How to Find Inspiration for Photography Projects in the Pandemic

In Pro Camera Reviews, we recently discussed our requests from Camera Manufacturers

You’re all very bored. And trust us, we are too. So, we were looking for inspiration in our own pieces. We looked at a number of photography projects that photographers do when they’re bored or commit to a project. On our Flipboard, we rounded up a few things. There are photographers doing projects at home, fun projects, dealing with anxiety creatively, taking early morning walks, and seeing what photographers are doing now. And we discussed that in our recent episode of Pro Camera Reviews.

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Sigma, Tamron, and Others Are More Important Than You Think

Third-party lenses from Sigma and others add so much to the industry.

It was just the other week when we outlined what we wanted to see from Sigma in the coming year. We talked about how we looked forward to Canon RF and Nikon Z mount lenses. We even pleaded with Sigma for new Foveon based cameras. Well, it looks like our prayers have been received. Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamak talks about lenses and cameras and what direction the company will be taking going forward in a new interview. Just how important are players like Sigma and Tamron to the industry? Let’s talk about that.

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4 Fixed Lens Cameras That Will Help You Be a Better Street Photographer

These fixed lens cameras are just the right size and offer enough performance to make you a street photography ninja.

Gear isn’t everything, but having the right camera for a certain situation can definitely help. This is especially true when it comes to street photography. When you’re out on the streets, you need to be able to rattle off images quickly and sometimes discreetly. This is something that can be hard to do with much larger cameras. Being able to remain nimble and having a camera that helps keep attention away from you is a must, and this is where fixed lens cameras come into play. These small, power-house fixed lens cameras have gorgeous optics that help capture detail-rich images, and blazing fast autofocus systems that will help you nail the shot every time you hit the shutter. If you’re on the hunt for a camera that will help you become a street photography pro, check out this roundup.

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What to Do With Your 85mm Lens. A Guide for New Photographers

The 85mm lens is more a lot more than just portraits.

Lots of folks think that 85mm lenses can only do one thing. But that’s wrong. It’s not as wide as a 50mm or a 35mm, but they can do a whole lot. However, most people buy 85mm lenses just for portrait photography. Indeed, it’s great for this. It flattens a person’s profile very well and makes them look flattering. The truth is, though, that the 85mm lens is very versatile. And you can do a whole lot with it. We’re going to break those down in our roundup.

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What We Want to See from Camera Manufacturers in 2021

In Pro Camera Reviews, we recently discussed our requests from Camera Manufacturers

The year 2021 is going to be a very big one for the camera world. We’d even argue to say that it’s going to be as massive as the year 2018 was. Back then, we had a ton of announcements come out that showed each manufacturer was really making strides forward. We should’ve seen that last year. In some ways, we did. But the camera manufacturers have to find a way to move ahead even further. And we discussed that in our recent episode of Pro Camera Reviews.

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Your Micro Four Thirds Portraits Will Come Alive with These Great Lenses

There are some outstanding lenses on the Micro Four Thirds platform for portraits.

If you’re a Micro Four Thirds photographer and have been wondering what lenses to consider for portrait photography, this roundup is for you. Here we will take a look at the five lenses that make up the best portrait lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system. We have picked out five portrait lenses that range in cost, so there are options for photographers with any budget. But, don’t think for a second that the cheaper lenses will leave you wanting more. All these lenses are ridiculously sharp, focus quickly, and produce colors that will leave you speechless. Let’s jump right in and take a look at the lenses you should be considering for Micro Four Thirds portraits.

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How The Fujifilm X Pro 4 Can Be a Successful Camera

I adore the Fujifilm X Pro 3, and I really think the Fujifilm X Pro 4 needs a few things.

Depending on who you ask, the Fujifilm X Pro 3 is an awful camera. Those are the opinions of tons of people who care too much about letting technology do the work for them and chimping their exposures. But I’d go as far as saying that those photographers can’t think for themselves. The Fujifilm X Pro 3 is a camera for the thinking photographer, and my favorite camera they’ve made. In fact, it remains to be my favorite camera that I own. If Fujifilm wants to make it better, I implore them to not give in to the crowd. Here’s how the Fujifilm X Pro 4 should come to market!

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These Photo Editing Guides, Presets From the Pros Have Big Discounts

Learn from Chris Orwig, Rikard Rodin, and Kelvin Pimont and save at the same time.

