July & August 2024's News
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Nikon vs Canon vs Sony Full-Frame Mirrorless Mirrorless vs DSLR
Canon: EOS R1 R3 R5 Mk II R5 R5C R6 II R6 R R8 RP R7 R10 R50 R100 1DX III 1DX II 5DS/R 5D Mk IV 6D II 90D T8i SL3 T7 T100 Flash Lenses
Nikon: Z9 Z8 Z7 II Z6 III Z6 II Z5 Zf Z fc Z50 Z30 D6 D850 D780 D500 D7500 D3500 Flash Lenses Best Nikon Lenses
Sony: A9 III A1 A9 II A9 A7R V A7R IV A7R III A7 IV A7 III A7R II A7S III A7CR A7C II A7c A7 II ZV-E1 ZV1 II A6700 A6600 A6400 A6100 A6000 ZV-E10 II ZV-E10 RX10/4 RX100/7 RX100/6 Flash Lenses
Fujifilm: GFX 100S II GFX 100 II GFX100S GFX100 GFX50R X100VI X100V X100F X-H2 X‑H2s X-T5 X‑T4 X‑T3 X-T50 X‑T30 X‑Pro3 X-S20 X‑S10 X‑E4 X‑T200 Film Lenses
LEICA: SL2 SL2 S Q3 Q2 Q2M M11M M11 M10-R M10M M10P M10 M240 M-E M9P M9T M9 M7 M6/TTL CLE M3 IIIf IIIa Lenses
OM SYSTEM: OM-1 Mark II OM-1 M.Zuiko ED 90mm f/3.5 IS
All Reviews: Apple Audio Zeiss Tamron Sigma Tokina HASSELBLAD Contax Olympus Pentax
Take Better Pictures How to Shoot Film Recommended Cameras Best Cameras Gifts random
Links: Adorama Amazon B&H Crutchfield eBay How to Win at eBay Tutorial Videos Think Tank Infrared
Adorama's Daily Deals Amazon's Deals-of-the-Day
Crutchfield's Sales B&H's Deal Zone B&H Holiday Deals: MacBook Pros, Fuji Cameras, Oben Tripods & Loads of Hand-Picked Accessories.
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Coming this October
Thursday ~ Sunday, 17 ~ 20 October 2024: Fall Color in the Eastern Sierra.
To register and for any questions click here, or call or email Dave Wyman at (323) 377-7565 in Los Angeles.
Golden Aspens and Snow-Covered Mount Emma, 4:45 P.M., 18 October 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 24-240mm IS USM at 90mm at f/9 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 14.0), Skylum Aurora HDR to make it more vivid, bring the tree forward and darken the periphery with vignetting from my single JPG image. bigger or fit-to-screen.
To register and for any questions, call or email Dave Wyman at (323) 377-7565 in Los Angeles. Dave Wyman is often out leading other tours, so he's not always sitting by his phone or computer. Dave organizes these tours while we both lead and teach. Dave Wyman is the author of many books about travel and photography; Fearless Photographer: Nature is his most recent, with Yosemite in Photographs, Backroads of Northern California and Backroads of Southern California so popular they're often sold out. Dave has been leading outdoor hiking, educational, camping, historical and photo trips for decades and decades and decades.
Join Us on February 2025's Road Trip to Route 66
Summer Sale on Phil Steele Photography Courses
My friend Phil Steele is having a sale on his courses. Phil's tutorials are the best I've seen; check out his previews and see for yourself. He has a 60-day no-risk money-back guarantee, so you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. You can watch them from anywhere on just about anything, far better than a book, file or eBook.
30% off: How to Create Images with AI. We've all read and heard about it, but how many of us actually have any idea where to start?
30% Off: Understanding Your Camera.
33% Off: Advanced Off-Camera Flash.
33% Off: Secrets of Successful Event Photography.
30% Off: Lightroom Made Easy.
30% Off: Photoshop Basics for Photographers.
30% Off: Pro Portraits with Off-Camera Flash.
Phil has a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can't afford not to try it.
29 August 2024, Thursday
NEW: Tamron Full-Frame 50-400mm VR for Nikon Z.
NEW: Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II, also at Adorama.
Smaller and lighter than the original Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM.
$1,000 Off: LEICA SL2-S mit 50mm f/2 SUMMICRON-SL ASPH: $5,895.
$1,300 Off: LEICA SL2 mit 24~70mm f/2.8 VARIO ELMARIT SL: 7,995.
$170 Off: SanDisk 1TB 200 MB/s SDXC card: $129.99!
$500 Off: LaCie 36 TB RAID Array: $999!
27 August 2024, Tuesday
NEW: Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 Review & Sample Images.
$330 Off: Canon R100, RF 18-45mm IS STM & RF 55-210mm IS STM: $499!!!
$200 Off: Sony FX3: $3,698.
$xxx Off: Sony FX30: $1,599.99.
26 August 2024, Monday
$59 off (open box with full new warranty): Canon 16mm f/2.8 STM (Full frame!): $220.
$198 off (open box with full new warranty): Sony E 10-20mm f/4G (APS-C; 15-30mm eq.): $550.
23 August 2024, Friday
$200 off Canon 5D Mark IV w/ 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM: $3,199.
$15 off (open box with full new warranty): Canon EOS R100: $284.
$217 off (open box with full new warranty): Canon EOS R6 Mk II w/RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: $2,882.
Clouds and Two Ospreys in the Lower Left, San Diego, California, 5:38 PM, Wednesday, 21 August 2024. Nikon Z6 III in square-crop mode, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 with Nikon 77mm Circular Polarizer II filter held over the front at 48mm at f/8 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.0), Radiant Photo software, Photoshop CC 2021. bigger.
21 August 2024, Wednesday
Wow! $548 off (scratch & dent with full new warranty): Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS: $1,450.
New! Invery Bluetooth to Multimedia Interface Adapter for Mercedes, Audi, VW and others.
It works!
I almost gave up getting music from my iPhone 15 Pro Max (USB-C) into the 30-pin iPod dock of my 2013 Mercedes. Many German cars from about 10-15 years ago had Bluetooth phone call connections, but not Bluetooth music connections. Instead they used a weird rectangular "MultiMedia Interface (MMI)" connector hidden in a console or glove box. Most came with a cable to let 30-pin iPods and iPhones play music through these wired connections into the entertainment system, called the "Media Interface" audio input option in Mercedes. Only phone calls came over Bluetooth; music came by wire.
When iPhones went to a lightning connector, I used an Apple 30-pin to lightning adapter and all was fine. Sadly when my iPhone 15 Pro Max went to USB-C, adding an Apple Lightning to USB-C adapter didn't work, so I simply popped an old traditional 30-pin iPod into my glove box and called it a day. Corded MMI to USB-C adapters have poor user ratings so I didn't try one.
Poking around for solutions, I found and ordered this bluetooth adapter, plugged it into my glove box, connected to INVERY in my iPhone's Bluetooth settings, and it actually works! It reconnects automatically each time I get in my car and starts playing wherever I left off. It seems to add a much needed deep-bass boost which corrects the typically anemic bass response of most German car audio systems so it sounds better than what I used to have. There's a switch on it for two different integration modes, try both. I use the iOS option which gives relatively complete control and listing of Apple Music tracks and playlists in my car. It works great with Apple Music; and even playing from Tidal gives some data on my car displays. It's not a factory solution so it has its bugs, but it's much better than having no music connected and is better than I expected. Phone calls continue to come in via their own existing Bluetooth connection and mute and unmute the music as calls come and go. Bravo!
20 August 2024, Tuesday
NEW: Shure SM4 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone; also comes as a kit with shock mount and magnetic pop filter.
