Nikon May Be Working On a ‘Large Sensor’ Mirrorless Camera: Report

Steve McCurry has responded to the recent hoopla surrounding his Photoshopped photos. The famed photographer explains that he's now a "visual storyteller" rather than a photojournalist, but says he will "rein in his use of Photoshop" going forward to remove any confusion.

Jason P. Howe is a self-taught photographer who started documenting the conflict in Colombia starting in 2001. Since then, he has traveled to many countries around the world, documenting conflicts on the front lines. "Hoka Hey" is an upcoming documentary film about Howe's life and work.

As the world's fastest land animal, the cheetah's body is designed for speeds up to 70 mph (~113 km/h). To see what these breakneck sprinting speeds look like from a cheetah's point of view, a zoo recently decided to strap a GoPro camera to one cheetah's back.

Much has been written about the Steve McCurry Photoshop scandal since we originally reported on the story earlier this month. The NPPA Ethics Committee writes that the new revelations have "triggered a troubling reexamination of McCurry's storied 40-year career."

The sketch comedy group SketchShe made this humorous short titled "#InstaFaker Vs #InstaReality." Viewed over 70 million times so far online, the video shows the reality behind picture-perfect photos posted with cliche hashtags. Does this …

Mailers are a popular way to self-promote as a photographer, but too often the promos go directly from the mailbox to the trash can. When his studio partners suggested printed mailers a few months ago, …

Steve McCurry is, perhaps, one of the most iconic names in the National Geographic pantheon. A travel photography giant, his vibrant images have inspired millions, but he's recently come under fire over Photoshop use after a botched print at a show in Italy was found to have a serious issue.

During the Podbrdská Rally Legend 2016 rally car event earlier this month in the Czech Republic, driver Martin Kdér had a rollover accident while taking a turn. His onboard dash cam dropped out of the car during the accident, and it ended up capturing an unexpected shot of the car flying through the air.

Nikon may be planning to get serious about mirrorless cameras, and soon. Online 'chatter' about the camera is beginning to increase, and Nikon officially registered a new digital camera in Indonesia just yesterday.

Lightning strikes are usually so brief that their tiny details aren't noticed by the human eye. Capture lightning at 7,000 frames per second, however, and all kinds of crazy details emerge. That's what you'll see in the 45-second video above.

The Drawing Room created this 8-minute mini-documentary about the work of photographer Lori Nix and Kathleen Gerber, a duo now known as Nix+Gerber. They're widely known for creating and capturing ultra-realistic miniature worlds.

In space, you don't need a tripod or selfie stick to shoot a remote self-portrait. Nikon Iran recently posted this video of an astronaut in zero gravity placing his Nikon DSLR at arms length and then using the floating camera to snap a shot.

I have to admit, when I first started my photography business I didn't think it was going to be that difficult. I thought I'd get a camera, take some photos, put some stuff out on Facebook and people would start hiring me. They would give me money, I would give them photos—done deal! How tough could it be?

The Dallas Museum of Art is currently running an exhibition titled "Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty," the first retrospective of Penn's work in nearly two decades. If you're unable to see the show, which contains over 140 of the late photographer's photos, check out the fantastic 13-minute video above by The Art of Photography.

Jens Lennartsson is a photographer and writer who travels the world to tell stories. In the 2.5-minute video above, he shares how he creates all of his work with what he calls "the smallest photo office in the world."

AP photographer Ben Curtis recently captured a photograph seen round the world. A brutal and shocking image that has sparked outrage and forced Kenya's police chief to launch an internal investigation. (Warning: Some of the content in the video above is graphic. Proceed at your own risk.)

Congratulations are in order for all of us couch potatoes: thanks to four incredible, dedicated sherpas, we can now 'climb' to the top of the tallest mountain on Earth from the comfort of the nearest recliner.

Want to see what kind of work goes into turning a masterful photograph into an iconic print? Pablo Inirio, the master darkroom printer who works at Magnum Photos' New York headquarters, has personally worked on some of the cooperative's best-known images. A number of his marked-up darkroom prints have appeared online, revealing the enormous amount of attention Inirio gives photos in the darkroom.

Here's episode 76 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast. You can also download the MP3 directly and subscribe via iTunes or RSS! Leave a comment in this post, or use our voicemail widget for feedback/questions for the show.

The Canon 5D Mark IV is one of the most anticipated DSLR releases on the horizon, and yesterday we got our first peek at what kind of specs the full-frame SLR may be sporting when it finally makes its debut in about 4 months.

Source: Nikon May Be Working On a 'Large Sensor' Mirrorless Camera: Report

Nikon DL Shipments Rumored To Have Been Delayed To Sep/Oct

Early this year Nikon announced their new lineup of compact cameras that falls under its DL family. The cameras were originally pegged for a release in March, but it seems that they still have yet to be released, and now a report from Mirrorless Rumors has revealed that would-be customers will have to wait even longer.

According to the listing on Amazon for the Nikon DL cameras, the retailer has them pegged for a release on the 30th of June, which in itself is already a delay from its original intended release in March. However Mirrorless Rumors now claims that they have heard from their sources that the cameras will now ship in late September or possibly even in early October!

This is quite a huge delay as that is about 3-4 months from Amazon's release date of June. That being said, Nikon has yet to officially comment on whether or not the cameras are delayed, so take it with a grain of salt for now, but either way we guess maybe you shouldn't get your hopes up just yet, at least not until we get the official word.

For those unfamiliar, the Nikon DL represents Nikon's new take on compact cameras and seems to be bringing the fight to Sony's RX100 series of compacts with 1-inch sensors. There are several variants of the DL cameras to choose from, with each model feature a different set of lenses.

Filed in Photo-Video >Rumors. Read more about Digital Cameras and Nikon.

Source: Nikon DL Shipments Rumored To Have Been Delayed To Sep/Oct

Meike launches lens line with four manual mirrorless lenses ranging from 25 to 50mm

by Jeremy Gray

posted Sunday, May 29, 2016 at 12:59 PM EDT

Hong Kong camera accessory manufacturer Meike has announced four new manual focus mirrorless lenses for Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony mirrorless cameras. All of the new lenses are compatible with APS-C frame sensors and smaller.

Starting with the 25mm f/0.95 lens, this fast wide angle prime has a full metal body and 10 groups of 12 lens elements. This is the most expensive lens in the group, as it's currently priced at nearly $660 USD in Sony E and Micro Four Thirds mounts on Amazon.

The 28mm f/2.8 lens is much smaller, essentially a pancake lens. Unsurprisingly given its size, it features a much simpler lens construction than the 25mm f/0.95 with six elements in five groups. This lens is currently available in Fujifilm, Sony E, and Micro Four Thirds mounts for just under $90.

Priced similarly to the 28mm f/2.8, the 35mm f/1.7 lens is also quite compact and light, weighing in at under 200 grams. Six lens elements are organized into five groups and the lens, like the others, has a metal construction.

Finally, the 50mm f/2.0 lens costs just over $80 and is currently available in Micro Four Thirds, Sony E, Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, and Nikon 1 mounts.

For more information on these manual mirrorless lenses, see the product images below.

To purchase one of these lenses, check Amazon to see if they have the desired lens in your camera's mount.

With the exception of the 25mm f/0.95, these new lenses have extremely affordable pricing. I'm sure making the lenses completely manual has helped keep the costs down. For a company not known for making lenses, it remains to be seen if Meike lenses offer good image quality and durability. One thing is for sure, though -- the price is right!

(Seen via Photo Rumors) 

Source: Meike launches lens line with four manual mirrorless lenses ranging from 25 to 50mm

Sony a6300 review

The Sony Alpha A6000 is one of the most popular mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras available. We aren't surprised, considering it is one of our favorite cameras, and earned our Editors' Choice award. Following up two years later, Sony recently introduced a much more featured-packed – and expensive – model to the lineup. The A6300 ($1,000, body only) touts blazingly fast autofocusing and 4K video capture, making it not just another tantalizing mirrorless option from Sony, but one of the best mirorrless cameras you can buy from any company.

