June~September 2017's News
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Canon: 1DX II 5DS/R 5D Mk IV 6D II 7D II 80D 77D T6 SL2 Lenses
Sony: A9 A7RII A7SII A7II A7 A6500 A6300 A6000 RX10III RX100V Lenses
Nikon: D5 D850 D810 D750 D610 D500 D7500 D5600 D3400 Lenses
All Reviews: Apple Fuji LEICA Zeiss Hasselblad Contax Olympus Pentax
Recommended Cameras Best Cameras Gifts How to Take Better Pictures random
Links: Adorama Amazon B&H Crutchfield eBay Tutorial Videos Infrared Facebook Twitter
Adorama's Daily Deals Amazon's Deals-of-the-Day B&H Deal of the Day Crutchfield's Sales
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29 September 2017, Friday
Nikon Refurbished Sale
D3400 w/18-55: $359.95.
D800E: $2,049.95.
D800: $1,699.95.
D5600, 18-55 & 70-300: $619.95.
Nikon D3400 w/18-55 & 70-300 in red or black: $424.95
Coolpix P900: $449.95.
Coolpix A900: $264.95.
Coolpix B500 in red or black: $179.95.
CoolShot AS Laser Rangefinder: $214.95.
CoolShot 40i Golf Laser Rangefinder: $199.95.
6x21 CoolShot 40 Golf Laser Rangefinder: $184.95.
6x20 CoolShot 20 Golf Laser Rangefinder: $139.95.
All items refurbished, a great way to go if money matters.
26 September 2017, Tuesday
Fooling around with my iPhone 7 Plus as I wait for my Nikon D850 to arrive:
Big spider gets ready for Haloween. (iPhone 7 Plus at 4mm at f/1.8 at 1/1,650 at Auto ISO 20, Perfectly Clear.) bigger.
Actually his body was only about a half inch (a centimeter) around.
Yellow and Blue (iPhone 7 Plus at 6.6mm at f/2.8 at 1/847 at Auto ISO 20.) bigger.
22 September 2017, Friday
Sony FE 50mm f/1.8.
NEW: Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Review.
20 September 2017, Wednesday
iOS goes to 11
Yes! I just updated a bunch of my devices, and yes, iOS 11 is faster, smarter, better looking and more legible than iOS 10.
I read that Photos from iOS cameras are now stored internally in a new HEIF format (no longer as JPG), but not to worry: I import them to my Mac with the Image Capture program native to the Mac OS, and they all appear as JPG.
The new HEIF internal format allows file sizes of half what they were at the same quality and also allows greater bit depth, for better-looking images that take half the space.
Running low on storage? I had 24GB free an hour ago with iOS 10.3.3, and updated to iOS 11.0, I now have 30GB free.
Bravo Apple!
Are my user-guide apps being updated?
No. They won't run on iOS 11.
Many of those apps were from before the invention of the iPad, a long time ago before we had cellular data coverage almost everywhere and before iPhones (the only iOS devices at the time) could save and play PDFs.
Thus in the old days you often had no way to access the Internet while shooting out in the boonies, and you couldn't save a PDF manual for offline reference in iBooks, either. Thus came my user guide apps for easy offline reference in the old, much less connected world.
Today we have live cellular data almost everywhere; even Ryan and Katie have unlimited data plans that seem to work everywhere, and you can save and read all the PDFs you want offline.
You don't need the apps anymore, since my apps simply repackaged the same data you can read online linked from each camera's review.
Just look at my guide live on my website online or get a PDF from the camera maker or if I have one of mine for a particular camera loaded into iBooks to read offline and you're good.
I have my own favorite old apps, like FlipClock65, that won't run on iOS 11, but no big deal. I keep a farm full of old iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads, and if you don't, eBay sure does. I buy old iPhone 4s for about $25 I use as music players and security cameras that I keep on the old iOS for just this reason.
Don't worry about iOS 11; my 10-year-old son Ryan has been been running iOS 11 as beta on all his devices (his iPhone 5s and I forget what else) and even the beta runs great. Ditto for the new Watch OS; he's been running the beta on his watch and it's flawless.
NEW: Kodak PRINTOMATIC self-printing digital camera. Wow!
Another NEW Old Classic: The timeless 1955 Shure SM-55 — now in perfect-pitch black!
15 September 2017, Friday
BREAKING NEWS: Tamron 100-400mm for Nikon and for Canon.
