Super Stars: 3 Digital Cameras with Astrophotography in Their Blood

gear doesn't matter

With features designed to make astrophotography easy, these digital cameras should be no-brainers for Astro fans.

There are cameras out there designed to make specific genres of photography easy. There are cameras designed for wildlife, sports, portraiture, and more. Believe it or not, there are even cameras designed just for Astrophotography. Whether you like capturing the Milky Way, deep space objects, or star trails, these cameras will help you do it all with ease. If you’re ready to shoot the stars, check out these three incredible cameras.

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Female on Film: The Best Women Film Photographers (NSFW)

Let’s take a look at some of the best women film photographers we’ve featured over the years.

If you’re a long time reader of The Phoblographer, you’ll know about our soft spot for film photography. Although we love the world of digital, there’s something about creating an image on analog that excites us! Thankfully, even in the modern era, there are plenty of women picking up a film camera. The best women film photographers have surely made it to our site.

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3 User Friendly Mirrorless Cameras That Make Photography Easy

These Mirrorless cameras are packed with tech that will help you create stunning images in no time at all.

Mirrorless cameras on the market today are capable of so many things thanks to the technology they pack. Many coming into Mirrorless cameras think that these handheld computers are more difficult to use than older DLSRs. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Advanced IBIS systems, cutting Edge autofocus, incredible ergonomics, and AI makes these cameras pain-free. After the break, we have rounded up three of our favorite user friendly Mirrorless cameras that will make your life a whole lot easier.

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The AI Photographer and Understanding the Role of the Creative

What are the implications for our future when art becomes utterly transient and immaterial?

Recently, my wife shared a link with me; it was photography-related, so she thought it might interest me. Sure enough, I clicked—and was gobsmacked. This site certainly had everything to do with photography, but not at all in the way I had expected. The link produced a page that showed nothing but a portrait: a fairly tight headshot with an oddly blurred background, in fact. There was no caption, no text to give a name, or any kind of context. If I refreshed the page, another portrait would be served up almost instantly. Intrigued, I reloaded the page a few times and stared at perfect strangers. It did strike me that there was something odd about these images, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Little did I know it was basically an AI photographer being used to produce the images.

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Remembering the Greatest Female Street Photographer to Ever Live

It’s Women’s History Month, and it’s the perfect time to remember a legend.

Of course, the title of the article will raise a few eyebrows. I mean, is there really “a greatest” female street photographer? In my opinion, there is. And while 2021 makes it constantly harder to separate the genders, can’t we have a little bit of fun? So, yes, we’re focusing on women. It’s their month, and if you’re not cool with that, ahh, what can we do? So let’s look back on the most outstanding female photographer ever to shoot the candid frame: Vivian Maier.

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Camera Lenses That Focus Via Heat Are Here, and They’re Fascinating

camera lenses

The future of camera lenses sounds like something from a Sci-Fi movie.

Camera lenses are incredible. The amount of design and engineering that goes into them will blow your mind. All we see is the outer shell and the front and rear elements, but inside is a complex work of art. Tiny tolerances and margins for error ensure your lens delivers razor-sharp images. It’s really no wonder some camera lenses cost as much as they do. Now, though, a new lens that obtains focus via heat transfer generated by lasers is here. No, this isn’t some far-fetched idea from a movie; this lens is real, and it’s here now. After the break, we’ll talk about this and what it could mean for the future of photography.

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Nikon and Sony Just Dropped Some Big Discounts On Mirrorless Cameras

If you want to move to Sony E or Nikon Z mount Mirrorless cameras, now’s the time to do it.

Oh, man! March is off to a great start when it comes to discounts on Mirrorless cameras. Both Sony and Nikon have some stellar deals on the table. If you’re looking for a capable APS-C Mirrorless camera, the Nikon Z50 could be for you. A kit with a lens is just $896.95! The Full Frame Nikon Z6 also has a huge discount of $400! It’s just $1,596.95! Sony has some great deals on Mirrorless cameras too. The 42 Megapixel Sony a7r II is only $1,598. The a7 III is a bargain at $1,698, and the resolution powerhouse a7r IV is just $2,998. Check out all of the deals on Nikon and Sony Mirrorless cameras after the break.

