The Weekly Wrap-Up features articles from the last seven days of Photofocus. This week, Lauri Novak explained how to check our camera's shutter count, Michèle Grenier gives us her final decision on switching to mirrorless, Levi Sim discusses using speedlights for portraits with waterfalls, Vanelli dives into the new Accent AI 2.0 with portraits and Chris Anson tells us how to register our drone with the FAA. Thanks for joining us this week on Photofocus! … [Read more...] about Weekly Wrap-Up: April 28-May 4, 2019
mirrorless
I did it … I switched to mirrorless!
Yes, I said it!!! I sold my DSLRs and bought a brand new, out of the box, mirrorless camera body. Here is the last of my "DSLR to mirrorless" journey articles with (of course!) the big announcement of who between the Olympus OM-D E-M1X or the Sony a9 stole my heart! A Tinder-like adventure I like to compare my mirrorless quest to a Tinder match. First step: You look at the picture. Yeah, nice lookin'! Step two: Let's learn a little more about you. Then, you transform yourself into a detective that even the CIA couldn't match by first stalking … [Read more...] about I did it … I switched to mirrorless!
Will I switch from DSLR to Mirrorless? The final round
I've now been playing around with the Sony a9 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1X for a few weeks and gotten to know them quite a bit better. I shot sports photographs in all kinds of lighting conditions (the good, the bad and the really crappy ones). This article sums up my experience with both cameras and my opinion on their performance. All men are not created equal. Neither are cameras. Each and every individual has something unique to bring to the table. There's no "one-size-fits-all" magic recipe. I am not looking for THE ultimate perfect … [Read more...] about Will I switch from DSLR to Mirrorless? The final round
Sigma 60 mm f/2.8 for Micro Four-Thirds brings sharpness and creativity to portraits
When I was first offered the chance to review the Sigma 60 mm f/2.8 DN Art lens for Micro Four-Thirds cameras, I was intrigued. First, I had never actually used one of Sigma's Art lenses, which are praised by a lot of full-frame photographers I know. But second — and more importantly — how would the 60 mm focal length hold up to my workflow, especially when I'm used to shooting with either a 12-40mm or 45 mm lens? First, the quality. Despite its small footprint, this lens is built like a beast, featuring an all-metal body that's available in … [Read more...] about Sigma 60 mm f/2.8 for Micro Four-Thirds brings sharpness and creativity to portraits
Will I switch from DSLR to Mirrorless? My first photoshoot experience with the Olympus OM-D E-M1X
As I already mentioned in my very first article, that I am looking at upgrading my photography gear (my two Nikon D750 cameras). As this is a pretty expensive move, I am currently trying both the Sony a9 and Olympus OM-D E-M1X to see which one would best fit my sports photography needs. Now's the time to experiment with the new top-of-the-line micro four-thirds camera — the E-M1X. What I am looking for in my new partner I have specific needs regarding my sports photography. Above all, I need high ISO capabilities and great autofocus. Good … [Read more...] about Will I switch from DSLR to Mirrorless? My first photoshoot experience with the Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Weekly Wrap-Up: March 31-April 6, 2019
The Weekly Wrap-Up features articles from this week on Photofocus. This week, Jason Hahn teaches us about negative fill, Michael Muraz talks about using negative space in architectural photography, Levi Sim gets low, Vanelli explores using Photoshop with the new Luminar Flex, and Michele Grenier continues her mirrorless journey with a first look at the Sony a9. Enjoy! … [Read more...] about Weekly Wrap-Up: March 31-April 6, 2019
Sticking with old tech
My fellow Photofocus author Michèle Grenier has been writing about her experience of deciding to switch to mirrorless. During this time my trusty old Canon 6D decided it needed a break so the LCD screen stopped working. I thought I’d offer another take on the mirrorless vs. DSLR debate. Let me preface this by saying I am not a tech head/gear hound. I do not get all excited about the newest, latest and greatest cameras and/or gear. Not to say I don’t watch and pay attention to what’s out there, but I’ve never been one to go out and upgrade gear … [Read more...] about Sticking with old tech
Weekly Wrap-Up: March 24-30, 2019
The Weekly Wrap-up features articles from this week on Photofocus. Scott Lawrence explores the Nikon Z6 for headshots, guest writer Julie Powell talks about the art of still life, Kevin Ames reviews the Asus 32" HDR monitor, Bob Coates show us his "musicians hall of fame" in a restaurant he works with and Michèle Grenier starts her mirrorless camera dating. Enjoy! Take the Photofocus Weekly Wrap-Up with you to read on the go... … [Read more...] about Weekly Wrap-Up: March 24-30, 2019
