Nikon News (Page 19)
The pink Huguenot Church is one of my favorite subjects in Charleston, SC, and this entrance is especially eye-catching.
From a distance, the depth of this doorway is deemphasized, but moving in close with an ultra-wide-angle lens reveals that attribute. This lens's angle of view also permits a foreground fence to be omitted while keeping most of the doorway in the frame.
The RF 16 was not my first choice for street photography while walking around Charleston with the Canon EOS R8 this afternoon. However, this little lens was easy to take along for just-in-case needs, and it proved worth having along.
The Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM Lens provides outstanding utility (and fun) for its size, weight, and especially, price. As I share this sample image, the RF 16 in refurbished condition is on sale for only $179.00.
A larger version of this image is available here.
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Be the first to check out when B&H opens tonight at 9:15 PM ET:
Headlining the Canon RF lens inventory is a like new RF 135mm F1.8 Lens ("Like new with open box and full manufacturer's warranty or 1-year B&H warranty"). This lens will sell immediately. RF 15-35mm, RF 24-70mm, RF 16mm, RF 35mm F1.8, RF 85mm F2, and RF 100mm macro lenses also just arrived.
A used EOS R6 is available in the Canon EOS mirrorless camera inventory.
A couple of used a1 and a7C cameras and an a7S III are available in the Sony Alpha camera inventory.
An open box FE 200-600mm and used FE 100-400mm, 14mm F1.8, 24mm F1.4, 50mm f1.2, 135mm F1.8 were just added to the Sony FE lens inventory.
A 10-rated used Really Right Stuff TVC-24L Versa Series 2 Mk2 Carbon Fiber Tripod (Long) (currently my favorite tripod) is available in the Really Right Stuff inventory. An Ascend-14 Compact Travel Carbon Fiber Tripod is also available.
On a trip targeting the Bisti / De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area in New Mexico, I ended up in Bears Ears National Monument, Utah.
Why? Two reasons.
First, 3 days of sand and dust storms (even stones were in the air) provided an unfavorable New Mexico greeting. Second, Bears Ears National Monument has some great photo subjects.
This image is of House on Fire in Mule Canyon, Cedar Mesa. Late in the morning, the sun reaches the red rock below this ancient Puebloan granary, creating a warm-toned light that reflects up into the massive rock overhang. That warm light color combines with lines in the rock to create the look of a raging fire over the ancient building.
Photographers chose a wide range of editing choices for this subject, some including red color tone emphasis and wild saturation. The chosen concept is typically to make the flames appear intense, and personal preference or audience preference rules (unless processing for a client).
I opted to process this image using the cloudy white balance setting, cooler than the shade option technically right for the scenario (6500k vs. 7500k), with a bit of vibrance (+30) to bring out the richness in the colors.
House on Fire affords a wide variety of compositions. To fully cover the focal length range potentially desired, I carried two awesome zoom lenses, the Sony FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM Lens and the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens.
Primarily, the 12-24mm lens met the needs, delivering this corner-to-corner sharp image in a single shot.
A larger version of this image is available here.
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Learn about the new MindShift Gear Firstlight 35L+ and 46L Camera Backpack at Think Tank Photo.
Don't forget that you'll get a free gift and free shipping when using this site's links for your purchase ($50.00 minimum purchase required).
The FirstLight 35L+ and 46L+ are also available to order at B&H.
A Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports Lens firmware update is coming soon.
This firmware update will incorporate the following fixes and enhancements:
- By updating the image stabilization algorithm to the newly developed OS2, the image stabilization performance will be improved from approximately 4 stops to approximately 6.5 stops at the wide end and 5.5 stops at the telephoto end. (Based on CIPA standard, measured with a 35mm full-frame camera at focal lengths of 150mm and 600mm)
- In addition, for Sony E-mount lenses, the AF-C tracking performance has been improved.
Get the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports Lens at B&H.
Just posted: Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM Lens Review.
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Support this site by ordering the Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM Lens from B&H | Canon USA | WEX
Image quality, vignetting, flare, and distortion test results from the Canon EOS R7 are now available on the Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM Lens page.
Support this site by ordering the Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM Lens from B&H | Canon USA | WEX
"Capture One 23 (16.1.2) is a service release containing multiple bug fixes and improvements, along with feature updates to Capture One Live. Plus additions to both camera and lens support."
Get the full details of this update in the release notes.
New Cameras Supported
New Lenses Supported
Canon RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens
Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Lens
Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM Lens
Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens
Canon RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM Lens
Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens
Get Capture One 23 at B&H.
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This much graffiti on the walls corresponds to a sketchy environment, right? Not here.
Street legal graffiti is the draw to Graffiti Alley in Baltimore, and Graffiti Alley is a sure thing graffiti photography location (though non-family-friendly content is sometimes created).
