to MANUAL 1/4 power, and that the flash was set that way regardless of the camera to which I had attached it. As soon as I reset it back to ETTL it worked flawlessly again on all my cameras. Live and learn.
The lesson is that if you make flash settings in your Canon camera's menu system, they are applied inside the flash, not in the camera itself. If you put that flash on another camera, the flash is still set however you had it on the previous camera!
The settings may be set with a camera, but they reside inside and travel with the flash, they are not in the camera you used to set it.
If you make a weird setting and then move your Canon flash to a different camera, you must remember to reset the flash to however you want it; it will not set itself to however you last had it set on the second camera since the settings all reside in and travel with the flash.
Lesson learned. This was a problem with my 320EX since it has no display and only very limited controls so it wasn't obvious; other flashes with big displays would have made it much more obvious that they were in MANUAL exposure mode.
Nikon Summer Sale
$300 off: Z6 II: $1,697.
$200 off: Z30 w/16-50mm & 50-250mm: $997.
$150 off: Z50 w/16-50mm & 50-250mm: $1,197.
$100 off: Z30 w/16-50mm: $747.
$50 off: Z50 w/16-50mm: $947.
$300 off: Z 24-70mm f/2.8: $2,097.
$300 off: Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR: $2,397.
$100 off: Z 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro: $947.
Relisted: Nikon 6mm f/2.8 220º Fisheye: $156,785.20.
This is a used collectible item, and obviously a dealer may ask any crazy price he likes.
This is the most useless lens Nikon ever created; it's virtually impossible to make a good picture with this thing, and it's so huge that it's purely ridiculous to try to use. It's a plaything for idle rich; the same guys with shark tanks under their boardrooms with trap doors under each board member's chair.
In the opposite ilk, some of Nikon's most useful, beautiful and durable lenses ever made sell for peanuts used today. For instance, the AI-s 135mm f/2.8 sells for about about $100 used if you know How to Win at eBay, gives the same portrait results as the Z 70-200/2.8 VR for less than 1/10 the price, and the 135mm f/2.8 fits in your pocket!
11 August 2023, Friday
Canon RF 15-30mm IS STM.
$150 Off: Canon RF 15-30mm IS STM Full-Frame Ultrawide: $399 at B&H!!!
It's $499 at Adorama, at Amazon and at Crutchfield, all down from the usual $549.
At any price the RF 15-30mm IS STM is a superb lens, and a steal at $399. Here are two sample snaps:
Sunset, East of Walker Lake, Bridgeport, California, 5:59 P.M., 17 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, RF 15-30mm IS STM at 17mm, f/6.3 at 1/100 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 12.0). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Colorful Aspens off Parker Lake Road, Mammoth Lakes, California, 10:00:01 A.M., 19 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, RF 15-30mm IS STM at 15mm, f/22 at 1/30 at Auto ISO 100, -1/3 stop exposure compensation (LV 14.0). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
I used f/22 to get a big sunstar; diffraction will make this less sharp than at larger apertures, but the sunstar makes the image!
10 August 2023, Thursday
Canon EL-5.
NEW: Canon EL-5 Flash Review.
It's the most powerful flash I've tested this decade, but only works on the newest cameras.
It has essentially the same guts and performance as the EL-1 for less than half the price.
09 August 2023, Wednesday
Coming Soon: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 OSS for Sony.
This adds stabilization to the old Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8.
Looks like the joke's on Nikon, whose unstabilized Z 70-180mm f/2.8 sure seems like the old Tamron lens rebranded by Nikon, ha ha!
NEW: Canon Trade-In Event.
NEW: OM SYSTEM Trade-In Event.
Rent-Free Photoshop: Photoshop Elements: $99.99 and you own it.
A reader asked if there's an alternative to paying rent for Photoshop every month. Photoshop Elements is a one-time buy and you own it for perpetuity.
The last I tried Elements was about 20 years ago so I can't comment on it today, but the good news is you buy it and it works for as long as it will, limited only by potential incompatibility if you eventually update to a newer operating system with which it might not be compatible.
