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The Recesky TLR DIY Camera Kit – A Review

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It occurred to me recently that I’ve been a regular contributor here at DIY Photography for four months, and I’ve yet to actually write anything DIY-related. So, before anybody notices and rats me out to the boss, today’s the day I bring a little DIY to the table– compliments of a Chanukah gift from my 12-year-old son.

This particular man-cub is one of the most thoughtful people I know, which is one of the reasons he gets so pissed off every year around the holidays and my birthday over the high price of camera-related goodies. He wants to do something nice and can’t afford it. This year, though, he was bound and determined, and let me tell you– that kid of mine struck gold. For about twenty bucks, he got me the Recesky TLR DIY Camera Kit.

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Sigma 35mm f/1.4 – Hands On Review

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I have been hearing a lot of buzz about the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 for a while now, but up until now, I haven’t had the chance to try one out on a real gig.

As a pro photographer, I learned a long time ago that it is a bad idea to make photo gear decisions based on cost – it’s just better to buy the best equipment for the job.

But in this case, it’s pretty hard to argue with a lens that costs about half of its name brand competitors.

In this article I’ll share my hands on experience with the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens and some sample photos.

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AA Batteries for Photography Accessories

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I use a lot of AA batteries.  So many in fact that finding them all and getting them charged up for a gig has become a significant bottleneck in my workflow.

I have finally realized that it is time for a more sophisticated system to actually manage all of the batteries that I need – as opposed to the old system which mostly consisted of pulling batteries out of my kid’s toys, TV remotes (or wherever else my AA batteries had migrated to) and then shoving them into ten different chargers the day before a big shoot.

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Direction & Quality Of Light – Book Review

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It is not secret that Neil Van Niekerk (who also runs the tangents blog for photographers) is one of our favorite photographers (and favorite bloggers too). This is why we were happy to see that he has a new book out – Direction & Quality Of Light. If you are familiar with his blog, you know that Neil’s writing is clear and informative, so it won’t come as a surprise that the book ranks high on my recommendation list. The following is kind of a half review half overview of the book.[Read More…]

Memory Cards Have “Less Space” Than Advertised, Here Is Why

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Have you ever experienced that moment where you insert your 16GB memory card into the camera only to discover that this new, freshly formatted card is a nickel short of 15GB? Or a 32GB card turning to 29.8GB once installed?

Have you ever wondered where those GigaBytes are hiding? The truth is that they are not hiding at all. [Read More…]

Lensbaby And Photojournalism – A Lens Review

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Being part of the news and documentary photography business in Israel I usually work with the classic “hard-core” equipment, Canon 5D Mark II camera and the 16-35, 70-200 L type lenses. The equipment is minimal, usually fitting two ‘Newswear’ pouches on my belt. Anything else stays home.

This is why I was excited to get something new, the Lensbaby lenses – a Composer Pro, Sweet 35 Optics, Soft Focus Optics and Fisheye Optics. While I never got to try them, I knew they were small and compact, something I can easily carry with me on my photographic journeys. I’ve read few reviews about those lenses but was always missing the unique angle of someone who took them on a news or documentary mission. I decided this would be the unique angle I will explore.

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Mindshift Gear Comes Out With A Photography Tarp – Here Are My Thoughts

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Mindshift gear (ThinkTank’s little sister company) just came out with a piece of gear I am pretty happy about. It is called the Contact Sheet and it is a lightweight, waterproof tarp aimed at the outdoor photography market.

I am happy because a photography tarp is a great idea, this tarp is seems to be made extremely well (I have not touched one, this is based on their PR, site and product specs).

I’ve been using a tarp myself when going on location, and think it is one of these essential pieces of gear that you learn to appreciate only after you’ve used one for a while. Once you do, you’re hooked. Here is why:[Read More…]

Aputure Amaran AL-528x LED Lighting System: First Impressions

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A short while ago I got three of Aputure’s Amaran LED panels. While there is a full review coming, I wanted to share my first impressions.

The Amaran LED AL-528x system is a low budget LED lighting system. The name hints on the fact that each AL-528 body consists of 528 LEDs. There are three members in the family, each with slightly different main features. I am going to quickly go over the three types and then share my first impressions. The lights sell for about $180 on Amazon which makes them a good entry level lights.[Read More…]

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