Features and design

The all-black Sony A6300 looks similar to the A6000 and, to a degree, the A5000/A5100, although it has a more sturdy, weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body that adds a bit of heft. It won't strain your arms, as it weighs 14.3 ounces with battery and card (minus the lens). That is, until you attach a premium lens, such as Sony's new 85mm prime or 24-70mm G Master glass we used for our tests. But for everyday shooting, you can use a compact prime lens that keeps the package light.

Overall dimensions are 4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9 inches, so this mirrorless ILC is small, especially when compared to an enthusiast-type DSLR such as the Nikon D7200. The camera has a faux leather texture on the sizable grip. We found it comfortable to hold in this reviewer's hands, but definitely give it your own try, if possible.

The A6300 demonstrates why Sony continues to dominate in the mirrorless camera market.

Speaking of lenses, Sony has made a major push in developing a range of glass for the E-mount. They range from the affordable, such as the included 16-50mm kit lens ($1,150) in our review unit, to the new, uber–high-end G Master series that cost close to $2,000 each! Besides the mount, other features on the front include stereo mics, an AF Assist lamp, and a remote sensor.

The top-deck has a hot shoe, a pop-up flash, main mode dial, and a scroll wheel for making camera adjustments. The on/off lever, shutter, and Custom 1 buttons are on the nearby grip.

The back has two key features: a .39-inch OLED electronic viewfinder with a large eyecup and a 3-inch tilting LCD monitor. The EVF is rated 2.359 million dots, which is about as good as it gets. The bigger screen is rated 921.6K dots, which is a decent spec but there are better displays out there. The one big negative, however, is it's not a touchscreen, which is something we lamented about the A6000.

The rear has the usual collection of buttons including Fn (Function) to quickly access settings and a jog wheel with center OK button. The four points of the wheel let you change ISO, exposure compensation, burst mode, and display options. On the right edge is a recessed tiny red-dot button for recording video – another design flaw we've complained about for years because it's hard to press. We just designated one of the Custom keys for the same function, so that issue is fixable. On that note, the camera offers loads of customization, so you can tweak it to your liking.

The camera has built-in Wi-Fi and on the right side is the NFC tag for pairing with Android devices. The left side has a speaker and a compartment for USB and HDMI connections, as well as mic jack. On the bottom is the battery and SD card slot. The battery is rated a solid 350 shots per CIPA so you should be fine for a day's shooting. If you plan to shoot 4K video or you want speedy performance, use a high-performance SD card.

What's included

If you purchase the kit, you'll find the camera body, 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 optically stabilized lens, battery, strap, cap, eyepiece cup, and USB cable. Kit lenses aren't the best, but if you're new to interchangeable lens cameras, the $150 premium is good way to get started; existing Sony E-mount users can just bring their own lenses (more on this below). Sony offers downloads of Capture One Express software for handling RAW files as well PlayMemories Mobile for pairing iOS/Android devices.

Warranty

Sony offers a one-year warranty for parts and labor.

Sony Alpha a6300 Compared To Specs, performance, and use

We had the A6300 for two sessions – one as part of press preview in Florida and another with the kit lens in our home location. During the Florida excursion we had the chance to use two of Sony's newest high-end lenses from the G Master series, the aforementioned 85mm prime and 24-70mm zoom. They are two of the sweetest lenses we've used in a long time and are highly recommended, but note the prime costs $1,799 while the zoom is $2,199. This brings your outfit to more than three-grand, so you'd expect outstanding results – and the gear delivered (see samples). For pros and enthusiasts, these G Master lenses complement the A7-series nicely, like the A7 Mark II, A7R II, and A7S II, but for a mid-level camera like the A6300, you'll have to check your budget. Don't fret: Sony makes other quality lenses that are more affordable.

When Sony arranges a preview they typically offer more to shoot than static flowers and trees. In Florida we had beachside models, actors in Miami-motif costumes – think Miami Vice and CSI: Miami – wake boarders, beautiful street art, musicians and dancers, and so on. We gave the camera and lenses an intense workout. While the A6300 isn't in the same class as its A7-series full-frame cousins, it's a very strong camera in its own right, and these lenses bring out the best of what it can achieve. The A6300 is also compatible with Sony A-mount DSLR lenses via an optional adapter, although it may not be compatible with all autofocus functions.

Unfortunately, the A6300 lacks any advanced image stabilization (IS) system like the 5-axis system found in the latest-gen A7 cameras, so you'll need to either bring along a tripod or invest in a lens with built-in optical image stabilization, particularly if you're shooting video. But with its speed and the strength of the G Master lenses, the A6300 performed well without built-in IS.

For our home location, with the 16-50mm zoom (24-75mm equivalent in 35mm terms), subjects weren't nearly as exotic. We've used and tested this particular lens for years, and find it suitable for someone who's just starting out. As we alluded, however, the enthusiast-level A6300 is a bit higher-end than the entry-level A5000/A5100, so anyone considering purchasing it should expand the budget to include a good Sony G or Zeiss lens, in addition to or in lieu of the kit option.

Moving to internal specs, the camera features a new 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor with the Bionz X processor, and it's quite speedy. The enhanced performance is due to a new copper wiring design that increases light sensitivity and speed. Helping to grab focus is a new 4D focusing system with 169 contrast-detect and 425 phase-detect AF points, which, at the time of product announcement, is the fastest currently available, Sony claims. Whether it's true or not, we had no problems grabbing sharp images of wake boarders and athletes flying through the air, thanks to the 11 frames per second (fps) burst mode. Shutter speed ranges from 30-1/ 4,000th of a second, ideal for most everyday sports action. With that said, enthusiast DSLRs hit 1/ 8,000th of a second, so if shooting race cars are your primary thing, you might want to go another route.

Also cool is that the A6300 is robust, capturing up to 44 extra fine JPEGs or 21 RAW+JPEG images before slowing down. Better DSLRs may do more but the bodies are bulky and twice as heavy, so keep that in mind.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

The camera really impressed us during a model shoot. One shot of a model came out absolutely fantastic, if we don't say so ourselves. When we enlarged the shot, we said to some nearby photographers in a makeshift photo lab that there really was no need for full-frame sensors, unless you were doing pro work; they all concurred – the stills from the A6300 and the high-end glass are off the charts.

Video is another area where the A6300 excels. Using the XAVC-S codec, you not only can capture 4K (3,840 x 2,160) movies but slow motion as well. For this test, we captured gymnasts and their gyrations in slow motion, and it is fun to watch how they executed their moves in this way. This is a great feature but unfortunately Sony makes it extremely hard to use, with a menu/control system that seemed to be designed by engineers. We had the same complaint with the RX100 Mark III and Mark IV, so let's hope Sony changes the UI in the next camera that offers the feature.

The A6300 is simply one of the best, new mirrorless cameras we've tested to date.

The 4K movies are sweet, without the jelly and rolling shutter effects of Full HD cameras. We've always been impressed by the high-bitrate XAVC-S codec and the A6300's results are smooth, fluid and accurate. The A6300 also offers high-end controls for serious filmmaking, including time codes, S-Gamut/S-Log for post-production work, as well as a mic terminal for optional microphones, so if you're a YouTube content creator, take note. We recorded some musicians in difficult light but the results for the most part were quite good.

The A6300 has a native ISO of 100-25,600, expandable to 51,200. In our tests with the kit lens, digital artifacts started to appear at ISO 2,000, and then images slowly deteriorated at ISO 8,000 when color shifts and speckles dominated the frame. As you would imagine, ISO 51,200 was unusable. But the ability to shoot in available light at ISO 5,000 is quite good. Again, this is another reason for buying good glass with wide apertures. Compared to full-frame cameras with larger sensors that pull in more light and detail, this is one deficiency of APS-C sensors – not that the A6300 is bad, mind you.

The PlayMemories Mobile app goes beyond the usual remote shooting and photo uploads. Paired with an iOS or Android device, Sony also uses it for firmware updates, tips, and sales pitches. We had no issues pairing a Samsung Galaxy S5 using Wi-Fi but NFC is an option is you'd prefer that route. Nothing revolutionary on this front – it works well, as it has in the past – but new is a QR-code scanning setup system.

Conclusion

Has Sony created another hit? The A6300 is simply one of the best, well-rounded mirrorless cameras we've tested to date, so we would say, yes. Sony currently dominates the mirrorless camera market, and with continual product offerings like the A6300, it's not hard to see why. It's far from perfect, but we wouldn't hesitate recommending it.

