Have you ever considered moving into medium format film photography? Here's a fantastic buyers guide!

I've worked with medium format film cameras for a while now and can't recommend them enough. For the price, a Mamiya C220 is definitely the best camera you can buy right now, period. The image quality is just incredible, it has interchangeable lenses and a bellows focussing system that allows you to focus CLOSE! Twin Lens Reflex cameras don't have a flapping mirror so you can hand hold at much lower shutter speeds than with a DSLR or SLR camera. This also means they are almost silent, a street photographer's dream!

Mamiya C220

I could talk all day about TLR and medium format film cameras, however today I would like to re-direct you to an incredible source for information, a website that I myself have learnt from many, many times. www.japancamerahunter.com. Please see the complete Medium Format Buyers Guide Here.

Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro vs Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS and why I upgraded!

Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro vs Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS and why I upgraded!

I have been using the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens for about two years now and absolutely love it. It's light, great in low light (f/2.8), amazing for portraits, SO SHARP! and it's only about $400 used. What a bargain! Honestly one of the best value for money lenses Canon makes. 

Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro

So why would you want to upgrade to the 100mm f/2.8L IS? The only addition is the Image Stabilisation and it costs roughly $500 more!

Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro

For me it made total sense to upgrade because I do a lot of handheld macro photography and this thing has 4 stops, 4 STOPS! of image stabilisation. I know most macro photographers would laugh at the words 'handheld macro' but for the work I do I need to capture things in an artistic way, with movement. I must have full control over the camera and I can't have that when i'm on a tripod. Therefore the 4 stops of image stabilisation helps me to keep things more controlled in camera (remember image stabilisation only helps with camera shake not subject shake). These 100mm macro lenses are also amazing for portraits, which I also do handheld and, of course the IS also helps with portraits because you want them SHARP! I live in a very tropical environment so the extra weather sealing helps to keep out mould and moisture. The internals of the two lenses are very different and many say the L version is sharper than the non L but I don't believe it's $500 worth. They're both bloody sharp, that's all I need. The 100mm 2.8L IS kicks arse for me and i'll never go back.



Here are just a few of the images I have captured with the trusty old 100mm f/2.8 Macro hand held:

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Want to learn photographer slang?

A fantastic article listing photographer slang. It will help you!

Check the article here

The Nikon D800's massive file sizes and why you shouldn't worry about them!

OK GREAT! We (photographers of the world) can now buy this amazing camera, the Nikon D800 and D800E, which has "revolutionised" digital photography due to its 36 Megapixel sensor, which competes with medium format digital at a price that most can afford (The truth is it doesn't really compete with medium format, they're totally different systems and people who have bought one thinking they are now competing with medium format are kidding themselves). 

And also has big bollocks full of megabytes

Because most people can afford a Nikon D800, most people are buying one and realising that the file sizes are like 70+MB per raw file, which is INSANE! Obviously computers are failing and hard drives are filling under the pressure. No one wants to use their D800 in jpeg or lossless, after all you've just purchased THE most advanced 35mm dslr on the market! But there is one option to limit your file sizes without subjecting your raw files to pixel rape. 

Here it is...

Adobe DNG Converter (Available for Mac or PC, useable with most camera types)

This beautiful program from Adobe (Adobe DNG Converter) allows you to import your 70+MB NEF (Nikon) files from the D800 and convert them to a size of your choice and still retain all original raw information. It is still a raw file, still opens in Adobe Camera Raw and has all of the benefits of RAW in a more manageable size. 

Of course, why the F%#k would you want to spend 3.5k on a camera only to limit its full potential? I agree, but so many people are complaining about the file sizes and to be honest, for everyday stuff they are massive. That said, people who are using the Nikon D800 or D800E for crappy, everyday stuff need a slap. THIS CAMERA IS NOT FOR YOU!

Camera tricks! Shoot At 8 Frames Per Second With The Nikon D700 and D300 Without a Battery Grip.

When I owned the amazing Nikon D700 I was always drawn to buying the MB-D10 battery grip, as I thought this would allow me to shoot at 8 frames per second. Little did I know that you also need the EN-EL4 battery (Nikon D3) or a bunch of AA's to achieve this speed. It wasn't long until I stumbled upon an amazing trick that allows the D700 or D300 to shoot at 8 frames per second with NO BATTERY GRIP!

Here's how you do it!

- Go to custom settings menu

e Bracketing/Flash

- e5 Auto Bracketing = Set to flash only

- e6 Auto Bracketing (Mode M) = Set to flash only

F Controls

- F6 Assign Preview Button

- DOF Preview Button Press = Set to bracketing burst

- Preview + Command Dials = Set to auto bracketing

+ Set the camera to all manual modes with a shutter speed high enough to capture motion.

+ Set the shooting mode dial to S for single shot.

+ Activate a 9 frame bracket with the DOF preview button and command dial.

+ Hold down the DOF preview button and simultaneously press the shutter button.

You will instantly notice the increase in speed, which is timed at roughly 8 frames per second! All without the added heft and expense of the MB - D10 battery grip. Woohoo!