May 2018's News

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

30 May 2018, Tuesday

Great New Book

99.9% of all photo books are either coffee-table books loaded with pretty pictures, or technical books about cameras or computer programs that have nothing to do with actually making a good picture. Taking good pictures is all about what's in the picture, and not about what camera you used.

When my friend Marc Silber said he was writing one of those very few books that actually explained how to make a good photograph, I was skeptical, but lo and behold, he's written the best book I've ever read about what makes a great picture. It's the best $16 you'll ever spend on photography.

I've reads tons of books, both classic painter's textbooks and modern art books about composition, and none goes into the detail Marc does. Marc says it clear and to-the-point. Most of the art books have little to say, and spread what little they have to share over too many pages. Marc says more in fewer pages than anyone ever has.

It's all about the picture in this book; Marc doesn't even bother talking about cameras — although he does point out which of his photos were taken on an iPhone versus regular cameras. This book is also printed in the USA; it's not trash offshored to the cheapest possible printer.

Yes!

Marc Silber's Secrets to Creating Amazing Photos.

iPhone Fun

I can't put down my iPhone X. Here are more snaps from the past few days (Yosemite is still coming).

Ryan at Thai Smile, 27 May 2018. iPhone X 6mm tele camera in Portrait Mode at f/2.4 at 1/60 at Auto ISO 80, as shot.) bigger or camera-orignal © file.

Wow! Look at the soft background, sharp eyes and teeth, and perfect colors indoors by iffy window light. Bravo!

Three Red Planters, 04 May 2018. iPhone X wide 4mm camera at f/1.8 at 1/979 at ISO 20, as shot. bigger or camera-original © file.

Again, awesome colors right out of the iPhone with NO processing. Bravo!

27 May 2018, Sunday

Sony vs. DSLR

People ask all the time, and I tell them that I prefer the in-camera JPG color rendition of Nikon and Canon for photos of places and things. I prefer the color rendition of Fuji for photos of people, but Fuji remains so buggy (dumb menu system that's only getting worse with time, AF lock never works, flaky EVF/LCD switching, still no full-frame cameras, etc.) that I've gotten over them. Sony looks good for all kinds of photos, but doesn't excel at one or the other as the other brands do. My work is all about color so I'm very picky here; most people won't notice any differences and if you shoot raw, these differences are all different.

If you're most serious about photos of landscapes and cars and animals and bugs and sunsets and buildings, go DSLR.

For people, business meetings, concerts, recitals, plays, business events, sports and action, I'd use Sony because the newest Sonys are SILENT and run at at least 10 frames per second. Also with Sony you can do everything in any light in the finder with no need for the rear LCD. I LOVE being able to set menus and see enlarged playback even in direct sunlight through the electronic finder. It makes my DSLRs seem so 1990s when I can't see playback in the finder and have to squint at a little LCD smaller than my iPhone X. Sony is the future. Sony cranks out significantly better cameras every few months. Get the A7 III, and the 24-105/4 G or 24-240 lenses and you could be done.

I'll be honest: I shoot my iPhone X a lot. Don't we all? I probably use it more than my big cameras for personal work unless I'm on a specific job.

NEW: Sigma 105mm f/1.4.

Comes for Nikon, for Sony, for Canon and for Sigma.

Canon Deals

DEAL: Canon 16-35/2.8 L III: $1,899 with 4% reward. Review.

DEAL: Canon 24-70/2.8 L II: $1,599 with 4% reward. Review.

EAL: Canon 70-200/2.8 L IS II: $1,799 with 4% rewards. Review.

DEAL: Canon 100-400mm L IS II: $1,899 with 4% rewards. My favorite telephoto of all time and of all brands, period. Review.

DEAL: Canon 70-300 IS USM II: $449 with 4% rewards. Ultrasharp and instant focusing tele. Review.

DEAL: Canon EF-s 35mm Macro IS STM: $299 with 4% rewards. For APS-C. Review.

24 May 2018, Thursday

Back from Yosemite

I'm still getting back from my trip to Yosemite last week. I shot my D3300 with Tamron 18-400mm (review coming) and my 1947 Kodak Medalist II with Kodak T-Max 100. Here's a sample from this all-American Kodak combination:

Merced River, Yosemite, 7:42 AM, 18 May 2018. bigger. 1947 Kodak Medalist II with yellow filter, f/16⅓ at 1/2 at 65' focus distance on Kodak T-Max 100. My film was processed and scanned by California's North Coast Photo Services, who does this all by mail order from anyplace on Earth.

Of course my Kodak Medalist II was adapted to use 120 film (rather then the original 620 film) by The Great Gus.

I'll be back in Yosemite this October, and also be in The Eastern Sierra the week before. You're all encouraged to join us.

New Fuji X-T100

The X-T100 is a basic interchangeable-lens crop-sensor mirrorless camera — that comes in three nice colors!

NEW: Fuji X-T100 in champagne, in black and in dark silver.

NEW: Fuji X-T100 w/15-45mm lens in champagne, in black and in dark silver. (the lens is always black; this isn't Contax.)

13 May 2018, Sunday

Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD.

NEW: Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 IS/VR Review.

Great optics and hand-holdable to one full second!

beyerdynamic Admiration Home.

NEW: beyerdynamic Amiron Home Review.

World's best open dynamic headphones.

12 May 2018, Saturday

HOT DEAL: Panasonic Underwater Camera: $99.99.

DEAL: The Sony 50mm f/1.8 is now only $198.

