Equipment Review

Samyang 85mm f1.4 Aspherical IF Lens Review Fuji X

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Samyang 85mm f1.4 Aspherical IF Lens Review Fuji X:

Let’s say you want to up your portrait game, and you’re looking to expand your lens collection.  Maybe you’re looking for a decent telephoto for more compression.  Well, if you are, you’re probably going to come across some pretty expensive glass, especially if you’re looking for something with a large aperture.  Since I am a Fuji user, I’d probably look at the XF 90mm f2, which is one of my favorite lenses but unfortunately, carries a price to match it’s awesome abilities.  If however, you don’t mind a little manual focusing, you might want to check out the Samyang 85mm f1.4 Aspherical IF lens.  Factoring in the crop factor, you’ll get a 127.5mm equivalent, which is similar to the XF 90mm.  The large f1.4 aperture means you’ll get ultra shallow depth of field, and the best part is it’s priced at a very reasonable $279.95 (currently $229 with a $50.95 rebate at B&H Photo).  Let’s take a closer look at this lens. [continue reading…]

Fujifilm Vertical Battery Grip VG-XT3 Review

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Fujifilm Vertical Battery Grip VG-XT3 Review:

The new Fuji X-T3 is a versatile camera that is up to pretty much any task you can throw at it.  It offers the perfect blend of features, such as, being well-made and weather sealed.  The electronics and autofocus are also ultra fast.  To top it all off, the X-T3 produces superb images.  At least for me, there’s not much more I would need in an APS-C mirrorless camera.  It also comes in silver, which I personally love :).  However, if you’re finding yourself shooting in portrait orientation a lot, it might be time for you to take a look at one of the X-T3’s new accessories: the Fujifilm Vertical Battery Grip VG-XT3.  At $329, it’s not exactly cheap but it can offer say the portrait photographer much needed ergonomic support. [continue reading…]

More Portraits Around The Lower East Side Taken With The Leica SL

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More Portraits Around The Lower East Side Taken With The Leica SL:

I mentioned a few times before that I’ve been shooting a lot with the Leica SL for the past year but I’ve accumulated so many photos that I’ve been really behind in processing them.  I have a ton of stuff: different photo sets, and portraits I’ve been working on, and of course, stuff for new upcoming reviews.  I still have stuff from the summer that I haven’t quite gotten around to yet :).  Today, I thought I’d post some photos from a batch that I was working on yesterday. [continue reading…]

Fujifilm X-T3 Mirrorless Camera First Impressions

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Fujifilm X-T3 Mirrorless Camera First Impressions:

Fujifilm is always coming out with cool new stuff, and today, I’ll be talking a little about the new Fujifilm X-T3.  As some of you know, I’m a big fan of the X-T Series.  I not only reviewed the X-T1 and X-T2 but I liked them so much that I bought both.  I was tempted for a moment by the X-H1 but at the time of its release, I had a feeling the X-T3 was just around the corner, and I also had a feeling we would see a lot of new tech (like the new sensor), and so I waited.  Two or three weeks ago, I received a call from Bob at Bergen County Camera telling me his first X-T3 arrived and it had my name on it.  I haven’t mentioned the camera on my blog yet because I’ve been busy with a whole bunch other things but I have big plans for the X-T3; in other words, you can expect a very big review with plenty of pics to back it up.  In the mean time, I thought I’d write about my initial impressions. [continue reading…]

7artisans Photoelectric 7.5mm f2.8 Fish Eye Lens Review For Fuji X

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7artisans Photoelectric 7.5mm f2.8 Fish Eye Lens Review For Fuji X:

I don’t actually own a fish eye but I quite enjoy using one.  So, when I had the opportunity to review the 7artisans Photoelectric 7.5mm f2.8 Fish Eye, I went for it.  As many of you know, 7artisans is a lens manufacturer that produces a lot of budget-minded lenses for various camera systems.  I reviewed a few of them in the past, and for the most part, I thought they offered real value for the money.  The lens in this review is a Fuji X Mount sample, and factoring in the crop factor, it’s approximately an 11.25mm equivalent.  This is actually the widest lens I’ve reviewed so far, and I found it quite interesting to work with.  Let’s take a closer look. [continue reading…]