The Nikon D3200 is a subtle, yet important update over its predecessor. Sporting a high-resolution 24.2 MP DX-format CMOS sensor, full HD video recording capability and a lightweight camera body, the D3200 is a very capable DSLR camera for beginner photographers. Targeted at beginners and those upgrading from a point...
Post-Processing Portraits in Lightroom
Many of our previous Mastering Lightroom series articles focused on specific Lightroom 4 features and tools, as well as ways of using them in your everyday workflow. I've explained how to use the Basic Panel and talked about the Tone Curve in great detail. We've also learned how to use...
Vello Wireless ShutterBoss Remote Review
This is a review of the Vello Wireless ShutterBoss Timer Remote for Nikon. For some reason, Nikon’s small and inexpensive ML-L3 wireless remote doesn’t work with any of it’s professional DSLR bodies. If you own one of these incompatible bodies and want to use a remote shutter release, your choices...
Impact 22″ Beauty Dish Reflector Kit Review
As you know from reading this site, Impact makes a number of excellent products that offer quite a bit of bang for your photography buck. The Impact 22" Beauty Dish Reflector Kit represents a solid value for those that want to engage in portrait photography, but don't want to pay...
Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G vs 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D
In this article, I will compare the new Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR and its predecessor, the Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR. Since the lens has just been announced, I have not had the chance to use it and compare it with the older 80-400mm lens. I am planning to expand...
Understanding Histograms in Photography
Histograms can be found in almost any modern image editing software. It is my guess that most current digital cameras, including some compacts, can display histograms as well - some even live as you shoot using your LCD screen. Such persistent inclusion would suggest that histograms are quite important. Even...
Nikon 70-200mm f/4G VR Review
Nikon has a long history of making professional 70-80 to 200mm focal length zoom lenses, but aside from the very old 70-210 f/4 AI-S and AF lenses, it has never had an affordable and lightweight constant aperture f/4 model in its line. With its arch-rival Canon making a 70-200mm f/4L...
Winter Photography Tips
Winter can be a very beautiful time of the year, especially if you live in a region that gets plenty of snow. We all know how children love the snow - there are endless possibilities for having fun and cold weather is usually not enough to stop them from enjoying...
Think Tank Airport Commuter Review
Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to test and use the Airport Commuter backpack from Think Tank while taking it on trips as well as using it around town. In this review, I will look at the backpack in detail, go over its features and discuss...
How to Use External Editors in Lightroom
In every Mastering Lightroom series article, I mention certain strengths of this, in my opinion, superb piece of software. Only every now and then do I find something small to complain about, as I have in my "How to Manage Presets" article. I strongly believe Lightroom offers more or less...