Author: Stephen Harker

The Nikon F-mount is a bayonet mount for lenses that has been in existence since the introduction of the Nikon F 35mm SLR camera in 1959 and has been adapted over the years to take advantage of new technologies in SLR cameras. Some of the more substantial changes involved how the camera and lenses “talk” to each other about lens aperture. One very significant recent change was the elimination of a manual aperture ring on certain newer lenses in favor of all electronic communication and actuation. These lenses are labeled G and are distinguished by an array of electrical contacts…

A great way to be able to get high-quality photography gear at affordable prices is to buy used equipment. There are many ways for private individuals to contact each other to buy or sell used cameras and lenses such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, classified ads on local newspapers, or at events such as garage sales and flea markets. While these person-to-person channels for buying and selling used cameras exist and thrive, many people are wary of parting with large sums of money with few guarantees of satisfaction. So, these potential buyers would rather deal with a store of some…

Camera rentals and lens rentals are great alternatives to purchasing new equipment. Photography equipment is a major investment, so professionals and other advanced photographers are used to the idea of gear being expensive. This makes camera and lens rentals an attractive option for many amateur and beginning photographers. Benefits of Camera & Lens Rental Here are some benefits to renting a camera or a lens that we’ll cover further in this article: Renting a camera or a lens is often beneficial if you need the equipment one time and it’s not part of your typical, regular photography shoot.If you are…

Used lenses are a great way to find good optics for your DSLR cameras. Buying used DSLR lenses can have several benefits. Two Main Used Lens Benefits Probably the first benefit that will come to most people’s minds is lower cost. You could also include refurbished lenses in this benefit category. Refurbished lenses are often display lenses or rental lenses that get checked out, cleaned up, and may come in the original packaging with all the accessories. You may find used DSLR lenses from time to time with original packaging, but you will also see lots of lenses with just…

It seems many digital photographers are under the impression that you need to use a telescope in order to engage in astrophotography. While that is indeed one excellent way to start imaging the wonders of the night sky, a lot of night sky photography can be accomplished with the equipment you probably already have. Here’s what you need to start your astrophotography kit. What Camera to Use in Your Astrophotography Kit? The largest sensor interchangeable lens camera you have is going to be the top choice. A full-frame format DSLR or mirrorless camera will offer the best quality for night…

The story, as I heard it, was that after Dr. Land took a picture of a young relative, the child asked, “Why can’t I see it now?” Sometime after that, the instant photography market was born. In these days of digital imaging and social media, it seems that few people even think about that original question anymore. Since we can see it right away, either on the back of the camera or on our smartphone. Enter the Fujifilm instax mini 90 NEO CLASSIC instant film camera and film. A Little History There’s just something about holding an actual print, though,…

Studio strobes from the Paul C. Buff, Inc. of Nashville Tennessee have been popular among professional and other serious photographers mainly due to one reason – they are good! Besides being great studio strobes, they are also very reasonably priced. The AlienBees model lineup is pretty much the cornerstone of the great reputation and popularity of strobes from Paul C. Buff. The most affordable model is the AlienBees B400 160/WS studio strobe. What’s New Reading this review, many photographers will notice that AlienBees strobes aren’t really all that new anymore. The original strobe made by Paul C. Buff, the White…

Among the hottest current trends for gadgets, technology, and even gifts, is wearable technology. It’s not a fad, like Pet Rocks or Gangnam Style were. I would define a trend as something that picks up rapidly in popularity, but has long-term staying power. Mobile telephones, for instance, were a trend in the late 1980s, and now are a central part of many people’s daily lives. But, before the 80s or 90s, how many people had mobile telephones? So, a trend quickly grows but eventually becomes mainstream. Wearable technology is transitioning as we speak from trend to mainstream. Besides fitness trackers…

Wearable technology is the current Next Big Thing. Fitness tracking and other health-related monitoring is one of the primary reasons for the current popularity of smartwatches. In September 2018, Apple Inc. released the latest version in the line of Apple Watches, the Apple Watch Series 4. What Does an Apple Watch Do? The Apple Watch Series 4 has some amazing features. Besides built-in or downloadable apps that can track your exercising, walking, or jogging, this new device can monitor your heart and even notify emergency services of falls or accidents. The heart monitor tracks more than pulse rate, but also…

How wide do you want? The Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ultra wide-angle zoom is very wide, very fast, and very good. Designed for APS-C format cameras, it has the field of view equivalence that a 15-30mm lens would in full-frame. Many wider zooms for the cropped format are relatively slow lenses, this zoom has a fast maximum aperture that remains constant throughout the zoom range. Just How Wide Is It? One of the better aspects of the APS-C format is that lenses tend to be smaller and lighter than equivalent lenses for full-frame format DSLRs. Taking into consideration the…

Vanguard’s Alta Pro tripods are an excellent tool for the outdoor photographer. Or indeed, any photographer wanting flexibility in a tripod. It seems odd to talk about a tripod being both flexible and stable. The main reason we use tripods is to stabilize our camera rig. The flexibility comes in with how many different ways you can set up this tripod for field and studio use. What’s New with the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100? The Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100 features an innovative center column that can be adjusted horizontally as well as vertically. This is the flexibility mentioned…

Nikkor lenses have had a stellar reputation for several decades. For good reason, too. Nikon optics are sharp and very well made. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED is among the best lens of its type. The Basics In full-frame 35mm format, 35mm is one of the most useful focal lengths. Apart from the ‘Nifty 50’, the 35mm focal length is also often considered a normal focal length option. Since the actual focal length formula for full-frame 35mm format is around 43.5mm, then either 50mm or 35mm is very usable as a normal lens. There is a small, light,…

The AlienBees line of studio strobes from Paul C. Buff of Nashville, Tennessee has been a favorite of studio and location photographers for some years. Anyone desiring a compact and extremely reliable strobe with a very compact form factor will do well with an AlienBees strobe unit. The AlienBees DigiBee DB400 and DB800 are the newest offering from Paul C. Buff, and they are a nice step forward in regards to size and usability. DigiBee DB400 and DB800: What’s New DigiBee DB400 and DB800 are 160Ws and 320Ws studio strobes. While AlienBees strobes were already compact, these are even smaller.…

Nikon has a long legacy of making high-quality lenses. Nikon and NIKKOR optics are well known and appreciated in 35mm film photography, various formats of digital photography, medical tools, enlargement lenses, industrial application optics, large format lenses, and sporting optics such as scopes and binoculars. The NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR is praised by professionals and serious hobbyists for its low light performance, fast and responsive auto-focus, excellent image quality, and fantastic bokeh. Compared to kit lens offerings by Nikon, it is much more rugged and robust, also heavier, larger, and quite a bit more expensive. What’s New on…

The Nikon SB-5000 is a top of the line Speedlight for Nikon digital SLRs and film SLRs. It uses i-TTL for exposure control and can be used off-camera singly or in groups of multiple flashes. While it is compatible on-camera with most of Nikon’s current offerings, it is truly at home on professional-level DSLRs and the new mirrorless Nikon Z7. At a fairly pricey cost, it’s probably not likely to find a home on most of the consumer-level Nikons, but it does work with them. What’s New The cameras that can take full advantage of all of the features of…