Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time
One of the great things about photography is the wide range of available equipment. Particularly with lenses. But this can also leave people wondering what might be right for them, particularly as they can often overlap in many ways.
To help, we take a closer at three lenses that can all shoot at 105mm: a fast prime, macro, and a zoom.
Over the years, I’ve invested in many ways to hold lighting equipment, but recently I found a light stand that seems to get very little attention. The K&F Concept Heavy Duty Light Stand.
Now the name a little misleading. This light stand is more of a sturdy travel light stand, and you should use it accordingly.
Have you ever wanted a set of filters that could offer 1 to 9 stops of light reduction without having to screw in different filters? Then check out the latest kit from Haida with their Nano Pro Magnetic Variable ND.
Variable ND filters have come a long way in the last few years. They offer a great combination of image quality and versatility. While there are a few different types of variable ND filters, the most common normally come in two verities:
Ones that offer a very wide range of ND reduction. Say, for example, one to eight stops with no limitations on rotation. These tend to cause image quality issues like the dreaded X pattern when you try to reach their advertised limit or surpass them.
When Sigma started the global vision range the Art series, in particular, became a household name for high-quality lenses.
My personal favorite is the lovely 105mm f1.4 Art that is as wonderful as it is large! That is a common theme with the Art series. As they often sacrifice size and weight for image quality.
So imagine my surprise when Sigma released a new 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art lens that is roughly half the weight of their original DSLR version, the 85mm f1.4 DG HSM Art.
Have you ever wanted to shoot out of a window, but the reflections ruin the shot? Introducing the Haida super wide-angle silicone lens hood (Amazon, B&H).
As the name describes, this is a silicone hood for your lens. It’s has a designed contort to seal around a window to cut out unwanted reflections. It comes in two sizes, One for 50-70mm lens and another for 70-90mm lens. Most of my lenses are on the larger side, so I opted for the 70-90mm version.
The large hood is 210mm wide and is designed to stretch over your lens to hold in place. You can even do this while the lens is mounted. Check the photo above.
Filters, such a useful tool for allowing more control over your exposure. Some things are simply can’t be done with a camera alone. But with so many manufactures, types, and price differences buying a filter might get a little confusing.
While it would be nearly impossible to test every filter around. I did manage to assemble a decent collection in the hope to see the differences between cheap, expensive, square, screw-in and variable NV filters.
As you can see I have a mixture of square and circle ND filters that are 10stop in strength. I also added two 6stop filters and variable ND into the mix.
The populations of both content creators and work from home people are getting bigger. Demand for live streaming is growing with them. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a dedicated device to help make it all easier?
Well, there is such a device. Ender the Yolobox from Yololive ($1000 @ Amazon or B&H).
I’m no stranger to a wide-angle lens, back in my crop Pentax days I used to love shooting my old Samyang 8mm Fisheye, and more recently with my Sigma fp I’ve been enjoying the 14-24mm f2.8. On a full-frame sensor 14mm is already really wide, so imagen my excitement when Laowa asked me to try their 9mm f5.6 W-Dreamer lens.
Moment, who started back in 2013 with a lens for mobile phones Kickstarter, is back! This time with a new line of Travelwear bags and accessories designed for everyday use. The new collection consists of a backpack (17L or 21L), a Tote bag, and a bunch of accessories: Camera Insert, Tech Organizer with mini Tech Organizer, and a Battery Organizer.
Over the years neutral density filters have become a staple in my photography. Allowing me more control over my camera exposure.
Good quality filters demand a premium, and while the price has fallen over the years, I often get asked why they cost so much. Particularly for the superior glass filters and filter holders. Well, they don’t have to.
Enter the new K&F Concept SN25T1, a 100mm filter kit with 10stop ND costing just over $70.
You can find out more about John on his website and follow his adventures on YouTube.
His videos have over a hundred million views, have been extensively published by news outlets, and has even received recognition from a few film festivals, such as International Ocean Festival
FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!