NEW: How to set up a complete Apple TV home theater with only one remote!
NEW: Apple TV 4k, also in 64GB version for gaming nuts.
NEW: Sony true 4K home theatre projector. Can't wait to see my photos on this one!
NEW: Apple Watches.
NEW: Polaroid Classic Cameras — again!!!
I mean, holy cow, you can buy SX-70s again!
NEW: Sony RX0 and RX10 Mk IV.
11 September 2017, Monday
Sony Zeiss FE Planar T✻ 50mm f/1.4.
NEW: Sony Zeiss FE Planar T✻ 50mm f/1.4 Review.
07 September 2017, Thursday
New from Fuji:
XE-3 (comes as body-only, or kit with 23/2 or kit with 18-55, and all of this comes in black or in silver, and you can see all these and accessories here).
XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro for the usual Fuji cameras.
GF 45mm f/2.8 for Fuji's mezzo-format GFX.
Weird D750 flare problems?
If you see some weird flare in your image files when you have a very bright light along the top edge of the frame, Nikon has a D750 shutter recall to take care of it.
If you have one of the affected cameras, you're lucky because Nikon probably will replace your old shutter with a new one for free, and clean and check your camera thoroughly. One reader even had his rubber grips replaced, all for free and with free shipping both ways!
06 September 2017, Wednesday
DEAL: Canon 70-300mm IS, filters & more goodies kit. $249.95. This is the original 70-300 IS that sold for $650 two years ago, not the newest instant-focussing 70-300 IS USM II.
NEW: Pentax KP DSLR Camera with 40mm Lens.
NEW: Sony RX0.
NEW: Ricoh THETA V 360 4K Spherical VR Camera
DEAL: $240 off Samsung Gear 360 Spherical VR Camera: $109 final price!
DEAL: Canon G5 X w/PIXMA PRO-100 Printer: $649 after rebates.
05 September 2017, Tuesday
NEW: Olympus trade-in program.
04 September 2017, Labor Day
Hassleblad 503 CX with 80mm f/2.8 CF lens, A12 back and waist-level finder.
Updated: Hasselblad.
While there aren't any new reviews (and many need to be completed), I added an overview and general system recommendations to my Hasselblad index page. In other words, I added what those of you considering a step-up to Hasselblad need to know to get started.
31 August 2017, Thursday
Mirrorless or DSLR?
I'm often asked about getting a Sony A6500 versus a DSLR.
For me the biggest difference is having a live electronic finder through which I can set menus and see big, brilliant playback even in broad daylight. The pictures are the same.
Gotchas are that mirrorless is more expensive than a similar DSLR (look at the Canon SL2 or Canon T6 or Nikon D3300 or D3400 for half the price)
If price matters, the Sony A6300 is the same camera as the A6500, and so is the A6000. The only differences between them are a few minor features with huge differences in price. If one of the new features is important to you, get that camera, but for normal people, I just bought my mom an A6000 which is far more than she'll ever need for anything.
If size is the matter, be sure to use small lenses. With the A6000 series, the tiny 16-50mm lens is ideal. Isn't portability the whole reason you're paying more for mirrorless?
You can do the same thing in full frame. Just know that while full-frame mirrorless cameras are small, their lenses are just as big and heavy as full-frame DSLR lenses, making the real difference whether or not you want to pay more than a DSLR for the luxury of in-finder playback and menu setting.
30 August 2017, Wednesday
Canon 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM.
NEW: Canon 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Review.
Nikon Refurbished Deals
Refurbished have always been like new, minus the fancy box. They usually have a 90-day warranty, and no worries: they have a money-back guarantee if you don't like them.
Nikon D500: $1,499.95, refurbished.
Nikon D5600, 18-55mm VR AF-P & 70-300mm AF-P (not VR): $679.95, refurbished.
NEW: Think Tank Spectral Shoulder Bags.
Think Tank has new shoulder bags with a magnetic Fidlock clasp for one-handed use. They lock automatically when closed. They also have a new low prices for Think Tank, while retaining their world's best quality.
29 August 2017, Tuesday
NEW: Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Tilt-Shift.
NEW: Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L Tilt-Shift.
NEW: Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L Tilt-Shift.
NEW: Canon M100 & 15-45mm.
NEW: Canon M100, 15-45mm & 55-200mm.
NEW: Canon MT-26EX-RT dual macro flash.
NEW: Canon ES-84 hood for 90mm TS-E.