Shure has been a leader in pro mics pretty much since the dawn of recording, for instance the iconic Model 55 of the 1950s is just one of their many mics over the decades. I've used my SM-81s for over 40 years, so it's interesting to see what this vocal mic becomes.
$634 off (scratch & dent with full new warranty): Sony A1: $5,864.
$138 off (scratch & dent with full new warranty): Sony ZV-E10 w/PZ 16-50mm OSS: $660.
19 August 2024, Monday
$100 off (open box with full new warranty, actually $600 off the original price): Canon EOS R6 Mk II: $1,899.
Good News: The Canon EOS R6 Mk II is back to its lowest price ever at $1,999. It was $2,500 at introduction.
$198 off (scratch & dent with full new warranty): Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G: $400.
$498 off (scratch & dent with full new warranty): Sony A6700 w/E 18-135mm OSS: $1,300.
17 August 2024, Saturday
New at Crutchfield: Canon R1.
New: Canon LC-E19 Battery Charger for LP-E19, LP-E4, and LP-E4N pro batteries.
16 Aug 2024, Friday
In Stock: Fuji GF 500mm f/5.6 R LM WR OIS.
15 August 2024, Thursday
Nikon Noct-NIKKOR 58mm f/1.2 on an FTZ on a Nikon Z6 III.
NEW: Nikon Z6 III Review & Sample Images.
NEW: My Nikon Z6 III Plain-English User's Guide.
Updated: Listing of all Nikon Digital Cameras by Date, 1973~2024.
Updated: Listing of all Nikon FX Cameras by Date, 2007 ~ 2024.
My Listing of all Nikon DX Cameras by Date, 1999 ~ 2024 was up-to-date; Nikon hasn't introduced any DX mirrorless or DSLRs since the Z30 of June 2022.
14 August 2024, Wednesday
Nikon Z 24-200mm and Z6 III
I shot this yesterday and was amazed, as I always am, at how sharp is my Nikon Z 24-200mm VR (too sharp!), and how it has great bokeh for portraits. What more could you want?
Ryan on the First Day of his Senior Year in High School, 7:52 AM, Tuesday, 13 August 2024. Slight crop from Nikon Z6 III with SB-400 flash and Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 150mm wide-open at f/6.3 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 160 (LV 11.6), Radiant Photo and Photoshop CC 2021. bigger or full-resolution 24 MP JPG file (5 MB).
Also note how Nikon has always had superb flash exposure ever since they went TTL forty years ago. We were all in a huge rush, and BAM!, popped-on my SB-400 flash and the fill-flash exposure was just perfect.
13 August 2024, Tuesday
New: Canon CF-R20EP Battery Grip w/ Fan and Ethernet for R5 II: $399.
Adds a cooling fan and a wired Ethernet jack, but does not have a set of duplicate vertical controls.
New: Canon DR-E6P DC Coupler for EOS R5 Mark II: $100.
Up to $500 Off: Canon Sale at Crutchfield.
$115 off (open box with full new warranty): Canon EOS R6 Mk II: $2,184.
$263 off (scratch & dent with full new warranty): Nikon Z 100-400mm VR: $2,434.
$114 off (open box with full new warranty): Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR: $483.
$223 off (scratch & dent with full new warranty): Sony A6700 w/16-50mm PZ OSS: $1,200.
$50 off (open box with full new warranty): Sony A6400 w/16-50mm PZ OSS: $798.
08 August 2024, Thursday
Bentley Headlight, 8:14 AM, Saturday, 03 August 2024. Slight crop from Nikon Z6 III and Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 at 96mm at f/8 at 1/80 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 12.3), Radiant Photo and Photoshop CC 2021. bigger or full 24 MP resolution (4.6 MB JPG).
$50 off (open box with full new warranty): Nikon Z 50 w/16-50mm VR: $947.
07 August 2024, Wednesday
New: Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip for R5, R5 II, R6 and R6 Mk II: $349.
$85 off (open box with full new warranty): Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8: $762.
Up to $400 off: Sony Sale at Crutchfield.
06 August 2024, Tuesday
$97 off (scratch and dent with full new warranty): Canon EOS R10 w/RF-S 18-45mm IS STM: $902.
03 August 2024, Saturday
Updated: LEICA SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4 Review.
02 August 2024, Friday
NEW: Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4: $597.
NEW: Sony E 16-50mm OSS II: $298.
$458 off (scratch and dent with full new warranty): Nikon Z8 & Z 24-120mm f/4: $4,239.
$80 off (open box with full new warranty): Canon EF to RF Adapter with Control Ring: $120.
01 August 2024, Thursday
NEW: Benro Theta Self-Leveling Tripod (67" max, weighs 3⅔ lbs. and holds 44 lbs., 21" collapsed).
NEW: Benro Theta Max Self-Leveling Tripod (59" max, weighs 2¾ lbs. and holds 24 lbs., 17" collapsed).
I just ordered one of these. They claim, assuming you also get the special battery, to level themselves, as well as do other oddball remote-control things via an app like let me remotely frame myself in my camera — Heaven help you if I can get my face on KenRockwell.TV! As just one guy, not a 'Tuber, it takes forever to frame myself in a video shot all by myself, so you've been spared seeing me.
31 July 2024, Wednesday
Snap from Last Night:
Osprey and Gull at Sunset, Pacific Beach, California, 7:44 PM, Tuesday, 30 July 2024. Cropped from a horizontal shot with Nikon Z6 III and Nikon AF-S 28-300mm VR on my FTZ at 300mm at f/8 at 1/640 at Auto ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation to keep color in the highlights and Radiant Photo software to bring back detail in the shadows (LV 15⅓), Photoshop CC 2021. bigger.
You can see I have a thing about helicopters. If any of you fly them around San Diego, let me know and we can get some awesome shots! My mom is a CFI and has been flying since Piper Cubs were new, but I haven't been up in a while. I was pretty much born in and spent most of my childhood in a C-172.
Oben CQL-13 with included Ball Head & Arca plate.
NEW: Oben CQL-13 Magic Disappearing Tripod Review.
It's a tiny, weightless tripod which extends to full-size, and all the sections of each leg lock or unlock with just a twist!
It's easy to pop in a backpack, and sets up and puts-away much faster than any other tripod. Bravo!
NEW: Tamron 28-300mm for Sony, also at Adorama.
NEW: Sony ZV-E10 II, also in white.
NEW: Canon EOS R5 Mk II & RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.
NEW: Canon EOS R5 Mk II.
$142 off (scratch & dent with full new warranty): Canon EOS R50, RF 18-45mm IS STM & RFS 55-210mm IS STM: $837.
$315 off (open box with full new warranty): LEICA Q3: $5,980.
$85 off (open box with full new warranty): LEICA Sofort 2 Instant Camera: $314.
30 July 2024, Tuesday
1955 LEICA M3 und LEICA SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4.
New: I added a brief User's Guide and Lens & Metering section to my LEICA M3 Review.
$100 Off: Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM: $2,699.
$400 off: Sony A7R V: $3,498.
$200 off: Sony A7R IV version II: $2,998. I have to laugh at all the versions in this model number.
$200 off: Sony A7 IV w/FE 28-70mm OSS: $2,498.
$200 off: Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS: $1,098.
$100 off: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM: $1,298.
$100 off: Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM: $1,198.
$100 off: Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS (APS-C): $898.
$100 off: Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS: $1,898.
28 July 2024, Sunday
Nikon Z6 III and Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4. bigger.
NEW: Nikon Z6 III High ISO Sample Images.
