The Secret Ingredient for Better Portraits. PrismFX Radiant Filter Review

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Last year, I bought almost every filter PrismFX makes. As a camera reviewer, it’s easy to become bored. Most camera and lens brands try harder and harder to erase character and fun from lenses. Software companies do the same thing too. So we have to use lens filters or vintage glass to get the looks we want. When PrismFX launched the Radiant filter, I was a bit skeptical. Some of the company’s other products were mediocre. But quite honestly, this might be my favorite lens filter I’ve ever used.

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This Massive, Unique 50 Is Imperfectly Beautiful: Zenit 50mm F0.95 Review

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Modern lenses are becoming increasingly sharp, with an impressive ability to suppress flare and aberrations. The sharpness is impressive, but photographers have taken to foggy filters, prisms, and Photoshop to add character that this sharpness has dampened. Enter the new Zenit 50mm f0.95: a Sony E mount lens made from a Russian company that’s been around since the 1940s. The Zenit 50mm f0.95 is a freshly-released lens that looks like it time-traveled to get here. It sports an all-metal look that’s difficult to find outside of Leica or adapted film lenses. And the images? The lens flare will make those Photoshop brushes jealous.

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On Editing Portraits: Do We Need a Code of Ethics?

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I have written openly about how I feel when it comes to editing portraits. For those who need a quick catch-up: I have no issues with light photo editing, but my ethics are challenged when a photographer manipulates the weight and shape of their subject. People have differing views on this topic, and it’s not about who is right or wrong: it’s about identifying where the line is. And even regarding this polarizing topic, I sometimes question where my own line is. Let’s take a look.

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Bad Photo Tip: The Secret to Getting Sharper Photos No One Told You

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Lots of tips on the web for sharper photos talk about post-production. We’ve also talked about this on our website. But we also discussed specular highlights and all that a flash can do. There’s a tip that no one ever told you about. In fact, I think some photographers are just trying to keep the secret to themselves. That’s how deep this one cuts. Many photographers might think you’re crazy, but we encourage you to give this a shot before you take your next photo.

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Why Tamron Is the Beginning of a Beautiful Thing for Fujifilm

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When I woke up and read Tamron’s press release on June 21st, I was seriously shocked. It seems like Fujifilm has finally lowered its walls a bit. Tamron announced earlier that the Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD would be the first lens in their lineup to be made for Sony and Fujifilm. I can’t be more excited. Fujifilm has desperately needed to work with third parties more. They’ve worked with Zeiss in the past, but Zeiss has more or less pulled an Irish Good-Bye on the photo industry. Fujifilm also worked with Profoto and a few other brands, but this is incredible. And Tamron will provide something that Fujifilm really doesn’t have but needs.

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Make Your Own Camera Bag: Tenba BYOB Insert Review

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There’s no denying that Tenba makes some of the most amazing camera bags and backpacks available today. Ever since I turned professional with my photography, I’ve lost count of the number of shoulder bags, backpacks, and roller bags I’ve bought that were made for camera gear. But what about those who enjoy using a regular bag or backpack yet want to add our cameras safely inside? Exceptional quality camera bags can be expensive. That’s where Tenba stepped in about ten years ago with the Tenba BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) range of camera insert cases. You can put your cameras inside this handy range of inserts and drop them into almost any existing bag or backpack. We received some of their DSLR Backpack and Camera insert models to test out, and we weren’t disappointed.

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Scan Your Old Rolls Quickly. Negative Supply Basic 35mm Kit Review

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No piece of photography equipment (new cameras aside) has gotten me this excited lately. Negative Supply reached out to us last month about their Basic Kit for 35mm Film Scanning. I jumped at the opportunity to try it out. This kit is a fantastic piece of equipment for amateurs and hobbyists who have many negatives in their collection that need digitization. There’s a copy stand, light source, and a film strip holder included. Keeping the film perfectly flat is a key feature of this unit, and it makes scanning quick and accurate.

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Question: Is There Such a Thing as a Professional Street Photographer?

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I see many photographers claim to be professional street photographers. I’m always slightly skeptical: I mean, do people really get paid to roam the streets and make photos? I’ve earned a good living writing about street photography, and also practicing it in the process. But does that make me a professional street photographer, or is the job title somewhat a lie? In this article, we will answer the question, and I’ll also include some input from a street photographer who’s better positioned to answer it than most.

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10 Great Amazon Renewed Camera Lenses You Know You Want

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The Phoblographer has reviewed the most camera lenses of any photography publication out there. In fact, we’ve reviewed every single one of the lenses that we’re featuring in this roundup. And we’d gladly recommend them to you. Want a new, affordable lens for your Sony camera? Well, one of Sony’s best prime lenses is available for a steal right now. Hop past the break and you’ll see.

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Did Canon Philippines Make A Misogynistic Choice?

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Wouldn’t it be nice if the powers that be in the industry had the fortitude to admit they don’t value women? Each new offense is a middle finger salute, and the reaction to remedy them is increasingly hollow. The newest chapter of this mundane book is being written by Canon Philippines. Naturally, their decision to name an all-male ambassador team is met with resentment and outrage. It’s hardly a shock. What is surprising is their non-apology apology paired with silence from the other global divisions.

