DIY Photography

Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time

Search

 

Submit A Story

This Canon G7X II vs iPhone X comparison tests to see if phones really can replace compact cameras

by 8 Comments

There is no doubt that increases in smartphone camera technology has made a huge dent in the sales of compact cameras. Compact cameras, also known as point and shoots, vary wildly from very low end to fairly high. And for stills photography, there’s no doubt that most of the current top smartphones can easily keep up, and even beat, the selection of compacts that are out there.

But what about for video? That’s what Potato Jet aims to find out when he puts his shiny new iPhone X up against vlogging staple, the Canon G7X Mark II. Perhaps not surprisingly, the iPhone actually won in some areas, although the G7X II definitely shone in others. Ultimately, it looks like you’ll mostly be good with either, although specific needs may demand one over the other.

[Read More…]

The pros & cons of shooting on a smartphone vs a $5,000 cinema rig

by 2 Comments

These phone vs “real camera” comparisons are getting a little old. They usually end up one of two ways. Either the DSLR or video camera absolutely hammers the phone, or the phone does surprisingly well – which is often just a case of circumstance. And while this video from Rhino Camera Gear does touch on some of that, it also looks at some of the more specific advantages of a big heavy Sony FS5 camera rig vs the relatively tiny iPhone X.

[Read More…]

GoPro Hero 6 vs GoPro Hero 5, is it worth the upgrade?

by 2 Comments

The GoPro Hero 6 is here. It’s new, it’s shiny, and it’s $100 more expensive than the old one. But is it worth the upgrade? The GoPro Hero 5 was something of a disappointment for many. Sure, it had built in waterproofing and  touchscreen. But beyond those, it did really seem to offer all that much over the GoPro Hero 4 Black.

So how does the GoPro Hero 6 compare? This video, from the folks over at Vistek, puts the new Hero 6 head-to-head with its predecessor, the GoPro Hero 5 to see if it’s really worth upgrading.

[Read More…]

My dad’s 3MP Fujifilm S1 Pro deals surprisingly well vs my 24MP Sony A7II!

by 13 Comments

I had the rare pleasure of meeting up with my father this week and on my stop through we came onto the topic of progress. We were sharing ideas of what it was like shooting “back in his day” with a 17year old 3.4MP Fujifilm S1 DSLR vs. my current Sony A7II.

For fun, we decided to whip out the old camera and do a direct comparison with one thing in mind: Image Quality. How far has image quality come in 17 years and what benefits would it provide to most day to day users that are slapping the images straight onto social media anyway?

[Read More…]

Three systems go head-to-head in this camera & lens comparison with some surprising results

by 31 Comments

There are always new photographers trying to figuring out which system to buy into. There’s also experienced photographers considering switching. They post on Facebook and forums to ask the opinions of others. 99% of the responses will be suggesting the brand they themselves use. It’s inevitable, really. They promote what they know, without really knowing what the person asking the question wants to shoot. So, seeing comparisons can be a good way to get a little insight into how each system handles.

This video from The Slanted Lens is a bit of a departure from what we’ve come to expect. But, it can be a valuable one, especially if you want to shoot portraits.  Jay and his team put the Nikon D810, Canon 5D Mark IV and Sony A7R II head-to-head in a variety of real world shooting situations. They try not to come to any real conclusions, but just demonstrate how the different systems compare. This way, you can make up your own mind which is best for you.

[Read More…]

Size matters; Comparing Octabox sizes with high speed sync

by 4 Comments

One of the questions I see pop up often through various portrait groups on Facebook is “what softbox do I buy?”. After they settle on an octabox, it’s invariably followed up with “How big should I go?”. Personally, when it comes to Octaboxes, I’ve always been of the belief that the bigger the better. But, that’s just because I like nice big soft light. And, if you’re using a flash capable of filling it, why not?

In this video from photographer Francisco Joel Hernandez, we’re shown how they measure up in a direct comparison. Using 18″, 38″ and 60″ we get an overview of how size affects how the light falls on your subject. We also get a look into some of the more practical reasons why you might choose one size octabox over another.

[Read More…]

$150 Stills Lens Compared to a $15,000 Cine Prime; Can You Tell the Difference?

by 3 Comments

Got any projects on hold until you get that dream lens? Convinced your current gear isn’t good enough for the task?

As can be seen in the lens test created by Freddie and the gang over at RocketJump Film School, you may be wasting your time – and money.

Don’t expect to see focus charts (not as they were intended to be used, anyway), as this real-world lens test isn’t about lab results, but rather about perception.

Obviously a $15,000 Zeiss lens will score better than a $150 Canon Nifty Fifty in the lab, but will you be able to notice the difference where it actually counts?

[Read More…]

Yi Action Camera First Reviews and How It Compares to the GoPro

by 61 Comments

We recently reported the announcement of Yi’s $64 new action camera, (formally Xiaomi YI) and we’re now bringing you the first hands-on reviews and GoPro comparisons.

Two Chinese reviews, one by pcpop comparing the Yi Action Camera to the flagship GoPro 4 Black and the cheap SJ4000, and another by Geekpark comparing it to the GoPro 3 and 4 Black editions, reveal new details regarding the highly anticipated new kid on the block.

Other than sharing new specs and features, the reviews include video, contrast and low-light shooting comparisons.

One of the concerns with such a cheap camera is that cheap often comes at a cost. Does the low price indicate low quality?

Overall the camera seems to give a rather impressive bang for the buck, but will it work in crowded spaces?

[Read More…]

Fuji Made A Website That Lets You Test Drive Their Lenses At All Their Different Apertures

by Leave a Comment


Fuji has made a new interactive website which allows us to take a virtual test drive all of their X-mount lenses and it is pretty awesome. In the first column, you can scroll through until you find a lens you want to test out, then move over to the second column and click on which aperture you want to “shoot at”. If the selected lens happens to be a zoom lens, you can select from different focal lengths in the third column. Then all you have to do is click on the shutter release button on the right hand side (or press the Take Photo button). A light box will pop-up with a photos which was taken using the settings you select.[Read More…]

Recent Posts