No news here; typical high performance as other cameras today. The differences lie in how each camera chooses to deal with noise reduction at stupid-high ISOs; the Z6 III uses some pretty strong noise reduction which leaves more artifacts - but gives more contrast - than some other cameras.
The real news is the Z6 III does not impress me. Its AF is poor, often hunting in-and-out even with a decent subject and using only one sensor, and its finder is fed by a much lower resolution video signal which becomes very obvious when a much sharper image pops in after you've shot it with Image Review ON.
26 July 2024, Friday
NEW: Oben GH3W-15 Geared Head Review.
The key to perfect framing and leveling.
25 July 2024, Thursday
Gotta Love SanDisk and B&H
I just got my four 64 GB 200 MB/s SanDisk SD cards that I ordered from B&H. They're still on sale today in whatever size you need.
First I was impressed that B&H shipped these a box, wrapped in bubble wrap, for free. You could have dropped these out of a plane at 60,000 feet and the box was light enough to have a slow enough terminal velocity that the bubble wrap would certainly have protected my cards, if they weren't tough enough on their own. I would have thrown them in an envelope — unpadded — and called it a day, while B&H shipped them more carefully than some people have shipped me used camera lenses.
Second, I was impressed that they again come in individual polypropylene plastic cases, making it easy to throw them in a wallet or pants pocket and not worry about any damage. For a while SD cards stopped coming in cases, so this is good news.
Third, I was impressed that even though I forgot to format these, that they still worked perfectly just slapped into my camera and shot.
Bravo!
24 July 2024, Wednesday
Godox SK400 II V Studio Strobe.
NEW: Godox SK400II V Studio Strobe Review & Sample Images.
$1,000 Off: LEICA SL2 mit 24-70mm f/2.8: $8,295.
23 July 2024, Tuesday
25% Off: Select Thank Tank Backpacks & Airport Bags.
20 July 1969, 55 Years Since the End of Impossible
NEW: Canon EOS R1 Review.
Canon EOS R1 and RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM.
19 July 2024, Friday
NEW: Canon R5 Mk II Review.
$101 Off (open box w/full new warranty): Canon Prograf PRO-1000 17" Printer: $1,099.
$100 Off (open box w/full new warranty): Sony APS-C E 70-350mm G: $798.
18 July 2024, Thursday
Man, I was so right
This morning I wrote how the one-day $2,899 price on the original R5 had expired and risen to $2,999, but that Amazon, who often lags on all this, was still at $2,899 so bag it now while you could, since the original R5 is so much like the new R5 Mark II — but $1,400 less.
Lo and behold, now that it's afternoon, Amazon is also back to $2,999 for the R5.
It's still a deal to save $1,300 and get the original R5, if money matters. I'm amused at how clearly I've always seen the future, which for me is merely extrapolating from recent history based on my accumulated wisdom. When I suggest something's a steal, it probably is — and $2,999 is still $1,300 less than the mostly similar R5 Mk II. Don't complain that it's still mostly the same after waiting four years for the Mark II, instead take advantage and get a steal on the wonderful old model.
I can only write so fast
More fun facts: I just got my Nikon Z6 III, and its autofocus is still poor. It has problems trying to lock-on to the mostly full moon yesterday in the afternoon sky. My Canons can focus well even on soft clouds in sky!
My Nikon Z6 III's finder is insanely bright when pointed into the sun. It's almost blinding, and goes to show what I've said all along. You don't need HDR displays or formats if you have a bright enough monitor or finder. In this case, my sunset shots are blinding in the Nikon Z6 III finder, shot as JPG BASIC ★.
More bad news is that the Nikon Z6 III's finder does have super-high resolution, but only for playback. The Nikon Z6 III's finder resolution is greatly reduced in live view while you're shooting! While it's sharp enough to compose and it's accurate showing exposure and color settings, it's not really that sharp if you want to focus manually. This is made very obvious if you use Image Review, in which case the just-shot image is startling in how much sharper it is when it pops up after seeing Live View while shooting. This is like some third-tier cameras like the Fujis, that are really just running video rather than full resolution signals to their finders in Live View due to either laziness or a lack of live processing power to create a Live View image with the same resolution as the finder itself.
This underscores what I've been saying the past 24 hours: the original EOS R5 from 2020 — and now on blow-out clearance — is a far superior camera to the Nikon Z6 III, but it's only apparent when you shoot every day with them rather than just read about it.
I just replaced the shot above promoting this year's Fall Color in the Eastern Sierra Photo Tour with a shot from my original EOS R5 on 2021's tour. Here's another snap from this tour in 2021, again with my original EOS R5:
Clouds in the Shape of North America Above Mono Lake at Last Light, 5:40 P.M., 17 October 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 24-240mm IS USM with Nikon Circular Polarizer II at 32mm at f/8 at 1/80 at Auto ISO 160 (LV 11.7), Perfectly Clear. bigger or fit-to-screen.
I was right!
Yesterday I suggested everyone who was waiting for the R5 Mark II save $1,400 and get the pretty much identical original R5 while its price had dipped as everyone was trying to figure out what changed, if anything, about the new R5 Mark II (and I warned that the B&H site said the $2,899 price was only good till midnight), and they were right. Bless B&H, they were the only site that let us know that the $2,899 price was soon to expire.
Today the original R5 is back up to $2,999 at Adorama, at B&H and at Crutchfield, or about $2,375 used if you know How to Win at eBay, which is still a screaming deal.
But hold on — Amazon is behind, so the original R5 is still just $2,899 at Amazon right now. Get it while you can!!!
I'm working on my full review of the R5 Mark II, and while I have over two dozen blue bullet points of what's new, the only thing I've found that matters to me is that the Mark II finally has auto brightness control for its finder, which was lacking in the original R5. Yes, the Mark II goes 30 rather than 20 FPS, but the R6 Mark II runs great at 40 FPS, so that doesn't matter, and the only other thing that's actually interesting is that the R5 Mark II will work with flash with the fully electronic shutter at 1/160 sync, while the original R5 only works with flash with front-curtain electronic or mechanical shutters.
Verdict today? Put $1,400 back in your pocket with an extraordinary original R5, whose image quality and autofocus performance are still absolutely spectacular. The original R5 even records in HEIF format, not that I use that except in my iPhone. I'm still blown away from when I got to take my original R5 to a dog park in March, 2021 to snap dogs running around and it and my now ten-year-old EF 100-400mm L IS USM II consistently focussed on the pup's eyes, not their noses, as they ran all over like nuts! I've never seen this before and remain impressed.
Here's what's new in the R5 Mark II versus the original R5.
Ditto for the R1 versus R3
The R3 looks like 99% the same thing as the R1, so I'd keep $2,300 and get the superb R3 instead, which is still on sale for just $3,999 if you click the options to have B&H email you the too-low-to-publish discount price. I'd order an R3 and save $2,300 unless you're a full-time pro and something the R1 does will genuinely help you bag more selling shots. Otherwise it seems the R1 is also just a slight PR upgrade to the R3.
17 July 2024, Prime Day
NEW: Canon R5 Mk II.
NEW: Canon EOS R1.
NEW: Voigtländer 50mm f/2.2 for LEICA M.
NEW: Voigtländer 75mm f/1.5 for Sony. Manual focus? Good grief!
16 July 2024, Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day.
$1,400 off: Canon 5D Mk IV: $2,099 (was $3,499 at introduction).
$180 Off (almost free!): Canon R100: $299.
$200 Off (almost free!): Canon R100 & RF-S 18-45mm IS STM: $399!!!
$200 Off: Canon R100, RF-S 18-45mm IS STM & RF-S 55-210mm IS STM: $629.
$302 Off (scratch & dent w/full new warranty): Canon R6 Mk II & RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: $2,797.
