Report: What It’s Like to Test Cameras During the COVID 19 Crisis

I’m sharing my most candid thoughts on what it’s like to test cameras during the COVID-19 crisis if you’re curious.

By all means, I’ll be the first to tell you that what we do here at The Phoblographer is purely for people to escape the world and, in some ways, be opened up to more parts of it. I can tell that, by our readership, many of you come here every day to escape the news and to enjoy more of your own hobby. But at the same time, I think it’s vital to tell lots of stories as much as you feel it is to share your opinions. So today, I’m sharing how we’re testing cameras amidst COVID 19 and lots of the logistical issues involved here. Our aim is to give you a peek, so you understand just how tough a job this is, how long we spend, how almost everything is a team effort, and how things are changing. And most importantly, I’m writing this as a bit of a piece of personal therapy.

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Get the Most Out of Your Sony APS-C Camera with These Great Lenses

There are some great lenses for Sony’s APS-C cameras that often get overlooked, so we wanted to shine some light on them.

Sony’s E mount has come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years, and now there are lenses for just about every genre of photography on the platform. While lenses for Sony’s Full-Frame cameras are in abundance, lenses specifically for Sony APS-C cameras are harder to come by. Still, the available ones are all fantastic. If you’re thinking about picking up a Sony a6xxx model camera and you want to see what your options are when it comes to lenses specifically designed for APS-C, this roundup is for you.

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Portrait Photography: The Differences Between 85mm and 135mm Primes

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Both 85mm and 135mm lenses are great for portrait photography, but each has particular uses.

Ask any photographer about the lenses they use for portraits, and more than likely, they will come back to you with the same answer. The 85mm and 135mm focal lengths have been go-to options for portrait photography for many years, and for good reasons, but how do you decide between the two, and what are the most significant differences between them? After the break, we will take a quick look at both prime lenses and list the pros and cons of each so that you can make a more informed purchasing decision.

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Does Manual Mode Make You a Better Photographer? Discuss With Us!

Pro Camera Reviews happens every Sunday. Sign up to join us! Please Register here

Pro Camera Reviews is a new web show by the Reviews Team of the Phoblographer. Join Gear Editor Brett Day, Reviews Editor Paul Ip, and Editor in Chief Chris Gampat as they candidly discuss the products they’re actively reviewing and the gear they’ve just reviewed. Open Q and A from the audience towards the end of the show. Every Sunday at 7pm EST.

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Op Ed: Treating Protests Like Documentary Porn is Sickening

A few years ago, I never would have thought that documentary porn would have been an issue.

There’s a pretty big issue these days involving documentary-style photography, and it stems from the street photography community. I’ve seen it in several different protests. Maybe that’s where I should start. Reviews Editor Paul Ip and I have both been out to demonstrations to document what’s going on. It’s a significant part of our job with testing cameras and lenses. But we’re not doing it for our own self-pleasure. More importantly, we’re part of a company that has a celebrated history of championing the rights of minorities for years. And with this, I feel I have the power and standpoint to address the problem of documentary porn.

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We are All PAWNs for Embracing Mirrorless Cameras, Shame on Us!

This post is being sent via telegram to an office that will fax it to an intern. Stop. The intern will then transcribe the post onto the blog. Stop.

I’m very well aware that we often say that the DSLR is dead. Though Gear Editor Brett Day still owns one, I’ll stick to my policy and the site’s policies. Are we saying that DSLRs are bad cameras? No. But instead, this policy is prioritized on focusing the site and gearing us up for the future. And we’re not the only ones saying this. Canon has declared that they’ll no longer work on other EF mount lenses unless there is enough demand. Sony doesn’t really care much about the A-mount anymore. Olympus gave up on Four Thirds mount properly a long time ago in favor of Micro Four Thirds. And Nikon is still the only one really pushing ahead. And then, you know, there’s Pentax catering to the folks who desperately still cling to DSLRs. Let’s take the motivation for this blog post, for example.

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Deal Alert: Free Photoshop 101, Joel Grime’s Brush Bundle $27, and More

We have found some excellent deals for you that will help you master Photoshop, improve your image edits, and learn new skills,

It’s time to stop being bullied by Photoshop. It’s time to work smarter, not harder, and it’s time to expand your knowledge. If you have always wanted to get to grips with Photoshop, you should sign up for Kelvin Pimont’s FREE Photoshop 101 masterclass! This class will give you a Photoshop foundation you can build upon. Nathon Elson’s Capture One Styles pack is just $39, and Dan Hecoh’s Nude shooting and processing bundle (NSFW) is only $69! There are incredible deals on Lightroom Presets and brushes too. Kelvin Pimont’s Lightroom preset bundle is just $27 (regularly $395), and his package of LR brushes is only $19. You can also grab The One Light Masterclass from Joel Grimes for just $57 too! To see more Photoshop tutorials, presets, and more, head past the break.

