Photography Life

PL provides various digital photography news, reviews, articles, tips, tutorials and guides to photographers of all levels

DJI Mavic 2 Pro Review

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In this review of the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, we will take a closer look at how the drone performs for both aerial photography and videography. After testing out the Mavic Air last year, I realized just how useful compact drones have become for many creatives out there. Being able to photograph a scene from above gives a completely different perspective for a photographer, while videographers often rely on aerial footage to showcase a particular subject or a location. And…

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The Reality Behind Nikon Z Banding Issues

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One of the big headlines when the first Nikon Z6 and Z7 tests appeared online is that they exhibited a pattern of “banding,” or line pattern noise, when recovering shadows too much. Although most reviewers were quick to point out that 5-6 stops of shadow recovery is excessive, this issue nonetheless drew a lot of attention. But now that we have performed complete dynamic range tests on today’s mirrorless cameras at Photography Life, my question is… why?

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Recommended Sony A7 III Settings

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Released five years after the original A7, the Sony A7III marks the third generation of Sony’s ‘entry’ level full-frame mirrorless camera series. Based around an updated 24.2-megapixel back-illuminated full-frame sensor, the A7 III punches well above its weight with a rich feature including a 693 phase-detect autofocus system, 10 frames per second, internal 4k video, and silent operation. With an attached price tag of $1,999, the A7 III might be the most complete entry level full frame camera model on…

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Understanding Street Photography – A Beginner’s Guide

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Street photography is one of the most challenging, but at the same time one of the most rewarding genres of photography. Documenting people in their everyday environment is not easy – it requires patience, hard work and sometimes even some bravery to be able to approach and photograph complete strangers. In this article, we will take a close look at what street photography is, how it differs from other genres of photography and provide some helpful tips to get you…

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Canon EOS RP vs EOS R

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Now that Canon has released its full-frame mirrorless EOS RP camera for just $1300, let’s take a look at how it compares head-to-head against the Canon EOS R. The two cameras actually have a lot of differences under the hood, both minor and major, in everything from autofocus to sensor characteristics. The EOS R comes out ahead of the EOS RP in most respects – but at $2200, is it worth the difference in price?

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Six Canon RF Lenses Under Development

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Alongside the headline-stealing EOS RP announcement, Canon also released details on six upcoming RF mirrorless lenses: a 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS, 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS, 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS, and two 85mm f/1.2 primes (one normal, one “Defocus Smoothing” version optimized for bokeh). These are great additions to Canon’s growing RF lens lineup, especially for photographers interested in pro-level glass. The lenses will be released throughout 2019, but Canon hasn’t announced specific dates yet.

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Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Announcement

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Today Nikon unveiled its first professional-grade lens for the Z mount, the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, for $2299. After the release of 35mm f/1.8 S, 50mm f/1.8 S and two f/4 zoom lenses, Nikon decided to add an f/2.8 lens to its arsenal of Z-series lenses to appeal professional photographers. While some might wonder why Nikon needs two 24-70mm lenses so early in the game with many other gaps in the Z lens line, Nikon wants to assure its…

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Canon EOS RP Announcement – $1300 including EF Adapter!

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Thanks to Canon, another shot has just been fired in the full-frame mirrorless battle. Today, the company announced its entry-level EOS R series camera, the Canon EOS RP, for an incredible price of $1300. That price includes an EF adapter as well as an extension grip. The camera also sells with Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 for $1700, or with the RF 24-105mm f/4 for $2200. Here’s what you need to know.

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How Good is the New Adobe Enhance Details Tool?

