Are Fast Lenses Holding You Back At Night?
“F8 and be there” doesn’t work at night - so I dragged a bag of heavy primes to Taiwan for those neon signs. Pros stop down though, so why not use software to denoise, pack light? Is fast glass holding me back? Out of thousands of night-time photos, I’ve picked 9 to help me decide, if bokeh makes or break the image? All shot wide open using one of three f1.2 primes, but some fast lenses are too technical. Others are more ephemeral, just like travel, and by the end of this post? One has to go.
I Obsessed over 1 Prime Lens for Travel?
Just one prime lens for travel sounds good in theory, what if you don’t know what to shoot or where you’re going? I forced myself to use a different focal length everyday, 5 primes for a 6-day trip, but which lens do I pick when I’m tired, a little homesick? I headed back to Taiwan, my hometown - but I haven’t been back for 15 years? Getting lost on the streets with the OM3 and my other new camera will be how I get reacquainted with it.
OM3 + Nikon Zf: Match Made in Monochrome?
Dedicated dials for black and white must mean the recipes are good, right? Unlike the endless options in color editing, black and white comes down to 6 settings, the OM3 and Zf can change these in camera (all but 2). How do they compare against Fujifilm’s Acros, or the true monochrome output from Leica? Are these dials just a gimmick?
I Obsessed Over the Best Travel Lens: 35 or 40mm?
Why are so many 35mm lenses bigger than 40mm? For my last 3 Japan trips I always packed both, so I tested 3 40s against four 35s to figure out why. Turns out one of my 35mm lenses shoots like a 40, one of my 40mm lenses is closer to a 50mm. No wonder I couldn’t decide? Lens design’s about compromise, just like travel, and family, it’s the weight we’re willing to carry.
Find the Best Film Recipe, then Quit Adobe? | Fujifilm JPEGs Vs OM3, Nikon Zf
The biggest problem with the most popular film recipe? It’s only available on Fuji. I found a way to copy Classic Chrome on the OM3, even Nikon now has their own JPEG recipes. Can I create a look that works for all of my cameras using free software only? But the odds are against me - this is attempt number three. Can I finally quit Adobe?
Are Everyday Carry Cameras Now Luxury? | OM systems OM3 vs Nikon Zf
The OM3 may not be $5100, yet this micro-four thirds camera cost more than the full-frame Nikon Zf? I took ten thousand photos to figure out why I like both so much. Its retro veneer’s a disguise, hiding four flagship features unheard of for the price. But is it overkill for an everyday camera? A luxury I shouldn’t get used to.
XE5 or OM3: Best Father’s Day Gift for Photographers?
The best Father’s Day Gift for photographers is a camera for someone else, to get us in the frame for our own family photos. A small camera to share with my wife is the goal, but unlike my other cameras this is a one and done. A tool the whole family can use for years to come - the moments with my daughter are fleeting - and for this the OM3’s perfect. At least it is on paper - my copy’s still in the box, and tonight the latest Fuji goes live. By the end of this X-Summit I’ll need to decide - OM3 or XE5?