Personally I've been using Photoshop CS 6 since it came out around 2010. It works great today so I haven't used anything else. CS 6 came out back when Mac Snow Leopard (OS 10.6) was hot, and works great all the way up through Mojave (Mac OS 10.13), which I run today.
Why Canon
I'd been whining about systemic flaws in Nikon DSLRs for years in the 2010s. Each new body retained many of the same ergonomic flaws as the last one. Nikon’s bodies still retain many of these design flaws today, like the idiotic Settings Banks of the Z8, which have been a problem for 20 years since they first came out in the D2 series. These banks don’t lock and don’t recall everything I need and take too many clicks to recall each time. Likewise Nikon had started offshoring its key products and dumping production overseas around the same time. When my new AF-S 50mm f/1.4G arrived from China in 2008, I had a fit.
Meanwhile each new Canon body evolved and addressed much of what I had said needed to be improved from the previous version, all carefully documented in each of my reviews under “room for improvement” or “Missing.” Canon was listening.
The EOS 5D Mark III was a great camera when It came out in March 2012, finally addressing all my complaints — but it responded too slowly both to shooting settings and menu commands. There was a slight delay from when you turned a knob until you saw the setting updated in the finder.
5D Mk III firmware v 2.0 came out later in 2012 which cured the slow response to inputs, and it then (and now) was so perfect I updated to shooting Canon. I’m feeling quite smug as Nikon has never come back, still laden with the same flaws and dumping almost all production overseas today.
Nikon’s new $2,800 Z 85/1.2 is dumped to China, while Canon’s new $479 EOS R100 is carefully made in Japan.
I still buy and shoot Nikon today because you folks all want to know my opinion, and of course Nikons still create fantastic images technically, but for my own use, my Canons handle so much better when I actually have to get the shot and move on. Life waits for no one to fiddle with clumsy cameras, and I’m not throwing my money away on offshored products (things made in different countries than where they're designed for cheaper labor) when I have a quality option in Canon, who also has far better technical support at (800) OK-CANON.
Back in 1982 I shot my Minolta SRT-102 at a newspaper and they made fun of me; they suggested I man-up to Nikon like every other pro and I was young enough to take them seriously. Nikon SLRs ruled the world of news and sports from about 1962 until around 1990 when Canon's new EOS 1 had autofocus that worked well enough for pro sports while Nikon's F4 couldn't keep up. Nikon hadn't taken AF seriously for pro use while Canon did.
I looked at Canon in 1983, and chose to go with Nikon because every Nikon manual-focus lens (they were all manual back then) was made to the same ultra-high all-metal mechanical quality, be it a basic 50mm f/1.8 or 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF. On the other hand Canon FD lenses varied; while Canon's exotic lenses were well made, basic lenses might have plastic aperture rings — not acceptable today and certainly not acceptable back in 1982 when Nikon made every lens extremely well.
In 1983 I made the right choice with Nikon, but that was over 40 years ago. Ever since 2012 I've preferred Canon.
We all have different needs, but I don't whine about things as much as I simply buy what's good and dump what's offshored. Vote with your dollars, I do. If something is crummy don't complain much, instead, just buy something that's good. Things change; there is only one immortal LEICA while everything else floats in and out of quality over the decades.
08 August 2023, Tuesday
NEW: Think Tank "Press Pass" Shoulder/Sling/Belt Bags.
Secret Deal TODAY ONLY: $122 Off: Gitzo GH2750 Series 2 Magnesium Ball Head: $228.88.
The discounted price appears only after you put it in your cart and checkout.
Ends midnight tonight, NYC time.
NEW: Amazon Alexa Echo Subwoofer: $129.99!
Goodness; this works with the little hockey-puck and other Alexas and Echos to make them sound so much better. It's a 6" 100W sealed-box woofer and can work with two Echos for stereo (but I don't see the ability to use two of these woofers for stereo bass, which would also be a big help).
