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Jaron Schneider
San Francisco, CA

Articles written by Jaron Schneider

YouTube is Ready to Select a Winner. Will It Be You?

It's time... YouTube wants to thank you for all your great entries. YouTube finally has enough videos to begin selecting a winner after years of collecting videos at the rate of 70 hours per minute, it's finally over. "We've been thrilled with all of the diverse, creative entries we've seen so far, and we can't wait to begin the process of selecting the best video. We'll be announcing the winner in 10 years."

Zeiss Tells the Story of Melding Design and Performance in the Upcoming 55mm f/1.4

Zeiss lenses have been around for over 120 years, but admittedly "product design has never been the foremost factor." In designing their new high-end Distagon lenses coming to the market at the end of 2013, Zeiss wanted to really consider aesthetics in the project. "The newly-defined design is intended to reflect the lenses’ unique character and make Zeiss lenses truly unmistakable in the future."

The Latest Addition to Phottix's Line is the Multi Boom Flash Bracket

Phottix has released a new product designed to fix one continual issue for photographers that love shooting with umbrella modifiers: though they are easy to transport and use and fast to set up, because of the inherent design they are almost impossible to tilt on a traditional light stand. To rectify this issue, Phottix made Multi Boom Flash Bracket.

What to Expect from Behance This Year Post-Adobe Acquisition

Adobe bought Behance a few months ago in what was said to have been a move to expand the social functionality of the Creative Cloud. Today Behance posted a blog about what is to be expected from them in 2013 post-acquisition.

Canon Upgrades Popular Rebel Series with the T5i

In addition to announcing the brand new Rebel SL1, Canon also upgraded the the popular T4i with the all new Rebel T5i. To be honest, I can't see all that much different between the T4i and T5i. Same processor, same megapixel count, same ISO range, and same frames per second performance. Hm.

Canon Releases Tiny, Nearly Weightless Rebel SL1 DSLR

All those rumors of a new camera body from Canon have come to fruition in the new DSLR called the Rebel SL1. Boasting a 18 megapixel DIGIC 5 CMOS sensor, 1080 full HD video capture and compatible with STM lenses, Canon's latest tiny consumer DSLR barely registers on scales, coming in at a lowly 0.8 pounds. How's that for travel friendly?

Fstoppers Reviews the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 Contemporary Lens

Variable aperture lenses are generally scoffed at by anyone who has been shooting for a few years, myself included. That said, collectively variable aperture lenses probably make up a vast number of sales for lens manufacturers. They aren’t necessarily bad lenses, but it can be tricky to select the quality from the lousy. So how does Sigma’s second lens that carries its new design, the 17-70mm f/2.8-4 lens, fare? Actually, really well.

Lowel Now Has Three Pro-Level LED Light Banks

Lowel makes a lot of lighting products, some of which like the Tota have been used in mobile pro video for what seems like ages. Lowel has completed a line of LED light panels that are designed to bring studio quality to productions of all types and sizes. They recently announced the Lowel Prime LED Model 800 to go along with the Model 200 and 400.

The Spider Monkey is Spider Holster's New Accessory Holder

Spider Holster camera holsters have become really popular among event and wedding photographers because they free up their hands and keeps straps from encumbering movement. Their latest offering unveiled at WPPI Las Vegas is the Spider Monkey, which will hold your accessories like a speedlight in the same handy fashion.

Phottix Prices and Releases New TTL Speedlight

Announced over a year ago at CES 2012, Phottix has priced and released their Mitros TTL Speedlight for Canon cameras today, with the Nikon and Sony versions coming in May. It's priced at $349 MSRP, but I expect to see it from dealers for around $300.

35mm Showdown: Canon, Canon L and Sigma Comparison

Since I reviewed the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 last year, I have been hit with a barrage of inquiries as to if it was better to grab the Sigma 35mm f/1.4, the Canon 35mm f/2 IS or spend some real cash and spring for the Canon 35mm f/1.4 L. After using all three lenses for the past couple months, I'm finally ready to name my favorite. And you know what? This one was closer than you might think.

Sigma Reveals Pricing of Three New Lenses

In late January we announced three new lenses to be released by Sigma. Sigma just released the pricing and availability of those lenses. The updated 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM lens will be available in late March for $499 and the 30mm f/2.8 DN and 19mm f/2.8 DN lenses, which are available for both Micro Four Thirds and Sony E-Mount camera systems, will be also be available in late March for $199.

Nikon Mount In Stock For Sigma's 35mm f/1.4 Lens

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens is now available for your purchasing pleasure, refilling the stock that's going fast. If you want it for your Nikon, you can get it now, and get it you should, because it's freaking amazing.

Look At Leica's Pretty New Store in Miami

Leica is known as a kind of Mercedez when it comes to cameras. It captures images like any camera will, but it's the name and reputation (and the quality that comes with it) you get a Leica for. That and the optics. Leica fans can rejoice over the opening of a store in Miami that showcases the full Leica photography and sport optics product portfolio, and it's got a pretty slick interior to boot.

Google+ Will Never Be The Social Network It Wants To Be

Okay, the post title is a little bit harsh, but hear me out. It will never be the social network it wants to be unless it redesigns the user interface. I love Google products maybe twice as much as the next guy and I have tried very hard, over and over again, to force myself to use Google+ and to like it, but it's just not happening. Since I'm all about user experience, Google+ design doesn't really do it for me. Even though many have said that Google+ has become a photographer's playground, I'd like beg to differ.

Squarespace is a Breath of Fresh Air in the Smoggy Website Building Space

Personal feeling: we don’t give our websites enough attention. It’s usually a “good enough” situation. It shows our photos, gets our name on Google and it serves as a place for us to send clients and prospects. That attitude tends to result in an attitude of “settling.” We settle for what we find and it is, again, good enough. Or is it? I wasn't ready to just be happy with "good enough" on my website.

New Accessory from Fotodiox Puts a 645 Medium Format Back on Sony NEX

This is a pretty crazy concept, but Fotodiox has just announced an adapter that puts the power of a full-size 645 medium format back into the hands of virtually any photographer utilizing the Sony NEX camera sensor. Called the RhinoCam, it enables photographers at any level to capture the dramatic detail and sharpness only available with a sensor three times larger than even a high-end full-frame 35mm sensor.

Fstoppers Reviews the Canon 35mm f/2

The 35mm focal length is one of the most popular primes made, probably only second to the 50mm if second to anyone. It’s popular because it is good for so many things, making us feel like we have to own fewer lenses to capture more amazing images. Most of you know that I’m very attached to my Sigma 35mm f/1.4, but when shooting with Canon’s new 35mm f/2 IS, I did my best to remain objective.

Watch Sigma's Mezmerizing Concept Video for New Product Line

In January we posted an unexpectedly captivating behind the scenes video of the Sigma factory in Aizu, Japan that many of you really liked (and which was shot entirely on Sigma glass). Sigma has just released another piece of eye candy in a new concept video that mixes really stunning visuals with equally beautiful music. It too was shot 100% with Sigma optics.