NEW: Canon ET-83E hood for 85/1.4.
NEW: Canon ET-88 hood for 135 TS-E.
25 August 2017, Friday
Ryan meets his new fifth grade teacher. Fuji X100F, flash ON, f/2 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 400, as-shot. bigger.
Katie meets her new fourth grade teacher. Fuji X100F, flash ON, f/2.2 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 400, as-shot. bigger.
When it comes to how to get the best people pictures under any random light, it's my Fuji X100F.
These two snaps are made in auto-everything mode with the built-in flash. This camera does the most amazing job of balancing flash with ambient light and giving great colors every time, the first time, under just about any kind of light.
Sure, I could get close to this with my other cameras after making a lot of settings by trial-and-error, but the reason I grab my Fuji X100F for people pictures is that I can grab these shots with everything else going on at meet-your-teacher, and the Fuji X100F gets these results right out of the camera with every shot. These are as they came out of the camera without editing.
I don't have to focus either. Face and eye recognition just finds people, assigns AF points and grabs focus. All I have to do with my Fuji X100F is point and shoot, and I look like a genius!
24 August 2017, Thursday
Nikon D850 and 24~120mm VR.
NEW: Nikon D850.
Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS.
NEW: Sony 100-400mm GM Review.
21 August 2017, Monday
Eclipse shadows, 9:53 AM.
iPhone 7 Plus at 4mm at f/1.8 at 1/563 at Auto ISO 20, Perfectly Clear. bigger.
Ryan and the Eclipse, 10:08 AM.
Image projected on paper from a Russian 20x50 spotting scope mounted on my Bogen Manfrotto 3275 410 Geared Head on my big Gitzo 1228 tripod, iPhone 7 Plus at 4mm at f/1.8 at 1/1,996 at Auto ISO 20, Perfectly Clear. bigger.
Family viewing the eclipse, 10:33 AM.
iPhone 6S Plus at 4.2mm at f/2.2 at 1/615 at Auto ISO 25, Perfectly Clear. bigger.
18 August 2017, Friday
Annular Solar Eclipse.
NEW: How to Photograph the Solar Eclipse.
14 August 2017, Monday
Sony FE 28mm f/2.
NEW: Sony 28mm f/2 FE Review.
Fast wide for Sony full-frame, or fast normal for Sony APS-C.
10 August 2017, Wednesday
Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS.
NEW: Sony 24~240mm Review.
This lens takes awesome photos of anything in any light. This isn't 1997; you don't need f/2.8 to shoot action outdoors at night when every Sony camera still looks great at ISO 25,600.
The 24-70/2.8 GM and 70-200/2.8 GM are fantastic lenses if you don't have to carry them or change them, but this lens is smaller than either of them and covers 20% more zoom range than both of them combined, and it focuses just as fast and just as close.
Isn't the whole reason you went mirrorless was to carry less? The less I carry, the faster and farther I go, the more I see, and the more and better pictures I take. If I wanted to carry big zooms or fiddle with fixed prime lenses, I'd shoot the LEICA, Nikon or Canon systems I already own.
This is really the only lens you need for Sony full-frame mirrorless. It focuses instantly and lets my A9 run at 20 FPS all day and the pictures look great.
if I was some blogger, fauxtographer or YouTuber who talked more than he shot I might have the luxury of making fun of an all-in-one zoom as I sat in an office or coffee shop, but as guy who has to produce real photos every day and has no problem getting people to pay me thousands of dollars for shots I've made with kit lenses, this do-everything lens helps me shoot and produce rather than sit around talking about it.
08 August 2017, Tuesday
Today Only: Canon T5i w/18-55mm & free printer: $599 after rebate.
In Stock: Sigma 14mm f/1.8 Full-Frame.
06 August 2017, Sunday
Solar Eclipse gear.
02 August 2017, Wednesday
Canon 50mm f/1
Canon EF 50mm f/1.0 L USM.
There's a Canon 50mm f/1 on eBay for $3,359 from a dealer I've used before. Get it while you can; I paid $4,000 for mine a few years ago and the price has been going up from there.
Nikon D3300 Deals
I prefer my D3300 to the newer D3400. I don't use Bluetooth, and prefer the D3300's more powerful flash, better lens compatibility and sensor cleaner over the newer D3400.
You can also get the USA version at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield for a record low of $479 including the older 18-55mm VR II lens.
