Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the creative benefits of using ND (Neutral Density) filters in photography. This can be viewed here. Although I love ND filters they can require a larger initial investment which could be a barrier for people who want to play around with long exposures photography.
What if there was another option that let you adjust the strength of the light reduction which costs less and still offers decent image quality?
When I first heard the announcement that SanDisk was showing off a 1TB SD card at Photokina 2016, I thought “Impressive, but why?” Ok, at first I thought “That’s insane!!!”, who’s going to use a card that big? Then I was impressed. When they announced a 1TB Extreme microSD card at the beginning of this year, though, my thought changed to “Cool, want one!”. The difference, for me, is the form factor.
Since then, SanDisk has also released a faster Extreme Pro 1TB microSD card. And now I have one. Here, I’m going to tell you how I’m using it, what I think of it and why I think every photographer needs one.
The Feelworld F6 Plus is the latest 5.5″ on-camera monitor from Feelworld. Except in name, it shares little in common with the Feelworld F6 it replaces. It’s had a complete redesign over its predecessor, with a shiny new display, touchscreen interface, HDMI passthrough and LUT support.
We first saw the F6 Plus on display at NAB earlier this year, and I’ve been using one as my main on-camera monitor for a few weeks now with various cameras. So, here’s the rundown on the specs, how it works in practical use and my overall thoughts on the Feelworld F6 Plus.
Cameras these days are simply amazing! Not just with the image quality we get, but also the vast array of features which are often packed into them. Features which include WiFi that enables us to have control from our phones or other devices. What if you wanted a stronger, faster connection or even the ability to add WiFi to a camera that doesn’t already have it?
This is where the CamFI Pro Plus comes in handy. The CamFi adds a 2.4ghz and 5ghz connection to your camera when connected via USB. The 5ghz signal offers speeds of up to 10 MB/s (80Mb/s) and while this is still slower than a direct connection it can be up to 5x faster than what comes built into many cameras.
Perhaps it’s just that the DJI Mavic Mini is an impressive little drone, or maybe it’s the beautiful scenic views of Glencoe reminding me of my own visit there a couple of weeks ago, but this is one of the most complete Mavic 2 reviews I’ve seen so far that’s specifically geared towards photographers and filmmakers.
In this review, the guys at Drone Film Guide put the Mavic Mini through its paces, to push its capabilities and really see what this tiny 249g drone can pull off. Drone Film Guide concentrates more on the filmmaking side of things and less on the tech side of drones. But whenever a new drone comes out, it needs to be tested to find out where its filmmaking limits are.
With all the LI-ION strobes going around, it is sometimes hard to remember that not so long ago, most strobes had to be connected to a power outlet to actually work. But with the rise of the battery-operated strobe, the AC-powered strobes are now cheaper than even and provide a great opportunity to get started in a studio for almost no money at all. The Godox MS200 (Amazon | B&H) is a prime example of that.
I recently was contacted by Godox to review their new MS200 200ws monolight. Being on the low budget end of the spectrum at $99.00 on Amazon or B&H, I did not expect too much. I was quite surprised by the value of this value monolight.
The world was introduced to the Moza Slypod in grand fashion at NAB 2019 earlier this year. We went to the Gudsen stand to check it out while we were there, too. It’s an interesting device, with a whole new take on the camera slider form factor. It essentially looks like a motorised monopod, but how good is it really? In this video, Caleb Pike walks us around the features of the Slypod, and what he thinks about it.
I guess it’s a sign of the times, but I get sent far more LED lights to test than any other light…. even though I never personally use LEDs.
When I say I don’t use LED lights, it’s not because I have a dislike for them, but for me, they have limitations that I struggle to deal with when I shoot what I shoot. If you’re after some affordable continuous light for video work that looks natural and emulates everyday lighting, then LEDs are your first and smartest choice. But for what I do, which is often very controlled and saturated colour work that is anything but natural, I’m going to stick to the control and power of flash for now.
Textures can really enhance the mood or the feel of an image. People that follow me and my photography know I love using textures in my work. So, it was an absolute no brainer to test out the Infinite Texture Panel.
There’s no shortage of Textures around the internet these days… but what if you had access to the largest database of high-resolution textures with a click of a button? Sounds cool right? This is exactly what the Infinite Texture Panel does. Be prepared to be amazed!
I know that Peak Design’s Everyday Messenger has been here for a while. I’ve been using it for about four months now as my “lighter bag” and wanted to share my thought about why I think that it’s a great bag for small kits, and probably not the right choice if you have more gear.
Let me say this though, I love bags. A new bag is a check that cashes immediacy. You don’t need to take photos with it, no need to set it up, no need to bring a model in. the minute you buy a photography bag, it delivers. This is why I have lots and lots of bags. And this is why buying this (or any) photography bag will make you happy on the spot. Ready? lets jump in.
You can find out more about John on his website and follow his adventures on YouTube and Facebook.
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
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