You’ve seen Brushes and presets before. However, we bet you’ve never seen any as good as these. These guides and preset bundles are from the best in the business. You can get great deals on presets like this Lightroom bundle from Kelvin Pimont, which is just $27 ($395 regularly). Kelvin’s package of LR brushes is a steal at only $19. The outstanding One Light Masterclass from world-renowned photographer and lighting master Joel Grimes is just $57 (regularly $197), and his world-class Lightroom beauty brushes are only$27! Rikard Rodin’s bundle of dramatic atmosphere brushes is just $27. Trust us; they will really make your images shine! Chris Orwig’s Black and White Masterclass, which is only $19, will have you creating timeless images in no time! To see all the photo editing deals, head past the break.

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Challenge: Leica M10 Monochrom vs Kodak Tri-X Blind Taste Test

Think you can tell the difference between film and the Leica M10 Monochrom? Let’s see!

With digital photography, it’s become more accessible for folks to make their images look like film. Presets are great for this. But it gets a lot more complicated with black and white. I’ve rarely heard someone say, “Dem tones,” to a black and white photograph. So that’s why I’m so curious about output from the Leica M10 Monochrom. It’s a fantastic camera that has a black and white sensor. And even better, when shooting at a higher ISO setting, the noise will look perfectly like film. There’s a lot of advantages to it. And photographers should appreciate this. But lots also adore the look of black and white film. So we’re taking a closer look at film and the Monochrom. Can you tell which is which?

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A Look at 5 Photographers Documenting Civil Rights Struggles

These photographers are doing the work we need to truly pay attention to.

In our 11 years, we’ve interviewed lots of photographers. But more importantly, we’ve stayed close to our photojournalism roots. Our platform has been used by many photographers to get the word out. Much of what documentary photography about these days is Civil Rights. It’s happening all across the world in various ways. There are stories at the top of the news every morning about it. But there are some that haven’t really been told as much. For Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, we’re counting down a few that we’ve featured.

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EXCLUSIVE: Fujifilm PRO 400H Is Now Sadly Discontinued

Fujifilm Pro 400H, we’re told, was selling very well, but a problem occured.

The end of an era is happening today as Fujifilm Pro 400H is saying goodbye to the world. Despite the declining sale of film, Fujifilm Pro 400H isn’t being discontinued because of sales numbers. The company cites in a statement to The Phoblographer that the film cannot be made anymore. This makes the story even sadder.

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Hurry! The World’s Most Expensive Point and Shoot Is Under $1,000

With a bit of searching, you’ll snag a Contax T2 for under $1,000 right now.

The Contax T2 is, without a doubt, the most expensive point and shoot camera on the market. Depending on the cultural times, it shares that spot with the Contax T3. And right now, it’s possible to snag one at a price you can afford. Made famous by a bunch of celebrities and photographers both, the camera is a rarity. To this day, I’m still perplexed by why Zeiss didn’t reissue this camera.

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These Super Telephoto Zooms Make Capturing Winter Wildlife Easy

We’re streaming daily on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and Spotify!

Lots of photographers shut things down when the colder winter weather starts hitting. However, things are just getting started for wildlife photographers. Those who brave the winter winds and snow often get rewarded with spectacular shots of the wildlife around them. If you want to get in on the winter wildlife photography scene, you’ll need a lens that will help deliver the goods. After the break, we’ve rounded up five super telephoto zooms across multiple platforms that will get you closer to the action than ever before.

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Delphine Queme’s Calming Photographs will Settle the Overcrowded Mind

We’re streaming daily on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and Spotify!

“What seems lifeless, for me, on the contrary, is very alive,” says Delphine Queme. She adds, “ I love minimalism…I am searching for harmony in my photographs, something I don’t find in life, and in a world which is often too violent for me.” Minimalist photography is about scaling back. Removing the clusters of life and offering a visual that’s free of the meaningless and that focuses on the specific. With Queme’s minimalist photography, she offers something peaceful. Void of the dramatics, her work settles us as we move from one image to the next. She’s a thoughtful soul. And she’s often trying to create character in a world that can lack identity, or how she puts it, “I need to create beauty otherwise life is too dull.”

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There are Now Four Sony 35mm Lenses. Which One Do You Need?