I'd get the gray-market version from Ritz for $100 lens with the better lens any day. I don't think there's a more competent camera dollar-for-dollar or ounce-for-ounce anywhere.
28 July 2017, Friday
Sony Minolta 28-135mm f/4~4.5.
NEW: Sony Minolta 28~135mm Review.
This old classic works great with the Sony A9 and LA-EA4 adapter.
Sony Minolta 20mm f/2.8.
UPDATED: Sony Minolta 20mm f/2.8 Review.
I added sample images and updated it for use with the Sony A9and LA-EA4 adapter.
27 July 2017, Thursday
Nikon 16mm f/3.5, AI-updated.
NEW: Nikon 16mm f/3.5 Fisheye Review.
Nikon's sharpest 16mm fisheye, and works great on FX cameras.
MacBook Pro Clearance
All are 15", Space Gray, Late 2016 with 16 GB RAM, touchbars and AMD Radeon Pro 460 GPUs:
Quad 2.6GHz, 256GB SSD $2,199.
Dual 3.3 GHz, 1 TB SSD, Intel Iris Graphics 550 (not AMD) $2,449.
Quad 2.9 GHz, 512 GB SSD $2,549.
Quad 2.7 GHz, 1TB SSD $2,599.
Quad 2.9 GHZ, 1TB SSD $2,699.
Quad 2.7GHz, 2TB SSD $2,999.
Quad 2.9GHZ, 2TB SSD $3,099.
Quad 2.6GHz, 2TB SSD $3,199.
25 July 2017, 100 Years of Nikon
Nikon D850 and 50mm f/1.4 AF.
TEASER: Nikon D850.
Sorry if I can't get excited, but Nikon has told us absolutely nothing about what it might be. Yawn!
Nikon D810 Deal
The Nikon D810 is down to $1,997, refurbished.
When I've bought Nikon-refurbished products, they were just like new, except they came in a plainer box. Remember you can return them if you don't love them, and they also come with a basic warranty as well.
22 July 2017, Saturday
More Refurbished-by-Nikon Deals
Nikon D800e: $2,199.95 (refurbished).
Nikon D800: $1,849.95 (refurbished). I've compared the D800 to the D800e, and they are essentially the same.
Nikon Df w/50/1.8 Special Edition: $1,795 (refurbished).
Nikon D610: $1,099.95 (refurbished).
Nikon D2X: $999.95 (refurbished). Where did they drag these up? The D2X was announced in September, 2004! It's over 12 years old. It's an ancient professional 12MP 5FPS camera. Avoid this unless you run a museum of useless objects. The D2X was the last of the old Gen 1 Nikons, even a refurbished D3200 below has way better image quality. If you want pro build quality and high frame rates, I prefer the newer D2Hs, which sells used for about $150 if you wait and know How to Win at eBay.
Nikon D7200: $749.95 (refurbished).
Nikon D7100: $599.95 (refurbished). The best buy here for serious shooters. It's the same or better than the newest D7500 for half the price.
Nikon D5500 w/18-55 VR II: $549.95 (refurbished).
Nikon D5500: $499.95 (refurbished).
Nikon D5300, 18-55 & 70-300: $599.95 (refurbished).
Nikon D5300 (gray body color): $449.95 (refurbished).
Nikon D5300: $379.95 (refurbished).
Nikon D5200: $339.95 (refurbished).
Nikon D3200: $249.95 (refurbished). A screaming deal! The D3200 is a great camera that takes the same pictures as everything else.
Nikon MB-D10 grip for D300 and D700: $159.95 (refurbished).
Nikon 70-200/2.8 G VR II: $1,699.95 (refurbished).
Nikon 24/1.4G: $1,449.95 (refurbished).
Nikon 16-80 VR: $749.95 (refurbished).
Nikon 10-24mm DX: $679.95 (refurbished).
Nikon 28-200mm FX: $399.95 (refurbished). Ancient product from 1998~2006; see my review from 2006. I'd get it used over eBay instead, and I'd get the newer, better G version instead as well.
Nikon 85/1.8 AF: $349.95 (refurbished). Another oldie, and a fantastic lens.
Nikon 55-300 VR: $229.95 (refurbished).
Nikon 50/1.8G: $169.95 (refurbished).
Nikon 18-55 VR II: $99.95 (refurbished).
Nikon SB-700 flash: $246.95 (refurbished).
20 July 1969, The End of Impossible
Man on Moon.