$548 Off (scratch & dent w/full new warranty): Sony A7 IV & FE 28-70mm: $1,950.
15 July 2024, Monday
Up to $600 off: Sony Sale.
NEW: Sony Trade-Ins.
$200 off: Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS
$150 Off (open box w/full new warranty): Sony A7 III w/28-70mm: $1,348.
New at Crutchfield: Nikon Z6 III.
New at Crutchfield: Nikon Z6 III w/Z 24-70m f/4.
12 July 2024
$166 Off (scratch & dent w/full new warranty): Nikon Z 180-600mm VR: $1,534.
$302 Off (scratch & dent w/full new warranty): Canon R6 Mk II w/24-105mm f/4L IS USM: $2,797.
$12.50 Off (scratch & dent w/full new warranty): Canon EL-10 Flash: $238.
The EL-10 has no traditional hot shoe contacts, so like the EL-5, it only works on the newest cameras.
$341 Off (scratch & dent w/full new warranty): Nikon Z8: $3,156.
11 July 2024, Thursday
All Hail the Nikon 13mm f/5.6 for sale at eBay.
Three Winners
I opened three goodies sent to me to review yesterday, and for the first time ever in over 50 years of daily shooting, all three were amazingly good, and only half the price I thought each would cost!
Full reviews coming, but as a sneak peak here they are:
NEW: Oben CQL-13 Magic Carbon-Fiber Tripod & Head: $150.
I've been using tripods for over 50 years. This one astounded me as I played with it and realized that:
1.) It's ultralight, only 24.165 oz. (685.0g) actual measured weight including its ball head and Arca plate, and only 14.5" (368mm) long, and it extends to essentially full height (52" or 132cm) to the top of the Arca plate, just the right height for most people to be able to see a camera's top panel!
Finally, a tiny, full-featured and essentially full-sized tripod that easily fits inside my Think Tank Airport Commuter or EDC Backpack:
Oben CQL-13 Tripod & Head. bigger.
Oben CQL-13 Tripod & Head with Nikon FM and NIKKOR AI 55mm f/1.2 "Starshine." bigger.
And, here's the other insane part that rocks the tripod world:
2.) We can lock and unlock all five sections of each leg with just a gentle, two-fingered twist of one control at the end of the leg! One twist and the whole stack of sections locks or unlocks! This is huge; this tiny thing sets up and strikes many times faster than any other tripod:
Just a single twist locks or unlocks all the sections of each leg of the Oben CQL-13 Tripod & Head. bigger.
This system is so brilliant and unexpected it makes every other tripod obsolete. I hope to see this brilliant innovaton in every new tripod.
NEW: Oben GH3W-15 Geared Head: $170.
Oben GH3W-15 Geared Head. bigger.
I've used my Manfrotto 410 Geared Head since 1995 when I got the world's first carbon fiber tripod, my once-exotic, French-made Gitzo G1227 Mountaineer. I've used my same Manfrotto 410 Geared Head for nearly thirty years and it still works great. It's become a little stiffer since I've dropped it on the rocks a few times and it's served me well — but it's expensive.
Lo and behold, the new Oben GH3W-15 Geared Head does the same thing in exactly the same way, for half the price. My new Oben GH3W-15 seems a little smoother, but we'll see after I drop it down a few rock faces 😬.
The Oben GH3W-15 is rated to carry a little more weight (15 versus 11 pounds) and is rated to weigh a little less, both in favor of the Oben GH3W-15 if it wasn't just for price. My Italian-made Manfrotto 410 feels pretty much the same as my new Oben GH3W-15; I can't feel any quality difference.
The Oben GH3W-15 has a standard Arca Swiss receiver and includes a plate, while the Manfrotto 410 uses a less-standard 410PL plate.
NEW: Godox SK400 II V Studio Strobe: $152.
Godox SK400 II V Studio Strobe with included reflector. bigger.
Last but not least, this Godox SK400 II V Studio Strobe impressed me with how it includes a useful 16-foot (5 meter) power cord and spare fuses, but mostly for how incredibly well thought-out and easy it is to setup. The only reason I needed to glance at its short manual was to learn which icon referred to the optical slave (it's S1, or S2 if you need it to ignore a preflash).
It's big, solid, powerful, and just goes and works great with my ancient Novatron 500 Ws system of Studio Strobes. Assuming you know How to Use Studio Strobes, I was flabbergasted with how insanely fast, simple and intuitive it was to get it up and integrated into my Novatron system.
Set to optical slave, I trigger it all from the tiny flash included with my OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II. This and my M.Zuiko ED 90mm f/3.5 IS is the current system with which I shoot all my product photos. Whichever system picks up my trigger (I set the camera's flash to manual) will trigger the other system, so the system always fires. Optical is my preference over complex wireless systems, which this strobe also supports.
My Godox SK400 II V's optical slave is very sensitive, and far more sensitive than the plug-in slave trigger I use with my Novatron. The Godox SK400 II V's optical slave is so sensitive I set the tiny camera flash to 1/32 power and it works every time! This saves my camera's battery, as it powers the little flash.
Dedicated strobes like these work far better than shoe-mounted flash that camera makers want you to buy because they:
1.) Have far more power, which you need when using umbrellas, reflectors and other light modifiers,
2.) Run directly off wall power so they recycle super fast and never need to be charged,
3.) These are far easier to set up and get to fire every single time than mucking around with little shoe-mount flashes,
4.) Are designed to mount on stands and have things attached to them. Shoe mount flash never really are happy on a stand or with things attached to them, and also importantly,
5.) Cost less than buying shoe-mount flashes. You can get a set of three of these with stands, umbrellas, triggers and a system case for just $699 complete — much less than a single Canon EL-1!!!
Like the others, I thought it was a $350 strobe until I looked at the price today, just $152.
COMING: New from Canon next Wednesday, the 17th.
I have no idea what it is, but an EOS R1 for the Paris Olympics would be pretty obvious.
The original EOS 1 of 1989 had an autofocus system so superior that it was the reason Canon has replaced Nikon as the top pro sports camera ever since.
Will an EOS R1 destroy Nikon and Sony? We shall see.
$400 Off: Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM: $1,299.
$398 Off (open box w/full new warranty): Sony A7 III w/28-70mm: $1,600.
Up to $500 Off: Canon Sale at Crutchfield.
10 July 2024, Wednesday
New: Sony ZV-E10 II, also at Adorama.
New: White Sony ZV-E10 II, also at Adorama.
New: Sony E PZ 16-50mm OSS II, also at Adorama.
Sony should have called this the EZ PZ 16-50mm OSS II, because it's easy-peasy! I love the original tiny E PZ 16-50mm OSS because it's tiny and sharp and perfect for these tiny cameras.
New: Sony ZV-E10 II & E PZ 16-50mm OSS II, also at Adorama.
New: White Sony ZV-E10 II & E PZ 16-50mm OSS II, also at Adorama.
$68 (Over Half!) Off (open box w/full new warranty): Sony CFexpress Type A / SD card reader: $50.
Loving my iPhone 15 Pro Max
It's always with me, even out riding my bike:
Swami's, Encinitas, California, 5:25 P.M., Sunday, 07 July 2024. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 1.5× (6.89mm actual, cropped to 35mm eq.) camera at f/1.8 at 1/4,608 at Auto ISO 80 (LV 14⅙), free Snapseed app edit in-phone. bigger or fit-to-screen.
This looks like an easy snap, but it's shot into the sun and the trees looked black while you were there. My iPhone caught it as it actually looked, and there was enough shadow detail to bring it all out in a fast edit in the free Snapseed app.
09 July 2024, Tuesday
IN STOCK: Nikon Z6 III!
