One of the most frustrating things that could happen to film photographers is getting ruined photos because of a camera issue. It’s always a risk when you’re working with an old camera, especially one that hasn’t been serviced or the lenses haven’t been CLA’d (Clean, Lubricate, Adjust) in a long time. In his latest video, Alastair Bird shared with us a recent issue he encountered with his Hasselblad 203FE which caused a roll of medium format film to get ruined. You might want to keep this in your bookmarks if you also have a Hasselblad system.
I think the way each of us finds our way into photography is as special and unique as the background from which we each come from. It’s a bit of our individual combinations of personality traits or the work we make behind the lens. Ultimately, we all each reached a point where we realized there was nothing else we wanted to do with our lives. And somewhere along with that passionate pursuit, you hit a bump in the road and didn’t know where to turn, or perhaps you find yourself in that space right now.
If you have been looking for the perfect lenses to take on photo walks, or just want a lens that can be left on your camera for everyday use, you need to check out this roundup. Here we will take a quick look at six of the best Sony E Mount lenses that are so versatile in what they allow you to shoot, they may never leave your camera. If you like to keep things to a minimum when it comes to photography, or if you just like being able to take one lens with you when you go on photo walks, these are the Sony E Mount lenses you need to consider adding to your kit. We have chosen a couple of 35mm primes that are perfect for those that like to keep things light, and who wish to have more of a documentary type of feel to their images, and we have selected a few zoom lenses that will enable you to shoot wide, standard, and telephoto lengths. All of these lenses are well built, optically superb, and they can produce images that are sharp and vibrant. These lenses are so good that you may find that you never take them off of your camera. Check out the six Sony E Mount lenses that are great for everyday shooting and photo walks below.
Earlier on this year, Canon stated that the declining camera market had forced them to change their entire business strategy because of the rise of smartphone photography. Other manufacturers such as Fujifilm came out and said we don’t see a market decline at all. Ever since that statement from Canon, there has been much speculation about the current state of the camera market and where it will end up. Canon, it seems, are still planning for doomsday, but are the others? Will the declining camera market force one or more of the big players out of business in the next two years? Let’s talk about that.
My name is Daniel Turan and I was born and raised in Vienna, Austria, I spent most of my adolescence in Europe, before packing my things and moving to the Middle East for a job opportunity. I lived and worked in places like Iraq, Sudan, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Lebanon and those place shaped me and my ‘Western’ mindset profoundly. Currently based in Dubai with a job in the digital industry, my day consists of meetings, workshops, and countless discussions. Photography for me now is a way to bring silence and deceleration into an otherwise hectic lifestyle.
Today in the IFA 2019, Sony announced their next 5G Android smartphone: the Sony Xperia 5. Like the Sony Xperia 1 launched earlier this year at MWC Barcelona, the Xperia 5 incorporates many of Sony’s innovative Digital Imaging technologies, this time in a sleeker, more pocket-friendly package. Like the larger Xperia 1, the Sony Xperia 5 utilizes an OLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio, albeit measuring 6.1″ diagonally this time around and packing a slightly lower 2520 x 1080 resolution due to the Xperia 5’s smaller dimensions. The Xperia 5 comes equipped with a trio of cameras, each covering a unique focal length: 16mm Ultrawide Angle, 26mm with Optical Image Stabilization, and 52mm Portrait/Telephoto with Optical Image Stabilization. The same dual photodiode/stacked CMOS image sensor technology used in Sony’s Flagship Full Frame Mirrorless A9 also powers each of the Xperia 5’s three cameras. The cameras in the Xperia 5 also borrowed a lot of the advanced autofocus tech found in Sony’s Alpha Mirrorless cameras, including advanced Eye AF and the ability to shoot at up to 10 fps with continuous AF/AE tracking. Video shooters will find lots to love with the Xperia 5 as well, including 10-bit 4:2:2 capture and s709-based color science adopted from Sony’s own Venice cinema cameras. Like the Sony RX100 Mk VII premium point-and-shoot, the Xperia 5 has Hybrid Electronic/Optical Image Stabilization built in, allowing you to capture videos with near-gimbal-stabilized quality even in low light scenarios. Sony’s Cinema Pro project-based video creation app is also included with the Xperia 5, making cinematic editing possible on a mobile phone. See the full press release along with pricing and availability after the jump.
When the Tokina 100mm f2.8 Macro FiRIN was announced, I was pretty overjoyed at the fact that the company was working to create a focal length that is much different than current options on the market. While Sony has its own f2.8 STF lens, I’m pretty sure that most journalists and photographers can take it or leave it. But with the Tokina 100mm f2.8 Macro FiRIN, the company is providing another focal length at a more affordable price point. Tokina’s glass has always been solid–in fact their parent company, Hoya, makes the optics for many lenses that you’re probably using. But they’ve always just been a tad quirky. Sometimes I’ve encountered tactile issues while in the case of the Tokina 100mm f2.8 Macro FiRIN I found my ears consistently meeting the unpleasing sound of a loud motor–a thing that I genuinely believed to be buried in the past. If you tend to be a bit more tone-deaf or have worked on construction sites, you’ll probably be able to get over it.
Achieving the right lighting setup for the look you’re going for is essential to studio portrait work. At the heart of this are light modifiers. As the term suggests, they are used to shape, direct, increase, or soften the output of your light sources so you get the mood that you want for your shots. There’s no shortcut to professional lighting, but today’s cheat sheet makes a great visual guide for what each light modifier does.
Another day, yet another camera being registered by a major camera company. This time it’s Fujifilm stepping up to the plate with a yet to be announced new camera, but what could it possibly be? The filing which was discovered this week has caused quite a tizzy in the camerasphere. With Fujifilm recently heavily discounting the excellent Fujifilm X-H1 down to $999 with the grip, one would assume that this new Fujifilm camera could be the X-H2. Not so fast their buddy, hold ya horses; we don’t think it’s that. Join us after the break to see what we believe this new Fujifilm camera might be.
If you have been thinking about upgrading your current lights, or have been wanting to buy your first set of lights, this post is for you. Right now there are some deep discounts available on Profoto lights that you do not want to miss out on. You can pick up the excellent Profoto A1 for Canon or Nikon for only $755! The Profoto B10 will give you pro studio quality light in a package that’s no bigger than a 70-200mm lens and it’s just $1,595! You can save a whopping $1,105.01 on the outstanding Profoto B2 as well. A huge B2 lighting bundle is just $989.99. Check out all of the Profoto lighting deals after the break.