Will I switch from DSLR to Mirrorless? First hands-on with the Sony a9 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1X
This article follows "Are you considering switching your DSLR to mirrorless? I am." I just got two mirrorless bodies a couple of days ago. One from Sony and the other from Olympus. It's my first true mirrorless experience — I've been a Nikon user since the day I started doing photography. All the equipment that has been sent is loaned and I am not being paid for this review — it's important for me to mention that. My goal is to share my thoughts on my personal experience and highlight the strengths of both systems. I know conversations can get … [Read more...] about Will I switch from DSLR to Mirrorless? First hands-on with the Sony a9 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Are you considering switching your DSLR to a mirrorless? I am
I've been using DSLRs from the day I started doing photography. But frankly, with the growing quality of the Mirrorless market, I feel quite tempted to do the big jump ... Still, will spending my hard earned money really be worth it? Today I'm sharing my thoughts, hopes and concerns about completely switching my photography gear. Once upon a time ... Not so long ago, I remember living a happy and fulfilled life, taking pictures in the gyms with my two DSLRs, never second guessing my cameras or lenses. They were doing what I expected from … [Read more...] about Are you considering switching your DSLR to a mirrorless? I am
The Nikon Z6 for headshot photography
The mirrorless bug finally bit me. As a long time Nikon shooter, I was patiently waiting for the Z series. With a D4S and D850, I was interested to see how the Nikon Z6 could fit into my professional (and personal) workflow. As a corporate headshot photographer, I’m typically on location, in a conference room for the day or in my studio for individual sessions. Headshots on location For the volume corporate headshot jobs, the D4S is still my favorite tool. It will sit there all day, ready for action in a fraction of a second. I love that it … [Read more...] about The Nikon Z6 for headshot photography
My move to mirrorless
Ever since Sony released their first full-frame mirrorless camera in 2013, I have been wanting to make the switch from DSLR to mirrorless. But I did not want to switch to Sony, for a handful of reasons. Some of which are: The camera is built on the Minolta system, which to me is a turnoff. (Here come the hater comments). You see, I used to work at a large camera warranty company and could see first hand how poorly made Minolta cameras were, how poorly made Sony cameras were. Yes, Sony has evolved over the years, and they’re much (much) … [Read more...] about My move to mirrorless
Nikon Z6 first impressions
Before picking up the Nikon Z6, I had some doubts about the new Z system Nikon created. First and foremost is the elephant so obviously in the room. The single card slot that only accepts an XQD card, and soon a CFexpress card. Fortunately, CFexpress will make memory cards less expensive for the Z system. The new camera bodies also have a new lens mount to go with it. Which means you cannot use Nikon’s classic lens collection on the new bodies natively. Sure, they’ll work. But you have to use the Nikon FTZ adapter. That converts the F mount … [Read more...] about Nikon Z6 first impressions
2019 WPPI trade show interview: Fujifilm
https://youtu.be/01rTHDT8550?rel=0 The Photofocus team attended the 2019 WPPI Conference and had a chance to walk the trade show floor, attend classes and join in on photowalks. During a break, I met up with Fujifilm representative Michael Bulbenko and Hollywood photographer Mike Kubeisy to talk about how the super quiet mirrorless cameras are used on a production set. … [Read more...] about 2019 WPPI trade show interview: Fujifilm
LUMIX releases specs of full-frame S series cameras
Last fall, LUMIX announced its new full frame cameras, the S1 and S1R, which will feature a new L-Mount lens collaboration between LUMIX, Leica and Sigma. Early this morning, LUMIX came out with more information about both cameras. Let me give you the big details up front, and you can read the entire release below. S1R, 47.3 megapixels Boasting a full 36x24mm sensor, the S1R offers the highest resolution of any full-frame mirrorless camera on the market. Plus, the high-resolution mode — which combines multiple frames into a single raw file — … [Read more...] about LUMIX releases specs of full-frame S series cameras
Electronic vs. optical: The viewfinder showdown