$150 off: Mac Mini 10-Core M2 Pro, 10-Core GPU, 512 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM: $1,149.
Today Only: $115 off: Lexar 256GB 1,750 MB/s CFexpress typ. B: $94.99.
04 July 1776, Independence Day
Nikon 85mm f/3.5 G DX VR AF-S Micro-NIKKOR ED.
Updated: Nikon AF-S 85mm f/3.5 Micro DX Review.
Introduced in 2009 and still sold new today, it works swell on Nikon Z mirrorless with the FTZ or FTZ II adapter.
NEW: LEICA D-Lux 8, also at Adorama.
NEW: LEICA D-Lux 8 Leather Case.
NEW: LEICA D-Lux 8 Leather Half Case.
NEW: LEICA D-Lux 8 Leather Strap.
NEW: LEICA D-Lux 8 Leather Wrist Strap.
$200 Off: Canon 5D Mark IV: $2,099.
$250 Off: Canon R10 Creator Kit: $1,049.
$30 Off: Canon RF-S 10-18mm IS STM: $299.
$298 Off (open box w/full new warranty): Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM: $1,700.
$22 Off (open box w/full new warranty): Canon EF 2x III Extender: $409.
$3 Off (open box w/full new warranty): Canon Battery Charger LC-E6: $56.
B&H's 04 July 1776 Sale
Among these deals:
$3,000 Off: Canon 1DX II: $2,999.
$150 Off: SanDisk 1TB 200 MB/s SDXC Card: $150 (64GB: $15.51 and all other sizes on sale)
$1,240 Off: TWO SanDisk 4TB Portable SSDs: $760.
$130 Off: 8 TB Samsung Pocket SSD: $649.99.
01 July 2024, Monday
AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8.
NEW: AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 Review & Sample Images.
Works much better than it should for just $249. Comes for Nikon Z and for Sony Full Frame.
What Was New in:
May & June 2024: What is Atmospheric Heat Shimmer, Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM Review, Canon RF-S 3.9mm f/3.5 DUAL FISHEYE, Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM, Canon EL-10 Flash, Canon EOS C400 Cine Camera, Canon 17-120mm T2.95 for Canon RF, Canon 17-120mm T2.95 for ARRI PL, Canon Laser Rangefinder, Nikon Z6 III Review, Viltrox Z 16mm f/1.8 Review, Nikon Z 28-400mm VR Review, Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4, Nikon Z 180-600mm VR Review, Sony Full-Frame 16-25mm f/2.8G, Fuji GFX 100S II, Fuji GF 500mm f/5.6, Fuji X-T50, Fuji XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8, LEICA D-Lux 8, ZEISS PLANAR 80mm f/2.8 C for HASSELBLAD Review, HASSELBLAD 25mm f/2.5, Pentax 17 half-frame 35mm camera, Lumix S9, Lumix GH-7, Lumix S 18-40mm, Lumix S 26mm f/8 in L mount, Sigma APS-C 18-50mm f/2.8 for Canon RF, Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 Full Frame for Sony & LEICA L, Tamron 50-300mm for Sony.
March & April 2024: What's an Infinity Focus Stop?, Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z Review, Nikon Z 12-28mm DX VR PZ Review, Nikon Z 28-400mm VR Review, Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8G, Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G Review, Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro OSS G II Review, HASSELBLAD Date Codes, iPhone 15 Pro Max Review & Sample Images, Ken Rockwell's iPhone 15 Pro Max User's Guide, Apple Watch ULTRA 2 Review & User's Guide, LEICA SL3, OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II, Ken Rockwell's OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II Plain-English User's Guide, Sigma 50mm f/1.2 for Sony or LEICA L, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 for Nikon Z.
January & February 2024: Photographs from California's Route 66, Canon RF-S 10-18mm IS STM Review, Nikon Zf Review, Ken Rockwell's Nikon Zf User's Guide, Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 Review, Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G, Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS, Fuji X100VI Review, HASSELBLAD 907X body & CFV 100C Back, HASSELBLAD Slip-on Albada Bright-Line FInder for 28mm, 38m & 55mm lenses, OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II review, Ken Rockwell's OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II plain-English user's guide, OM SYSTEM 9-18mm (18-36mm eq), OM SYSTEM 150-600mm IS, Laowa AF 10mm f/2.8 130º Ultra-Ultrawide Full-Frame Review, Sigma 15mm f/1.4 Fisheye for Sony & LEICA L, Sigma 500mm f/5.6 for Sony & LEICA L, Lumix G100D, Lumix 28-200mm Macro OIS for LEICA L, Tozo HT2 Headphones Review, Petino Samba Pad Pro 3-Way Wireless Charging Station Review.
October, November & December 2023: Canon EOS R6 Mark II Review, Canon EOS R6 Mark II Plain-English User's Guide, Canon RF 10-20mm f/4L IS STM, Canon RF-S 10-18mm IS STM, Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z, Canon RF 200-800mm IS USM, Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 VR, Nikon Z8 Recall, Sony A9 Mk III Review, Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS, LEICA M11-P, LEICA SUMMICRON-M 28mm f/2 ASPH Edition 2023, LEICA SUPER-VARIO-ELMARIT-SL 14-24mm f/2.8 ASPH für L mount, LEICA SUPER-APO-SUMMICRON-SL 21mm f/2 ASPH für L mount, LEICA SUPER-APO-SUMMICRON-SL 21mm f/2 ASPH, LEICA SUPER-VARIO-ELMARIT-SL 14-24mm f/2.8 ASPH, Pergear 14mm f/2.8 II Review, Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 for Sony APS-C, 7artisans 9mm f/5.6 Full-Frame 135º Ultra-Ultra Wide, Venus Optics Laowa 8-16mm APS-C Ultra-Ultra Wide, Audeze MM-100 Planar Magnetic Headphones Review, Bluetti AC70 1 kW Power Station Review, Bluetti AC2A 300W Power Station Review.
August & September 2023: Canon EOS R8 Review, Plain-English R8 User's Guide, R100 Review, Plain-English R100 User's Guide, RF 24-50mm IS STM Review, RF-S 55-210mm IS STM Review, RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM Review, EL-5 Flash Review, Nikon Zf Review, Z 135mm f/1.8, MH-34 Charger, Sony A7CR, Sony A7C II, FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II, Fuji GFX 100 II, GF 30mm f/5.6 Tilt & Shift, GF 55mm f/1.7R WR, GF 110mm f/5.6 Tilt & Shift Macro, OM SYSTEM Tough TG-7 Underwater Camera, Panasonic G9 II, Panasonic "Leica" 35-100mm f/2.8, Panasonic "Leica" 100-400mm f/4-6.3 II, HASSELBLAD XCD 28mm f/4 P, Angeniéux EZ-3 45-165mm T2.3 S35 & 68-250mm T3.5 Cinema Zoom Kit, Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 for Fuji, Sigma 23mm f/1.4 for Fuji, Tamron 17-50mm f/4 for Sony, Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 OSS for Sony, Apple Watch ULTRA Review & Tutorial, AirPods Pro 2nd Gen w/USB-C, Think Tank Retrospective EDC Backpack Review, Think Tank "Press Pass" Shoulder/Sling/Belt Bags, Nitecore BB2 Electronic Blower Review, Bluetti PV200 200W Solar Panel Review, Bluetti AC180 1.8 kW Power Station Review.
