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My Canon EOS 1D X Mark III real world review

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As many of you know, I have been lucky enough to have a Canon EOS 1DX Mark III in my possession for more than a month now. People have been asking me to review this new top-of-the-line camera, but I really wanted to put it through it’s paces in order to do a fair review.

There are lots of photographers or tech reviewers who write reviews of a new product, basically looking at the spec sheets, or holding it in their hands for a couple of minutes. But in my mind, there is no better way to review a product than to use it as my primary camera for a while and really get to know it in detail.

Now that I have become pretty familiar with the ins and outs of this camera, it is time to share my findings with all of you.

So…on to the testing…

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Does the $119 Akaso v50 Pro action camera really stand up against the mighty GoPro Hero 8?

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For all their ups and downs, GoPro is still at the forefront when it comes to action cameras. The latest iteration of their flagship camera, the GoPro Hero 8 Black, has received very favourable reviews since its release last October. But how do the low budget “knock off” action cameras really compare?

That’s what Gene Nagata, otherwise known as Potato Jet, wanted to find out. So, he pairs them up to challenge them side-by-side. Ultimately, it looks like the $349 Hero 8 Black does win, which you’d expect given the cost, although the $119 Akaso v50 Pro doesn’t look too terrible for the price.

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Lomomod No. 1 review: a fun and frustrating DIY cardboard camera with a liquid-filled lens

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When the Lomomod No. 1 was first announced, I had the honor of covering the news for DIYP and I thought to myself: “Man, would I like to try this out!” Fast forward four months, and I’ve had the chance to play with this DIY medium format camera and do a thorough review.

The Lomomod No. 1 is a camera like no other I’ve seen or used. It comes in pre-cut pieces and you’re supposed to build it yourself, which is interesting on its own. It’s paired with a liquid-filled 80mm Sutton lens, which lets you change the tint of your images depending on the liquid you use. Sounds pretty cool, right?

In this article, I’ll share my impressions of the Lomomod No. 1. From initially opening the box to seeing my images for the first time, I’ll write about everything I liked and didn’t like about it. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

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Topaz DeNoise AI for night photos review

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Topaz has recently launched its newest version of DeNoise AI, and I have tested the software on a night image. Does this latest iteration of Topaz’ noise reduction program live up to the hype? According to Topaz, DeNoise AI has received several updates and improvements.

When you run the program you can choose between two modes: manual and auto. Auto comes with only one slider (Chroma Noise). In manual mode, you can also adjust the level of sharpening and noise reduction applied. In addition, you can also decide how the program displays the changes in real-time. I have only used the split-screen option when testing the software. The real-time preview isn’t very accurate. The processed image looks quite different from what the preview suggests.

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Rode VideoMic NTG vs. VideoMic Pro+ vs Sennheiser MKE 400 vs. Sennheiser MKH 416

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Today we are comparing over $1,700 worth of shotgun mics: Rode VideoMic NTG vs. Rode VideoMic Pro+ vs. Sennheiser MKE 400 vs. Sennheiser MKH 416.

The Rode Videomic NTG is the new top of the line mic form RODE, and it packs quite a few interesting features. It’s part of the VideoMic series which is usually for on-camera use, but it’s also an NTG which is usually used for the company’s high-end mics. We tested the microphone, and we can see why it’s both an NTG and a VideoMic. For our thoughts on the features and on the sound quality, hit the jump.

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The tiny light that can; an INSSTRO C1 RGB LED review

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Light – the most important thing in photography.  Without it, we have nothing but darkness.  Some of us like to capture and bend the natural light to our needs. While others love to craft a scene with artificial lights.

If you love adding in your own light then its a nice time to be a photographer.  Lights are getting smaller, more complex and often include their own power.   Freeing us from wires and bringing more creative freedom.

My second RGB capable LED was the INSSTRO C1, and this is what I’ll talk about today.

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Hands on with the Samyang AF 18mm f/2.8 FE for landscape photography

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Samyang has won themselves a reputation for manufacturing sharp and budget-friendly lenses. Their first offerings were pure manual, like the now renowned Samyang 14mm f/2.8. A lens that swiftly became a favorite among nightscape photographers. The lens is sharp, lightweight, cheap, and it yields great stars with little to no coma (comet-like distortion). Now comes the newer, autofocus, Samyang AF 18mm f/2.8 FE.

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This grip gives your Black Magic Pocket Camera enough battery to make it usable

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When Black Magic announced their Pocket 4k camera, they started a race. A race for improving their crappy runtime being the best battery solution for the camera. And it’s a hard race to win. (technically, Black Magic said they would release a battery grip in September, but we are still waiting…)

I would say that every P4K battery solution has its ups and downs. The trick is to find the balance between size, placement, and battery life. IndiPro Tools think they’ve hit the nail on the head with their brand new Universal Power Grip. An all-in-one solution for power, usability, and convenience.

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This is how you use filters on wide angle lenses; Haida M15 filter holder review

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If there is one thing I have grown to love about photography, it is the ability to capture, control, and manipulate time.  Photography is giving us the option to see things in ways that are impossible to achieve with our naked eyes. This opens up a whole new world of creative options.

While cameras do offer us a fair amount of control using ISO, shutter, and aperture, we sometimes need to look at other options to get extremely long exposures. This is particularly true where there is a lot of light around. Add that to the wide shots you can get with a  Sigma 14-24mm weird construction, and you soon realize the need for something like the Haida M15 filter holder system.

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First real world samples and review of the new Laowa 65mm APS-C 2x macro lens

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When we reviewed the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X we said it could compete with a microscope. Laowa’s new 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO is no different.

The Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO is just a slightly smaller version of its full-frame brother*. Venus Optics managed to cram in all the features and bonuses of its 100mm macro into a smaller package.

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