Source: Sony a6300 review

Ricoh warns of possible production delays in wake of Kumamoto earthquakes

Planning to purchase a new camera or lens from Ricoh or its Pentax brand? If so, you might want to get your order in pronto unless you want to be stuck waiting, as the company has today warned of potential production issues for interchangeable and fixed-lens cameras, as well as for the interchangeable lenses used on its SLR and mirrorless cameras.

Ricoh is hardly alone in this; we've heard of production issues from a number of its rivals already, and they all have the same root cause. Although Ricoh's own facilities weren't affected by the recent Kumamoto earthquakes and their aftershocks, the company says that some of its suppliers have been facing issues, and this could have a knock-on effect on Ricoh's own production.

No specific models which might be affected are mentioned, so if you're ready to make your next purchase, now would probably be a good time. Hopefully you'll be able to get your camera gear in-hand before the delays make themselves known at retail, or at least get yourself an earlier place in the queue if the product you want isn't currently in stock. As always, you can help support our site at no cost to you by ordering through our affiliates below:

Pentax products

Ricoh products

Source: Ricoh warns of possible production delays in wake of Kumamoto earthquakes

Sony a6300 review

The Sony Alpha A6000 is one of the most popular mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras available. We aren't surprised, considering it is one of our favorite cameras, and earned our Editors' Choice award. Following up two years later, Sony recently introduced a much more featured-packed – and expensive – model to the lineup. The A6300 ($1,000, body only) touts blazingly fast autofocusing and 4K video capture, making it not just another tantalizing mirrorless option from Sony, but one of the best mirorrless cameras you can buy from any company.

Features and design

The all-black Sony A6300 looks similar to the A6000 and, to a degree, the A5000/A5100, although it has a more sturdy, weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body that adds a bit of heft. It won't strain your arms, as it weighs 14.3 ounces with battery and card (minus the lens). That is, until you attach a premium lens, such as Sony's new 85mm prime or 24-70mm G Master glass we used for our tests. But for everyday shooting, you can use a compact prime lens that keeps the package light.

Overall dimensions are 4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9 inches, so this mirrorless ILC is small, especially when compared to an enthusiast-type DSLR such as the Nikon D7200. The camera has a faux leather texture on the sizable grip. We found it comfortable to hold in this reviewer's hands, but definitely give it your own try, if possible.

The A6300 demonstrates why Sony continues to dominate in the mirrorless camera market.

Speaking of lenses, Sony has made a major push in developing a range of glass for the E-mount. They range from the affordable, such as the included 16-50mm kit lens ($1,150) in our review unit, to the new, uber–high-end G Master series that cost close to $2,000 each! Besides the mount, other features on the front include stereo mics, an AF Assist lamp, and a remote sensor.

The top-deck has a hot shoe, a pop-up flash, main mode dial, and a scroll wheel for making camera adjustments. The on/off lever, shutter, and Custom 1 buttons are on the nearby grip.

The back has two key features: a .39-inch OLED electronic viewfinder with a large eyecup and a 3-inch tilting LCD monitor. The EVF is rated 2.359 million dots, which is about as good as it gets. The bigger screen is rated 921.6K dots, which is a decent spec but there are better displays out there. The one big negative, however, is it's not a touchscreen, which is something we lamented about the A6000.

The rear has the usual collection of buttons including Fn (Function) to quickly access settings and a jog wheel with center OK button. The four points of the wheel let you change ISO, exposure compensation, burst mode, and display options. On the right edge is a recessed tiny red-dot button for recording video – another design flaw we've complained about for years because it's hard to press. We just designated one of the Custom keys for the same function, so that issue is fixable. On that note, the camera offers loads of customization, so you can tweak it to your liking.

The camera has built-in Wi-Fi and on the right side is the NFC tag for pairing with Android devices. The left side has a speaker and a compartment for USB and HDMI connections, as well as mic jack. On the bottom is the battery and SD card slot. The battery is rated a solid 350 shots per CIPA so you should be fine for a day's shooting. If you plan to shoot 4K video or you want speedy performance, use a high-performance SD card.

What's included

If you purchase the kit, you'll find the camera body, 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 optically stabilized lens, battery, strap, cap, eyepiece cup, and USB cable. Kit lenses aren't the best, but if you're new to interchangeable lens cameras, the $150 premium is good way to get started; existing Sony E-mount users can just bring their own lenses (more on this below). Sony offers downloads of Capture One Express software for handling RAW files as well PlayMemories Mobile for pairing iOS/Android devices.

Warranty

Sony offers a one-year warranty for parts and labor.

Sony Alpha a6300 Compared To Specs, performance, and use

We had the A6300 for two sessions – one as part of press preview in Florida and another with the kit lens in our home location. During the Florida excursion we had the chance to use two of Sony's newest high-end lenses from the G Master series, the aforementioned 85mm prime and 24-70mm zoom. They are two of the sweetest lenses we've used in a long time and are highly recommended, but note the prime costs $1,799 while the zoom is $2,199. This brings your outfit to more than three-grand, so you'd expect outstanding results – and the gear delivered (see samples). For pros and enthusiasts, these G Master lenses complement the A7-series nicely, like the A7 Mark II, A7R II, and A7S II, but for a mid-level camera like the A6300, you'll have to check your budget. Don't fret: Sony makes other quality lenses that are more affordable.

When Sony arranges a preview they typically offer more to shoot than static flowers and trees. In Florida we had beachside models, actors in Miami-motif costumes – think Miami Vice and CSI: Miami – wake boarders, beautiful street art, musicians and dancers, and so on. We gave the camera and lenses an intense workout. While the A6300 isn't in the same class as its A7-series full-frame cousins, it's a very strong camera in its own right, and these lenses bring out the best of what it can achieve. The A6300 is also compatible with Sony A-mount DSLR lenses via an optional adapter, although it may not be compatible with all autofocus functions.

Unfortunately, the A6300 lacks any advanced image stabilization (IS) system like the 5-axis system found in the latest-gen A7 cameras, so you'll need to either bring along a tripod or invest in a lens with built-in optical image stabilization, particularly if you're shooting video. But with its speed and the strength of the G Master lenses, the A6300 performed well without built-in IS.

For our home location, with the 16-50mm zoom (24-75mm equivalent in 35mm terms), subjects weren't nearly as exotic. We've used and tested this particular lens for years, and find it suitable for someone who's just starting out. As we alluded, however, the enthusiast-level A6300 is a bit higher-end than the entry-level A5000/A5100, so anyone considering purchasing it should expand the budget to include a good Sony G or Zeiss lens, in addition to or in lieu of the kit option.

Moving to internal specs, the camera features a new 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor with the Bionz X processor, and it's quite speedy. The enhanced performance is due to a new copper wiring design that increases light sensitivity and speed. Helping to grab focus is a new 4D focusing system with 169 contrast-detect and 425 phase-detect AF points, which, at the time of product announcement, is the fastest currently available, Sony claims. Whether it's true or not, we had no problems grabbing sharp images of wake boarders and athletes flying through the air, thanks to the 11 frames per second (fps) burst mode. Shutter speed ranges from 30-1/ 4,000th of a second, ideal for most everyday sports action. With that said, enthusiast DSLRs hit 1/ 8,000th of a second, so if shooting race cars are your primary thing, you might want to go another route.

Also cool is that the A6300 is robust, capturing up to 44 extra fine JPEGs or 21 RAW+JPEG images before slowing down. Better DSLRs may do more but the bodies are bulky and twice as heavy, so keep that in mind.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

The camera really impressed us during a model shoot. One shot of a model came out absolutely fantastic, if we don't say so ourselves. When we enlarged the shot, we said to some nearby photographers in a makeshift photo lab that there really was no need for full-frame sensors, unless you were doing pro work; they all concurred – the stills from the A6300 and the high-end glass are off the charts.

Video is another area where the A6300 excels. Using the XAVC-S codec, you not only can capture 4K (3,840 x 2,160) movies but slow motion as well. For this test, we captured gymnasts and their gyrations in slow motion, and it is fun to watch how they executed their moves in this way. This is a great feature but unfortunately Sony makes it extremely hard to use, with a menu/control system that seemed to be designed by engineers. We had the same complaint with the RX100 Mark III and Mark IV, so let's hope Sony changes the UI in the next camera that offers the feature.