June & July 2023: Photographs from California's Central Coast, How to Create Images with AI, Nikon Z8 Review & Sample Images, Z8 Plain-English User's Guide, Z 24mm f/1.7 DX Review & Sample Images, Z 26mm f/2.8 Review & Sample Images, Z 70-180mm f/2.8, Z 85mm f/1.2 Review & Sample Images, Z 180-600mm f/5.6~6.3 VR, Sony A6700, Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS MACRO II, Sony ECM-M1 On-Camera Mic, LEICA SL2 Edition Silver, Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Full-Frame, Tamron 35-150mm f/2~2.8 for Nikon Z and for Sony, TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Review & Sample Images, Xcellon PDG-5200L 200W 5-Port GaN USB Charger Review and Tozo Golden X1 Earbuds Review.
March, April & May 2023: Previsualization versus Presets, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji & OM SYSTEM Menu Systems Compared, Canon EOS R50 Review, EOS R100, EOS R vs EOS R8 vs RP, Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM, Canon V10 VLogCam, Nikon Z8, Z 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR DX, Sony ZV-E1, Sony ZV1 II, Sony SRG-A12, LEICA Q3, LEICA M11 Monochrom, SUMMMILUX-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH (Edition 2023), SUMMICRON-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH, SUMMICRON-SL 50mm f/2 ASPH, Fuji X-S20, Fuji XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR, OM SYSTEM OM-1 Review & Sample Image Files, OM SYSTEM OM-1 Complete Plain-English User's Guide, OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO Review & Sample Images, Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome, Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 & FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic, Pentax SD 10x42 ED, SD 7x42 ED & AD 10x32 ED, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Review, iPhone 14 Pro Max Tutorial & User's Guide, Apple Music Review.
January & February 2023: How to Learn Photography, Canon EOS R8, Canon EOS R50, Canon RF 24-50mm IS STM, Canon RF-S 55-210mm IS STM, Canon EOS Rebel SL3 Review, Canon EOS Rebel T7 Review, Nikon Z 26mm f/2.8, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2, Sony Full-Frame FE 20-70mm f/4 G, Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Review & Sample Images, Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, Olympus 90mm f/3.5 IS Macro, Think Tank Retrospective Everyday Backpack.
December 2022: Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z Full-Frame Ultrawides Compared, Canon Rebel T100 Review, Canon EF-s 18-55mm III Review, Sony A7R V Review, 2022 version of the LEICA M6, ThinkTank SpeedTop Bag Review.
October & November 2022: Canon EOS R6 Mark II, Canon RF 15-30mm IS STM Review, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM Review, Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM, Canon EL-5 Flash, Nikon Z 40mm f/2 Special Edition Review, Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 Review, Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR, Nikon Z 1.4× Teleconverter Review, Nikon Z 2× Teleconverter Review, Nikon MC-N10 Remote Grip, Sony A7R V, Sony ZV-1F, Fuji X-T5, Fuji XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro, LEICA M6, Edition 2022, Venus Laowa 25mm f/0.95 Review, beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO Review.
July, August & September 2022: Photographs from California's Central Coast, Canon EOS R7 Review, Canon EOS R10 Review, Canon EOS R7 vs. EOS R10, Canon RF 15-30mm IS STM Review, Canon RF-s 18-45mm IS STM Review, Canon RF-s 18-150mm IS STM Review, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, Canon EL-100 Flash Review, Nikon Z30 Review, Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR, All Nikon 105mm Macro Lenses Compared, Sony FX30 E-Mount Cine Camera, Fuji X-H2, Fuji GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR, Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR, Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 for Fuji, LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (2022), NiteCore NB20000 Ultralight Power Bank Review, Oben CT-2491 Carbon-Fibre Tripod Review, SmallRig AD-01 Fluid-Head Video Tripod Review, Venus Laowa 10mm f/4 Review & Sample Images, beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X Review, beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO Review.
May & June 2022: Canon EOS R7, Canon EOS R10, Canon RF-S 18-45mm IS STM, Canon RF-S 18-150mm IS STM, Nikon Z30 Review, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 Review, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z 100-400mm VR Review, Nikon Full-Frame Z Midrange Zooms Compared, Sony ZV-E10 Review, Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 G PZ Review, Sony E 10-20mm f/4G PZ Review, Sony E 11mm f/1.8 Review, Sony E 15mm f/1.4G Review, Fuji X-H2s, Fuji XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM WR Power Zoom, Fuji XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM WR OIS, Fujifilm's 2022-2023 Lens Roadmap, HASSELBLAD PME Prism Meter Finder Review.
January ~ April 2022: Photographs from Yosemite & the Eastern Sierra, The Effect of Scale, Canon EOS R3 Full Review & Sample Image Files, Canon EOS R5C, Canon RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, Canon RF 1,200mm f/8L IS USM, Canon PowerShot ZOOM Review, Nikon Z9 Review & Sample Images, Nikon Z9 User's Guide & Tutorial, Nikon Z 18-140mm VR DX Review & Sample Image Files, Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 Review & Sample Image Files, Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 SE Review & Sample Image Files, Nikon Z 40mm f/2 Review & Sample Image Files, Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 VR, Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR, Sony A7 IV Full Review & Sample Image Files, Sony A7 IV Tutorial & User's Guide, Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 G PZ Power Zoom, Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Review & Sample Images, Sony HVL-F60RM2 Flash Review & Sample Images, Sony HVL-F46RM Flash Review & Sample Images, Sony SD Card Reader, LEICA M11, Apple Mac Studio, Apple 27" 5K Studio Display, 5th generation 10.9" iPad Air, Cooke S8/i 25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 135mm T1.4 Lenses in PL mount, Huion Kamvas Pro 13 (2.5K) drawing tablet review, Kodak GOLD 200 in 120 format, OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock Review, OWC ATLAS S PRO SDXC Card Review, OWC ENVOY PRO ELEKTRON SSD Review, OWC USB-C TRAVEL DOCK E Review, Oben CFT-6194L Lateral Carbon-Fibre Tripod Review, Oben CFT-6394 "Big & Tall" Carbon-Fibre Tripod Review, Oben BC-139 Review, Olympus OM-1, M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II, M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO, Panasonic Lumix GH6, Sigma 16mm f/1.4 for Fuji, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 for Fuji, Sigma 56mm f/1.4 for Fuji, Sigma 20mm f/2 full-frame for Sony E, Sigma 20mm f/2 full-frame for LEICA L, SmallRig 3457 Compact Fluid Head Review, ThinkTank Retrospective 75 Duffel, ZEISS Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8, Feet, PL Mount, Jackery Explorer 1000 Power Station & Solar Generator Review, Jackery Explorer 300 Review, Jackery SolarSaga 100W Panel Review, Nitecore BlowerBaby Review, B&W 702 S2 Speakers, beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X headphones review.
November ~ December 2021: Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Review, Canon RF 100-400mm IS USM Review, Canon EF 28-80mm f/2.8-4 L ULTRASONIC Review, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8, Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8, Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3, Leica Q2 Reporter Edition, Best USB-C Card Readers, Docks & Hubs Compared, Mitakon 90mm f/1.5 Review, McIntosh MQ 107 Environmental Equalizer Review.
October 2021: Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 18-140mm VR DX, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4, Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR, Nikon FTZ II, Canon STEREOSCOPIC RF 5.2mm f/2.8L 190º Fisheye, Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Review, Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus Review, Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II, Apple Watch Series 7.