Be sure to see Amazon's extensive list of compatible Echos at their page to be sure it works with yours. Cool thing is Amazon knows what I've bought so it spewed out a list of the five of them that I have (someplace) that are compatible.
$450 Off: 13.3" MacBook Pro 8-Core M1 / 16 GB / 1 TB : $1,249.
$80 Off: SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC.
05 August 2023, Saturday
Nitecore BB2 Electronic Blower.
NEW: Nitecore BB2 Electronic Blower Review.
While at first I thought a $90 electric blower was a ridiculous idea, I realize that it works with all my cameras and that it really works. I can't blow this hard, I can't squeeze a bulb to get as strong a blast of air, and it blows clean, filtered air.
It's smaller than a decent blower bulb or a can of compressed air.
Clean, dry ambient-temperature air is better than spit from my own blowing, blowing more dirty air into my camera with a bulb (or sucking more dirty air into the camera with a vacuum), and I also don't have to worry about freezing or cracking my sensor if I get too close with canned air.
It's easy to throw in my bag, and not only does it clean my cameras if needed, it makes me the hero when someone else needs it.
Bravo Nitecore!
03 August 2023, Thursday
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NEW: Apple Watch ULTRA Review & Tutorial.
Updated: All Apple Watches Compared.
I've been mentioning my Apple Watch ULTRA all year, and here's a dedicated page about specifics, tips & tricks.
02 August 2023, Wednesday
NEW: DJI Osmo Action 4. (also at Adorama.)
Canon EOS R50 and RF 18-45mm IS STM.
Looking at R50 prices, I found two bargains, which is weird as it's unusual to find different prices at major sources.
The R50 with RF-S 18-45mm IS STM is $50 less ($749) at B&H, while it's still $799 at Adorama, at Amazon and at Crutchfield, or about $625 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
The new R50 "Creator Kit" with RF-S 18-45mm IS STM, DM-E100 mic & HG-100TBR grip-release-pod is only $799 at Amazon, while it's $899 at B&H, at Adorama, and at Crutchfield.
R50 Body: $679 at B&H, at Adorama, at Amazon and at Crutchfield, or about $575 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
R50 with RF-S 18-45mm IS STM: $749 at B&H or $799 at Adorama, at Amazon and at Crutchfield, or about $625 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
R50 with RF-S 18-45mm IS STM, DM-E100 mic & HG-100TBR grip-release-pod: $799 at Amazon or $899 at B&H, at Adorama, and at Crutchfield.
R50 with RF-S 18-45mm IS STM and RF-S 55-210mm IS STM: $1,029 at B&H, at Adorama, at Amazon and at Crutchfield.
WHITE R50 Body: $679 at B&H, at Adorama and at Amazon.
WHITE R50 with white RF-S 18-45mm IS STM: $749 at B&H or $799 at Adorama and at Amazon.
Personally I think the best combo ever is getting the R50 body-only and RF-s 18-150mm lens separately because the 18-150mm replaces both the RF-s 18-45mm IS STM and RF-s 55-210mm IS STM and eliminates the need to carry both and and swap between them; with the 18-150mm a flick of the wrist gets you whatever setting you need without missing photos while changing lenses.
NEW: Nikon 6mm f/2.8 220º Fisheye: $157,743.30.
This is a used collectible item, and obviously a dealer may ask any crazy price he likes.
This is the most useless lens Nikon ever created; it's virtually impossible to make a good picture with this thing, and it's so huge that it's purely ridiculous to try to use. It's a plaything for idle rich; the same guys with shark tanks under their boardrooms with trap doors under each board member's chair.
In the opposite ilk, some of Nikon's most useful, beautiful and durable lenses ever made sell for peanuts used today. For instance, the AI-s 135mm f/2.8 sells for about about $100 used if you know How to Win at eBay, gives the same portrait results as the Z 70-200/2.8 VR for less than 1/10 the price, and the 135mm f/2.8 fits in your pocket!
$200 Off: Sony A7R Mk III A.
$200 Off: Canon R3.
$200 Off: Canon R7 Content Creator Kit.