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Stijn Hoekstra Explores the Empty Streets of Amsterdam Under Curfew

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“All of these pictures were taken in one night, as a snowstorm covered the Netherlands,” Stijn Hoekstra tells me. It was the winter of 2021, and amid the COVID-19 crisis, the country had imposed a mandatory curfew from 9:00 PM to 4:30 AM. That night, he left home at 9:00 and returned at 3:00 in the morning, exploring the deserted streets and peering into lonely storefronts in silence. 

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How Karyn Easton Captures Mesmerizing Photos of Oil and Water

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“The real inspiration for the series came from the very simple idea that something beautiful could be created with household materials that typically do not mix,” the photographer Karyn Easton tells me. Featuring oil bubbles floating in a water dish, her ongoing series of macro abstracts highlights the tiny miracles that happen every day when two seemingly mundane liquids collide and repel. Even when she found herself homebound amid lockdowns, she discovered this basic concoction–a familiar favorite in childhood science experiments–provided hours of delight and fascination. 

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There’s Something Very Special About This Leica 50mm F1.4 Lens

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For my fellow Leica lovers here, if you know, you know. But for the rest of us, you might not realize why this Leica 50mm f1.4 lens is just so special. I could do a very sales-y thing by telling you all Leica lenses are special. But that wouldn’t help anyone, and this site doesn’t do things like that. Right now, the Rare Camera store has a silver Leica 50mm f1.4 lens sitting all by its lonesome. And if you’re sick of modern lenses being too sharp and clinical, then you’re going to want to really pay attention to this one.

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We’ve Updated Our Nikon 50mm F1.8 S Lens Review. The Lens Improved!

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Nikon’s 50mm f1.8 S lens is probably the sharpest lens they’ve manufactured. Its optical quality far exceeds that of any F-mount lens ever made. During our earlier reviews, its AF speed and accuracy weren’t up to competitor levels. Many users reported frustration with its AF accuracy levels, especially when using Eye-AF. Nikon has released updates to existing Z body firmware and released new dual-processor bodies (Z6 II and Z7 II). In our latest tests, the AF accuracy and speed are much improved. There has also been an update to the lens firmware since our last review. It’s also got a great price to boot!

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Critiquing the Winners of The 2021 iPhone Photography Awards

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The winners of The 2021 iPhone Photography Awards are here. After reviewing thousands of photographs, sent in from photographers across 140 countries, the judging panel made their decisions. The standard was high, and the winners are evidence of that. “Congratulations to all the winners and their astute observations, sometimes moving and subtle, other times witty and surprising… always insightful,” wrote IPPA founder Kenan Aktulun. In this article, we will look at each of the winning images and offer our thoughts.

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Our Best Selling Camera Bag Just Got a Price Drop

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Last year, we reviewed the BAGSMART camera bag. For $65, it does pretty much everything that a photographer needs. You can store a laptop. There are dividers. You can store your camera stuff below and accessories up top. It’s also fairly stylish. But best of all, it’s really, really cheap when it comes to the price. And it just became even more affordable. You can snag yours for the cost of way less than a glass of really top shelf whiskey. Here’s where you can get it. And it will last a whole lot longer. I use it mostly to store my Sony gear in there. But if you have another lightweight camera system like Fujifilm X, Leica M, or Nikon Z, you can’t go wrong with this bag at all. It became our best selling camera bag via Amazon links for good reasons. Be sure to check out our review previously linked. 

How Photographer Christopher Michel Makes Stunning, Soulful Portraits

All images by Christopher Michel and used with permission. Be sure to check out his website.

“How important is that photo of you with your parents?” asks photographer Christopher Michel when asked about portraiture. “I’m guessing pretty darn important…Photography is a kind of alchemy – photographs almost always become more valuable over time.” Mr. Michel’s words ring true for lots of us these days after coming out of some very difficult times. For Christopher, making portraits is a collaborative process. As he tells us, the aim is to always create soulful portraits.

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6 Amazing Photographers and Their Black and White Photography

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Who doesn’t love black and white photography? The deep darks and the eye-catching whites are what make this beautiful genre so mesmerizing. We’ve featured many photographers who remove color from their work and instead go for the more classic feel. In fact, the stories centered around the black and white frame have been some of our most popular on the site. And in this piece, we’re going to look at some of the best of them.

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This Beautiful Nikon F in Slate Grey Will Capture Your Heart

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Considering how much hype there is around the Nikon ZFc, anyone who owns a Nikon F is probably really treasuring it right now. Most Nikon F cameras come in the standard silver or black. But every now and again, you can find one in a rare color. That’s what we have today at the Rare Camera Store. This Nikon F comes in Slate Gray and was powder coated after purchase. It’s incredibly unique, stunning to look at, and more than happy to shoot a roll of Tri-X. Yes, cameras can be happy! 😉

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What We’d Like to See in The Sony RX1r III, If It Ever Comes Out

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The idea of a true companion camera is one that makes the most sense, like your phone. But good compact cameras can still be had. The Sony RX1 series was much loved by a lot of photographers. And for years, we’ve been expecting the Sony RX1r III to come out. Yet it hasn’t. Instead, Sony has been focusing very hard on much more advanced cameras. However, I think Sony, being a passion-based company, is missing a huge opportunity here. The world of the premium compact camera is still worth looking at. So here’s what we’d want in the Sony RX1r III.

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