We’ve reviewed all of the Sony 35mm lenses, and more.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll repeat it. 35mm primes are just about the most versatile prime lenses you can get. They are great for portraits, food photography, event and wedding photography, documentary photography, landscapes, and more. They’re a do it all lens, and no system is complete without one. With the new Sony 35mm f1.4 G Master’s arrival, there are three fast Sony 35mm prime lenses for the E mount. On top of these three, you have two fast options from Sigma (the 35mm f1.4 DG Art and the 35mm f1.2 Art DG DN) and another 35mm f2.8 lens from Sony. Whew! That’s a lot of 35mm primes to choose from. So, how do you pick the right one for you? Fortunately, we’ve reviewed all of them. After the break, we’ll compare them all for you.

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ASUS Shows Off New Monitors and PCs for Photographers at CES 2021

New ASUS Ryzen, Intel-powered PCs, and a new monitor with a unique feature will be released early in 2021.

We talk a lot about new cameras and lenses, but we seldom discuss the importance of your editing rigs. With cameras becoming more powerful and file sizes becoming bigger, having a pretty beefy PC is important. Having color-accurate monitors is also vital if you want your work to look its best. CES 2021 is virtual this year, but it doesn’t stop us from looking at the new gear that will be arriving. ASUS is looking to continue helping photographers and creators with new PCs. There’s even a new monitor that should help speed up editing as well. Join us after the break for all the details.

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This 1.4 Is Remarkably Light: Sony 35mm F1.4 GM Review

Don’t let the size fool you; the lightweight Sony 35mm f1.4 GM captures high-end images.

Wide apertures create spectacular bokeh but cumbersome lenses. The newly launched Sony FE 35mm f1.4 GM defies the norm, weighing in at only a touch over a pound. A lens that just fits into the palm of my hand, the glass mixes an exceptionally bright aperture and near-perfect sharpness at a low distortion focal length. The result? Excellent images that capture a scene yet deliver the soft backgrounds typically reserved for longer lenses.

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It’s Really Easy to Use! HY Magnetic Filter Holder System Review

The H&Y K-Series Magnetic Filter Holder System is an innovative and easy way for photographers to attach filters to their cameras.

The H&Y K-Series Magnetic Filter Holder System uses magnets to remedy an inconvenience for photographers. With this one system, there’s no need to have a ton of filters; you can theoretically use one filter across many lenses. The savings can add up too! Buying different Neutral Density and Circular Polarizing Filters can get pricey. The H&Y K-Series Magnetic Filter Holder System is a super user-friendly alternative.

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What Photographers Need to Know About Their Beauty Dish

A beauty dish is an excellent tool for photographers who want a soft but punchy look.

We’re pretty sure that the work of most photographers these days is done with a beauty dish of some variant. They are now some of the most popular light modifiers out there. Because of their design, they deliver the best of many worlds. Photographers adore umbrellas for their inefficient light spill. Meanwhile, softboxes are loved for their efficient and soft approach to lighting. But beauty dishes make the best of both worlds. Just like all light modifiers, the bigger they are, the better they can be. So let’s understand a bit more about why they’re so awesome.

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This Modified Fujifilm Instax SQ6 Is Exactly What You Want

My eyes widened with disbelief when I was this Fujifilm Instax SQ6.

I think we can agree that the cool thing about vintage camera lust is the thrill of the hunt. You’re on the lookout for something cool and unique that no one else has. When you find it, you’re thrilled. And that’s the case right now with this unique Modified Fujifilm Instax SQ6. It’s available on eBay for the bargain price of only around $450. Most importantly, it does what so many of us want: manual exposure with an Instax camera using good glass!

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5 Quality Ultra-Wide Zooms That’ll Make You Capture the World Differently

We’re streaming daily on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and Spotify!

I’m not going to lie; I have a major soft spot for ultra-wide zooms. Ultra-wide zooms force you to look at your surroundings in a completely new way, and you’ll have untold amounts of fun doing it. Trust me when we say you need one in your arsenal. There are many ultra-wide zooms on the market that are cheaper than the lenses we have selected here. I have used them all, and they’re great. However, if you want to capture images that absolutely sing with every click of your shutter, these are the five premium ultra-wide zooms you need to take a closer look at. Whether you want to capture landscapes, cityscapes, architecture, astrophotography, or more, you will not be disappointed.

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