July ~ September 2021: Nikon Z fc Review, Nikon Z7 II User's Guide, Nikon Z FX 28mm f/2.8 Special Edition, Nikon Z 40mm f/2, Nikon Z 50mm f/2.8 Macro Review, Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro Review, Canon EOS R3, Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Review, Canon RF 100~400mm IS USM, Canon DM-E1D Stereo Mic, Canon ST-E10 Speedlite Transmitter, Canon AD-P1 Android Data Transmitter Adapter, Canon AD-E1 Normal to Multi-Function Shoe Adapter, Sony ZV-E10, Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Review, Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 Review, Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 Review, Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 Review, Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Review, Fuji GFX 50S II, Fuji GF 35-70mm, Fuji GFX 50S II w/35-70mm, Fuji X-T30 II, Fuji XF 23mm f/1.4, Fuji XF 33mm f/1.4, Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN, Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN full-frame für LEICA L, Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 for Sony and for LEICA L, Tamron 18-300mm for Sony APS-C and for Fuji, Tamron 35~150mm f/2~2.8 for Sony, Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 Review, Godox Ving V860III TTL Li-Ion Flash, Megadap Sony to Nikon Z Lens Adapter, TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4 ASPH Review, Voigtländer Heliar Classic 50mm f/1.5, Audeze LCD-XC Planar Magnetic Headphones full review.
April ~ June 2021: Photographs from California's Central Coast, Canon EOS R3, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM III Review, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Review, All Canon 100mm Lenses Compared, Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS, Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS, Nikon Z7 II Review, Nikon Z fc, Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z FX 28mm f/2.8 Special Edition, Nikon Z 50mm f/2.8 Macro, Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 Review, Nikon Z 58mm f/0.95 Noct Review, Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro, Sony A1 Review, Sony A6100 Review, Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G Review, Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Review, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Review, Sony E 70-350mm G OSS Review, Fujifilm X-E4 Review, Fuji X-S10 Review, Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR Review, Fuji XF 18mm f/1.4R LM WR, Fuji XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR Review, Fuji XF 70-300mm R LM OIS WR Review, LEICA M10-R in black paint, Pentax K-3 Mk III, iRig Pre 2 XLR Mic to Mirrorless, DSLR, iOS, Phone or Computer Preamplifier, Robus RTH-1050 55-lb Capacity Ball Head Review, Ritz Gear 256 GB CFexpress card, Turboant Thunder T1 Electric Bike Review.
January ~ March 2021: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review, Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS review, Canon RF 85mm f/2 MACRO IS STM review, Canon EL-1 Flash review, Nikon Z9 review, SONY A1 review, Sony A7C review, Sony FE 28-60mm review, Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G, Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G and Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM review, iPhone 12 Pro Max review & guide, Apple Watch Series 6 review & guide, LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-M 35mm f/2 ASPH, LEICA 50mm f/1.2 NOCTILUX-M ASPH, Fuji GFX 100S, Fuji GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR, Fuji X-E4, Fuji XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR, Fuji 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR, Ritz 256GB 265/120 MB/s V60 SD card, Mitakon 50mm f/0.95 review, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 review, Polsen MVP-3 Micro Shotgun Microphone, Polsen MVP-6 Shotgun Microphone, Polsen MO-CPL2 USB-C Lavalier Microphone, Polsen SCL-1080 Dual-Pattern Shotgun Microphone
October ~ December 2020: Canon 1DX Mark III Review, Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Review, Canon RF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Review, Canon EOS M50 Mk II, Big EL-1 flash and odd compact PowerShot Zoom 100-400mm P&S, Canon PIXMA Pro-200, Nikon Z5 Review, Nikon Z6 II Review, Nikon Z7 II Review, Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 Review, Nikon Z 24-50mm Review, Nikon Z 24-200mm Review, Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 Review, Fuji 50mm f/1.0 Review, Fuji X-S10, Fuji 10-24mm f/4 OIS WR R, LEICA Q2 Monochrom, LEICA SL-2 S, ZEISS ZX1, Audeze LCD-X Headphones Review, TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH Review, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro for Sony E or LEICA, Megadap Any Lens to Nikon Z Autofocusing Adapter Review, Oben CTT-1000L Compact Tripod Review, MacCase iPad Pro Case Review.
May ~ September 2020: Canon EOS R5, Canon EOS R6, Canon EOS R, RP, R5 & R6 Compared, Canon RF 15~35mm f/2.8L, Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS, Canon RF 24-105mm IS STM, Canon RF 24-240mm, Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L DS USM, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L versus f/1.2L DS, Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, Canon RF 100-500mm, Canon RF 600mm IS STM, Canon RF 800mm IS STM, Canon RF 1.4× extender, Canon RF 2× extender, Canon 90D, Canon Rebel T8i (EOS 850D), Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8, Nikon Z 24-50mm, Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2, Nikon Z TC-1.4× teleconverter, Nikon Z TC-2× teleconverter, Sony A7c, Sony A9 II, Sony A7S III, Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, Sony LA-EA5 Adapter, Apple Watch Series 6, Fuji X-T4, Fuji X-T200, Fuji XC 35mm f/2, Fuji XF 50mm f/1.0, LEICA M10-R, LEICA Q2, LEICA Q2 User's Guide, LEICA Q2 vs Fuji X100F vs iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Canon 90D, LEICA vs iPhone vs Fuji vs Canon, LEICA SF-24D, Hasselblad 907X 50C, ZEISS SONNAR 50mm f/1.5, Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4, Luxli Timpani, Cello and Viola2, Audeze LCD-1 Headphones.
April 2020: Fuji XF 16-80mm f/4 Review, Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 STM, Canon C300 Mk III, Canon 25-250mm T2.95 Cine, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mk III, Irix Full-Frame, Manual Focus 45mm f/1.4, Laowa 210º 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye, Lensbaby Velvet 28mm f/2.5, Rokinon AF 75mm f/1.8, Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony, DJI Mavic Air 2 , DJI Mavic 2 Pro 4K , BlackMagic Pocket Cinema 6K, Zoom H6 Recorder Review.
January ~ March 2020: Photo Products of the Decade 1820~2020, Nikon D6, Nikon D780, Nikon D780 Plain-English User's Guide, Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8 FL VR, Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8, Nikon Z 24-200mm, Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikon Coolpix P950, Canon 1DX Mark III, Canon Rebel T8i, Canon EOS-R5, Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM, Canon RF 24-105 f/4~7.1 IS STM, Canon QX10 Pocket Portable Printer, Sony A7R IV Review & User's Guide, Sony FE 20mm f/1.8, Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS, Sony E 55-210mm OSS, Fuji X100V, Fuji X100V Plain-English User's Guide, Fuji X-T4, Fuji X-T200, Fuji XC 35mm f/2, Fuji GF 45-100mm f/4 OIS, LEICA M10 Monochrom, LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH Edition "LEITZ Wetzlar, LEICA S3, Tokina 85mm f/1.8 for Sony full-frame, Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2× Ultra-Macro, Think Tank Retrospective Backpack 15, Fringer Canon EF -> Fuji X Adapter, Fringer Canon EF -> Nikon Z Adapter, DJI Mavic 2 Zoom with Smart Controller, Senal SMH-1200 Review.
November & December 2019: Fall Color from Yosemite and California's Eastern Sierra, Nikon Z50 Full Review, Nikon Z50 Plain-English User's Guide, Nikon Z DX 16-50mm VR Review, Nikon Z DX 50-250mm VR Review, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 Review, Nikon Z 24mm f/1.8 Review, Sony A6600 Review, Sony A6600 User's Guide, Canon EOS Ra Astro Mirrorless, Fujifilm X-Pro3 Review, Fuji GFX 100 Review, Fuji GF 50mm f/3.5 Review, Apple Watch Series 5 Review, Apple 32" Pro 6K Display, Apple 32" Pro 6K Display w/nano textured glass, Photo Mechanic Software Review, Tokina 100mm f/2.8 Full Frame for Canon EF, LEICA SL2, Sigma 24-70/2.8 for Sony, Sigma 24-70/2.8 für LEICA L, Turboant X7 Review.
