When the Panasonic S1 was announced, I’ll admit that I took far less interest in it than I did the S1R. I personally need more color depth, and the lower megapixel sensors just don’t do it for me. But after using it, the Panasonic S1 surprised me. Not only is it capable as a camera, but it’s gotten better with firmware updates. The firmware updates are enough to make me hope that it’s going to dramatically improve even more. And by all means, this is a great camera. But there’s an elephant in the room in the form of its chunky body.
If you got your hands on a Canon camera over the holidays, there is a good chance that it came packaged with a kit lens or two. These kit lenses are great for a little while, but you will soon find that they hold you and your creative side back rather quickly. We have put together a shortlist of affordable lenses (first and third party options) for Canon cameras that won’t break the bank but will seriously impress you. Check them out after the break.
If you’re the proud owner of a Hasselblad X1D or X1D II and you have been waiting for a small, lightweight lens that can be used while you’re out and about, your wait is over. Hasselblad has just announced that their new 45mm XCD 4/45P is not only super affordable but also claims that it is the lightest digital Medium Format lens (cue dramatic voice-over) ‘in the world!’ Join us after the break for all of the juicy information.
“In a lot of ways, it’s really, really well done.” said Roger Cicla to us in a brief interview about his team’s time trying to repair a Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 S for the Z mount. “In a few, it’s very poorly thought out. For example, I would guess a broken filter ring is a $400 repair, it requires complete disassembly.” What the team encountered is a very modern design with the Nikon 24-70mm. And we found the same thing to be true in our review. Part of the modern design has to do with the LCD screen up top. But in addition to that, the lens is a completely new design for mirrorless cameras and also designed to be small. That’s better than lots of other options on the market right now.
If Skylum’s Luminar 4 is your preferred choice of software when it comes to image editing, you’ll be pleased to know that today, Skylum has dropped the first major update to their new editing software. The Luminar 4.1 update adds a ton of new AI-enhanced features, and it should add some performance boosts as well. Click past the break to see all of the details about the update for Luminar 4.
It’s that time of the year again when the creative community refers to fearless forecasts on the top creative trends to guide their personal projects and professional work. Among the most trusted is Shutterstock’s annual Creative Trends Report, which is now out on its ninth edition. For 2020, the company has identified three major trends, the local favorites found to be favorites in 25 countries across the globe, and five rising trends that are set to gain traction.
A while back, Yeti pitched the idea of working with the Yeti Crossroads 23 backpack for photographers to me. Working with new vendors is always fun, and experimenting around is too. As a company targeted to the outdoor person, I was inquisitive to see and understand why they talked to me. I mean, I travel a whole lot. But for the most part, I’m a city boy. The country doesn’t scare me, but city life is much better for a legally blind photographer. Nonetheless, I accepted the challenge of working with the Yeti Crossroads 23. It proved to be a reminder that they’re not a photographer’s brand and that pretty much no one is making a perfect camera bag.
DSLR cameras are here to stay, and they still make great shooting companions for both beginners and pros. If you decided to start your photography journey with a Canon DSLR and you’re set on specializing in a specific genre, we found a handy lens guide that you can use as a reference for today’s featured photography cheat sheet.
Sometimes I think that photographers (especially professionals) do too much to harm one another in fears of competition instead of working to boost one another. But after years of photo walking, I can’t even begin to tell you how much enlightenment I’ve gained from talking to others and how much I’ve spread in kind. Of course, it requires breaks and some time to pass between walks or at least there to be a variety of people to walk with, but we can truly help one another. With all of this should be candidness and transparency with one another. Above all of this, I think what is required of all of us is good intentions with one another.
Do you like bargains? If so, you’re in the right place. We have found some exceptional deals like the Olympus EPL9 for just $299, the Olympus EPL9 with a lens for $279.99, and the new Sony A6100 with a lens for only $698. You can also get a Full-Frame Nikon D610 with a 50mm f1.8 and a Wi-Fi adapter for only $896.95. Need accessories? You can get your hands on a massive kit of graduated and ND filter kit for just $25.99, and Vanguard Monopod for $39.95 (save $50). If you are looking to learn in the new year or perhaps want to start building your collection of presets and overlays, there are deals for you on those things too. A bundle of 2,500 overlays is just $29, 3,100 portrait posing cards can be yours for only $29, and you can learn how to contact and shoot with top models for only $19.95. Check out all of the photography deals after the break.