The A6300 is simply one of the best, new mirrorless cameras we've tested to date.

The 4K movies are sweet, without the jelly and rolling shutter effects of Full HD cameras. We've always been impressed by the high-bitrate XAVC-S codec and the A6300's results are smooth, fluid and accurate. The A6300 also offers high-end controls for serious filmmaking, including time codes, S-Gamut/S-Log for post-production work, as well as a mic terminal for optional microphones, so if you're a YouTube content creator, take note. We recorded some musicians in difficult light but the results for the most part were quite good.

The A6300 has a native ISO of 100-25,600, expandable to 51,200. In our tests with the kit lens, digital artifacts started to appear at ISO 2,000, and then images slowly deteriorated at ISO 8,000 when color shifts and speckles dominated the frame. As you would imagine, ISO 51,200 was unusable. But the ability to shoot in available light at ISO 5,000 is quite good. Again, this is another reason for buying good glass with wide apertures. Compared to full-frame cameras with larger sensors that pull in more light and detail, this is one deficiency of APS-C sensors – not that the A6300 is bad, mind you.

The PlayMemories Mobile app goes beyond the usual remote shooting and photo uploads. Paired with an iOS or Android device, Sony also uses it for firmware updates, tips, and sales pitches. We had no issues pairing a Samsung Galaxy S5 using Wi-Fi but NFC is an option is you'd prefer that route. Nothing revolutionary on this front – it works well, as it has in the past – but new is a QR-code scanning setup system.

Conclusion

Has Sony created another hit? The A6300 is simply one of the best, well-rounded mirrorless cameras we've tested to date, so we would say, yes. Sony currently dominates the mirrorless camera market, and with continual product offerings like the A6300, it's not hard to see why. It's far from perfect, but we wouldn't hesitate recommending it.

Source: Sony a6300 review

Macros available on mirrorless cameras?

Yes a mirrorless camera can do a great job at Macro. Macro photography on an inter-changable lens camera does not depend on a mirror (or lack of a mirror). You need a macro lens. This can either be a lens you "make" like nikono mentioned or a dedicated macro lens. I've tried most of the various techniques and a dedicated macro lens will give the best results.

If you want a macro lens, search for an E-Mount macro lens. There are several good options. Sony makes a 90mm macro lens Zeiss makes a 50mm. Both cost around $1000. Between the two I would highly prefer the 90mm. The reason is something called minimum working distance.

Minimum working distance is the distance from the front of the lens to the subject. With something like the Sony 30mm macro lens you are going to almost be touching the subject (you will be less than 1" from your subject). With the 50mm it is going to be just under 2" without the hood. With the hood, you can not get to 1:1 magnification. With the 90mm your working distance is around 5.5 to 5.75 inches. This means you are not as close to your subject. Some subjects get scared and sting or bite you if you get too close. Others run away. And with more working distance it is always easier to get good lighting on your subject. If you are right on top of your subject it is hard not to cast a harsh/ugly shadow on it.

Source: Macros available on mirrorless cameras?

Sony a6300 review

The Sony Alpha A6000 is one of the most popular mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras available. We aren't surprised, considering it is one of our favorite cameras, and earned our Editors' Choice award. Following up two years later, Sony recently introduced a much more featured-packed – and expensive – model to the lineup. The A6300 ($1,000, body only) touts blazingly fast autofocusing and 4K video capture, making it not just another tantalizing mirrorless option from Sony, but one of the best mirorrless cameras you can buy from any company.

Features and design

The all-black Sony A6300 looks similar to the A6000 and, to a degree, the A5000/A5100, although it has a more sturdy, weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body that adds a bit of heft. It won't strain your arms, as it weighs 14.3 ounces with battery and card (minus the lens). That is, until you attach a premium lens, such as Sony's new 85mm prime or 24-70mm G Master glass we used for our tests. But for everyday shooting, you can use a compact prime lens that keeps the package light.

Overall dimensions are 4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9 inches, so this mirrorless ILC is small, especially when compared to an enthusiast-type DSLR such as the Nikon D7200. The camera has a faux leather texture on the sizable grip. We found it comfortable to hold in this reviewer's hands, but definitely give it your own try, if possible.

The A6300 demonstrates why Sony continues to dominate in the mirrorless camera market.

Speaking of lenses, Sony has made a major push in developing a range of glass for the E-mount. They range from the affordable, such as the included 16-50mm kit lens ($1,150) in our review unit, to the new, uber–high-end G Master series that cost close to $2,000 each! Besides the mount, other features on the front include stereo mics, an AF Assist lamp, and a remote sensor.

The top-deck has a hot shoe, a pop-up flash, main mode dial, and a scroll wheel for making camera adjustments. The on/off lever, shutter, and Custom 1 buttons are on the nearby grip.

The back has two key features: a .39-inch OLED electronic viewfinder with a large eyecup and a 3-inch tilting LCD monitor. The EVF is rated 2.359 million dots, which is about as good as it gets. The bigger screen is rated 921.6K dots, which is a decent spec but there are better displays out there. The one big negative, however, is it's not a touchscreen, which is something we lamented about the A6000.

The rear has the usual collection of buttons including Fn (Function) to quickly access settings and a jog wheel with center OK button. The four points of the wheel let you change ISO, exposure compensation, burst mode, and display options. On the right edge is a recessed tiny red-dot button for recording video – another design flaw we've complained about for years because it's hard to press. We just designated one of the Custom keys for the same function, so that issue is fixable. On that note, the camera offers loads of customization, so you can tweak it to your liking.

The camera has built-in Wi-Fi and on the right side is the NFC tag for pairing with Android devices. The left side has a speaker and a compartment for USB and HDMI connections, as well as mic jack. On the bottom is the battery and SD card slot. The battery is rated a solid 350 shots per CIPA so you should be fine for a day's shooting. If you plan to shoot 4K video or you want speedy performance, use a high-performance SD card.

What's included

If you purchase the kit, you'll find the camera body, 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 optically stabilized lens, battery, strap, cap, eyepiece cup, and USB cable. Kit lenses aren't the best, but if you're new to interchangeable lens cameras, the $150 premium is good way to get started; existing Sony E-mount users can just bring their own lenses (more on this below). Sony offers downloads of Capture One Express software for handling RAW files as well PlayMemories Mobile for pairing iOS/Android devices.

Warranty

Sony offers a one-year warranty for parts and labor.

Sony Alpha a6300 Compared To Specs, performance, and use

We had the A6300 for two sessions – one as part of press preview in Florida and another with the kit lens in our home location. During the Florida excursion we had the chance to use two of Sony's newest high-end lenses from the G Master series, the aforementioned 85mm prime and 24-70mm zoom. They are two of the sweetest lenses we've used in a long time and are highly recommended, but note the prime costs $1,799 while the zoom is $2,199. This brings your outfit to more than three-grand, so you'd expect outstanding results – and the gear delivered (see samples). For pros and enthusiasts, these G Master lenses complement the A7-series nicely, like the A7 Mark II, A7R II, and A7S II, but for a mid-level camera like the A6300, you'll have to check your budget. Don't fret: Sony makes other quality lenses that are more affordable.

When Sony arranges a preview they typically offer more to shoot than static flowers and trees. In Florida we had beachside models, actors in Miami-motif costumes – think Miami Vice and CSI: Miami – wake boarders, beautiful street art, musicians and dancers, and so on. We gave the camera and lenses an intense workout. While the A6300 isn't in the same class as its A7-series full-frame cousins, it's a very strong camera in its own right, and these lenses bring out the best of what it can achieve. The A6300 is also compatible with Sony A-mount DSLR lenses via an optional adapter, although it may not be compatible with all autofocus functions.

Unfortunately, the A6300 lacks any advanced image stabilization (IS) system like the 5-axis system found in the latest-gen A7 cameras, so you'll need to either bring along a tripod or invest in a lens with built-in optical image stabilization, particularly if you're shooting video. But with its speed and the strength of the G Master lenses, the A6300 performed well without built-in IS.

