Fuji’s brand new pro-grade standard zoom, the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 WR, has just been released. It’s a fast weathersealed lens that promises excellent optical quality at a premium price. Fuji has two other standard zoom lenses, and for those considering the 16-55mm, there has been much thought about how much of an improvement can be…
Category: Shop Talk
Sony A7 II vs. Sony A6000 – Landscape Use
There’s a fierce running debate about the merits of full frame vs. APS-C or even smaller sensors like Micro 4/3. Full frame has an image quality advantage due to the larger sensors, and given the same technology, will produce cleaner images with better tonality and larger dynamic range. Many people will argue that full frame…
Mirrorless Year in Review 2014
It’s the last day of 2014, and we’re about to embark on what is hopefully an excellent 2015. The mirrorless market has been surging when it comes to realizing fully developed gear, while the actual consumer market for the devices has been somewhat tepid as the overall photography market declines. Still, I think there’s reason…
The World of Printing
Last summer I wrote an article encouraging every photographer, both serious and casual, to ensure that they make prints of their photographs, to ensure that there is both a physical record of their photography, as well as to enjoy the wonders of a great photographic print. At the time, I had just a little 4×6…
Fujifilm X-T1 Firmware 3.0
As many Fuji shooters are aware, Fujifilm released major firmware updates for many of the X-Series cameras today. While the venerable X-Pro 1 and X-E1 saw only minor improvements with the addition of full-time manual focus capabilities, X-E2 owners got a more substantial upgrade, adding remote shooting, an intervalometer and the Classic Chrome film simulation…
Fuji 50-140mm f/2.8 vs. Fuji 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8
The latest telephoto lens from Fujifilm is their long-awaited pro-grade 50-140mm f/2.8 OIS WR. The lens fills the role of the typical 70-200mm zoom lens in the Fujifilm system. Fuji already has a well-regarded telephoto zoom in a more compact package in the 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 OIS. The 55-200mm is, of course, slower in aperture and…
First Impressions: Panasonic LX100
I’ve got the Panasonic Lumix LX100 advanced compact in for review this week, and I’ve had a few days to play around with it so far. The LX100 is Panasonic’s first real high end compact camera with a large sensor, packing a 16 Megapixel 4/3 sized sensor with a fast 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 zoom lens….
Ibelux 40mm f/0.85 vs Canon FL 55mm f/1.2+Speed Booster
Today we are pitting the brand new HandeVision Ibelux 40mm f/0.85 against an ancient lens with a modern adapter. The Canon FL 55mm f/1.2 mounted to the Metabones Speed Booster gives us a combination resulting in a 39mm f/0.9 lens. Given the similar maximum aperture and similar focal length of these two optics, I thought…