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Nikon D7000 Review Follow-up

This is a follow-up to my Nikon D7000 Review that I posted earlier this year. Ever since I published the review, I have been getting a ton of feedback … [Continue Reading]

Nikon D7000 (1)

Must-Have Filters for Landscape Photography

While I was photographing the beautiful scenery of the Glacier National Park at sunrise, I realized that some filters are pretty much required to get … [Continue Reading]

With Polarizer

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G Review

This is an in-depth review of the new, much anticipated Nikon 50mm f/1.8G prime lens that was announced in April of 2011. The lens was kindly provided … [Continue Reading]

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G vs Nikon 50mm f/1.4G

Best Nikon Lenses for Landscape Photography

What are the best Nikon lenses for landscape photography? After I posted my last article on "Best Nikon Lenses for Wedding Photography", I have been … [Continue Reading]

Mt Rainier NP #11

How to properly resize images in Photoshop

If you like sharing your photographs online, whether on Facebook or on your own blog, you should learn how to properly resize your images. While your … [Continue Reading]

Puerto Rico

Nikon D800 Announcement

Feb
5
2012
February 5, 2012
By 46 Comments

Nikon is releasing the much anticipated Nikon D800 DSLR on February 7th, a major update to the existing Nikon 700 camera that was released back in 2008. The Nikon D800 is designed specifically for landscape, studio, fashion, wedding and wildlife photography that need a camera with a high resolution sensor. While it does not have the speed of the Nikon D4 (which has a 16.2 MP sensor) and its amazing low-light capabilities, the Nikon D800 is currently Nikon’s highest resolution camera with a whopping 36 MP full-frame sensor. Unlike the Nikon D700, which had the same sensor as the high-end Nikon D3 (and hence ended up cannibalizing some of the D3 sales), the D800 is specifically positioned not to compete with the top of the line Nikon D4, but rather with the older high-resolution Nikon D3x line. Due to an extremely low demand on the Nikon D3x camera body, Nikon decided to eliminate the line and replace it by a product that can directly compete with the Canon 5D Mark II instead. The Nikon D800 also features most of the video capabilities of the Nikon D4, which are very attractive for video production (especially the uncompressed HDMI output).

Nikon D800

So, what does the Nikon D800 bring to the table? Here is a summary of its features:

  1. Sensor: 36.3 MP FX, 4.8µ pixel size
  2. Sensor Size: 35.9 x 24mm
  3. Resolution: 7360 x 4912
  4. DX Mode: 15.3 MP
  5. DX Mode Resolution: 4800 x 3200
  6. Native ISO Sensitivity: 100-6,400
  7. Boost Low ISO Sensitivity: 50
  8. Boost High ISO Sensitivity: 12,800-25,600
  9. Processor: EXPEED 3
  10. Metering System: 3D Color Matrix Meter III with face recognition and a database of 30,000 images
  11. Dust Reduction: Yes
  12. Weather Sealing/Protection: Yes
  13. Body Build: Full Magnesium Alloy
  14. White Balance: New White Balance System
  15. Shutter: Up to 1/8000 and 30 sec exposure
  16. Shutter Durability: 200,000 cycles, self-diagnostic shutter
  17. Camera Lag: 0.012 seconds
  18. Storage: 1x CF slot and 1x SD slot
  19. Viewfinder Coverage: 100%
  20. Speed: 4 FPS, 6 FPS in DX mode with optional MB-D12 battery pack
  21. Exposure Meter: 91,000 pixel RGB sensor
  22. Built-in Flash: Yes, with Commander Mode, full CLS compatibility
  23. Autofocus System: Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX with 51 focus points and 15 cross-type sensors
  24. AF Detection: Up to f/8 with 9 focus points (5 in the center, 2 on the left and right)
  25. LCD Screen: 3.2 inch diagonal with 921,000 dots
  26. Movie Modes: Full 1080p HD @ 30 fps max
  27. Movie Exposure Control: Full
  28. Movie Recording Limit: 30 minutes @ 30p, 20 minutes @ 24p
  29. Movie Output: MOV, Compressed and Uncompressed
  30. In-Camera HDR Capability: Yes
  31. Two Live View Modes: One for photography and one for videography
  32. Camera Editing: Lots of in-camera editing options with HDR capabilities
  33. GPS: Not built-in, requires GP-1 GPS unit
  34. Battery Type: EN-EL15
  35. Battery Life: 900 shots
  36. USB Standard: 3.0
  37. Weight: 890g
  38. Price: $2,999 MSRP

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Filed Under: Cameras, Digital Photography, Gear Tagged With: ,

Oben AC-1410 Tripod Review

Feb
1
2012
February 1, 2012
By 2 Comments

This is a quick review of the Oben AC-1410 4-Section Aluminum Tripod with BA-0 Ball Head. While simultaneously testing a number of digital cameras from Sony, Nikon and Olympus, I realized that I need another tripod that is light, easy to use / setup and affordable. I already have a heavy duty Gitzo Systematic tripod with an Arca-Swiss ballhead that I use for my photography needs, but I found it too painful to remove the quick release plate every time I needed to mount a camera. In addition, there were situations when I wanted to use two tripods simultaneously.