For our home location, with the 16-50mm zoom (24-75mm equivalent in 35mm terms), subjects weren't nearly as exotic. We've used and tested this particular lens for years, and find it suitable for someone who's just starting out. As we alluded, however, the enthusiast-level A6300 is a bit higher-end than the entry-level A5000/A5100, so anyone considering purchasing it should expand the budget to include a good Sony G or Zeiss lens, in addition to or in lieu of the kit option.

Moving to internal specs, the camera features a new 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor with the Bionz X processor, and it's quite speedy. The enhanced performance is due to a new copper wiring design that increases light sensitivity and speed. Helping to grab focus is a new 4D focusing system with 169 contrast-detect and 425 phase-detect AF points, which, at the time of product announcement, is the fastest currently available, Sony claims. Whether it's true or not, we had no problems grabbing sharp images of wake boarders and athletes flying through the air, thanks to the 11 frames per second (fps) burst mode. Shutter speed ranges from 30-1/ 4,000th of a second, ideal for most everyday sports action. With that said, enthusiast DSLRs hit 1/ 8,000th of a second, so if shooting race cars are your primary thing, you might want to go another route.

Also cool is that the A6300 is robust, capturing up to 44 extra fine JPEGs or 21 RAW+JPEG images before slowing down. Better DSLRs may do more but the bodies are bulky and twice as heavy, so keep that in mind.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

The camera really impressed us during a model shoot. One shot of a model came out absolutely fantastic, if we don't say so ourselves. When we enlarged the shot, we said to some nearby photographers in a makeshift photo lab that there really was no need for full-frame sensors, unless you were doing pro work; they all concurred – the stills from the A6300 and the high-end glass are off the charts.

Video is another area where the A6300 excels. Using the XAVC-S codec, you not only can capture 4K (3,840 x 2,160) movies but slow motion as well. For this test, we captured gymnasts and their gyrations in slow motion, and it is fun to watch how they executed their moves in this way. This is a great feature but unfortunately Sony makes it extremely hard to use, with a menu/control system that seemed to be designed by engineers. We had the same complaint with the RX100 Mark III and Mark IV, so let's hope Sony changes the UI in the next camera that offers the feature.

The A6300 is simply one of the best, new mirrorless cameras we've tested to date.

The 4K movies are sweet, without the jelly and rolling shutter effects of Full HD cameras. We've always been impressed by the high-bitrate XAVC-S codec and the A6300's results are smooth, fluid and accurate. The A6300 also offers high-end controls for serious filmmaking, including time codes, S-Gamut/S-Log for post-production work, as well as a mic terminal for optional microphones, so if you're a YouTube content creator, take note. We recorded some musicians in difficult light but the results for the most part were quite good.

The A6300 has a native ISO of 100-25,600, expandable to 51,200. In our tests with the kit lens, digital artifacts started to appear at ISO 2,000, and then images slowly deteriorated at ISO 8,000 when color shifts and speckles dominated the frame. As you would imagine, ISO 51,200 was unusable. But the ability to shoot in available light at ISO 5,000 is quite good. Again, this is another reason for buying good glass with wide apertures. Compared to full-frame cameras with larger sensors that pull in more light and detail, this is one deficiency of APS-C sensors – not that the A6300 is bad, mind you.

The PlayMemories Mobile app goes beyond the usual remote shooting and photo uploads. Paired with an iOS or Android device, Sony also uses it for firmware updates, tips, and sales pitches. We had no issues pairing a Samsung Galaxy S5 using Wi-Fi but NFC is an option is you'd prefer that route. Nothing revolutionary on this front – it works well, as it has in the past – but new is a QR-code scanning setup system.

Conclusion

Has Sony created another hit? The A6300 is simply one of the best, well-rounded mirrorless cameras we've tested to date, so we would say, yes. Sony currently dominates the mirrorless camera market, and with continual product offerings like the A6300, it's not hard to see why. It's far from perfect, but we wouldn't hesitate recommending it.

Source: Sony a6300 review

Pay what you want: Learn everything about photography in our instructional bundle

While smartphone cameras have given us access to photography whenever we want, they still lack the detail and depth that full sized cameras have. DSLR and mirrorless cameras have picked up in popularity, meaning there is a good chance you have one to supplement your smartphone camera when you want better pictures.

In today's deal of the day, we have a cool bundle where you get to pay what you want to access our entire suite of educational courses.

How It Works

1. Pay what you want —& if that's less than the average price—you'll still take home something great.2. Beat the average price & you'll take home the entire bundle.3. Beat the Leader's price & get entered into our epic giveaway—plus get featured on the Leaderboard!

Get the entire bundle of courses at our deals page, and pay what you want.

Here are a couple of the course descriptions from the bundle:

65 Stock Photos to Further Your Photography Education

You've taken the photo editing courses, now put your knowledge to the test with these 65 high resolution images from professional photographer and instructor, Kasia Zmokla. Using these lifestyle, food, and nature images as a base, you'll be able to employ all the editing techniques you've learned and continue to further experiment, without having to worry about accidentally changing your own photos.

Use Photoshop CC to Convert Your Photos into Dramatic Black & White Prints

Black and white photography is a timeless medium that is always in demand by art enthusiasts. With Photoshop, you can seamlessly convert color photos into trendy, vintage black and white photographs that will be great additions to your portfolio and may even find a buyer. Using the high-quality image base provided, you'll receive complete instruction on how to produce gorgeous black and white photos using some of the best photo editing software available.

Access 31 lectures & 4.5 hours of content

Use Adjustment Layers to speed up the editing process

Master the Curves tool to flexibly edit your photos

Learn how to evaluate tonal range in your images using the Histogram tool

Understand how the RGB additive color model works & apply it to your work

Fix common photography issues like low contrast, lack of definition or texturing

Make a Career of It or Simply Remember Each Trip with Frame-Worthy Photos

If you've ever looked through National Geographic and said, "Wow, I wish I had taken that photo," then this course is for you. You'll learn the basics of professional photography, travel, and camera care tips, and, of course, how to take and edit great photographs! Taught using the instructor's real photos as examples, you'll gain first-hand knowledge on how to memorialize your next trip in the highest quality.

Access 38 lectures & 5 hours of content

Learn how to prep & pack your camera equipment before your trip

Cover photography basics like exposure, shutter speed, depth of field, composition & lighting

Enhance your portrait skills to take better group shots

Use Adobe Lightroom's free trial to edit photos & make them pop

Source: Pay what you want: Learn everything about photography in our instructional bundle

Sony a6300 review

The Sony Alpha A6000 is one of the most popular mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras available. We aren't surprised, considering it is one of our favorite cameras, and earned our Editors' Choice award. Following up two years later, Sony recently introduced a much more featured-packed – and expensive – model to the lineup. The A6300 ($1,000, body only) touts blazingly fast autofocusing and 4K video capture, making it not just another tantalizing mirrorless option from Sony, but one of the best mirorrless cameras you can buy from any company.

Features and design

The all-black Sony A6300 looks similar to the A6000 and, to a degree, the A5000/A5100, although it has a more sturdy, weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body that adds a bit of heft. It won't strain your arms, as it weighs 14.3 ounces with battery and card (minus the lens). That is, until you attach a premium lens, such as Sony's new 85mm prime or 24-70mm G Master glass we used for our tests. But for everyday shooting, you can use a compact prime lens that keeps the package light.

Overall dimensions are 4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9 inches, so this mirrorless ILC is small, especially when compared to an enthusiast-type DSLR such as the Nikon D7200. The camera has a faux leather texture on the sizable grip. We found it comfortable to hold in this reviewer's hands, but definitely give it your own try, if possible.

The A6300 demonstrates why Sony continues to dominate in the mirrorless camera market.

Speaking of lenses, Sony has made a major push in developing a range of glass for the E-mount. They range from the affordable, such as the included 16-50mm kit lens ($1,150) in our review unit, to the new, uber–high-end G Master series that cost close to $2,000 each! Besides the mount, other features on the front include stereo mics, an AF Assist lamp, and a remote sensor.

The top-deck has a hot shoe, a pop-up flash, main mode dial, and a scroll wheel for making camera adjustments. The on/off lever, shutter, and Custom 1 buttons are on the nearby grip.

The back has two key features: a .39-inch OLED electronic viewfinder with a large eyecup and a 3-inch tilting LCD monitor. The EVF is rated 2.359 million dots, which is about as good as it gets. The bigger screen is rated 921.6K dots, which is a decent spec but there are better displays out there. The one big negative, however, is it's not a touchscreen, which is something we lamented about the A6000.

