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Here is the first Gopo Hero6 review

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With the release of the new HERO6 Black, GoPro continues to advance and refine what we can expect out of an action camera. Released just one year after the HERO5 Black, the HERO6 Black has all the right upgrades in all the right places.

First, let’s look at what hasn’t changed. The HERO6 retains the same small design with rounded corners as last year’s model, along with the 2 button layout and the 2″ touch screen on back. It also has the same 12MP resolution as the HERO5. It is still waterproof down to 10 meters without the need for a separate housing. It even continues to use the same 1200mAh battery as the HERO5. In fact, the only way to tell the difference between the two cameras is by the vertical “HERO6” on the lens side of the camera.

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I killed a Nikon D850 during this field test and it wasn’t even my camera

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I was very excited when I first read about the new Nikon D850 and I knew that this camera would be exactly what I had been waiting for. The larger file size is welcomed from a fine art perspective and in combination with a highly improved focus system, fast processors and better ISO capabilities I could easily see myself using this camera also for wildlife.

Unfortunately Nikon have not been able to ship as many cameras as expected in the first batch and I was not able to get my hands on one before departing on a WildPhoto Travel photo tour to Alaska. That is when my local pro store, Stavanger Foto, stepped up and asked me if I would like to take their one and only demo camera with me to test in the field.

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Hands on review of the new Profoto A1 – Natural beautiful light. Easy to Use. Never miss a shot.

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We all know and love the legendary lighting manufacturer that is Profoto. For decades, they have produced and supported the most durable, powerful, and consistent lighting equipment for professional photographers around the world. In recent years, they have pushed the lighting industry forward with the introduction of the B1 and B2 and their OCF system.

These new lights have changed the way photographers work by allowing for unheard of flexibility and mobility. Ever the innovator, Profoto has given us something we’ve always wanted, but never thought to ask for.

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Hands On Review of the Lensbaby Velvet 85mm Classic Portrait and Art Lens

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A couple months ago, Lensbaby provided DIYP with a new Lensbaby Velvet 85mm Classic Portrait and Art Lens for review.

I happened to be on my way to Europe at the time, so I took the opportunity to try out the Lensbaby Velvet 85mm along the way.

Up until this point, I had never used a Lensbaby lens, so I was pretty excited to see what I could do with the Velvet 85mm – so much so that I left my usual 85mm (the Sigma ART f/1.4) at home in favor of the Lensbaby.

In total I spent six weeks photographing with the Lensbaby Velvet 85mm – in this review I will present my thoughts.

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The first review of the Godox A1 mobile phone flash trigger is out, and it looks quite good

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The Godox A1 has been much talked about since it was announced not too long ago. A flash trigger that could fire speedlights and real strobes… on your phone? They even did a fancy iPhone studio shoot to show off its capabilities. Then it went on pre-order. Many people thought “What’s the point? Why spend so much money on lights to use your phone?”.

They’re right, of course, but for me the big draw is behind the scenes photos. If my lights are already set up at a shoot, it takes no time at all to whip out my phone and grab a shot for Instagram. Some hate the idea of the A1, some love it. But how well does it really perform? This review from photographer Rob Hall goes pretty in depth into the Godox A1 feature set as well as some of its drawbacks.

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Review: The Laowa 15mm f/2 FE lens delivers fine results at a fair price

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A few weeks ago Laowa sent me a copy of their first lens dedicated to Sony’s full frame e-mount system, the 15mm f/2. This lens is meant for landscape & astrophotographers who want to capture as much of the beautiful night sky as possible; which means wide and fast.

Last year I was able to get a copy of their 12mm f/2.8 for Canon and used it on my Sony A7Rii with a Metabones adaptor. I was quite surprised how much I enjoyed the lens. A lot of what was great about that lens can be translated over to this one as well. First, let’s talk about the physical design and characteristics.

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The Canon 6D Mark II gets put through its paces in this festival photography field test

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Normally, when we use the phrase “field test”, it’s not meant quite so literally. It just means putting the camera to work in its typical usage environment. Camera use is quite broad, though. In this video from music photographer Matt Higgs for WEX Photographic, though, the 6D Mark II is taken to task in a field at the 2000 Trees festival in the UK.

Music festivals can be great places to really test a camera’s limits. You’ve got such a wide variety of potential subjects. Fast moving, slow moving, brightly lit, low light, individual people, groups, close ups, and more. The Canon EOS 6D Mark II is the long awaited update to 2012’s EOS 6D. But how well does it handle in the real world?

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How the DJI Spark with the official controller competes with the DJI Mavic Pro

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We’ve seen a couple of videos now comparing the DJI Spark, but only using a phone as the controller. This means it has pretty limited range, and the handling isn’t that great. Of course, there is a separate controller available for the Spark, but it’s been “coming soon” since release. So, nobody’s tried it. Until now.

Not surprisingly, Casey Neistat is one of the first to get his hands on the Spark controller. In this video he puts it head to head with his Mavic Pro. This is something he’s done before with a prototype unit. But now he has the retail release and it comes with the controller. Is it worth the extra cost? Or should you just save for a Mavic? Casey’s video should help to answer that question.

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eMotimo Spectrum St4 Review – Hands on With 4-Axis Robotic Motion Control

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What does it mean to have 4 axis robotic motion control?

Starting with just an eMotimo Spectrum St4 you have two axis robotic motion control – rotation (pan) and up-down (tilt). Add a slider and you’re got another axis – forward and back (push/pull). Add a new eMotimo Focus Fz unit and you’ve got your fourth axis – focus or zoom. (Or skip the slider and add a second Fz unit and you’ve got focus and zoom!)

So what exactly can you do with robotic four axis motion control? Think complex time lapse sequences with multiple silky smooth movements. Think live action video with precise movement and focus, zoom or aperture control.

If you are a timelapse photographer or film maker, the eMotimo Spectrum can enable you to make impossible shots – the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

But what is it like to work with 4-axis motion control in the field? Continue reading for our hands on review of the eMotimo Spectrum St4.

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