Equipment Review

The New Billingham S Series Camera Bags First Look

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The New Billingham S Series Camera Bags First Look:

If you’re a regular visitor of my site, you probably know that I’m a huge fan of Billingham bags.  They recently released the S Series, which are bags designed for mirrorless, and smaller cameras in general.  I’ve been wanting to test these bags for quite a while now, and I finally have a chance to do so.  In fact, I received the entire S Series line, which includes the S2, S3, and S4 models.  In addition to reviewing them, I’m thinking about doing a comparison between these three, so if any of you are interested in purchasing one of these bags but aren’t sure which one fits you best, hopefully the comparison will help. [continue reading…]

Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR Lens Review

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Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR Lens Review:

35mm is a very popular focal length because its versatility makes it great for a variety of subjects, such as, landscape, street, environmental portraiture, and even architecture.  Fuji already has a superb 35mm equivalent lens for the X Series with a maximum aperture of f1.4.  But there are two main drawbacks to having that speed: fast lenses are often times more expensive, and they are also larger.  The truth is, the extra speed isn’t always necessary for the way many use a 35mm lens.  The 35mm focal length is considered an everyday lens to a lot of people, and because of that, something more compact and lighter is often times more important than having a larger maximum aperture.  I know that when I shoot a 35mm lens, it’s usually set around f4 to f8 most of the time.  So, it only made sense for Fuji to create the XF 23mm f2 R WR lens.  It may lose a stop when compared to its sibling but it’s a lot more compact.  It also costs less, and incorporates the latest tech from Fuji. [continue reading…]

Fuji XF 50-140mm f2.8 R LM OIS WR Lens First Impressions

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Fuji XF 50-140mm f2.8 R LM OIS WR Lens First Impressions:

In addition to testing the XF 23mm f2, I’ve also been busy reviewing the XF 50-140mm f2.8 R LM OIS WR lens.  I know this is an older lens but it’s a popular one, and I was interested to see how it performed on my X-T2.  Plus, I’ve always wanted to try it out myself :).  I’ve used almost every Fuji X Series lens so far but for one reason or another, I didn’t get a chance to use this zoom until now.  Anyway, I’m writing my XF 23mm f2 review now, so for those who are waiting for it, don’t worry because it will come first!  But I’m taking a small break from it, so I could share some images I took with the XF 50-140mm, and my initial impressions of it. [continue reading…]

Fujifilm VPB-XT2 Vertical Power Booster Grip Review

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Fujifilm VPB-XT2 Vertical Power Booster Grip Review:

The new Fuji X-T2 is a fantastic mirrorless cameras that is plenty capable to tackle most challenges.  It’s fast, well-built, and produces excellent images all in a compact body.  In fact, I love it so much that I bought one myself (X-T2 review here).  For many, its overall abilities and performance are more than enough but for those who need even more, Fuji has answered the call with the VPB-XT2 Vertical Power Booster Grip.  At $329, it may sound expensive for a vertical grip but in addition to adding more support when using the camera in the portrait orientation, it also increases the X-T2’s performance in several ways. [continue reading…]

Leica 50mm Noctilux at London Fashion Week by Simon King

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Note from Admin: Today, we have a fantastic Leica guest post by Simon King.  He took his Leica M 240, and the legendary 50mm Noctilux f0.95 to London Fashion Week.  Here he talks about his experience with this amazing combo.  Enjoy!

Leica 50mm Noctilux at London Fashion Week by Simon King:

There are a few “specifically photographic” occasions that camera manufacturers use as selling points for their gear. Frames /second for sports, telephoto for nature and wildlife, compactness for street, ergonomics for travel; and so on. [continue reading…]