Oben AC-1410 Tripod

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Filed Under: Digital Photography, Gear, Reviews, Tripods and Tripod Heads Tagged With: , , ,

Sony A77 Review

Jan
30
2012
January 30, 2012
By 44 Comments

Overview

This is an in-depth review of the new Sony SLT-A77 digital SLR camera that was announced together with the Sony SLT-A65 in August of 2011. I had a chance to test both cameras, along with a number of Sony / Zeiss lenses for the Sony mount, while reviewing the Nikon 1 camera system in late 2011. While I concentrate most of my gear reviews around Nikon cameras and Nikkor lenses, I got really excited about these Sony cameras after seeing the press release and decided to try them out.

Sony A77

Sony A77

I have been enjoying shooting with DSLRs for quite some time now and while I am very happy with the cameras and lenses I use, I just think that we have not been seeing major breakthroughs in new DSLR cameras. New cameras pack more resolution, faster frames per second, better video features and other bells and whistles, but nothing innovative and revolutionary that changes the way we shoot. With Sony entering the DSLR market rather late in 2006 (after acquiring Konica Minolta), it was tough to compete against the long-established Canon and Nikon cameras. Sony introduced a few DSLRs with great features at a competitive price and secured itself the #3 market share spot in DSLR sales globally, mostly with lower-end DSLR camera bodies. With a rather slow adoption rate and a limited choice of lenses and accessories available, the company quickly realized that its only way to challenge the big two was to innovate. In August of 2010, Sony announced its first “Single-Lens Translucent” (SLT) cameras – the Sony A33 and A55. While the concept of a translucent mirror is not new (in fact, Sony calls it “translucent” for marketing purposes, because it is actually supposed to be “pellicle mirror”), Sony was the first to design it to work with an electronic viewfinder. Its first SLT cameras were a success, so Sony decided to embrace the technology and take it a step further with the new Sony A77 and A65 cameras. Going forward, we will most likely not be seeing any more DSLR cameras from Sony, since its management already expressed commitment to this new breed of cameras. We should be seeing more cameras from Sony with translucent mirrors, including high-end, full-frame models.

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Filed Under: Cameras, Digital Photography, Gear, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Best of 2011 – Landscapes (Part 2)

Jan
26
2012
January 26, 2012
By 29 Comments

This is part 2 of my 2011 landscape favorites. Please note that some of the images you will be seeing in the “Best of 2011” wallpaper collection have already been posted earlier last year in various articles, but in much smaller resolution. If you are looking for technical data, like Camera type, Lens and Exposure information, you will find it in the EXIF data. Summary of cameras used for the below images: Nikon 1 V1, D5100, D7000, D700, D3s and Sony A65.

Enjoy!

Colorado Fall Colors

1) Colorado Fall Colors 1920×1200 Widescreen Wallpaper

Canyonlands

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Filed Under: Digital Photography, Landscape Photography, Wallpapers Tagged With: , ,

How to properly resize images in Lightroom

Jan
24
2012
January 24, 2012
By 16 Comments

If you like sharing your photographs online, whether on Facebook or on your own blog, you should learn how to properly resize your images. While your camera can take very high resolution photographs, it is always a good idea to down-size or “down-sample” those images, not only because most websites won’t accept large images, but also because making those images smaller will actually make them look better, if done correctly. In this quick tutorial, I will show you the proper way to resize images in Lightroom. A separate article on how to do this in Photoshop can be found in my “how to properly resize images in Photoshop” article. I use the below method when exporting images out of Lightroom. You can employ this technique to any photograph – whether it is a portrait or a sweeping landscape.

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Filed Under: Lightroom, Photography Articles, Post Processing Tagged With: , ,

Impact Posing Stool Review

Jan
22
2012
January 22, 2012
By 2 Comments

This is a quick review of the Impact Posing Stool, used in studio environments for seating clients and models to photograph headshots or half-body portraits. When photographing subjects in a studio, especially when doing corporate photography, a simple posing stool is often required. Regular chairs have backs and arms that are problematic for half-body shots, while bar stools can be too high and inconvenient to use, so an adjustable posing stool is ideal in such situations. While there are plenty of adjustable stools available from various manufacturers, most of them are quite expensive. The Impact Posing Stool accomplishes the same task, but at a much more affordable price.

Impact Posing Stool

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Filed Under: Digital Photography, Gear, Portrait Photography, Reviews, Studio Equipment Tagged With: ,

Why sensor dust is more visible at small apertures

Jan
20
2012
January 20, 2012
By 11 Comments

Another reader of ours, Frank Di Luzio, sent the below image that explains exactly why sensor dust is more visible at small apertures. While I have explained this phenomenon to some of our readers before (see the comment section), I have not had a chance to write a separate article with a proper illustration, demonstrating how aperture size affects the shape and size of dust particles. Thanks to our generous readers like Frank, I now do not have to do it, because the below illustration is perfect.