$100 Off: Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L USM.
$100 Off: Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM DS.
Nikon 28-50mm f/3.5 AI-s.
Updated: Nikon 28-50mm f/3.5 AI-s.
Another winner for about $100 used if you know How to Win at eBay. I brought this page from 2008 up to modern resolution standards and updated the prices.
What Was New in:
June & July 2023: Photographs from California's Central Coast, How to Create Images with AI, Nikon Z8 Review & Sample Images, Z8 Plain-English User's Guide, Z 24mm f/1.7 DX Review & Sample Images, Z 26mm f/2.8 Review & Sample Images, Z 70-180mm f/2.8, Z 85mm f/1.2 Review & Sample Images, Z 180-600mm f/5.6~6.3 VR, Sony A6700, Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS MACRO II, Sony ECM-M1 On-Camera Mic, LEICA SL2 Edition Silver, Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Full-Frame, Tamron 35-150mm f/2~2.8 for Nikon Z and for Sony, TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Review & Sample Images, Xcellon PDG-5200L 200W 5-Port GaN USB Charger Review and Tozo Golden X1 Earbuds Review.
March, April & May 2023: Previsualization versus Presets, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji & OM SYSTEM Menu Systems Compared, Canon EOS R50 Review, EOS R100, EOS R vs EOS R8 vs RP, Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM, Canon V10 VLogCam, Nikon Z8, Z 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR DX, Sony ZV-E1, Sony ZV1 II, Sony SRG-A12, LEICA Q3, LEICA M11 Monochrom, SUMMMILUX-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH (Edition 2023), SUMMICRON-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH, SUMMICRON-SL 50mm f/2 ASPH, Fuji X-S20, Fuji XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR, OM SYSTEM OM-1 Review & Sample Image Files, OM SYSTEM OM-1 Complete Plain-English User's Guide, OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO Review & Sample Images, Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome, Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 & FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic, Pentax SD 10x42 ED, SD 7x42 ED & AD 10x32 ED, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Review, iPhone 14 Pro Max Tutorial & User's Guide, Apple Music Review.
January & February 2023: How to Learn Photography, Canon EOS R8, Canon EOS R50, Canon RF 24-50mm IS STM, Canon RF-S 55-210mm IS STM, Canon EOS Rebel SL3 Review, Canon EOS Rebel T7 Review, Nikon Z 26mm f/2.8, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2, Sony Full-Frame FE 20-70mm f/4 G, Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Review & Sample Images, Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, Olympus 90mm f/3.5 IS Macro, Think Tank Retrospective Everyday Backpack.
December 2022: Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z Full-Frame Ultrawides Compared, Canon Rebel T100 Review, Canon EF-s 18-55mm III Review, Sony A7R V Review, 2022 version of the LEICA M6, ThinkTank SpeedTop Bag Review.
October & November 2022: Canon EOS R6 Mark II, Canon RF 15-30mm IS STM Review, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM Review, Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM, Canon EL-5 Flash, Nikon Z 40mm f/2 Special Edition Review, Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 Review, Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR, Nikon Z 1.4× Teleconverter Review, Nikon Z 2× Teleconverter Review, Nikon MC-N10 Remote Grip, Sony A7R V, Sony ZV-1F, Fuji X-T5, Fuji XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro, LEICA M6, Edition 2022, Venus Laowa 25mm f/0.95 Review, beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO Review.
July, August & September 2022: Photographs from California's Central Coast, Canon EOS R7 Review, Canon EOS R10 Review, Canon EOS R7 vs. EOS R10, Canon RF 15-30mm IS STM Review, Canon RF-s 18-45mm IS STM Review, Canon RF-s 18-150mm IS STM Review, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, Canon EL-100 Flash Review, Nikon Z30 Review, Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR, All Nikon 105mm Macro Lenses Compared, Sony FX30 E-Mount Cine Camera, Fuji X-H2, Fuji GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR, Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR, Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 for Fuji, LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (2022), NiteCore NB20000 Ultralight Power Bank Review, Oben CT-2491 Carbon-Fibre Tripod Review, SmallRig AD-01 Fluid-Head Video Tripod Review, Venus Laowa 10mm f/4 Review & Sample Images, beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X Review, beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO Review.
