We Are in an APS-C Camera Renaissance

Photographers for years, have always said that they don’t want anything smaller than full-frame. Indeed, I still know a lot of photographers who think this way. But if manufacturers have shown us anything, it’s that we’re in an APS-C camera renaissance. Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Fujifilm have all released some sort of support for APS-C cameras due to the supply shortages that are going around. Until that issue is totally sorted out, we may be in an APS-C camera renaissance for a while.

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The Best Lenses Under $500 for Your Mirrorless Camera

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The best lenses under $500 are probably the ones you already have. In fact, if you’ve used your camera for a while now, we’d be shocked if you didn’t pick these up. There are few things that make us happier than adding an affordable gem of a lens to your camera bag. And because we know that not everyone has over $1,000 to spare on their hobby or profession, we’re rounding up these little gems for you. Take a look, and dive in with us!

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How The Laowa 90mm f2.8 Macro Makes Bokeh Extra Special

We’re really curious about the Laowa 90mm f2.8 Macro lens being announced today for a few reasons. First off, Laowa puts out new lenses at a very furious pace. More importantly, they make them for nearly every lens mount available too. But what’s seriously fascinating about the new Laowa 90mm f2.8 Macro is a critical part of the design: it’s an apochromatic lens. If you’ve read about my thoughts previously on Apochromatic lenses, then you’ll understand why this is extremely special. Even better, Laowa is promising that the design is less than 5 inches long while being a bit more than 1lb.

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The Best Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras for Professional Photographers

There are tons of full frame mirrorless cameras on the market. But only some can truly be called the best for pro photographers. If you’re looking to ditch the DSLR, take a peek at what’s on the table. Some photographers might consider switching cameras systems, while others just want to see the list of what’s great on the market. Either way, our list of the best full frame mirrorless cameras will have you nodding in agreement.

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Did They Waste a Year? Leica SL2s Review Update

The Leica SL2s recently received a brand new firmware update. This update brings it more in line with a lot of modern cameras but ignores what could’ve been. Leica is focusing on making the SL2s a content creator’s camera. But when we tested it, we found it to be excellent for photojournalists. And it’s still one of my favorite personal cameras. However, after installing the new firmware update, I can’t help but feel like they wasted a year. And so, our Leica SL2s review update begins.

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3 Metal Lenses With Beautiful Image Quality

Very few things make us swoon like metal lenses. If it’s not the way that they feel in the hand, it’s the experience of turning a focusing ring to get something in focus. What’s more, they’re typically built incredibly well. So we’re sharing our love of metal lenses with you folks and recommending a few that we think you’ll truly appreciate.

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The Best Cameras for Shooting JPEG Photos You’ll Love

Oh man! Very few things excite me like not needing to edit photos I just shot. It keeps me in the moment and ensures I’m not shooting for the edit. I’m instead shooting for the moment and getting the photo the best possible in-camera. In fact, certain cameras are just so good that I don’t need to edit the photos. We’ve tested a bunch here at The Phoblographer over the past 13 years. So here are the best cameras for shooting JPEG photos.

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Camera Fans Are One of the Worst Parts of Photography

I’m a user of various camera systems. If you’re on the Phoblographer’s reviews team, then you’re bound to be a brand agnostic. You can use pretty much any camera and camera system that’s thrown at you. And over the years, I’ve seen cults of camera fans become a very ugly part of photography. For anyone that’s shot for years, this isn’t anything new. But the culture around camera fans and loyalties are awful, divisive things that get in the way of making better pictures and having a more sustainable photo industry.

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Silver Cameras Are Stunning. We Need More of Them!

I’ve always been baffled as to why camera manufacturers don’t make more silver cameras. For years, they were considered the standard until black came in. But that doesn’t mean silver isn’t worth a look. I think camera manufacturers need to return to making more silver cameras. But with that said, it should actually look like silver and not some dark shade of gray. Let’s take a look at some of the most gorgeous silver cameras to come out in recent years.

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Pick One! The Best 28mm Lens for Vintage Lovers!

The 28mm lens isn’t the most popular focal length. And in our eyes this is a shame. For some of us, it resembles how we see the world. To that point, a lot of them can look the same. But there are a few key gems that have put some extra twinkle in our eyes. Here’s our list of the best 28mm lenses for vintage lovers. And yes, we’re going for the vintage renders.

