Viltrox has been quietly busy producing a number of lenses for the Sony system, the latest being the 24mm f/1.8 that’s priced a refreshing $429. Is it any good? This review seeks to find out.
Creating great photographs is difficult, we all know this. But there are key components to great photography that, if focused on, can help get you much closer, more frequently.
When I first wrote about using mirrorless cameras for journalism in 2014, the Sony Alpha series had just been launched a few months before in 2013. Panasonic was just hitting its stride with the GH series of cameras and Fuji had just really started kicking off its X-Series cameras. Things have certainly changed.
Soft lighting is often more flattering, but if you are new to working with strobes, it can be a bit tricky to create it in a natural way. This excellent video tutorial will show you a one-light setup that will help you create soft light that is flattering and suitable for a range of portraits.
Astrophotography is a genre that requires specialized equipment, deep knowledge, and a lot of patience. It is a treat to watch a talented astrophotographer in action, and this neat behind-the-scenes video shows you the process of shooting an entrancing galaxy a whopping 55 million light-years away.
Curved sensors will solve some of the challenges posed by the laws of physics that manufacturers battle with when designing lenses, but when is this new technology going to bring about dramatic changes to the world of photography?
The saying goes that you need to practice 10,000 hours before you master something. I think this is a bunch of rubbish.
While many of us are still experiencing travel blues as we're confined to our local areas, an Iceland-based photographer experienced a trip of a lifetime as he got to document a volcanic eruption occurring right in front of him.
The Tamron 20mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M 1:2 is a very affordable and portable prime lens that also offers semi-macro capabilities. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Landscape photography can be a tricky genre, with a lot of necessary technical knowledge needed to bring your creative vision to fruition. If you have been struggling or you are new to landscape photography, check out this great video tutorial that will offer you five helpful tips for improving your work.
Even if you aren’t the type of photographer to be interested in a cicada, let me tell you why this summer’s event will be an amazing photo opportunity. It might just not be what you expect.
There are few times more enjoyable to shoot during than golden hours, but the lighting can be tricky too. This video will help you with some important tips for using a flash and balancing it perfectly during a sunset.
Few things are more important when it comes to making a successful photo than getting it in focus. This fantastic video tutorial will show you a range of tips and settings to increase your chances of getting an image sharply in focus.
NASA/JPL’s recent posting of the first Mars panoramic view from the Perseverance rover brought me back to some experimentation I had been doing a few years ago with spherical (360x180 degree) panoramic photos. Standardized viewers for interactively viewing panoramas aren’t readily available even today, but one option for sharing is to post a video on YouTube.
A wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most versatile out there, useful for anything from portraiture to low-light events coverage. For Nikon shooters, the premium option is the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S, and this excellent video review takes a look at its performance and image quality in real-world usage.
The tilt-shift lens is probably one of the most special lenses available. It allows the photographer to turn, shift, and tilt the lens in many different ways. In this article, I explain when and how to use the tilt function.
When Canon's RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens was announced, it raised a few eyebrows over its maximum aperture, but as the reviews have started to pour in, it seems like the company has created a winner. This great review takes a deep look at the lens and how it compares to one of Canon's most expensive supertelephoto prime lenses.
Learning photography can be a bit daunting, especially as you try to tackle a range of technical parameters while also learning to find your creative voice. This excellent video tutorial will show you a wide range of basic things you need to know that will get you up and running in no time.
Instead of running away from the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland, this photographer duo decided to rush towards it instead and capture some immense photographs.
The fact that the focal plane of a picture must always be parallel to the sensor plane is so obvious to most photographers that they don't even bother questioning that fact. Here's what happens when you do question it and how modern mirrorless cameras can help you do it.
As more and more cameras are released, older cameras continue to fall in value despite the chasm between spec sheets shrinking. But how does a 14-year-old RED camera fare today?
Getting the proper color balance will often make or break an image. This in-depth video explains a great technique for adjusting color balance in Photoshop using Curves adjustment layers.
Passive income, the Holy Grail of personal finances. Who wouldn’t want to make money from all those old photos without having to lift a finger? With that in mind, I’m going to share with you my own experiences as a casual photographer selling my existing back catalog of digital photos online. It’s been an interesting experience to say the least and I even made a little money.
Frequency separation is a powerful retouching technique used by many professionals to enhance portraits while retaining detail. As with many editing techniques, it requires practice and restraint for the best results. This great video tutorial will show you how to quickly clean up your portraits. Using the free action for Photoshop CC you can make your portraits pop without looking over-processed.
If you’ve decided to start selling prints of your work, you’ve found there are a lot of options, from print-on-demand websites where your work is part of a larger marketplace and orders are fulfilled by the website, to customizable platforms that you can make all your own. Art Storefronts attempts to offer the best of both worlds.