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Today Adobe announced a bunch of important updates to its ecosystem, with Lightroom Classic CC, Lightroom CC and mobile versions of apps receiving some new features. For example, the desktop version of Lightroom CC finally received the ability to stitch HDRs, panoramas, and HDR panoramas, while Lightroom Classic CC now has better tethering support for Nikon cameras (you can read about these changes in Adobe’s announcement post). However, the most exciting new feature any Creative Cloud subscriber can now access…

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How to Photograph Lightning

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Photographing a lightning is a dangerous hobby. Not everyone understands that a lightning storm is highly unpredictable, and a strike could occur any time, anywhere. At the same time, taking a picture of a lightning can be very rewarding, especially if the pattern is unique or the picture is taken at an extraordinary location. The tips below will show you how to photograph a lightning storm and take your pictures to the next level.

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Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S Review

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This is an in-depth review of the new Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S that was released together with the 35mm f/1.8 S and 50mm f/1.8 S as the first Z-series Nikon lenses. To see exactly how the lens measures up, we tested four different samples of the 24-70mm f/4 for our comprehensive review below. After all, this is one of the most important lenses Nikon has announced in recent years.

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BenQ SW271 Monitor Review

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Earlier last year I had a chance to test the BenQ SW320 monitor, which turned out to be a solid choice for my photography needs. I was able to calibrate the display using both BenQ’s native Palette Master Element software and DisplayCAL, which provided me with great results at the end (you can see my calibration results in my detailed BenQ SW320 Review). I wanted to explore BenQ’s product line even further and this time I will be taking a…

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Photography Life 2019 and 2020 Workshop Announcements

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I am very excited to announce Photography Life’s 2019 and 2020 Workshops! We will kick off this year with our upcoming Dubai and Jordan Workshop in mid-March (please see detailed information below), followed by our Fall Colors Workshop in Colorado at the end of September and wrapping up the year with the first Death Valley Workshop in late November. The 2020 schedule will start with a Death Valley Workshop in mid-January, followed by another Dubai and Jordan Workshop in March.…

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Visualization and Film Photography

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As a follow-up to my previous essays on visualization, in this article I will share select photographs made on film with a detailed description of the thought process, the choice of tools, and technical considerations that were involved. I have chosen two starkly different photographs (both landscapes) to discuss. I hope that these photos with the accompanying narrative will prove interesting and helpful to beginning film photographers and perhaps guide more experienced photographers in advanced techniques and approaches. Of note,…

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Panasonic S1 and S1R Announcement

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Panasonic just announced its first ever full-frame mirrorless cameras, the 24 megapixel S1 and 47 megapixel S1R. These are also the first Panasonic cameras to use Leica’s L mount, thanks to the Panasonic/Leica/Sigma L-mount alliance announced last year. The S1 launches at a price of $2500, while the S1R is $3700. Panasonic also announced three lenses alongside the cameras, including a kit 24-105mm f/4. Below, we cover everything you need to know.

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Best Camera Settings for Macro Photography

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Although macro photography is very accessible – no exotic destinations or expensive gear required – it is often tricky to choose the best camera settings for macro work. If you want sharp, well-exposed photos, you’ll have to push your camera system to its limits. Luckily, this guide covers everything you need to know about camera settings for macro photography, including camera mode, aperture, flash, shutter speed, ISO, and focusing, plus two detailed checklists at the end.

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How to Quickly Even Out the Sky in Post-Processing

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If you have previously photographed outdoor scenes, you have probably come across images that have an uneven sky. It can happen when photographing landscapes with wide-angle lenses, and it can be particularly visible when using a polarizing filter. The latter cases can be quite difficult to deal with in post-processing, often resulting in failed attempts to save those images. Thankfully, there are some great post-processing tools available that can help. Today, we will take a look at how you can…

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Great Deals on Nikon Z, D850, Fuji Gear

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Retailers like B&H, Adorama, and Amazon have announced sales on some of the most popular camera equipment today, including the D850 and Fuji X-T2. Some camera shops are also promoting an offer for the Nikon Z6 and Z7: trade in one of your working cameras, and get $200 (Nikon Z6) or $400 (Nikon Z7) off your purchase – plus the value of the camera you traded. Especially for such new cameras, these are exciting offers to see.

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