When the Olympus OM-D E-M1X was announced, the argument over electronic viewfinder (EVF) vs. optical viewfinders (OVF) came up in a lot of my conversations. Those of us who have been mirrorless users for a while have surely gotten used to our EVF, but it's one of the biggest concerns I hear from those photographers who have a DSLR system, which employs an OVF. And I hear those concerns. As a person who ditched the world of full-frame DSLRs nearly two years ago for a mirrorless, micro four-thirds sensor, I had the same worries. It took me a bit … [Read more...] about Electronic vs. optical: The viewfinder showdown
An in-depth look at the Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Early this morning, Olympus revealed its new flagship camera — the OM-D E-M1X. There’s quite a bit of hype over what this camera can do, and I was lucky enough to have a pre-release copy that I used for about five weeks. Being that several camera manufacturers introduced mirrorless cameras last year, many expected Olympus to embrace the full-frame mirrorless market. But as I discussed with them at the PhotoPlus Expo back in October, Olympus is 100% committed to the micro four-thirds mirrorless realm. The E-M1X shows how Olympus has invested … [Read more...] about An in-depth look at the Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Olympus announces E-M1X, flash, super telephoto lens and more
Click here to read my in-depth review on the new OM-D E-M1X. Olympus has announced the E-M1X, the latest in its line of OM-D cameras. Sporting a built-in vertical grip and features like Handheld High Res Shot and Live ND mode, Olympus is clearly gearing this camera toward working professionals. The E-M1X is seen as a parallel offering to the E-M1 Mark II, Olympus’ flagship camera for the last few years. It features the same 20.4MP micro four-thirds sensor and has a very familiar look and feel, with the added benefit of a vertical … [Read more...] about Olympus announces E-M1X, flash, super telephoto lens and more
Photographing advertising with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
This is the final article in a four-part series discussing the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Click here to read my previous article, discussing the use of the camera for portraiture. In addition to corporate events, I also shoot some corporate promotional — also known as advertising — photography. These images are used on a wide array of mediums, including websites, brochures, mailers, billboards and more. Corporate advertising That's right — I said billboards. Despite having a 20-megapixel sensor, my photographs have ended up on … [Read more...] about Photographing advertising with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Photographing portraits with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
This is the third article in a four-part series discussing the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Click here to read my previous article, discussing the use of the camera for landscapes. In my final article, I'll discuss using the camera for advertising. I photograph a lot of different types of portraits. Just a few weeks ago, I was hired to photograph the downtown tree lighting, which involved me taking photographs of Santa, Mrs. Claus and guests at a rapid pace. But I've also shot several corporate portraits, and a few family portraits as … [Read more...] about Photographing portraits with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Photographing landscapes with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
This is the second article in a four-part series discussing the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Click here to read my first article, discussing the use of the camera for events. In future articles, I'll discuss using the camera for portraiture and advertising. While my bread and butter might be event photography, in my spare time I photograph landscapes and travel imagery. Everything from long exposures to walking the streets, I love to photograph it. Landscapes (and some cityscapes) When I started out doing nighttime long exposures with my … [Read more...] about Photographing landscapes with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Photographing events with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
This is the first article in a four-part series discussing the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. In future articles, I'll discuss using the camera for landscapes, portraiture and advertising. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to win an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, and I've since made it my camera of choice. After photographing exclusively with it for nine months, I feel like I've got a good grasp of the capabilities of the camera. I couldn't be happier with my Olympus system. I now have a second body for backup purposes, plus a plethora of … [Read more...] about Photographing events with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Early Black Friday savings from Olympus