The rear has the usual collection of buttons including Fn (Function) to quickly access settings and a jog wheel with center OK button. The four points of the wheel let you change ISO, exposure compensation, burst mode, and display options. On the right edge is a recessed tiny red-dot button for recording video – another design flaw we've complained about for years because it's hard to press. We just designated one of the Custom keys for the same function, so that issue is fixable. On that note, the camera offers loads of customization, so you can tweak it to your liking.

The camera has built-in Wi-Fi and on the right side is the NFC tag for pairing with Android devices. The left side has a speaker and a compartment for USB and HDMI connections, as well as mic jack. On the bottom is the battery and SD card slot. The battery is rated a solid 350 shots per CIPA so you should be fine for a day's shooting. If you plan to shoot 4K video or you want speedy performance, use a high-performance SD card.

What's included

If you purchase the kit, you'll find the camera body, 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 optically stabilized lens, battery, strap, cap, eyepiece cup, and USB cable. Kit lenses aren't the best, but if you're new to interchangeable lens cameras, the $150 premium is good way to get started; existing Sony E-mount users can just bring their own lenses (more on this below). Sony offers downloads of Capture One Express software for handling RAW files as well PlayMemories Mobile for pairing iOS/Android devices.

Warranty

Sony offers a one-year warranty for parts and labor.

Sony Alpha a6300 Compared To Specs, performance, and use

We had the A6300 for two sessions – one as part of press preview in Florida and another with the kit lens in our home location. During the Florida excursion we had the chance to use two of Sony's newest high-end lenses from the G Master series, the aforementioned 85mm prime and 24-70mm zoom. They are two of the sweetest lenses we've used in a long time and are highly recommended, but note the prime costs $1,799 while the zoom is $2,199. This brings your outfit to more than three-grand, so you'd expect outstanding results – and the gear delivered (see samples). For pros and enthusiasts, these G Master lenses complement the A7-series nicely, like the A7 Mark II, A7R II, and A7S II, but for a mid-level camera like the A6300, you'll have to check your budget. Don't fret: Sony makes other quality lenses that are more affordable.

When Sony arranges a preview they typically offer more to shoot than static flowers and trees. In Florida we had beachside models, actors in Miami-motif costumes – think Miami Vice and CSI: Miami – wake boarders, beautiful street art, musicians and dancers, and so on. We gave the camera and lenses an intense workout. While the A6300 isn't in the same class as its A7-series full-frame cousins, it's a very strong camera in its own right, and these lenses bring out the best of what it can achieve. The A6300 is also compatible with Sony A-mount DSLR lenses via an optional adapter, although it may not be compatible with all autofocus functions.

Unfortunately, the A6300 lacks any advanced image stabilization (IS) system like the 5-axis system found in the latest-gen A7 cameras, so you'll need to either bring along a tripod or invest in a lens with built-in optical image stabilization, particularly if you're shooting video. But with its speed and the strength of the G Master lenses, the A6300 performed well without built-in IS.

For our home location, with the 16-50mm zoom (24-75mm equivalent in 35mm terms), subjects weren't nearly as exotic. We've used and tested this particular lens for years, and find it suitable for someone who's just starting out. As we alluded, however, the enthusiast-level A6300 is a bit higher-end than the entry-level A5000/A5100, so anyone considering purchasing it should expand the budget to include a good Sony G or Zeiss lens, in addition to or in lieu of the kit option.

Moving to internal specs, the camera features a new 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor with the Bionz X processor, and it's quite speedy. The enhanced performance is due to a new copper wiring design that increases light sensitivity and speed. Helping to grab focus is a new 4D focusing system with 169 contrast-detect and 425 phase-detect AF points, which, at the time of product announcement, is the fastest currently available, Sony claims. Whether it's true or not, we had no problems grabbing sharp images of wake boarders and athletes flying through the air, thanks to the 11 frames per second (fps) burst mode. Shutter speed ranges from 30-1/ 4,000th of a second, ideal for most everyday sports action. With that said, enthusiast DSLRs hit 1/ 8,000th of a second, so if shooting race cars are your primary thing, you might want to go another route.

Also cool is that the A6300 is robust, capturing up to 44 extra fine JPEGs or 21 RAW+JPEG images before slowing down. Better DSLRs may do more but the bodies are bulky and twice as heavy, so keep that in mind.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

The camera really impressed us during a model shoot. One shot of a model came out absolutely fantastic, if we don't say so ourselves. When we enlarged the shot, we said to some nearby photographers in a makeshift photo lab that there really was no need for full-frame sensors, unless you were doing pro work; they all concurred – the stills from the A6300 and the high-end glass are off the charts.

Video is another area where the A6300 excels. Using the XAVC-S codec, you not only can capture 4K (3,840 x 2,160) movies but slow motion as well. For this test, we captured gymnasts and their gyrations in slow motion, and it is fun to watch how they executed their moves in this way. This is a great feature but unfortunately Sony makes it extremely hard to use, with a menu/control system that seemed to be designed by engineers. We had the same complaint with the RX100 Mark III and Mark IV, so let's hope Sony changes the UI in the next camera that offers the feature.

The A6300 is simply one of the best, new mirrorless cameras we've tested to date.

The 4K movies are sweet, without the jelly and rolling shutter effects of Full HD cameras. We've always been impressed by the high-bitrate XAVC-S codec and the A6300's results are smooth, fluid and accurate. The A6300 also offers high-end controls for serious filmmaking, including time codes, S-Gamut/S-Log for post-production work, as well as a mic terminal for optional microphones, so if you're a YouTube content creator, take note. We recorded some musicians in difficult light but the results for the most part were quite good.

The A6300 has a native ISO of 100-25,600, expandable to 51,200. In our tests with the kit lens, digital artifacts started to appear at ISO 2,000, and then images slowly deteriorated at ISO 8,000 when color shifts and speckles dominated the frame. As you would imagine, ISO 51,200 was unusable. But the ability to shoot in available light at ISO 5,000 is quite good. Again, this is another reason for buying good glass with wide apertures. Compared to full-frame cameras with larger sensors that pull in more light and detail, this is one deficiency of APS-C sensors – not that the A6300 is bad, mind you.

The PlayMemories Mobile app goes beyond the usual remote shooting and photo uploads. Paired with an iOS or Android device, Sony also uses it for firmware updates, tips, and sales pitches. We had no issues pairing a Samsung Galaxy S5 using Wi-Fi but NFC is an option is you'd prefer that route. Nothing revolutionary on this front – it works well, as it has in the past – but new is a QR-code scanning setup system.

Conclusion

Has Sony created another hit? The A6300 is simply one of the best, well-rounded mirrorless cameras we've tested to date, so we would say, yes. Sony currently dominates the mirrorless camera market, and with continual product offerings like the A6300, it's not hard to see why. It's far from perfect, but we wouldn't hesitate recommending it.

Source: Sony a6300 review

23 Street Photography Tips For Your Next Photo Walk

The Cooperative of Photography​ (COOPH) teamed up with Switzerland-based Street Photographer Thomas Leuthard as he hits the streets of Salzburg to demonstrate some of the techniques he uses to be a true ninja street photographer. Leuthard arms himself with a discreet Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II mirrorless camera to capture the essence of everyday life as it happens on public streets.Aimed at helping aspiring photographers, who are looking to bolster their Instagram following with some sweet street images, this video runs through 23 tips to consider the next time you're out on a photo walk. 

Street photography is like fishing. Catching the fish is more exciting than eating it. -Thomas Leuthard​

Leuthards has a long history of sharing his knowledge with his fellow shutter bugs, which includes these four free, downloadable ebooks:

"Going Candid" - An unorthodox approach to Street Photography (The first ebook of Thomas Leuthard where he describes the basic of Street Photography based on his experiences).

"Collecting Souls" - What Street Photography Means to Me (His second ebook is more personal and shows why he follows his passion and how it has influenced his life).

"Street Faces" - The Art of Candid Street Portraiture (This is a ebook about shooting close candid portraits. Something Thomas was doing often in his early stage).

"Exploring Flickr" - (In order to get more successful on Flickr, Thomas did some research about it and wrote it down in this unique ebook).