Filling the frame with unique color is not a challenge here, but figuring out what compositions are appealing amongst the chaos is. While I was challenged, the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens provided the full range of desired focal lengths.
A larger version of this image is available here.
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The grand George Peabody Library in Baltimore screams for an ultra-wide-angle lens. While many Sony wide-angle lenses would easily handle this job, the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens is the only Sony full-frame standard zoom lens that takes in angles of view this wide.
The other requirement for photographing this architectural marvel is working around the no tripod requirement. The interior is dark, so obtaining the highest image quality requires support.
When is a tripod not a tripod? On this day, the Really Right Stuff TFA-01 Ultra Pocket Pod with a BPC-16 Microball with Panning was no-tripod acceptable.
When photographing a symmetrical scene, find center. Use a perfectly centered and horizontally level camera. Or, don't. Make the composition uncentered enough to make it the uncenteredness and crookedness appear to be a clear decision, artistic instead of sloppy.
A larger version of this image is available here.
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From DxO:
DxO PureRAW 3, the groundbreaking RAW photo enhancement software, gives photographers incredible image quality thanks to DeepPRIME XD
Together with innovative DeepPRIME XD — eXtreme Detail — denoising technology, this major new version of DxO’s award-winning RAW processing software delivers greater control without reducing the‘one-click’ functionality that users love. It also features pivotal upgrades to the user interface, making workflow even smoother.
Paris (France): DxO Labs, the company which kick-started modern RAW processing and lens correction, today announces the immediate availability of DxO PureRAW 3, its revolutionary RAW enhancement software. PureRAW 3 optimizes the quality of any RAW image by eliminating noise, improving color, enhancing detail and correcting lens flaws. DxO PureRAW 3 now features DxO’s latest artificial intelligence technology, DeepPRIME XD, delivering industry-leading noise reduction and RAW image enhancement; greater control over which corrections are applied through DxO’s renowned Optics Modules; and user interface modifications that offer improved integration with every photographer’s workflow.
DxO DeepPRIME technology gets even better — and for Fujifilm photographers, too! DxO PureRAW set the standard for noise reduction and image improvements – but the introduction of DeepPRIME XD pushes performance even further. By using a larger neural network than regular DeepPRIME, DeepPRIME XD delivers greater levels of detail, improved color accuracy, and smoother, noise-free bokeh when shooting at even the highest ISO levels.
With DeepPRIME XD, photographers report improvements of more than 2.5 stops in noise performance. For example, images shot at ISO 4000 more closely resemble those captured at ISO 500 in terms of noise, color, and clarity.
Because noise reduction is performed as part of the RAW conversion process, DeepPRIME XD can also improve the dynamic range of an image, giving photographers greater flexibility when shooting in challenging situations where light is limited. The original DeepPRIME mode remains part of DxO PureRAW 3 for images that demand less enhancement or where faster performance is required.
“DeepPRIME almost surprised us when we first saw the results,” explains DxO’s VP of Marketing and Product Strategy, Jean-Marc Alexia. “We quickly realized that a larger neural network could boost performance, and that’s what we’ve delivered with DeepPRIME XD. This technology pushes the boundaries even further, and DxO PureRAW 3 will revolutionize any photographer’s images — and without disrupting their existing workflow.”
Until today, DeepPRIME XD did not process RAW files from cameras with an X-Trans sensor. However, with DxO PureRAW 3, Fujifilm X Series photographers will be delighted to learn that their cameras are supported, a development reflected in DxO PhotoLab 6.4, also released today. As a result, X-Trans images can undergo incredible noise reduction, remarkable detail enhancement, and the restoration of accurate colors, especially when shooting at high ISO levels.
Power is nothing without control
As well as greater performance, DxO PureRAW 3 gives photographers a new level of control. The software’s updated interface now offers options for levels of lens softness correction, as well as the ability to toggle vignetting and chromatic aberration corrections. Furthermore, photographers can access the whole image area captured by the sensor, avoiding the crop enforced by other software when correcting deformations.
Interface improvements for a smoother workflow
DxO PureRAW 3 also introduces a number of improvements when it comes to workflow. Users can create multiple queues when batch processing large numbers of files, with the option to edit, re-order, and prioritize both images and queue lists while processing is underway. In addition, photographers can now choose to export files in TIFF format, alongside the existing JPEG and Linear DNG options.
Try DxO PureRAW 3 for free at DxO Software.
Sometimes, 24mm is not wide enough. With a bus parked immediately behind me, the 20mm focal length was the key to this Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church composition.
Most full-frame general-purpose lenses start at 24mm, but the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens is a game-changer in that regard.
With the 20mm focal length affording the angle of view needed to comfortably frame the three doorways (love the red doors), positioning the camera perfectly leveled and centered in the middle door was the next task. This vertical angle was selected to split the height of the bottom visible step and comfortably contain the doorway roof peaks.