Cyber Monday Specials from B&H. Click this link to go shopping! Olympus is offering some great deals on its cameras, lenses and various accessories! In addition to the deals below, Olympus is offering 2x rewards on purchases made through Dec. 19, 2018, on getolympus.com, as well as free 2-day shipping on orders over $50. To learn more and see all the Olympus Black Friday deals, visit getolympus.com. Note that freebies mentioned are only guaranteed to be available through getolympus.com, but pricing will be honored by other authorized … [Read more...] about Early Black Friday savings from Olympus
Early Black Friday savings from Panasonic Lumix
Cyber Monday Specials from B&H. Click here for the deals! Black Friday Specials from B&H. Click this link to go shopping! Panasonic has started to offer some amazing deals on its cameras, lenses and accessories. Below is just a sampling of the deals being offered through Dec. 1, 2018; click here to see more. Cameras and bundles GH5S Body only: $200 off; now $2299.99 GH5 Body only: $500 off; now $1499.99 GH5 with Leica 12-60mm lens: $200 off; now $2399.99 G9 Body only: $400 off; now $1299.99 G9 with Leica 12-60mm … [Read more...] about Early Black Friday savings from Panasonic Lumix
Ten reasons why I love my Fuji X-T3
My new Fuji X-T3 just arrived. I am so excited. The camera was only just released last week. I have barely used it and I am already "in love." Of course I am a tried and true Fuji fan, having walked away from my Nikon D800 a few years back. So I am probably biased. Time will tell if the camera truly lives up to its hype. 1. A newly developed fourth generation sensor — the X-Trans CMOS 4 I am clueless what the upgrade to the sensor actually means in technical terms. The sensor is now back-illuminated — I read that a back-illuminated sensor … [Read more...] about Ten reasons why I love my Fuji X-T3
Huge news from Lumix: New cameras, new lenses, new system
Panasonic has announced a new line of full-frame mirrorless cameras, a new lens mount, a new lens for micro four-thirds and the new Lumix Pro Services. Let's take a look at the new tools and the impact they could have. S1 and S1R, 24 megapixels and 47 megapixels The S1 and S1R area completely new, but they are the next evolution in mirrorless cameras from Lumix. Lumix has been building mirrorless cameras for 10 years and these cameras promise to build on that legacy. They are already refined and have the features photographers and … [Read more...] about Huge news from Lumix: New cameras, new lenses, new system
Canon EOS R pre-orders are live!
Canon just released its EOS R cameras, lenses and accessories for pre-order. You can learn more about Canon's entry into the full-frame mirrorless camera world here. Below are links to order through B&H: Camera Canon EOS R Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only) Canon EOS R Mirrorless Digital Camera with 24-105mm Lens RF Mount Lenses Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM Lens Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM Lens Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens RF Mount Adapters Mount Adapter EF-RF … [Read more...] about Canon EOS R pre-orders are live!
Canon announces full-frame mirrorless EOS R camera
Fresh off the heels of Nikon announcing its full-frame Z series camera lineup, Canon has announced its first full-frame mirrorless camera system — the EOS R. What are your thoughts on the new Canon EOS R? Sound off in the comments below! The new mirrorless system features a 54mm RF mount, allowing for a shorter back focus distance. This lets the lens sit closer to the sensor, allowing for fast, sharp and more compact lenses. The RF mount features a high-speed 12-pin communication system and is designed for full compatibility with existing … [Read more...] about Canon announces full-frame mirrorless EOS R camera
Seven tips for killer hunting pictures
As a new hunter, I've been devouring so much information available out there about hunting and I realized that I can contribute back by sharing some simple ideas to help hunters make better pictures. There are so many traditions and beautiful landscapes surrounding hunting that you should really take advantage of the opportunity to make pictures and record memories. These tips will help you do it more effectively and more creatively, and they'll actually serve you well anytime you're traveling with others. Get ready You're likely hunting … [Read more...] about Seven tips for killer hunting pictures
Nikon Z Event streaming live Friday, August 24, 2018
Nikon is doing a live event today at noon on their new mirrorless cameras. Watch the live stream here. … [Read more...] about Nikon Z Event streaming live Friday, August 24, 2018