It was $248 this fall. It's optically a great full-frame lens at a giveaway price for all Sony mirroess cameras.

NEW: Sigma 70mm Full-Frame Macro Art Lens.

09 May 2018, Wednesday

NEW: Hasselblad XCD 21mm f/4.

For the X1D.

Sees the same angle as a 17mm ultrawide sees on a 35mm camera.

TUESDAY: Spring Light in Yosemite.

We'll be in Yosemite next week, 15~18 May 2018, Tuesday~Friday, for this workshop exploring Yosemite and its many springtime waterfalls.

The Yosemite Conservancy, who do the registrations, may have a spot or two open if you're around. We'd love to see you!

05 May 2018, Saturday

See the future by looking to the past

Nikon D1 and 35mm f/1.8 DX.

NEW: Nikon D1 High ISO Samples.

I just shot standardized high ISO sample shots and added them to my Nikon D1 Review.

What's interesting is to see that images from 18-year-old designs like this didn't get softer or look that much worse at their highest ISOs ads compared to their lowest. As I keep saying, many of the reasons today's cameras go to such insane high ISOs is because of DSP tricks, and the fact that camera makers allow the pictures to get so much worse at their highest settings in a competitive quest to look better on paper than their competitors. The Nikon D5 at its highest ISO of 3,276,800 looks so much worse than the D1 at it's highest ISO.

I also just got a brand-new Watson EN4 battery for my D1, just $29.99 brand new at B&H. I've seen people pay more for used Nikon batteries, which is a bad idea as even brand new the Nikon batteries were always awful. The D1 uses Ni-MH batteries and they were loaded with problems from day one. The best thing about the D2 ~ D5 series is their new Li-Ion batteries which work extremely well and weigh much less.

Note the nomenclature: "EN" are awful Ni-MH batteries, while "EN-EL" are modern Li-Ion batteries.

Deals

Nikon

70-300mm AF-P VR DX: Regular Price $400 Sale Price $149.95!!! (refurbished). This is Nikon's newest and best telephoto for DX.

Canon

Canon 6D, printer & free audio recorder & mic: $999 after rebate.

Includes:

Canon Pixma Pro 100 Printer

Canon plus luster Semi-gloss photo paper

Tascam DR-10SG Audio Recorder with Shotgun Mic

Rokinon

85mm T1.5 Cine: $265. Comes for Canon, for Micro Four Thirds, for Nikon and for Sony.

14mm f/2.8 AF Full-Frame for Canon: $649.

Panasonic Micro 4/3 Lens Deals

12-60mm OIS w/FREE $300 gift card: $498.

8mm f/3.5 Fisheye w/FREE $50 gift card: $798.

Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 OIS w/FREE $100 gift card: $798.

Panasonic Camera Deals

DMC-FZ2500 camera w/FREE $125 gift card: $998.

DMC-ZS100 camera w/FREE $100 gift card: $698.

03 May 2018, Wednesday

NEW: Vello MB-D18 (BG-N19) Grip Review.

A $99 replacement for Nikon's $400 grip that's not available.

Vello MB-D18 (BG-N19) grip.

01 May 2018, Lei Day

Sunpak RD2000.

NEW: Sunpak RD2000 Review.

A tiny, inexpensive flash well suited to Canon, who make no such tiny flash. Also comes for Nikon and for Fuji.

NEW: Small Flashes Compared.

What Was New in:

April 2018: Irix 11mm f/4 Review,Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Canon 85mm f/1.4 L IS Review,Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VR/IS Review, Best 70-200mm f/2.8 Lenses Compared, Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VR/IS Review, Best 24-105mm Lenses Compared, MindShift 18L Backpack, Fuji GF 250mm f/4, Fuji GF 1.4X TC WR Teleconverter, Fuji MCEX-45G WR Macro Extension Tube, Fuji MCEX-18G WR Macro Extension Tube, Sony RX10 Mk IV Review, Sony RX10 Mk IV User's Guide, beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless Review.

March 2018: Nikon 70-300mm AFP E FX Review, Nikon 28mm f/1.4 E FX Review, Nikon 10-20mm Review, Nikon D7500 Review.

February 2018: Sony A7 III, Yosemite Photos, Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Pancake-NIKKOR review, beyerdynamic DT1350 review, beyerdynamic DT240 review, Canon SL2 review.

Janaury 2018: Nikon 180-400mm, Canon 6D Mk II review, Canon 18-135mm USM review, Fuji X-A5, Sony 18-135mm.

December 2017: Canon 35mm f/2.8 Macro review, Sony A7R III review, Sony A7R III user's guide, Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS review, Sony FE 100mm STF G OSS review.

November 2017: Sony 50/2.8 Macro Review, Sony 90/2.8 Macro Review, LEICA CL, Sony 70-300mm G Review, Panasonic G9, iPhone X Review, How to Make Time Exposures with iPhone, 1X Photo Contest, Tamron 100-400mm.

October 2017: Nikon D850 review, Nikon D850 user's guide, Sony A7R III, Sony 24-105mm G, Sony 85/1.8 review, Canon G1X Mk III.

June, July, August and September 2017: Canon 6D Mk II, Canon SL-2, Canon 85/1.4L, Canon TS-E 50/2.8, 90/2.8 & 135/4, Nikon D850, Nikon 70-300 VR DX AF-P, Nikon 28/1.4E, Metabones Mk V Canon EF -> Sony E-mount adapter.

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.

September and October 2014

July and August 2014

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