May & June 2022: Canon EOS R7, Canon EOS R10, Canon RF-S 18-45mm IS STM, Canon RF-S 18-150mm IS STM, Nikon Z30 Review, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 Review, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z 100-400mm VR Review, Nikon Full-Frame Z Midrange Zooms Compared, Sony ZV-E10 Review, Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 G PZ Review, Sony E 10-20mm f/4G PZ Review, Sony E 11mm f/1.8 Review, Sony E 15mm f/1.4G Review, Fuji X-H2s, Fuji XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM WR Power Zoom, Fuji XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM WR OIS, Fujifilm's 2022-2023 Lens Roadmap, HASSELBLAD PME Prism Meter Finder Review.
January ~ April 2022: Photographs from Yosemite & the Eastern Sierra, The Effect of Scale, Canon EOS R3 Full Review & Sample Image Files, Canon EOS R5C, Canon RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, Canon RF 1,200mm f/8L IS USM, Canon PowerShot ZOOM Review, Nikon Z9 Review & Sample Images, Nikon Z9 User's Guide & Tutorial, Nikon Z 18-140mm VR DX Review & Sample Image Files, Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 Review & Sample Image Files, Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 SE Review & Sample Image Files, Nikon Z 40mm f/2 Review & Sample Image Files, Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 VR, Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR, Sony A7 IV Full Review & Sample Image Files, Sony A7 IV Tutorial & User's Guide, Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 G PZ Power Zoom, Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Review & Sample Images, Sony HVL-F60RM2 Flash Review & Sample Images, Sony HVL-F46RM Flash Review & Sample Images, Sony SD Card Reader, LEICA M11, Apple Mac Studio, Apple 27" 5K Studio Display, 5th generation 10.9" iPad Air, Cooke S8/i 25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 135mm T1.4 Lenses in PL mount, Huion Kamvas Pro 13 (2.5K) drawing tablet review, Kodak GOLD 200 in 120 format, OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock Review, OWC ATLAS S PRO SDXC Card Review, OWC ENVOY PRO ELEKTRON SSD Review, OWC USB-C TRAVEL DOCK E Review, Oben CFT-6194L Lateral Carbon-Fibre Tripod Review, Oben CFT-6394 "Big & Tall" Carbon-Fibre Tripod Review, Oben BC-139 Review, Olympus OM-1, M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II, M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO, Panasonic Lumix GH6, Sigma 16mm f/1.4 for Fuji, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 for Fuji, Sigma 56mm f/1.4 for Fuji, Sigma 20mm f/2 full-frame for Sony E, Sigma 20mm f/2 full-frame for LEICA L, SmallRig 3457 Compact Fluid Head Review, ThinkTank Retrospective 75 Duffel, ZEISS Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8, Feet, PL Mount, Jackery Explorer 1000 Power Station & Solar Generator Review, Jackery Explorer 300 Review, Jackery SolarSaga 100W Panel Review, Nitecore BlowerBaby Review, B&W 702 S2 Speakers, beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X headphones review.
November ~ December 2021: Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Review, Canon RF 100-400mm IS USM Review, Canon EF 28-80mm f/2.8-4 L ULTRASONIC Review, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8, Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8, Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3, Leica Q2 Reporter Edition, Best USB-C Card Readers, Docks & Hubs Compared, Mitakon 90mm f/1.5 Review, McIntosh MQ 107 Environmental Equalizer Review.
October 2021: Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 18-140mm VR DX, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4, Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR, Nikon FTZ II, Canon STEREOSCOPIC RF 5.2mm f/2.8L 190º Fisheye, Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Review, Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus Review, Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II, Apple Watch Series 7.