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The Leica 35mm F2 APO-Summicron ASPH Focuses Under a Foot

This is totally different from most rangefinder lenses.

Rangefinder camera users have long lived with one big problem. Unfortunately, most lenses don’t focus closer than a meter away. But Leica’s latest lens is slapping that notion in the face. With the Leica 35mm f2 APO Summicron ASPH, you can focus under a meter. In fact, you can focus to 0.3 meters. The world’s longest name aside, this lens is truly something special. Granted, you won’t be able to do that effectively while looking through the rangefinder. But you’ll get a lens that makes your M system so much more useful.

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Truth Bomb: Cameras Aren’t to Blame for Poor Photos

Bad cameras haven’t existed for many years, but poor technique and a lack of knowledge prevails.

We hear statements like, “That camera from (insert company here) is terrible. I tried it, and I couldn’t get a good photo from it, and I’ve been using cameras for decades,” and “Those cameras are terrible in low light; they’re worthless,” all the time, but the fact is that there is no such thing as a bad camera. For over a decade, digital cameras have been capable of producing glorious images. Now, with improved sensor technology, advancements in autofocus systems, and even AI, cameras are more powerful than ever, yet they still get blamed for poor images. Let’s talk about this and why you need to take responsibility for your pictures.

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Black Photographers Share Their Challenges in the Photo Industry

I spoke to black photographers to learn about their experience in the photo industry.

As February was Black History Month, my focus was predominantly on black photographers. Most people welcome that, and some don’t. My pieces celebrated black photographers and the work they produce. My pieces also highlighted some of the issues the black community is facing within the industry, which got me thinking, “Who am I, a white man, to tell people to care?” Of course, my voice is valid, but it’s far better to let black photographers share their experience.

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Get Hyped for the Exciting Return of 3D Analog Photography!

The Minuta Stereo is bringing 3D back to analog film photography!

Oh, man! Does anyone remember that Nishika 3D film camera? Well, there’s something new and exciting coming to Kickstarter. It’s called the Minuta Stereo camera. It’s a pinhole camera designed to do the kooky 3D photos that we’ve come to know and love. It would mean that you’re going to slow down, and that’s something majorly lacking from photography today.

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After 187k Followers, I Deleted Instagram as a Professional Photographer

All images by Charlie Naebeck. Used with permission.

I topped out at 187k followers on Instagram – I spent day and night constantly checking numbers, likes, comments, and often lost time that would have been better spent on things that actually matter. I once had dreams of becoming a popular photographer in New York City – A photographer called upon to photograph the who’s who of the fashion and commercial worlds. Enter a “real” photography career – people don’t really call you. You have to call them and often times hope to get through to someone that cares, let alone someone that actually hires you for what you are worth. 

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Boundaries Are Essential When Making Photos of Family and Friends

You should approach photos of family and friends like any other client.

Making photos of family and friends is part of being a photographer. Once your nearest and dearest find out that you know how to use a camera, they’ll be inviting you to everything and anything. For many, myself included, that’s a good thing. Because although I may not always want to make photos, most of the time, I will. And it’s nice to be able to give something to the people you care about while knowing it’s something they’ll enjoy. But photographing friends and family should be done with the same standards as any other client. That doesn’t mean, however, that they’ll act as a client. You must set boundaries, and in this piece, I’ll tell you how I did it.

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Small and Powerful: These Cameras are Perfect For Travel Photography

feature-rich cameras

These small yet incredibly powerful cameras make travel photography easy.

