Optical technology has advanced dramatically since the early days of zoom lenses when the consensus among serious photographers was that prime lenses offered far greater sharpness, resolution, color rendition and contrast than zoom lenses. In the video below, Matt Granger discusses that “misconception” as it pertains today, as well as the notion that prime lenses encourage more compositional creativity by forcing you to “zoom with your feet.”
Nothing spoils an otherwise great shot more than failing to achieve precise focus. You can compose a scene properly, nail exposure, and capture beautiful colors, but if the image is soft all is for naught.
Dirty camera sensors are a common source of degraded image quality, resulting in tedious post-processing work to clean up the photograph. This problem is the bane of those who shoot outdoors in dusty conditions, and is particularly acute when using small aperture settings that tend to exaggerate imperfections.
If the used camera lens you see online is packaged with a leash and a bone, odds are very good that it’s a dog. But in the absence of obvious evidence, how can you tell a bargain from a bagel? It’s impossible to physically examine the merchandise before purchase. And you can’t always trust what you see in the listing photos. However, you can conduct a thorough inspection upon receipt. Here are 10 things to check the minute the used lens is delivered.
Fujifilm just created some major excitement at Photokina with the introduction of the 51.4-megapixel Fujifilm GFX medium format mirrorless camera and three lenses designed to handle future cameras with 100-megapixel resolution.
Bokeh is a popular topic these days, especially for those contemplating the purchase of a new lens. As you’ll see in the straightforward tutorial below, it’s also an imaging characteristic that can be manipulated with whatever lenses you own.
Have you ever wondered how some photographers create photos with a magical, dreamy effect that make a subject seem to pop out of the background and direct a viewer’s eye to exactly where it should go? That’s what you’ll learn how to in the tutorial below, in barely seven minutes.
The new Samyang 35mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS is a relatively affordable high-speed lens designed for use with Sony E, MFT, Fujifilm X and Canon M mirrorless cameras. It’s scheduled to ship in September for around $500, and offers great versatility for low-light photography.
There’s a bunch of photographers out there who’d like to shoot macro images once in a while, but not often enough to justify purchasing an expensive, dedicated lens. Today we’re going to show you how to get started shooting close-ups on the cheap.
Ten years ago we ran an article extolling the virtues of soft focus lenses and explaining how to make a pretty sophisticated one yourself. And now, in the DIY video below, you’ll learn a less expensive method for making a basic version.
Back in the day when prime lenses ruled supreme and snooty purists decried zooms for lack of absolute sharpness, Tele-Converters (TCs) were popular accessories. Photographers wanted to bring distant subjects closer, and TCs provided a means to that end. Also known as tele-extenders, these thick slabs of metal and glass increase the focal length of a given lens while also decreasing the f/stop.
Photokina, the world’s largest imaging show, will open its doors in Cologne, Germany in a week and an array of new cameras, lenses, and assorted photo accessories are set to make their debuts at this massive event.
Here’s a fun game from photographer and popular YouTube personality Peter McKinnon. Can you tell the difference between images shot with a $400 camera vs. those shot with a $4000 camera?
When shooting street photography, you're supposed to be quiet, unobtrusive and discreet, right? So, naturally, you should use compact fast prime lenses that don't attract much attention. But what if you wanted to use a long zoom lens, such as a 70-200mm? Impossible?