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JPEG or RAW? Which is Better? Check Out Our Discussion

Pro Camera Reviews happens every Sunday. Sign up to join us! Please Register here

Pro Camera Reviews is a new web show by the Reviews Team of the Phoblographer. Join Gear Editor Brett Day, Reviews Editor Paul Ip, and Editor in Chief Chris Gampat as they candidly discuss the products they’re actively reviewing and the gear they’ve just reviewed. Open Q and A from the audience towards the end of the show. Every Sunday at 7pm EST.

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Cheap Photo: Canon 5D4 $1,999, EOS RP w/24-105mm $999, and More

These deals on Canon cameras are the best we have seen this year!

If you’re looking for a new Canon camera or some new glass, you need to see these Canon camera deals and deals on some of their lenses. Right now you can pick up the legendary EOS 5D IV for just $1,999, the new Mirrorless EOS M6 II is only $799, the EOS RP with a 24-105mm f4-7.1 lens is just $999, and the EOS M50 with a lens is an absolute steal at just $499. You can also find deals on the EOS 80D kit, which is only $899, and the EOS 6D II, which has dropped to $1,199. There are great deals on lenses, too, like the RF 35mm f1.8, which is down to $449, and the EF 17-40mm f4 L ($649). To see all of the incredible Canon camera deals and sale prices on their lenses, head on past the break.

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Here’s How I’m Changing the Culture of Instagram

On the topic of Instagram, I’m a hypocrite — I’m trying to change that.

I’ve long been a critic of Instagram when it pertains to photographers. For quite some time, I’ve argued the platform doesn’t care about the photography community, and that the culture fuels mediocre, copycat work. Frustrated with algorithms and influencers, I’ve thrown everything but the kitchen sink at the social media giant. But I’m a hypocrite. Because throughout all this time, I’ve continued to use the platform, never trying to change the culture, until now.

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9 Bang for Your Buck Weather Sealed Prime Lenses for Sony’s E Mount

These affordable lenses are great all-around performers that don’t mind playing in the rain.

It wasn’t long ago that you had to spend a pretty penny to get great lenses with weather sealing. But now, thanks to advances in technology and cheaper manufacturing costs, you can get some truly spectacular weather sealed prime lenses for a fraction of what they used to cost. If you want to add some weather sealed primes to your collection, and don’t want to go bankrupt doing it, you should check out the weather sealed prime lenses we have rounded up for Sony Mirrorless cameras after the break.

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Lensrentals Found a Big Flaw in Sony’s Image Stabilization Unit

The team over at Lensrentals put a few Sony a7 and a9 cameras through some crazy tests and found broken image stabilization units.

I guess something that I’d never even thought about was the durability of image stabilization units in cameras. But LensRentals found that many of the units in their cameras often broke. They found it so alarming that they went so far as to alert Sony to the issue. This is all part of their Sensor to Flange Distance coverage that they’ve been doing, and the results publishing today tackle Canon, Sony, and Micro Four Thirds cameras. So we got the chance to talk to Roger about what gives with Sony’s cameras and more. Plus, you’ll learn the shocking truth about how it affects image stabilization. Be sure to also check out more on the Lensrentals Blog.

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Infographic: Tips on Shooting Portraits with an 85mm Lens

When it comes to portrait photography, the 85mm focal length is the go to choice for most photographers with good reason.

For many photographers, the 85mm focal length is synonymous with portraiture. Whenever the topic of portrait photography comes up, the discussion inevitably involves the use of 85mm lenses. But, why is the 85mm focal length so closely associated with portrait photography, and how can you best utilize it in your portraiture work? That’s precisely what we’re covering today with our latest original Phoblographer infographic.

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Under $600: 18 of the Best Photography Gifts for Dad This Father’s Day

These photography gifts will make Dad snap happy this Father’s Day.

If your dad is the photographer (or wants to be the photographer) of the family, and you’re struggling to come up with ideas on what to get for him this Father’s Day, look no further than this post. Whether your dad is a newcomer to the craft, or he has been around the shutter a few times, these items will make this Father’s Day even more special for him. Head on past the break to see all the incredible deals we found on photography gifts.

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Street Photography: 35mm Vs 50mm, Which One Is Right for You?

A 35mm and a 50mm lens are great options for street photography, but both deliver different outcomes.