48 years of American dominance.
18 July 2017, Tuesday
Voigtländer 20mm f/3.5 SL-II.
UPDATED: Voigtländer 20mm f/3.5 Review.
Still the sharpest, smallest ultrawide you can get for Nikon.
This page not loading?
If it didn't you wouldn't be reading this, but just as an FYI, a few people have emailed me when they couldn't get this page to load.
I have no idea why, but in every one of these cases, simply clearing their browser's cache cleared the problem.
If anyone actually knows why this is and knows how I can fix this for good, I'm all ears.
17 July 2017, Monday
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL.
The world's best 70-200mm, the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL has dropped $200 to $2,597 at Adorama, at Amazon and at B&H. It's been $2,799 ever since it was announced last year.
This month the Sony 70-200/4 G rose $100 to $1,498 from $1,398 and the Canon 70-200/2.8 L IS II rose to $1,949 from $1,899.
Not that it matters since you gotta shoot what fits your camera, but this makes the Nikon now the same price as the Sony 70-200/2.8 GM while the Canon 70-200/2.8 L IS II remains as the best buy in pro 70-200 lenses. The Canon has the same build and optical quality as the Nikon and is better than Sony, but costs much less than either.
The Nikon is the best of these mostly because it has superb optics, is extremely well built and focuses closely. All of the Sony, Canon and Nikon 70-200/2.8s have superb optics, but the Sony lacks a fluorite element and has more distortion than the others - but focuses a little closer.
The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL is expensive because it's good and it's new and it has VR and a fluorite element.
The Sony 70-200/2.8 GM is expensive because it's good and it's new. It lacks fluorite, is offshored to Thailand and only has a plastic filter thread; you're paying for the novelty of Sony.
The Canon 70-200/2.8 L IS II is as good as the Nikon, complete with a metal filter thread and a fluorite element, but since this Canon has been out since 2011, it's well discounted since Canon has paid off their development cost — so it's the biggest bargain of these big three. The only gotcha is that this Canon lacks focus lock buttons. The Canon was $2,400 when it came out in 2011. It just happens that $2,400 in 2011 is the same as $2,597 in 2017; this Canon is top-notch, but much less expensive today than the others.
13 July 2017, Thursday
UPDATED: Nikon 70-300mm VR AF-P Compatibility.
I clarified which cameras work with it or not. It's compatible with a different set of cameras than any of the other AF-P lenses. Arrgh!
Do you think I like spending my afternoons trying to explain all this for Nikon? No! I'd much rather Nikon's stuff just worked, or that everyone just shot Canon and saved us all the hassle. I don't like that I have to explain that Nikon lenses only work on random cameras, even if Nikon is selling them new today. It doesn't matter that most of us have been shooting Nikon since the 1970s when they were the leader; that was 40 years ago and things change.
Canon's EOS cameras and EF lenses have all been 100% compatible with each other ever since they were announced in 1987. The newest Canon LCD-display lenses work great with my ancient 1980s EOS 35mm Canon SLRs, and my oldest 1980s EOS lenses all work great on my newest 5DSR.
Nikon's slowly killing themselves by having so many lenses and cameras which are all sold new today that won't work with each other. Nikon is crippled by having four incompatible AF systems (screw-AF, AF-I, AF-S and AF-P) and three incompatible aperture systems (F, AI, G, and E). Nikon today still sells new screw-AF, AF-S and AF-P lenses with AI, G, and E diaphragms.
Canon on the other hand designed their EF mount from scratch for 1987 with electronic focus and electronic diaphragm control from the very beginning, while Nikon has only recently introduced some lenses with electronic diaphragms.
Nikon's VR system doesn't work with many of their cameras from before the 1990s, while Canon's IS system works with every camera they've made since 1987, film and digital.
What this means is that Canon has had everything working together perfectly from the start, while Nikon is crippled with almost 60 years of trying to use the same ancient F mount which came out in 1959 and adapting it to do "just one more thing" as time went on. While Nikon looked smart in the 1980s adapting their 1959 mount to do autofocus, Canon ticked off their existing customers when they trashed their old FD mount and started from scratch with the new and then-incompatible EOS EF mount in 1987. Today 30 years later Canon look like geniuses since everything works, while Nikon can't even explain clearly which cameras work with this new AF-P lens and I have to instead!