 

23 Ninja Tips For Your Next Photo Walk

01. Wear dark clothes so you don't stand out.

02. Use wireless triggering.

03. Don't be afraid to use P mode so you can focus on the shooting instead of settings.

04. Frame your shot ahead of time and wait for the right moment.

05. Shooting in Burst Mode allows you to capture and pick the best frame.

06. Be patient and wait for the decisive moment.

07. Squinting your eyes allows you to see the luminance of a scene and can help you to place your subject in the best light.

08. Take breaks and post to your Instagram to help spread out the posts.

09. Take breaks to back up your work and empty your memory cards.

10. Find new angles by getting down real low.

11. Find new angles by getting up real high.

12. Use a tripod to extend your reach.

13. Shoot moving water, at slow shutter speeds, for a dramatic look.

14. Look for natural frames for your subjects.

15. Make use of alleys and doorways for natural frames.

16. Be selective. Sometimes showing only part of your subject can make for a more compelling image.

17. Use shadows in your images.

18. Use reflections in your images.

19. Don't be afraid to approach people.

20. Be respectful by introducing yourself, offering to email photos, and provide a card.

21. Never delete photos.

22. Remember that black and white works inherently well for street photography.

23. Don't over cook your images with too much editing.

Gear used:

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II

Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital 17mm f/1.8 Lens

Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.8 Lens

Sirui T-025X Carbon Fiber Tripod with C-10S Ball Head

G-Technology 1TB G-DRIVE ev RaW USB 3.0 Hard Drive with Rugged Bumper 

Apple Macbook Pro

Producer: Ulrich Grill, zooom productionsDirector: Matthew RycroftCinematography & Editing: Andrea Anderes

​The Cooperative of Photography can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Copyright 2016 | All Images by Thomas Leuthard and used with permission. | thomas.leuthard.photography

[via COOPH]

 

Source: 23 Street Photography Tips For Your Next Photo Walk

Olympus’ crazy-rugged 4K action cam will stabilize your footage and track your stats

GoPro cameras dominate the action camera market, but Olympus thinks it can do them one better.

Enter the $379 Stylus Tough TG-Tracker. It's got your basic specs for a 2016 action cam – 4K 30fps, Wi-Fi, ultra wide-angle lens. But the camera also claims to outdo its competitors in a few key areas (other than name length): image stabilization, ruggedness, and features.

So. Much. Tech.

Some of the biggest names in tech are coming to TNW Conference in Amsterdam this May.

If you've ever shot with one of Olympus' recent mirrorless cameras, then you know that the company's internal 5-axis image stabilization is freakishly good. The TG-Tracker is packing the same technology inside, and from the samples footage I've seen, that trend is continuing:

GoPro's cameras, on the other hand have no stabilization, which can make using one without an external stabilizer a shaky mes.

Then there's the 'Tough' aspects it's named for. Olympus says the camera is extremely durable without any special housing and is guaranteed to be:

Waterproof to 100 feet

Freezeproof to 14°F (-10°C)

Dustproof

Shockproof from 7 feet

Crushproof up to 220 pounds

GoPro cameras offer a secondary protective housing, but these can be inconvenient to put on and take off, especially if you need to access ports for charging or data.

Meanwhile, the 'Tracker' part of the name is for a medley of sensors logging data about your hike or swim:

GPS with GLONASS and QZSS for extra accuracy.

Barometric-pressure sensor for altitude and water depth. The camera can automatically detect when it's submerged to enter a simpler 'underwater shooting' mode.

Temperature sensor for both water and air.

Compass, calibrated based on where the lens is pointed.

Accelerometer – the camera can automatically mark 'exciting scenes' during your recordings.

You can view all the data you camera is capturing with Olympus' OI Track smartphone app, and it will even be synced to your video.

There are a few thoughtful extra tidbits too. There's an LED lamp for night-time shooting (or just using as a flashlight), a swivel LCD monitor, and it comes with an underwater lens protector and handgrip for recording during jogs or bike rides.  Olympus even says it can work with most GoPro accessories using an adapter.

That said, the Olympus is a bit larger than a Hero4, and it isn't quite as versatile as GoPro's highest tier 'Black' model for video quality.

In addition to 4K at 30 fps, the Hero4 Black has a 2.7K video resolution option at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps, and offers a 24 fps option for most resolutions (the ideal framerate for filmmaking). It doesn't have an LCD screen, but GoPro has long been established as a leader in action filmmaking.

The TG-Tracker is limited to 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps, and 720p at 240 fps, with no option for 24fps. Hopefully that will come through a software update.

But that's a $499 camera. At $379, the TG-tracker goes toe-to-toe with GoPro's $399 Silver model for video specs, and pretty much blows any of GoPro's cameras out the water when it comes to other features.

We'll have to get our hands on one for a final veredict, but so far, so good. The TG Tracker is launching in late June and comes in green or black colors.

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-Tracker on Olympus

Napier Lopez is a writer based in New York City. He's interested in all things tech, science, and photography related, and likes to yo-yo in his free time. Follow him on Twitter or his blog.

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Source: Olympus' crazy-rugged 4K action cam will stabilize your footage and track your stats

Olympus Reveals Portrait and Travel Lens Kits for Micro Four Thirds Cameras; More Info at B&H Photo

May 24, 2016 - NEW YORK, NY

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - May 24, 2016) - B&H Photo would like to share the announcement of the Olympus Travel Kit, with 14-150mm f/4-5.6 and 17mm f/1.8 lenses and Portrait Kit, with 45mm f/1.8 and 75mm f/1.8 lenses designed for Micro Four Thirds format mirrorless cameras. These kits offer a pair of lenses well-suited to their named subject matter, along with the appropriate lens hoods, lens caps, and soft cases.

Olympus Travel Kit with 14-150mm f/4-5.6 and 17mm f/1.8 Lenses

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1255051-REG/olympus_v316020bu010_travel_kit_with_14_150mm.html

With the Travel Kit, photographers will benefit from a versatile wide-angle to telephoto zoom in the form of the M.ZUIKO ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II lens, which offers a 28-300mm equivalent focal-length range that can capture a variety of subjects, both near and far. This lens uses a combination of specialized elements to minimize aberrations, and sports a ZERO coating to reduce ghosting and flare. Also, it features an MSC AF motor for fast, accurate focusing, and benefits from a splash-, dust-, and freeze-proof design to handle the weather on any adventure. Paired with this zoom is a compact and bright M.ZUIKO Digital 17mm f/1.8 with a 34mm equivalent focal length. This perspective is useful for everyday shooting, and will not add significant weight to a travel bag.

M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II Lens

M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 Lens and Hood

Extra Small and Medium Barrel Lens Cases

Olympus Portrait Kit with 45mm f/1.8 and 75mm f/1.8 Lenses

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1255052-REG/olympus_v311040bu010_portrait_kit_with_45mm.html

In the Portrait Kit, shooters will find two telephoto options that will help to create flattering images of models and other subjects. The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 45mm f/1.8 is a short telephoto option with an equivalent focal length of 90mm, and a fast f/1.8 aperture to help separate subjects from their background. It also benefits from an MSC AF motor for fast, near-silent focusing performance. Bundled with it is a longer M.ZUIKO Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 lens with a 150mm equivalent focal length, which adds additional reach and shallower depth of field. To ensure the best optical quality, this lens utilizes multiple specialized elements and a ZERO coating and, like the 45mm, it uses an accurate MSC AF motor.

M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.8 Lens

M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 Lens

2x Lens Hoods

Extra Small and Medium Barrel Lens Cases

B&H Photo Video is an authorized Olympus dealer, with the most up-to-date Olympus product information, product pricing and promotional offers.

About B&H Photo Video

As the world's largest source of photography, video, audio, and the latest trending technologies, including drones, virtual reality, and 3D Printers, B&H Photo Video is known worldwide for its attentive, knowledgeable sales force, excellent customer service, and fast, reliable shipping. Visitors to the website can access a variety of enlightening articles and educational videos. B&H has been satisfying customers worldwide for over 40 years. 

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Many items can now be ordered online and picked up at our NYC Superstore. Add any qualifying items to your shopping cart and select STORE PICKUP. You will then have an opportunity to indicate who will be making the pickup, if it is someone other than yourself. You'll receive an email (up to 45 minutes) after completing your order, indicating that your order is ready for pickup at the B&H SuperStore.