It has been a while since we’ve been able to talk about travel photography with any real meaning. The pandemic has stopped us in our tracks. Still, things do seem to be trending in the right direction. Hopefully, it will soon be safe to travel once again. With this in mind, perhaps it’s time for you to re-evaluate your travel photography gear. There have been many cameras released during the past year that are great for travel photography. The cameras we have rounded up here are all incredibly compact, but they’re mighty powerful. They’re all robust and can take a beating. These cameras have the latest and greatest autofocus systems and sensors that capture a ton of detail. Pair these travel photography cameras up with some lightweight primes, and you’ll have a perfect travel kit. Check out our five favorite cameras for travel photography after the break.

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The DJI FPV Makes Photography into a First Person Shooter

Using the DJI FPV was incredibly fun and just the spark that the industry needs.

The brand new DJI FPV gave me all the fun that playing with toys did as a child. But instead, it’s a serious device for creating. Drone photography is seriously one of the most fun and enjoyable things you can do. Like a few other types of photography, you can think of it as a toy shooting style. Unfortunately, lots of products don’t really have things like RAW capabilities. But some, like the DJI FPV have extra fun factors to them!

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The Cost of Being Different. Leica 75mm F2 SL Review

This is probably the best portrait lens the L Mount has.

It took me a while to figure out the right headline for this review. The Leica 75mm f2 SL is a beautiful lens with wonderful image quality. Technically it’s not an odd focal length. If you put a 50mm lens on most APS-C cameras, you’ll get a 75mm focal length. If you’ve used Leica lenses for a while, you’ve probably used a 75mm lens. This is one of my favorite lenses for the SL lenses. In my mind, it’s one of the best portrait lenses for the system. Make no mistake; comparatively speaking, you’re probably paying quite the premium. But, at the same time, this lens has no comparison.

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Robert Claus Made All These Photos with His iPhone

All images and text by Robert Claus. Used with permission.

I’m seeking out the hidden beauty of a common local landmark by revisiting it over three winters and producing black & white images shot only on a basic iPhone. Several years ago, I was lucky enough to catch a major David Hockney retrospective at the De Young in San Francisco and was particularly impressed by a series of charcoal drawings he had done of a footpath through a wood in Yorkshire. Not only were the drawings technically flawless, but they were done over the course of a whole year, showing the same scene in different seasons. He explored the same concept with a stunning video installation that placed the audience in the middle of a clearing, with each of the four video walls playing a different season at the same time, so that viewers experienced the whole year all at once.

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The Sony 50mm F1.2 GM Will Need to Be Less Clinical, More Character

If the Sony 50mm f1.2 G Master lens really comes next month, then we need to stop talking about MTF charts.

As much as things change, they also stay the same. And honestly, I’m expecting the same thing from Sony. If the Sony 50mm f1.2 G Master is real, then it’s going to be good. However, I’m also sure it’s going to be just the clinical definition of good. Sony’s engineers have sucked the soul out of lenses. The only recent exception is the Sony 35mm f1.4 G Master. But a lens like the Sony 50mm f1.2 G Master will really need to be something extraordinary. 

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Fast, Affordable Primes Were the Most Popular Lenses During Feb 2021

It’s that time of the month where we look at the gear you, our readers, have been snapping up. This roundup will focus on the most popular lenses for February 2021. If you’re interested in seeing which cameras have been finding new homes during February, check out this post. We’ve been seeing a trend over the last few months here at The Phoblographer. Fast, affordable primes are incredibly popular, especially for Sony Mirrorless cameras. This is really not surprising. The quality of even the most affordable lenses has gone through the roof in recent times. So, lets, dive in and see the most popular lenses for February 2021.

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The Odd One. Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN Contemporary Review

The Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN Contemporary is a classically popular focal length with cinema but a bit odd with still photography.

Even after two calls with my Sigma rep talking about the Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN Contemporary, I still don’t totally understand it. It’s a weird focal length, which I genuinely love. I think it’s great that Sigma is trying brave things. It’s also incredibly sharp and has stellar image quality. But using this lens isn’t the easiest. Every time I think I’m going to use it like a 50mm, I need to adjust. And every time I think to use it like a 75mm, I had to step forward a bit. This is in an odd spot. But believe it or not, the best place the Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN Contemporary belongs is on a camera with a tripod.

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