Dust on Sensor

In summary, when the size of aperture is large (a small F-number like f/2.8), light rays reach dust particles that are sitting on the sensor filter from different angles. Remember, although I refer to this as “sensor dust”, dust actually never touches the sensor, because there is a thick filter (actually, more like a number of filters packed together to form a single filter) that sits in front of the camera sensor. Therefore, by the time light reaches the physical sensor, it is spread out on a very large area, making dust appear as a large blob with a soft ring. When using very large apertures like f/1.4 on fast prime lenses, these blobs might be so washed out that they might be practically invisible to your eye. That’s why portrait photographers notice dust less often than landscape photographers!

Now when the lens is stopped down and aperture is significantly smaller, say at f/16, light rays coming from the lens diaphragm are perpendicular to the sensor filter. Because the angle is more or less straight, dust specks also cast direct and defined shadows on the sensor. That’s why dust shows up in images much smaller, darker and with more defined edges at small apertures.

Big thanks to Frank for sending the illustration!

Filed Under: Cameras, Digital Photography, Gear, Photography Articles Tagged With: , , ,

Best Nikon Lenses for Wildlife Photography

Jan
18
2012
January 18, 2012
By 64 Comments

What are the best Nikon lenses for wildlife photography? Our readers often ask us about lenses for nature photography and while I have already written about which Nikon lenses I consider to be the best for landscape photography, I have received numerous requests to write about lenses for wildlife photography as well. In this article, I will not only talk about which Nikon lenses I believe are the best for wildlife and nature photography, but also when I use a particular lens, along with plenty of image samples from each lens. Please keep in mind that the information I present below is a personal opinion based on my experience so far, which is subject to change. If you have a favorite lens of yours for wildlife photography that is not listed below, please feel free to add a comment on the bottom of the page with some information and links to pictures (if you have any that you would like to share).

When photographing wildlife, whether shooting bears in Alaska, or capturing birds in flight, one of the most important factors in choosing a lens is its focal length. Generally, the longer the lens (in focal length), the better. Unlike landscape and portrait photography, where you could get away with a cheap lens and still get great results, wildlife photography pretty much requires high-quality, fast-aperture telephoto optics. This obviously translates to a high price tag, with the lowest end of the spectrum averaging between $500 to $1,500, and the highest-quality / best reach lenses costing as much as $10,000+. Without a doubt, wildlife photography is a very expensive hobby to have (unless you are so good that you can sell your pictures and make good money), especially once you add up all the gear and travel costs.

1) Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR

If you want to get into wildlife photography on a tight budget, the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is the lens you want to get. It is a great buy that will get you to 300mm at under $600 USD. Its autofocus is pretty good in daylight and its versatile zoom range of 70-300mm is great for large animals and perched birds. The lens is light and compact, making it easy to carry it around when scouting for wildlife in parks and wildlife spots. It is capable of producing relatively good bokeh, especially on its longest end, although its sharpness performance also drops quite a bit at 300mm. Having VR is a definite plus when hand-holding the lens.

AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED

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Filed Under: Digital Photography, Gear, Lenses, Photography Articles, Wildlife Photography Tagged With: , , , ,

Impact Multiboom Light Stand and Reflector Holder Review

Jan
16
2012
January 16, 2012
By 5 Comments

This is a review of the Impact Multiboom Light Stand and Reflector Holder, used in studio environments for holding lights, reflectors, flags and other light accessories. If you do any studio work, whether it is for photographing models or your clients, it is often necessary to use light reflectors to bounce the main light for softer shadows. Other times you might find yourself in a situation when you have too much light spill and you need to block some of that light with a black card, also known as a “flag”. It is great if you have one or more assistants for these kinds of situations, because they can assist in holding reflectors and flags. But what if you work alone or need to hold multiple reflectors and flags? That’s when a boom comes in handy. I have been shopping around for a good, lightweight, portable and inexpensive boom arm + stand combo, and I think I found a perfect one for my needs.

Impact Multiboom Light Stand and Reflector Holder

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Filed Under: Digital Photography, Flash Photography, Gear, Portrait Photography, Reviews, Studio Equipment Tagged With: , , , ,

Best of 2011 – Wildlife

Jan
14
2012
January 14, 2012
By 25 Comments

While looking through the 2011 photographs, I realized that I shot very few wildlife images last year. Part of it has to do with the fact that I was too busy testing equipment, but I also realized that I just did not get out locally as much as I used to in order to photograph birds and other wildlife of Colorado. A large number of great wildlife shots from Yellowstone and Glacier NP were lost during my two week trip across North-Western US as well, due to my own fault. All in all, 2011 was just not a good wildlife year for me. Hopefully I will do better in 2012. Enjoy!

Tricolored Heron

1) Tricolored Heron 1920×1200 Widescreen Wallpaper

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Filed Under: Digital Photography, Wallpapers, Wildlife Photography Tagged With: , , , ,