The B and H YouTube Channel has an unmatched wealth of educational photographic content. Our entertaining and informative videos feature product overviews from our in-house specialists, as well as photography industry experts. You can even view the B&H Event Space presentations from many of the world's foremost photographers and interviews with some of photography's most dynamic characters. Tap into this exciting resource by subscribing to the B&H youtube Channel here. In addition to these videos, the B&H Explora blog presents new product announcements, gear reviews, helpful guides, and tech news written by product experts and industry professionals.

When you're in Manhattan, take a tour of the B&H Photo SuperStore, located at 420 Ninth Avenue. The expo continues all year round in the camera kiosks at B&H. Featuring the newest cameras, the kiosks are manned by manufacturer representatives, who are there to guide you and demonstrate the latest photographic technology. With hundreds of products on display, the B&H Photo camera store is the place to test-drive and compare all the latest technology gear.

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Shawn C. SteinerB&H Photo Video212-615-8820http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Source: Olympus Reveals Portrait and Travel Lens Kits for Micro Four Thirds Cameras; More Info at B&H Photo

Sony A68 DSLR review: An excellent upgrade for amateur photographers

The newly launched Sony A68 is a DSLR camera aimed at the mid-ranged camera segment. It incorporates some really advanced features at a price of Rs 55,990. But competitive pricing is not everything that the Sony A68 is all about.

Intrigued to know more? Here's our full review of the Sony A68.

Design and build quality

The design of the Sony A68 DSLR follows a standard hardware design that Sony has set for itself. The camera has the trademark tilting 2.7-inch LCD with a resolution of 461k pixels. Power, shutter and aperture access buttons are right above the analogue LCD panel on the top, and the rest of the function keys are located beside the LCD on the back panel. The right side houses the SD card slot and the left is home to the port access panel. Lens release and focus selection buttons are situated beside the lens itself.

Read also: Canon EOS M10 mirrorless camera review: The handy DSLR for photography enthusiasts

Despite having a rubber grip and a very sturdy build, the A68 is not weather sealed. The camera is heavier than most others in its class and thus, might be a bit inconvenient for people who are used to handling lighter DSLRs.

The positioning of the buttons and sliders is convenient and enables the user to easily manoeuvre and use the camera with one hand.

Performance and imaging

Sony A68 is an optimum performer and the first mid-range DSLR to introduce the 4D focus system, though other mid-ranged cameras have now introduced the feature as well. The A68 has excellent image stabilization and can capture 8 images per second in Continuous Fast Shooting mode. With 1440k dot resolution, the digital viewfinder displays images exactly how they are supposed to turn out according to the current settings. The camera a lso has a proximity sensor which turns on the viewfinder as soon as the camera is brought close to the eye.

The Sony A68 has 79 focus points and 15 cross-focus points on a 24MP sensor, and can shoot images at ISO levels as high as 25,600. Other features include AF micro-adjustment (fine tune), panorama shooting, video recording at 1920x1080 resolution and face detection focusing. The camera has a reasonably good battery, lasting a solid 510 shots.

Read also: Canon EOS 1300D review: Evolution of the entry-level DSLR

However, one of the drawbacks of the Sony A68 is that it does not come with wireless connectivity. Another feature that's lacking is a touch screen.

In summation, the Sony A68 has the best performance in day-to-day shots and even for some sports shots that require fast shutter speeds. It's worth noting that you'll require a tripod quite often, due to the considerable weight of the camera.

Camera shots

Verdict

The A68 is certainly one of Sony's best offerings in the mid-range camera segment and delivers on all fronts. The camera has excellent imaging quality and a robust set of features make it a great buy for its price. It is, quite literally, a heavy upgrade from the base-level DSLRs.

Source: Sony A68 DSLR review: An excellent upgrade for amateur photographers

10 Compact Prime Lenses for Your Mirrorless Camera

Mirrorless cameras were designed with the intent on being smaller and lighter than DSLRs. There are a slew of very heavy cameras and lenses for mirrorless cameras, but then there are also some wonderful, lightweight lenses.

For the photographers that really wanted the small lenses to go with their smaller cameras, check this out.

Olympus 25mm f1.8

In our review, we state:

"Trust us when we say this: wow.

No really, of any Olympus lens that we tested, this one's hit rate was amongst the highest. To be clear, we usually test our lenses by manually selecting a focusing point after framing a scene, then focusing and releasing the shutter."

Buy Now $399: Amazon

Sony 28mm f2

In our review, we state:

Buy Now: Amazon

Fujifilm 27mm f2.8

In our review, we state:

Buy Now: Amazon

Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II

In our review, we state:

Buy Now: Amazon

Sony 20mm f2.8

In our review, we state:

"We've tested loads of Sony lenses, and although this isn't the sharpest one that they make by a long shot, it's still better than most of the company's zooms. Of the APS-C E mount prime lenses, this lens is perhaps the softest and fast behind many of the f1.8 offerings. But this lens isn't really about the numbers–or at least we think it isn't. It's more about an experience. It turns your Sony E mount camera into something that you can tote around nearly anywhere with you and it will give you good enough images to make you in awe of."

Buy Now $349.99: Amazon

Zeiss 32mm f1.8 Touit

In our review, we state:

"Keeping in line with the Zeiss lineage, the Touit 32mm f/1.8 lens is fantastic in the build quality department. I wouldn't say you'd be as impressed with these as Zeiss' DSLR lenses with their all metal construction, but for a compact sensor camera the build quality is excellent. The metal exterior coupled with the rubber focus ring give it a really sleek and sort of matte finish (which seems to be very scratch resistant). The minimalist look also helps keep the lens discreet and won't attract much attention during, say, street photography."

Buy Now $634.95: Amazon

Panasonic 15mm f1.7

In our review, we state:

"The biggest competitor that this lens may have is the Olympus 17mm f1.8 or Panasonic's own 20mm f1.7 II. Of the three, this lens has to be my favorite when it comes to the image quality but Olympus wins for the snap back focusing ring. As far as image quality goes though, this lens seems to best both offerings."

Buy Now $599.99: Amazon

Sony 35mm f2.8

In our review, we state:

"The Sony 35mm f2.8 has some surprisingly great build quality to it. The manual focusing ring feels great and the overall size will be very comfortable in the hands of many. But where we were really surprised was where Sony said to us in our original press meeting that the lens and body seal is so tight that the contact doesn't need rubber gaskets to complete the weather sealing."

Buy Now $799: Amazon

Fujifilm 18mm f2

In our review, we state:

"The XF 18mm delivers a 28mm equivalent field of view with the X-System cameras, which is just creeping towards the limits of really wide lenses (from my experience, I consider 24mm and wider to be very wide). A 28mm lens is unique in that it lacks the pronounced distortion of very wide optics, but gives far more contextual space to your image over the standard 50mm lens (which is why they pair so well together!) The reality is however that you really need to enjoy shooting with a 28mm lens (otherwise you'd be better off with something like the 18-55mm zoom) because that is the only focal length you're getting when you mount this little guy on the front of your camera. Due to the fact that I am particularly comfortable with 28mm (my top three lens choices are always 28/35/50mm) I found this lens to be completely agreeable, and easy to get along with. I loved the overall size of it, because it made the X-Pro 1 into such a nimble package for just slinging it over my shoulder a nd being able to shoot at a moments notice. I appreciated the distinct notches in the aperture ring of the lens as it allowed me to easily change my aperture without taking the camera from my eye. Given the diminutive size of the 18mm, it doesn't have the best manual focus ring, but the reality is that while manual focus is now at least serviceable on the X-System, it's still better left to alternative lenses mounted with adapters (made infinitely easier due to the inclusion of focus peaking with the latest firmware update)."

Buy Now $599.99: Amazon

Olympus 45mm f1.8

In our review, we state:

"For portrait photographers and those looking to utilize the lens's fast focusing abilities, you'll appreciate what it can do. Most of this segment of the market either lets the camera choose the focusing spot for them or focuses and then recomposes. These people will be happy with what the lens gives them."

Buy Now: Amazon

Related

Source: 10 Compact Prime Lenses for Your Mirrorless Camera