Today I'd buy a Sony or Canon long before putting much money into new Nikon. The Sony A9 is AWESOME and way ahead of everyone else for action. It shows us what everyone else will be trying to do in 5 years: silent 20 FPS full AF shooting. It's a totally new camera you have to get to believe.
Sony has a huge advantage in mirrorless because Sony has been making and innovating electronic image sensors at least since the 1960s when electronic image sensors were TV camera vacuum tubes. They've been a world leader in CCDs at least since the 1980s. They invent half of what's new in CCD and CMOS sensors, and when they want to do something truly amazing, like design a radically new sensor from scratch for the A9, they do it like no one else on Earth can.
Nikon's stuck in a rut as they've always gotten their sensors from Sony. Is it just me who finds it odd that Nikon has introduced no cameras with new state-of-the-art sensors in them ever since about 2013 when Sony introduced its first full-frame camera, the A7? Nikon had 36MP in the D800 back in 2012 and has never done anything better. I think Sony cut Nikon off from it's cream-of-the-crop, reserving the good stuff for itself. Canon makes their own sensors, which is why they keep innovating with the 5DSR, for instance at 50 MP.
11 July 2017, Amazon Prime Day
Nikon Full-Frame 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E VR AF-P.
NEW: Nikon Full-Frame 70-300mm VR AF-P.
Amazon Deals
Here are Amazon's top deals of the year, like the Echo Dot Alexa voice controlled wizardess for just $34.99 and the full-sized Amazon Echo Alexa for just $89.99!
My wife loves her Amazon Echo in the kitchen, and I plug my Echo Dot into the AUX input of my audioengine B2 speaker for great sound.
They're always on, so if I ask for something like the weather in Dubai or other people ask it to run a kitchen timer or play Celine Dion music for the dogs, it just does. You never have to touch it; it just works like the voice-controlled computer in the original Star Trek.
10 July 2017, Monday
LEICA TL2.
NEU: LEICA TL2.
It's a 24MP APS-C mirrorless that would compete against the Sony A6300 — if LEICA was mortal.
NEW: Nikon EN-EL15 battery recall.
08 July 2017, Saturday
Fall Color!
We've got two workshops coming in October. They run right after the other, so if you're traveling to one, you should do both — but different organizations are doing registrations, so it might not be obvious.
California's Eastern Sierra, Monday~Thursday 23~26 October 2017.
Yosemite, Thursday~Sunday 26~29 October 2017.
Metabones Canon Lens to Sony Camera Adapter.
NEW: Metabones Canon EF to Sony E-Mount Mark V Adapter Review.
07 July 2017, Friday
Gotta love my X100F
Katie at the concert in the park. (Fuji X100F, no flash, f/3.2 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 400 at Auto Dynamic Range 200%, Perfectly Clear). bigger.
A typical snap from last week at the park. Sharp kid, soft background.
Deals
Robo C2 3D Printer - $599.99.
Acer Desktop Computer - $189. Wow, windows PCs are this cheap today?
Acer Desktop Computer - $239.
Samson USB Microphone - $50. Yet another Neumann copy.
Ibanez IJD100S Acoustic Guitar & road kit - $119.00.
06 July 2017, Thursday
Minolta (Sony) 80-200mm f/2.8 APO.
NEW: Minolta High-Speed AF 80-200mm f/2.8 APO.
Sony bought Minolta in 2006. This professional lens has the Sony Alpha mount. The Sony LA-EA4 adapter makes this lens completely compatible with Sony's hot new mirrorless E-mount cameras with fast autofocus and 100% data interchange.
04 July 2017, Independence Day
Fireworks!!! (Nikon D800E, Nikon 24mm f/1.4 G, program auto gave f/1.4 at 1/30 at Auto ISO 6,400, Matrix meter, autofocused once on Ryan then set to MANUAL focus to hold, VIVID Picture Control at +3 Saturation, A3 M1 AWB.)
How to Photograph Fireworks.
Grado SR80e.
NEW: Grado SR80e Review.
The world's most accurate $99 headphone and made in USA.
Grado SR325e.
NEW: Grado SR325e Review.
Made in USA.
July 4th Sales
Rokinon 50mm T1.5 Cine for Nikon: $359.95.
In stock: Canon 35mm f/2.8 Macro for APS-C (EF-S).
02 July 2017, Sunday
Canon 18-55mm IS II.
NEW: Canon 18~55mm IS II Review.
A basic lightweight lens, ideal for lightweight cameras.