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Rehoused Vintage Lenses with Weather Sealing Could be Amazing

There are times when I’ve really loved the look of a vintage lens but wanted the weather-resistance of a modern lens. Best yet, I know that I’m not alone here. The modern photography world offers lenses that are incredibly clinical. With that said, and if we keep going at this rate, every single lens will look the exact same. Why can’t we have variety? Why does everyone need to make their own version of the metaphorical spicy chicken sandwich but remove the spice? That’s why I believe that if someone rehoused vintage lenses the right way, they’d make a killing.

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The Best L Mount Lenses for Photographers Who Love Primes

The Leica L Mount is the second oldest full-frame mirrorless autofocus camera mount on the market. It’s the home to a bunch of beautiful, unique lenses that are also quite durable. And if you like shooting video on the side, you’ll find something here you like. What’s more, if you like photography and want character from your lenses, you’ll love these! Here’s our round-up of the best L mount lenses. Always remember: we’ve tested all of these!

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How to Protect Your Camera from Rain, Snow, Sand, Dust, and More

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Trust us, we’ve done the tests. When it comes to weather sealing tests on cameras, there’s arguably no better solution than the stuff that we’ve done to various cameras and lenses. We’ve actually gone out and used the cameras and lenses in the worst weather conditions. Our reviewers do this and a whole lot more. We push the gear to the edge because we know that you’ll want to. With all this said, we decided to talk about how to protect your camera. Here are the things we keep in mind before we go out.

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A Quick Buying Guide for Vintage Camera Lovers

There aren’t many things that bring some of us joy like vintage cameras. Vintage cameras have a lasting appeal that so many modern cameras don’t at all. There’s the feeling of metal, the knowledge that it will work, and so much more. Your vintage camera might even outlive you and you can pass it on to someone else. So if you’re considering buying one, we’ve got a fair amount of info for you. Here are three photography cheat sheets for those interested in vintage cameras.

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Panoramic RAW Photos Are My Landscape Photography Dream

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I’d like to believe that the photo industry has advanced quite far, despite still being behind phones somehow. I think that we’re now at a point where cameras can do even more. For example, a bunch of cameras try to do high megapixel modes and lots more. And years ago, they did panoramic modes as JPEGs. But I genuinely feel like it’s time they took that further. My idea: a panoramic RAW file that stitches together using similar tech as the high megapixel and multiple exposure modes.

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This Is How the Photo Industry Can Be Saved

The more I think about it, the happier I’ve become with the idea. The photo industry has become a lively place filled with sparks and new energy. And I think it’s time for a significant change. In some ways, the photo industry needs a complete overhaul. I’m not just talking about the galleries, but the manufacturers as well. There needs to be something new, something totally different from everything else. This starts with company management.

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The Leica 28mm F2 Matte Black Is Beautiful Inside and Out

Our staff has reviewed every Leica M-mount lens currently on the market. As much as we adore them, I’m sure we’d be happier with matte black variants of their lenses. Matte exteriors have a few characteristic differences and advantages over more polished surfaces. And that’s precisely what Leica is doing with their new 28mm Summicron variant. The Leica 28mm f2 Matte Black is less shiny and flashy than their other lenses. If you’ve beaten your camera up with lots of patina to showcase, this might be the one you want. Cue George Michael’s Careless Whisper, please.

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3 Lenses for the Leica M4 You’re Bound to Love!

The Leica M4 is a camera with a cult-like following. Of the fully analog Leicas, it represents the pinnacle of things while also being very affordable. It’s outdone only by the Leica M6 in terms of accruing a following. But what are the best lenses for the Leica M4? Well, we’re rounding up a slew of options that we really like. And we’ve actually used all these lenses too.

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The Camera Manufacturers Have to Learn This Important Lesson

I’ve always been fascinated by the small amount of hype the photo world can produce, and camera manufacturers still don’t seem to understand its value. Not long ago, we witnessed the Watch world basically turn into chaos with the Omega x Swatch collaboration. For years, this has made me wonder why the photo world couldn’t create this much hype. Apple can do it, and many other brands can too. But for some odd reason, the camera world just doesn’t understand that they can produce an affordable luxury that everyone will flock to.

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The New Laowa 20mm f4 Zero-D Shift is Bound to Be Fun

Hopefully, photographers won’t need to do it in post-production anymore! We’re always looking for something new and fun here at the Phoblographer. And we’ve wondered for a while why more brands don’t do the tilt-shift style of lenses. There are, of course, Lensbaby’s options. But then there’s the new Laowa 20mm f4 Zero-D Shift. This continues with Venus Optics’ Laowa series of zero distortion and shift lenses. 

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