August ~ October 2019: iPhone 11 Pro Max, Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8, Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM DS, Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM, Canon EOS 1DX Mark III, Canon 90D, Canon EOS-M200, Canon M6 Mk II, Fuji X-Pro3, Fuji X-E3 Review, Fuji X-A7, Fuji XC 15-45mm PZ OIS Review, Fuji XC 50-230mm OIS Review, Fuji Touch Screen Settings, Nikon D3500 review, Nikon Z 24mm f/1.8 S Review, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 Review, Nikon Noct-NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95, Nikon Z50, Nikon Z 16-50mm DX VR, Nikon Z 50-250mm DX VR, Nikon 200mm f/2 VR II Review, Panasonic S1H, Panasonic 24-70mm f/2.8, Pansonic LEICA DG 25mm f/1.4 II, Rokinon AF 18mm f/2.8, Sigma fp w/45mm lens, Sony A9 II, Tamron 20mm f/2.8, Tamron 24mm f/2.8, Tamron 35mm f/2.8, Voigtländer Nokton 75mm f/1.5, Auray TT-6220 Telescoping Tabletop Mic Stand Review, Auray PFNY-6 Mic Pop Filter Review, Senal SCM-660 Microphone Review, XUMA MTA-300B iPhone/Smartphone Tripod Adapter Review.
July 2019: Rockwell.TV on YouTube, Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Review, Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 Review, Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 Review, Canon RF 24~240mm IS, Sony A7R Mark IV, Sony RX100 Mark VII, Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 review, LEICA M-E typ 240, Hasselblad 907X Special Edition, Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR, Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR, ROBUS RC-5570 Tripod Review, Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 for Sony E und für LEICA L, Sigma 35mm f/1.2 for Sony E und für LEICA L, Sigma 45mm f/2.8 for Sony Eund für LEICA L, Sigma fp mirrorless camera.
April ~ June 2019: Nikon Z6 Review, Nikon Z6 User's Guide, Nikon Z7 User's Guide, Nikon Z 14-30mm Review, Nikon NIKKOR 135mm f/2 AI-s Review, Nikon NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8 AI Review, Nikon NIKKOR✱ED 180mm f/2.8 AI-s Review, Nikon NIKKOR✱ED 200mm f/2 AI-s Review, Zeiss Otus 100mm f/1.4 Review, Sony E 20mm f/2.8 Review, Sony E 30mm f/3.5 Macro Review, Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS Review, Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Review, Sony 200-600mm G OSS Review, Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS Review, Tokina FiRIN 100mm f/2.8 Macro for Sony E, Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 for Sony Full-Frame, Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 full-frame ultrawide for Sony E, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 for Canon RF, Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 for Canon RF, Canon SL3 (EOS 250D), Fujifilm X-H1 Review, Fujifilm X-T30 Review, Fujifilm X-T20 Review, Fujifilm 8-16mm f/2.8 Review, Fujifilm 16mm f/2.8 Review, Fujifilm GFX 100 Review, Fujifilm GF 32~64mm f/4 R LM WR Review, Fujifilm GF 100~200mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR Review, Medium-Format vs. Full-Frame Image-Quality Comparison, Apple iPhone Xs Max Review & User's Guide, Apple Watch Series 4 Review, All Apple Watches Compared, new 13" MacBook Pro, new 15" MacBook Pro, Olympus TG-6 Underwater Camera, Panasonic LEICA VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm f/1.7, Panasonic DMW-STC14 1.4× teleconverter, Panasonic DMW-STC20 2× teleconverter, Think Tank "Digital Holster 150" for ultrateles, Oben CTT-1000 Mini Tripod Review.
March 2019: Nikon Z7 Review, Nikon Coolpix A1000, Nikon Coolpix B600, Sony E 16mm f/2.8 Review, Sony E 18-200mm OSS PZ Review, Sony E 18-200mm OSS LE Review, Sony RX0 II, Canon IVY CLIQ Instant Camera, Canon IVY CLIQ+ Instant Camera, Fujinon XF 80mm f/2.8 Macro OIS Review, LEICA Q2, LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH, Pixel X900 Flash Review, Rokinon Full-Frame ultra-ultra-wide 10mm f/3.5 for Canon EF, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Ultra-Ultrawide for Canon RF, Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 for Canon RF.
February 2019: Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, Canon EOS RP Hands-On Review, Canon EOS RP User's Guide, Canon EOS RP vs EOS R, Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Review, Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM Review, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS, Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, Canon RF 24-240mm IS USM, Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM, Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM, Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, Fujifilm X-T3 Review, Fujifilm 23mm f/2 Review, Fujifilm 200mm f/2 Review, Fujifilm 50mm f/2 Review, Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 WR, Fujifilm X-T30, Panasonic S1 Full-Frame System, Polaroid POP cameras, Ricoh GR III, Ricoh WG-6 underwater, Ricoh WG-6 in Orange, Ricoh G-900, Tokina Opera 16-28mm f/2.8, Tamron 35-150mm, Tamron 35mm f/1.4.
January 2019: LEICA M10-P Safari Edition, LEICA SUMMICRON-M 50mm f/2 Safari Edition, Verum 1 Planar Magnetic Headphones review, Olympus OM-D E-M1 X, Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S review, Sony 10-18mm Review, Sony A6400 Review, Sony 18-135mm Review, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 ART, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S and Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro Review.
November & December 2018: Moment 18mm review, Photos from Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra, Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF Review, Adapted Rangefinder Lenses on Nikon Mirrorless, AlienBoard Hoverboard review, LEICA D-Lux 7, Why You Need an Apple Watch, Sigma 60-600mm Review.
October 2018: Loads of Canon and Nikon mirrorless revelations, First Chinese Nikon Z adapters, Canon EOS R Review, Canon EOS R User's Guide, Wimberley Gimbal Tripod Head Review, Sony 400mm f/2.8 Review, How to Photograph Air Shows, LEICA M10-D.
August & September 2018: Nikon vs Canon vs Sony Full Frame, Mirrorless vs DSLR, Do You Really Need Two Card Slots, Canon EOS-R Review, Canon EF to RF Lens Adapters, Canon RF 24-105mm Review, Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L, Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 Review, Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM, Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS II Review, Canon EF400mm f/2.8L IS III, Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM, Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM, Canon 580EX II Review, Canon 580EX II User's Guide, Sony 24mm f/1.4, Sony RX100 Mark 6 Review, Sony RX100 Mk VI User's Guide, Nikon's full-frame mirrorless system, Nikon Z7, Nikon Z6, Nikon Z6 vs. Z7, Nikon FTZ Lens Adapter, Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4, Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8, Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8, Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF, Nikon D3500, LEICA M10-P, iPhone Xs Max Bokeh vs Full-Frame Professional Cameras, Tokina "Opera" 50mm f/1.4, Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 G2, Fuji XT-3.
June & July 2018: Nikon Mirrorless hinted at, Fuji 8-16mm f/2.8, Fuji 200mm f/2, Fuji XF10, Sony RX100VA, Nikon P1000, Tamron 100‑400mm Review, best 80-400 and 100-400mm zooms compared, How to Win Photo Contests, Tamron 18-400mm review, Sony 400mm f/2.8, Images of Yosemite in Springtime, Kodak Medalist II Review, Canon 70‑200mm f/4L IS II, Canon 70‑200mm f/2.8 L IS III and my Sony RX100 Mark VI review.
May 2018: Marc Silber's Secrets to Creating Amazing Photos, Sigma 105mm f/1.4, Fuji X-T100, Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 IS/VR Review, beyerdynamic Amiron Home Review, Sigma 70mm Full-Frame Macro Art Lens, Nikon D1 High ISO Samples, Vello MB-D18 (BG-N19) Grip Review, Sunpak RD2000 Review, Small Flashes Compared.
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.
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Ken