30 June 2017, Friday
MindShift just introduced some new sling bags called PhotoCross. They have a slim profile while fitting a tripod, laptop, and have zipper pulls that can be easily opened with gloves.
MindShift PhotoCross bags.
29 June 2017, Thursday
Canon 6D Mark II and 50mm f/1.2 L.
NEW: Canon 6D Mk II.
Live discussion at B&H coming at 7PM NYC time (6PM Central, 4PM West Coast).
Canon Rebel SL2 with Canon 18-55mm IS STM.
NEW: Canon SL2.
Ten Years of the iPhone.
The first iPhones shipped on 29 June 2007.
It has changed the entire world; first world, second world and third world.
What's next?
28 June 2017, Wednesday
Sony Curved Sensors
As you'll see in my Sony A9 review, I figured out why adapted lenses, especially wide ones, work so much worse than Sony's own lenses on Sony full-frame mirrorless.
While Sony's sensors look flat to the naked eye, the internal structure of the micro lenses and other layers through which the light must pass make the sensor appear curved optically depending on the position of the lens' rear nodal point. Making flat sensors is much less expensive than curved ones, so if Sony has figured out how to make a flat sensor perform as if it's curved, which has optical benefits just like our own eyes, bravo!
Just look at my sample images and you'll see that it's acting as a curved sensor with wider adapted lenses. This is easy to confirm for yourself with your own adapted wide lenses: just see where you have to focus manually in the center versus the sides, and you'll see that you need to focus differently. I don't know or care precisely why this is, but it's what I've been seeing for years.
Bravo again for Sony, but this supports my previous discoveries that other brands of lenses don't give top-notch results when adapted. See Canon versus LEICA on Sony, and my original ground-breaking work from four years ago that showed that even basic camera-brand lenses on their own brand of camera way outperform mongrel mixes of the finest lenses and finest cameras of differing brands.
It is thus proven that adapting lenses is fun for hobbyists, but for the quality I demand, it's a lens of the same brand as the camera (or the Zeiss lenses sold by Sony for their own cameras).
Sony's newest 12-24mm G and 16-35mm f/2.8 GM way outperform my finest Canon and LEICA lenses on the Sony A9.
June 27th was Tuesday
As you noticed yesterday, I listed it as Monday. So? It felt like a Monday to me.
This is how you know this is a real, hand-crafted website, not some robot-written automated garbage like half of the Internet today.
27 June 2017, Tuesday
Video Recorder Sale
Blackmagic Video Assist with HDMI and 6G-SDI Recorder, 5" Monitor 1,920 x 1,080 Display $395 (reg $495)
Blackmagic Design Video Assist 4K 7" Touchscreen LCD Monitor with Ultra HD Recorder $595 (reg $895).
24 June 2017, Saturday
NEW: Full-Frame Ultrawides Compared.
A comparison of today's hottest full-frame ultrawides. The good news is that ever since 2007, all these lenses have had superb optical performance.
Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G.
NEW: Sony 12-24mm f/4 G Review.
An awesome lens with flawless optical performance, a total winner for Sony!
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM.
NEW: Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Review.
Another awesome lens with flawless optical performance.
Deals
Rokinon 24mm T1.5 Cine for Canon - $419.95.
Rokinon 50mm T1.5 Cine DS for Nikon - $349.95.
Rokinon 50mm f/1.2 for Sony E - $349.95.
Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 for Olympus E - $299.95.
Panasonic GX85 w/12-32mm, free $100 Gift Card & 45-150mm Lens - $697.99.
Canon SX540 HS - Price in Cart $349.95.
Canon MF726CDW Color Laser Printer - $259.99.
Dell XPS 13.3" InfinityEdge Touch Notebook - $1,099 with Free Shipping.
Video
My friend Phil Steele has a new video talking about UV Filters. Here's also my page about Filters.
23 June 2017, Friday
Tamron 18~400mm.
NEW: Tamron 18-400mm.
For APS-C.
New 14mm f/1.8 Ultrawide from Sigma
World's first f/1.8 14mm ultrawide.
New From Think Tank Bags
Summer Sale: Up to 30% off on loads of things at the Outlet Center. My favorites there are the leather Retrospective bags.
Here's the niftiest part: since you know me, you get a free gift and free shipping with your order.
21 June 2017, Wednesday
NEW: Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4
Manual focus, 72mm filters and straight 9-bladed diaphragm..