On Saturdays and Tuesdays, live photography streams broadcast on Olympus U.K.'s Facebook page. This week’s Tuesday video, a High Key photography tutorial, was presented by Gavin Hoey and is now available as a video.
One thing I do hear often is '' the conditions are not right. I'll wait till the light is better.'' And although good light can make or break an image should this hold you back from just going out to practice?
Sigma has just announced the new Sigma fp L mirrorless camera, and we've been testing it over the last week. On the surface, there aren't any differences between the new model and the original Sigma fp. However, take a closer look, and you may be surprised at what Sigma has managed to produce here with its latest model.
A lot of photographers seem to fall for promises that presets make, and sometimes, they are true. There are packs out there that give decent results. But the problem with presets is that they do the creative work for you instead of helping you be the creative you wish to be. And that is what is holding you back. But what if there's one unique preset that will distinguish your work from everyone else's? You can't buy it, but you can develop it. Here's how.
Street photography is beloved by many, but it's a strange genre that is deceptively difficult to master. Here are five bad habits that could be adversely affecting the images you create.
Medium format has been quietly becoming more powerful and more affordable and many photographers have started dipping their toes. In this video, one landscape photographer takes the 102 megapixel Fujifilm behemoth for a spin.
Have you ever experienced someone attempting to kill your passion for photography?
There is something special about seeing your work in print, and a particularly large print can be especially entrancing to behold. This great video tutorial will show you the process of creating a large print from shooting it to hanging it with plenty of helpful tips along the way.
Reviewing your images only to find that the shots you've taken are slightly out of focus is one of the worst things in photography. But can you save those photos using Adobe Lightroom?
In this article, we’ll highlight a shortcoming of the exposure triangle, one that’s more a relic of film days than a modern requirement, and we’ll see how an exposure “V,” with just two legs, might actually afford us more flexibility and control over our images.
The Sony a1 is groundbreaking in its technological capabilities, but is it the perfect camera? Not quite. If we’re going to nitpick, there are definitely a few areas where it falls short, and there are several design decisions that are hard to explain.
As advanced as phones have become, they are still outdone by dedicated professional cameras with larger sensors. However, the device they have largely replaced, the pocket camera, are on a more level playing field. So, how does a top-level cameraphone compare to a premium compact camera? This great video review compares the Sony ZV-1 to the iPhone Pro 12.
For Fujifilm GF shooters, the GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR lens offers an equivalent focal length of about 35mm along with a wide maximum aperture, making it perfect for a wide variety of scenarios. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world usage.
They might have different focal lengths and different maximum apertures, but the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 and the Sony 24-105mm f/4 are very similar in price thanks to a rebate, and each would make a solid choice when it comes to a lens that does a little bit of everything. Which one should you choose?
Sony just announced three new lenses, the FE 24mm f/2.8 G, FE 40mm f/2.5 G, and FE 50mm f/2.5 G, each a very compact and light prime meant for quick shooting with easy portability. This excellent video review takes a look at all three lenses and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from them in real-world usage.
The Canon EOS R5 is the company's highest-resolution mirrorless camera to date, but as the general 5D analog, it actually is not meant to be the company's high-resolution body. This means we will likely see a high-resolution RF mount body at some point, and it looks like Canon is aiming to clear 100 megapixels.
So, you’re starting to think that you really want to grow and try something new with your photography, but don’t have the funds for a new camera? Well, there’s a good chance that you can make significant upgrades to your productivity without breaking the bank.
Want to make money with your photography? Why not take advantage of the myriad photography competitions to win cash, kit, or even more?
Need to capture a time-lapse out in the wild over a six-month period? The Tikee camera might be the solution.
Nikon mirrorless fans will be pleased to hear that the company is planning at least a dozen new lenses for the next 12 months, greatly expanding their lineup and filling in both some popular and premium options.
We all fall into creative ruts at one time or another; it is a natural part of photography. And it is not always an option to simply wait it out. So, what can you do? This great video tutorial discusses four different tips for breaking out of a creative rut and finding inspiration again.
Many who try to create a glow effect in their shots will end up with something closer to soft focus. Here's how one photographer gets a dreamy feel to his images, without sacrificing sharpness or important details.
Aputure has released a number of cost-effective and innovative lights for photographers and videographers in the last few years. Now, one of their most popular lights (and most innovative for that matter) can come as a complete solution.
Do you know a student or school who deserves a camera kit that will help them discover the joys of photography? Here's how to nominate them to take part in this massive giveaway.
Zeiss lenses are known for their nearly perfect optical performance, and the Otus 85mm f/1.4 may be one of the best in their lineup. If you are looking for some of the best optical quality you can find in a portrait lens, check out this great video review of the Otus 85mm f/1.4 ZE lens.
