Jon Sienkiewicz Blog

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Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jan 20, 2017  |  0 comments

Welcome back! Last week we covered lenses that are well suited for five of the most popular camera activities, including kids’ sports, travel and online auctions. If you missed that piece, you’ll find it here. This week—as promised—five more lenses for five more activities. These are sometimes thought of as being in the realm of more advanced hobbyists, but that ain’t necessarily so. Read on…

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jan 13, 2017  |  2 comments

People often ask me, “What sort of lens should I buy as my second lens?” and my answer is always the same: “What sort of pictures would you like to take?”  I’m getting that question a lot right now because a zillion people got new cameras over the holidays. There are so many options I’ve decided to deliver the answer in two installments. But first, let’s take a close look at that kit lens that came with your camera.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jan 05, 2017  |  0 comments

Remember Albert? Not Einstein—I mean the Albert that’s also known as “Snowtober.” If you lived on the East Coast in October 2011 you remember Albert as the freak Halloween snowstorm that left more than three million homes and businesses without power. Talk about Trick or Treat. One thing that we all should have learned from that painful experience is what all Boy Scouts know: Be Prepared. 

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Dec 30, 2016  |  1 comments

No longer confined to the seamier side of show biz and politics, Fake News has become a mainstream source of misinformation for virtually all industries and disciplines. What you are about to read is obviously true because it has been published online by a respected source. With that caveat, here’s the latest from the world of photography and beyond. 

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Dec 23, 2016  |  0 comments

No time to conjure up a resolution for 2017? No problem! Here’s a seven-pack of readymade resolutions you can relate to, even if you’re already perfect in every way.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Dec 16, 2016  |  0 comments

Here are the rules: every item described herein is small enough to fit inside a reasonably normal stocking and each is something that every photographer will appreciate. Price was not part of the selection process, nor was foot size.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Dec 09, 2016  |  0 comments

Last week we explored seven great photo gifts under $100. If you missed that installment, you can find it here. This week we take it down a notch in price, but truth be told, this collection of goodies is just as cool—if not cooler—than the last one.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Dec 01, 2016  |  1 comments

It’s better to give than to receive—but receivin’ ain’t so bad, either, especially if your gift list includes one or two of my favorites, which I’ve described for you here. Or if you’re looking for the perfect gift for the photo person in your life, here are your crib notes.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Nov 24, 2016  |  4 comments

Is that your shutter snapping or your teeth chattering? If cold weather is bad for your body, it’s even worse for your camera body. Moisture of any kind is a camera killer. And freezing temperatures contribute to everything from internal condensation to diminished battery performance. Herewith, then, are my seven favorite cold weather tips and accessories. 

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Nov 18, 2016  |  0 comments

If you’ve ever lusted after a really fast lens—even faster than f/1.2—imagine how compelling the thought of an affordable f/0.95 lens might be. Well, buckle your gadget bags folks, because the Zhongyi Mitakon Speedmaster 25mm for Micro Four Thirds cameras is an f/0.95 that pops into the shopping cart for less than $400.  

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Nov 10, 2016  |  0 comments

As the name implies, the Fotodiox LED Studio-in-a-Box is a self-contained tabletop studio that features interior LED lighting that has a daylight color balance of 5600 Kelvin. The CRI, or Color Rendering Index, is 85 (on a scale 0 to 100).

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Nov 03, 2016  |  0 comments

Photographers are an inventive lot. Most have of us have improvised one thing or another in pursuit of our obsession, be it a soft-focus diffuser made from a discarded nylon stocking, studio lamp handcrafted from a Home Depot shop light, or a gadget bag recycled from an army surplus gas mask pack. But here’s a bonafide useful tool that Greg Montano, owner of Dexter’s Camera in Ventura, California, created more-or-less out of necessity, and has been using professionally since.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Oct 28, 2016  |  0 comments

The holidays are approaching and that’s a good excuse to buy a new photo bag for yourself or a loved one. Here’s a collection of my seven favorite photo bags, gleaned from full reviews that appeared in this column over the past couple of years. 

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Oct 19, 2016  |  0 comments

Photo backpack fans listen up! Everything good about Peak Design’s photo messenger bags now comes in backpack shape, in two sizes plus an innovative sling. 

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Oct 13, 2016  |  1 comments

If you live on a planet that doesn’t have lightning, you might make it through life without a surge protector. But if you live here on Earth, better pony up and use protection. 

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