David started as a youngling playing with a Werra mat camera, then progressed into the digital age loving everything from events, action, weddings and virtual tours.
Website: http://studio-33.com
It’s fair to say that the 50mm focal length is one of the most commonly used. Often referred to as a standard focal length, a 50mm lens provides a view of the world almost identical to what the human eye sees which can be used for many different types of photography. In reality, some prefer
Wide-angle lenses have a lot more to contend with in life than their more standard viewpoints siblings. These types of lenses are specialists in nature and have to counter more edge distortion as standard. The Venus Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D is aimed at the typical landscape or architectural photographer who wants something a little different
It’s fine and dandy to cart around a bag full of prime lenses all day long to cover every conceivable need. But if you only want or need one zoom lens to cover everything from the wide-angle to super-telephoto, then the likes of the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM Contemporary lens can fit
When it comes to high-quality studio lighting, one name usually pops to the top of the list on a regular basis. Profoto has been producing pro-level studio lights for some time, with the Profoto B10 aimed at those who want a more portable solution, while still providing all the functionality needed for every shooting scenario.
If you’re currently shopping around for a premium quality 35mm lens for the Sony platform, the ZEISS Loxia 35mm f/2 is one candidate that is usually recommended. The Loxia 35mm f/2 features the usual ZEISS niceties and design assets, along with a few added extras above a usual manual lens in the form of Exif-data
If given the choice, most DSLR and mirrorless camera users would love to play with the medium format on a regular basis. The main hurdles to owning one of these things are the high price point, slower shooting speeds, bulk, and expensive accompanying gear. However, all the downsides go out of the window once you’ve
Samyang and Rokinon have been busy little bees, to steal a quote from a tyrannical Roman Emperor. Fortunately, they’re not working to bring down an empire, but to build cost-effective prime lenses. The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC is aimed at users who are happy with manual focusing and need a fast lens, while also
When it comes to the sheer quality of output, ZEISS glass is usually the top of any photographer’s list. Anybody who has been playing around with lenses for a good deal of time either owns some form of ZEISS optics or wouldn’t mind getting their hands on one. This is easier said than done for
When we think of Leica optics, it’s usually to do with high-quality prime lenses. Not necessarily zoom lenses, which is why taking the Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4 for a test run will be very interesting to see how it measures up against the prime lens camp. As this zoom lens covers the 90-280mm focal range,
Even the best drones that are currently available like to fly in as ideal weather conditions as possible. They also can’t exactly be used as handheld imaging devices, unless you want to look like you’re constantly about to launch the thing or poke someone’s eye out. However, the PowerVision PowerEgg X aims to be one
The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM was released back in 2012. In general technology terms, this lens should be drawing its pension. But in the world of camera lenses, this Canon 35mm has just hit maturity and has a good idea of its own capabilities. The lens has also lost some of the limelight
For many, experience with a fisheye lens comes mainly from the peephole in a front door rather than a constantly-used piece of camera optics. This makes sense, as a fisheye lens gives a very bulbous view of the world, with distorted lines being a feature rather than the usual negative. However, a lens such as
For anyone looking for a versatile telephoto zoom lens, the 70-200mm is the most popular option. This focal range has plenty of applications for the likes of wildlife, sports, action, and event photography, while also containing highly competent optics. The Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS is a more affordable version of Sony’s f/2.8 GM,
It never ceases to amaze me how cost-effective camera drones have become of late. If you’re just getting started in this arena, the cost of entry has never been better, with lots of fully-featured drones readily available. One such model is the Eachine E520S, which strives to bring all the functionality of more expensive units
If you need a screen size bigger than the average smartphone but don’t require an extra-large, singing and dancing tablet, there are affordable units on the market such as the Lenovo Smart Tab M8 that will do the job nicely. These types of devices aren’t designed to perform processor-intensive tasks, but they are very handy
Those out there who want a top-quality, standard view lens with a little extra width usually opt for a 35mm prime. This focal length has more width than a 50mm prime and is great for things like environmental portraits. There are quite a few options out there to choose from, but if you want a
Anyone venturing into studio lighting or cost-effective light modifiers for the first time can be easily bowled over with all the options available (and the cost). Once you start pricing up a decent set of strobes or Speedlites and softboxes, you can be easily put off, justifying why natural light is the only way to
The 35mm focal length provides a wonderful, standard view of the world. This focal length is ideal for capturing environmental portraits or when a bit more width than the standard 50mm prime lens is needed. As the 35mm focal length is one of the standards, there are plenty of examples on the market. But if
Large, fully-featured drones are the usual suspects for the most fun in the sky, but especially when you’re a beginner, a cheap and cheerful drone can provide equal amounts of enjoyment. The Cheerson CX-10 fits this category perfectly, being small enough to fit in the palm of your hand (plus the controller) and provides a
Samyang has traditionally not been at the top of many people’s wish lists when it comes to high-quality prime lenses. But with the introduction of the Samyang XP 85mm f/1.2, the company now has optics that can provide top quality at a very respectable price point. This lens may be manual focusing only, but the
For any long-standing full-frame camera owner, the medium format has always been in our peripheral vision. Generally speaking, the joys of a larger sensor, extra resolution, and depth of images are more than offset by the high prices and slower shooting speeds. Then came along the likes of the Pentax 645Z, which is now as
Graphic or drawing tablets are a staple part of any designer’s workflow, especially important if you do lots of post-production retouching. One of the most popular brands for many years has been the Wacom variety. These tablets are excellent to use in practice, with lots of features and seamless workings, but they can also feel
A 50mm prime lens will always be the go-to standard for any type of photography. This focal length provides a happy medium between a relatively wide view and the ability to get in close when needed. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA is one such lens, which offers a fast aperture and some of the
For many, the 24-70mm is the most widely-used zoom lens, which is why it’s most commonly given the workhorse title. For many photojournalists, this focal range is an invaluable tool, acting almost like a bunch of 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses in one package. Each camera maker has its own version, which is why the
There’s one thing that Leica makes sure of above any other lens manufacturer and that’s to make their high-end optics as exclusive as possible. I say this purely from a price point of view, as the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH costs just shy of $5000 on a favorable day at current prices, making it
When shooting with a digital camera, it’s a wonderful feature to have an instant view of your masterpiece, but it’s a totally different experience seeing everything in print. The Fujifilm instax WIDE 300 is an instant camera that provides the look and tones of film, with straightforward workings and final images at a reasonable size.
As photographers, we train ourselves to be as pragmatic as possible when it comes to lens choice and acquisition. This is a good thing in part, but we also secretly long to own an all-encompassing lens that covers every focal length and contains every feature imaginable. Lenses like the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS go
If there’s one lens that you are going to spend big on for the long run, it’s going to be a 50mm prime. This focal length just so happens to slot into a wide variety of shooting scenarios. That’s why it is touted as a standard focal length. The Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH slots
No matter the software you currently use for editing and managing your RAW files, use it for long enough and you will always be itching for extra features. DxO PhotoLab 3 is one of the many RAW converters out there, with its main focus being on quality of output and lens correction. As the company
If you’re in the position of needing more light output than what the average Speedlite can provide but want the same compact dimensions, the Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro is a likely option. This version is an upgrade to the original, with the same levels of output and improvements being focused on the build quality and
