Samyang has just announced a pair of manual focus lenses for Nikon Z cameras. They are a wide-angle 14mm f/2.8 and an 85mm f/1.4, just like the recently announced lenses for Canon RF.
Samyang has announced two low budget 14mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/1.4 RF lenses for Canon EOS R mirrorless
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Samyang has announced two new manual focus lenses for use on the Canon EOS R. EOS RP and future RF mount cameras. Taking two wild extremes, one is an ultrawide Samyang RF 14mm f/2.8 full frame lens offering a 116° field of view. The other is the Samyang RF 85mm f/1.4 lens, aimed squarely at portrait shooters.
How to improve your TLR’s focus with just a piece of foil
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If you have a TLR camera you can try this simple trick, that can help you to focus more easily. And if you like, you can share this content with your friends.
How manual-focus and vintage lenses made me a better photographer
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I have been a commercial and wedding photographer for over 13 years. And from the beginning, I have been using Canon DSLR cameras and a variety of auto-focus lenses for the Canon EF system.
Switching to another camera system/brand did cross my mind because I made a substantial investment into lenses for the Canon system. Meanwhile I have gathered over 15 EF and EF-S lenses.
But in 2016 I decided to try a mirrorless camera and bought a SONY A7 r-II.
Because lens adapters exist that allow me to use my existing Canon glass on a Sony mirrorless camera I did neither plan nor anticipate that I will buy lenses especially for the SONY system. At least that was the plan.
But little did I know…
Samyang announces 50mm f/1.2 adding to “XPert” lens series for Canon
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Samyang has now officially announced their new XP 50mm f/1.2 lens. It’s the third in the “XPert” series designed specifically for full frame Canon EF users. It adds to the XP 24mm f/2.4 and XP 85mm f/1.2 announced last September. Unlike the 24mm f/2.8 EF lens announced last month, this is a manual focus lens, to match rest of the XP series.
Designed to take advantage of 50MP+ and 8K resolutions, the XP line is built for premium quality. It houses 11 elements in 8 groups, with ultra multi-coatings to minimise distortion, aberration, flare and ghosting. 9 aperture blades help to create pleasing out of focus “bokeh” with that bright, wide, f/1.2 maximum aperture.
How zone focusing will help you to get better street photography
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Zone focusing is a term that often seems to confuse people. But if you don’t know what it is, then it’s quite easy to understand why. It’s a common technique for a lot of subjects, and particularly for street photography. I often use it myself because it means I can just raise my camera, take the shot and know it’s in focus where it needs to be.
This video from photographer David Coleman explains exactly what zone focusing is, with several ways to implement it in your shoot workflow. Once mastered, it can be a fantastic way to let you shoot with confidence on the street, just knowing that your subject is in focus.
4 ways to keep your subject sharp and in focus when shooting video
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When you’re a one man video shooting band, keeping your subject sharp and in focus can be a huge pain. If you don’t have a focus puller following you around, or fancy remote control focus systems, it’s a constant struggle. That’s why we often see cameras locked off on tripods and sliders with static subjects that rarely move.
But there are some techniques you can use to keep your subject sharp and in focus when filming solo. Filmmaker Parker Walbeck demonstrates some of these techniques in this recently video. None of these techniques are always perfect, though, and Parker talks about the advantages and disadvantages of each.
3 tools to help you get super sharp manual focus shots
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Last week we covered three of the main tips to bear in mind when trying to get sharper manual focus images. Ambient lighting, contrasting elements to focus on and actual focusing technique. Although all of these tips are essential in giving us the best possible chance to get more of our manual focus shots pin-sharp, there are still going to be times when we need a little helping hand to consistently nail those manual focus images.
So even though manual focusing is a pain you’ll be pleased to hear that there are a few additional tools available out there that are designed to help us nail that focus even in the worst possible circumstances.
Tips on Getting Sharper Images with Manual Focus Lenses
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Ever since Leica presented a camera at the 1976 Photokina with working automated focusing, autofocus technology has taken leaps and bounds in its advancement. Today’s autofocus cameras are nothing short of miraculous to the point at which it’s hard to imagine where the advancement can go from here. But photographers didn’t always have focusing this easy.
This article aims to provide you with three key areas that if followed correctly should practically guarantee nailing pin-sharp manual focus shots in no time.
Shooting outdoor flash portraits with a 50 year old M42 lens on a modern mirrorless body
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It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of M42 and other older manual focus lenses. I’ve been using them for years with my DSLRs. They have imperfections, suffered from very random quality control, that give each one a slightly unique look and feel. They often have characteristics that can’t be reproduced with modern “perfect” glass and post production. So, whenever I see my favourite photographers also using them, I get interested.
This time, Texas based portrait photographer, Francisco Joel Hernandez has discovered the Russian-made Jupiter 9. Out of all the M42 lenses I own personally, this is tied with the Helios 44-2 as a favourite. We’ve featured the Jupiter 9 before, but Joel’s video shows a couple of neat tricks for working with this lens on location. The big one dealing with the flare this lens is often prone to.
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