The Nikon version is an AI-P style lens with a CPU chip and an aperture ring to work with almost every digital and 35mm Nikon. Also at B&H.
It also comes in Canon EOS Mount, also at B&H, and is manual-focus only.
16 June 2017, Friday
Nikon 100th Anniversary
Nikon has some special editions, expected to ship around 26 July 2017:
Nikon D5 100th Anniversary Edition.
Nikon D500 100th Anniversary Edition.
Nikon 70-200/2.8 FL 100th Anniversary Edition.
Nikon 100th Anniversary Edition 3-lens set.
Nikon 100th Anniversary Edition Leather Case.
Nikon 100th Anniversary Edition Leather Strap.
Nikon 16-35mm VR.
Updated: Nikon 16-35mm VR Review.
I brought this page up to modern high-resolution standards.
15 June 2017, Thursday
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS.
NEW: Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Review.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM.
Updated: Canon 70-200mm f/4 L USM
I updated my page to modern broadcast standards. This is a $599 bargain, with great optics and construction quality, including a fluorite element, at a low price but with no image stabilization. This is a lens for people who use a tripod or shoot in good light and don't need IS and want the smallest, sharpest lens they can get.
14 June 2017, Wednesday
B&H Father's Day Sales.
New video about new videos
My friend Phil Steele has a new video showing the Zhiyun Smooth 3 stabilized iPhone support. This gizmo holds your phone as you move it around and keeps it pointed in the same direction the whole time.
09 June 2017, Friday
Sony A9 and 24-70mm f/2.8 GM.
NEW: Sony A9 Review.
NEW: Sony A9 User's Guide.
I'm impressed; the A9 is better than the hype. It silently shoots at 20 FPS, and does it with superb autofocus. It's a new chapter in photography.
I love how Sony is actually innovating. After seeing mostly devolution from Nikon as they've been fading away the past few years, I love seeing a company take a problem by the horns and innovate the heck out of it.
The A9 has a new kind of sensor that lets them pull images off the sensor much, much faster than ever, also giving a live EVF view that doesn't stutter or even need to blink as we shoot.
For high-speed shooting, there is nothing like the A9 — and it only costs 2/3 of what the slower, louder pro DSLRs do.
Bravo, Sony!
Sale: MacBooks on Sale.
07 June 2017, Wednesday
New from Apple
Here's the new Mac OS High Sierra, iOS 11, watch OS 4, iMac Pro, iMacs, iPad Pro and HomePod.
02 June 2017, Friday
Tokina 300mm f/2.8 AF AT-X.
NEW: Tokina 300mm f/2.8 AT-X AF.
01 June 2017, Thursday
Nikon 28mm f/1.4E.
NEW: Nikon 28mm f/1.4 E FX.
Canon EOS M6 and EF-M 15-45mm IS STM.
NEW: Canon EOS M6 Review.
Canon EVF-DC2.
NEW: Canon EVF-DC2 Review.
What Was New in:
May 2017: Nikon 10-20mm DX VR, Nikon 8-15mm FX Fisheye, Canon 77D Review, Canon Rebel T7i Review, Canon 18-55mm IS STM Review, Springtime in Yosemite, Irix 15mm f/2.4 Review, Sony 16-35/2.8 GM, Sony 12-24/4 G, Fuji X100F Review, Laowa 12mm Review, Olympus TG-5.
March & April 2017: Nikon D7500, Nikon 19mm PC-E review, Nikon D3400 review, Sony A7 Mk II review, Nikon D5600 review.
February 2017: Canon 77D, Canon Rebel T7i, Canon EOS M6, Sony 24-70/2.8 GM, Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM , Sony 70-200mm f/4 G OSS, Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS, Sony FE 85mm f/1.8.
January 2017: LEICA M10, Fujifilm GFX 50S, Fujifilm X100F, Nikon D5600.
November & December 2016: Fuji X-A10.
September & October 2016: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL, Nikon 19mm PC-E, Sony A6500, Sony RX100 Mk V, Sony Alpha 99 II, Canon EOS M5, Canon EF 70-300 IS II USM, Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro.
July & August 2016: Canon 5D Mk IV, 16-35 IS II, 24-105 IS II, Nikon D3400, Nikon 105mm f/1.4, Fuji XT-2.
Help me help you
I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.
If you find this as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.
The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. eBay is always a gamble, but all the other places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
Thanks for reading!
Ken