A larger version of this image is available here.
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Just posted: Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens Review
Is this lens right for your kit?
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Support this site by ordering the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens from B&H | Amazon (all available countries) | WEX
Rent the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens from Lensrentals.
I recently shared Rock Cut in the last light. I didn't go home after the sun set, and instead tolerated high winds and very cold temperatures for a couple more hours. It seemed that the rock formations here would make a good foreground for a Milky Way photo.
Getting the rock formations to rise above the other landscape meant climbing down to the edge of the cliff, and low-level lighting was used to bring out the rock color. The foreground lighting in this Rocky Mountain National Park Milky Way image is from a pair of Simorr Vibe P96L RGB Video LED Lights on Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Tripods.
Once the lights and camera were set up, waiting (did I mention that it was really cold?) for the Milky Way to rotate into the desired position was the remaining task.
The Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens is an outstanding Milky Way lens. The difference that f/1.4 makes in Milky Way image quality over an f/2.8 lens is dramatic.
Join me in RMNP this September. I have an opening or two for the Elk Rut in Rocky Mountain National Park Instructional Photo Tour.
A larger version of this image is available here.
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Check out the new Stash Master Camera Cubes at Think Tank Photo.
"Turn any backpack, roller, or duffel into a camera bag — or use as a photo storage cube that’s ready to go at any time!"
When the sky is clear, focusing on what the last light of the day is hitting is often the optimal plan. Last light typically falls on high-elevation features, and Rock Cut in Rocky Mountain National Park has that qualification.
A Colorado 14er, Longs Peak, also captures the day's last light. Framing this mountain between the Rock Cut features results in what you see here.
The Sony Alpha 1 and Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens are an outstanding combination. Three manually focus bracketed images were combined for this image.
Join me in RMNP this September. I have an opening or two for the Elk Rut in Rocky Mountain National Park Instructional Photo Tour.
A larger version of this image is available here.
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Just posted: Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens Review.
Is this the next lens for your kit?
Please share!
Support this site by ordering the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens from B&H | Amazon (all available countries) | WEX
Rent the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens from Lensrentals.
Image quality test results are now available on the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens page.
This is a sharp lens. Check out these comparisons:
Compared to the Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS Lens
Compared to the Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Lens
Compared to the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens
Compared to the Sony FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens
Build your own comparisons.
Support this site by ordering the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens from B&H | Amazon (all available countries) | WEX
Rent the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens from Lensrentals.
Please share!
Adding close focusing capabilities to an otherwise useful focal length and max aperture combination adds versatility — and fun. The Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens is one such lens.
Here, the RF 28 gets close to a honeybee, with a bright cloudy sky creating a high key background.
From a composition perspective, besides getting close, an overall balance was the goal for this (and most) images. The sunflower was itself worthy of being photographed, but the honeybee added another point of interest to the composition.
Bees will often work their way around the flower. Figure out their plan and make yours accordingly. While the bee was farther back on the flower, I positioned the lens for what seemed the optimal composition and timed the shot when the bee arrived.
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For a long time, I have been sharing my camera setup guides and including a link to them at the bottom of each relevant review page. These pages have become quite popular, so now a "Setup Guide" link is included in the top navigation for these camera reviews.
The guides are free, but please remember to support this site.
Here is the complete list of setup guides (as of this post):
- Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
- Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
- Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
- Canon EOS 5Ds R
- Canon EOS 6D Mark II
- Canon EOS 90D
- Canon EOS 80D
- Canon EOS 77D
- Canon EOS Rebel T8i / 850D
- Canon EOS Rebel T7i / 800D
- Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / 250D
- Canon EOS 5Ds
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Canon EOS Rebel T6s / 760D
- Canon EOS Rebel T6i / 750D
- Canon EOS Rebel T6 / 1300D
- Canon EOS Rebel SL2 / 200D
- Canon EOS R3
- Canon EOS R5
- Canon EOS R6 Mark II
- Canon EOS R6
- Canon EOS R7
- Canon EOS R8
- Canon EOS R10
- Canon EOS R50
- Canon EOS R
- Canon EOS RP
- Canon EOS M50
- Canon EOS M200
- Canon EOS M5
- Canon EOS M6 Mark II
- Canon EOS M6
- Canon EOS M100
- Nikon Z 7
- Nikon Z 6
- Nikon D850
- Sony Alpha 1
- Sony Alpha 9 II
- Sony Alpha 7R V
- Sony Alpha 7R IV, IVA
- Sony Alpha 7R III, IIIA
- Sony Alpha 7 IV
- Sony Alpha 7 III
- Sony Alpha 7C
- Sony Alpha 9
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