July ~ September 2021: Nikon Z fc Review, Nikon Z7 II User's Guide, Nikon Z FX 28mm f/2.8 Special Edition, Nikon Z 40mm f/2, Nikon Z 50mm f/2.8 Macro Review, Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro Review, Canon EOS R3, Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Review, Canon RF 100~400mm IS USM, Canon DM-E1D Stereo Mic, Canon ST-E10 Speedlite Transmitter, Canon AD-P1 Android Data Transmitter Adapter, Canon AD-E1 Normal to Multi-Function Shoe Adapter, Sony ZV-E10, Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Review, Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 Review, Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 Review, Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 Review, Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Review, Fuji GFX 50S II, Fuji GF 35-70mm, Fuji GFX 50S II w/35-70mm, Fuji X-T30 II, Fuji XF 23mm f/1.4, Fuji XF 33mm f/1.4, Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN, Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN full-frame für LEICA L, Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 for Sony and for LEICA L, Tamron 18-300mm for Sony APS-C and for Fuji, Tamron 35~150mm f/2~2.8 for Sony, Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 Review, Godox Ving V860III TTL Li-Ion Flash, Megadap Sony to Nikon Z Lens Adapter, TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4 ASPH Review, Voigtländer Heliar Classic 50mm f/1.5, Audeze LCD-XC Planar Magnetic Headphones full review.
April ~ June 2021: Photographs from California's Central Coast, Canon EOS R3, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM III Review, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Review, All Canon 100mm Lenses Compared, Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS, Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS, Nikon Z7 II Review, Nikon Z fc, Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z FX 28mm f/2.8 Special Edition, Nikon Z 50mm f/2.8 Macro, Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 Review, Nikon Z 58mm f/0.95 Noct Review, Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro, Sony A1 Review, Sony A6100 Review, Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G Review, Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Review, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Review, Sony E 70-350mm G OSS Review, Fujifilm X-E4 Review, Fuji X-S10 Review, Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR Review, Fuji XF 18mm f/1.4R LM WR, Fuji XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR Review, Fuji XF 70-300mm R LM OIS WR Review, LEICA M10-R in black paint, Pentax K-3 Mk III, iRig Pre 2 XLR Mic to Mirrorless, DSLR, iOS, Phone or Computer Preamplifier, Robus RTH-1050 55-lb Capacity Ball Head Review, Ritz Gear 256 GB CFexpress card, Turboant Thunder T1 Electric Bike Review.
January ~ March 2021: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review, Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS review, Canon RF 85mm f/2 MACRO IS STM review, Canon EL-1 Flash review, Nikon Z9 review, SONY A1 review, Sony A7C review, Sony FE 28-60mm review, Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G, Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G and Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM review, iPhone 12 Pro Max review & guide, Apple Watch Series 6 review & guide, LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-M 35mm f/2 ASPH, LEICA 50mm f/1.2 NOCTILUX-M ASPH, Fuji GFX 100S, Fuji GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR, Fuji X-E4, Fuji XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR, Fuji 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR, Ritz 256GB 265/120 MB/s V60 SD card, Mitakon 50mm f/0.95 review, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 review, Polsen MVP-3 Micro Shotgun Microphone, Polsen MVP-6 Shotgun Microphone, Polsen MO-CPL2 USB-C Lavalier Microphone, Polsen SCL-1080 Dual-Pattern Shotgun Microphone
October ~ December 2020: Canon 1DX Mark III Review, Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Review, Canon RF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Review, Canon EOS M50 Mk II, Big EL-1 flash and odd compact PowerShot Zoom 100-400mm P&S, Canon PIXMA Pro-200, Nikon Z5 Review, Nikon Z6 II Review, Nikon Z7 II Review, Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 Review, Nikon Z 24-50mm Review, Nikon Z 24-200mm Review, Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 Review, Fuji 50mm f/1.0 Review, Fuji X-S10, Fuji 10-24mm f/4 OIS WR R, LEICA Q2 Monochrom, LEICA SL-2 S, ZEISS ZX1, Audeze LCD-X Headphones Review, TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Review, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro for Sony E or LEICA, Megadap Any Lens to Nikon Z Autofocusing Adapter Review, Oben CTT-1000L Compact Tripod Review, MacCase iPad Pro Case Review.
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.
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Ken