I’d always encourage a photographer to opt for a prime lens when shooting street photography. They’re often sharper, smaller, and more fun to use. A 35mm and a 50mm are popular choices for both new and seasoned street photographers. Personally speaking, I veer more towards a nifty fifty, but I’ve also enjoyed shooting with a 35mm. But it’s not just a case of choosing one or the other; the decision is based on what I’m trying to achieve with my work. Let’s take a closer look.

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Under $600: New Photographers Can Grow with These 5 Entry Level Cameras

Affordable and feature-packed, these entry level cameras are great for new photographers who want more control over their photography.

Entry level cameras; this is a term that used to mean bargain basement cameras with little to no features that were sold at big box stores to the masses. Today, these cameras can still be picked up at big box stores for low prices, but new entry level cameras are anything but bare-bones. For under $600, you can get cameras with blazing fast autofocus systems, incredible sensors that can capture tons of detail, in-body image stabilization, and excellent touchscreens and electronic viewfinders. After the break, we have listed five affordable, entry-level cameras that new photographers can pick up and grow with.

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The Phoblographer’s Official Statement on Racism, BLM, and the Industry

We do not condone racism. And if you think that we should keep our mouths shut and stop talking about it, then please don’t come back to my website.

“I always thought Phoblographer was run by a white man,” is still a sentence that echos through my head. The world seems to be taking different stands right now on all that’s happening. Many of you will probably go out and document protests because you love documentary porn. You’ll do it for a self-serving reason and maybe not do a thing about the fact that not only African Americans are grievously mistreated, but that it’s been a systemic thing. It’s ingrained even in the photo industry. If you’re not sure how, I’d like you to take a few minutes to listen to me.

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No IS, But the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for Sony FE is $729

The previously teased Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD is aiming to be an all-in-one zoom lens for Sony FE cameras.

If the Sony FE platform needed something, it’s an all-in-one zoom lens. And today, the cat is out of the bag with the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD. Previously teased on their website, this new lens is coming in at $729. For that price tag, photographers are getting a package of all these focal lengths in a lens that’s just under five inches and weighs 20.3 oz. There’s also a 67mm diameter, so there’s extra proof that it’s not all that large. Tamron is also big on pointing out specific apertures at different focal lengths: f3.5 at 50mm, f4.5 at 100mm, and f5.6 at 150mm through 200mm. Believe it or not, these are very important. Tamron is gearing this lens up for rough conditions in making it moisture-resistant. There are lots of good things about this lens despite there being no image stabilization.

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Ricoh Put an Obnoxious Orange Ring on the RICOH GR III Street Edition

The kicker is that the RICOH GR III Street Edition will cost you $1.199.95.

Why? That’s the question that I’m asking about the RICOH GR III Street Edition camera. The company, seemingly taking a page from Leica’s book, put a giant orange ring around the front of the camera to draw attention to it. I’m not exactly sure why they did this with all practicality, but if you plan on using it, that big ring is most likely going to draw lots of attention to yourself. There are excellent reasons why Leica shooters put black tape over the logo, and Leica even has editions without the logo on it. The Ricoh GR III was already a pretty stealthy looking camera. Instead, the RICOH GR III Street Edition is probably targeted to some wealthy surgeon that likes walking around a park channeling his inner Garry Winogrand in hopes that he’ll make it big one day and teach many a workshop through his collective. Limited to 3,500 units, it also comes with a detachable optical viewfinder and a leather hand strap.

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Around $1,000 or Less: 7 Cameras With IBIS and More for Shaky Hands

If you’re looking for cameras with IBIS and you don’t want to destroy your bank account, check out the camera bodes we’ve rounded up for you.

Cameras with IBIS aren’t new, but it’s only in the last few years or so that the technology has worked its way into more affordable camera bodies. The benefits of IBIS are quite excellent. Being able to attach any lens to cameras with IBIS and take advantage of stabilization is a game-changer, especially when it comes to shooting in low light. There are now cameras with IBIS that cost a lot less than you might think. In this roundup, we will take a quick look at seven cameras with IBIS that can be snapped up for around $1,000 or much less.

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Isabella Tabacchi’s Astrophotography Under Namibia’s Surreal Night Sky

All photos by Isabella Tabacchi. Used with permission.

The night sky has always fascinated bright minds for the mystery and stunning imagery it brings, making it a popular subject among artists and photographers. Bologna-based landscape photographer Isabella Tabacchi, for example, found it her favorite part of everyday life and a potent source of inspiration for her work. If you are drawn to photographing landscapes against the night sky, you’ll definitely find her snaps in Namibia nothing short of surreal.

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