A common question I get from my friends and blog readers that just got into photography is "How can I take good pictures with what I have, without spending too much money on new cameras and lenses?". Ever since DSLRs and mirrorless have become more affordable and people started buying...
What is a DSLR (Digital SLR) Camera?
DSLR stands for "Digital Single Lens Reflex". It is a type of camera that uses a mirror to reflect light through a lens to an optical viewfinder. When the shutter is pressed, the mirror moves out of the way, and the reflected light hits the image sensor to take a...
Hawk Eating a Mouse
While driving with my kids to a local park for birding, I saw this hawk flying around very low. I was slowly making a turn and continued watching the bird to see what happens next. All of a sudden, the hawk dove into the ground and I knew he was...
How to Photograph Birds
Bird photography, especially wild bird photography can be quite challenging. There are many articles on the Internet that cover everything from “bird photography tips” to “the art of bird photography”, but I found that many of them are not detailed enough for the beginning photographer who just wants to go...
Nikon D300 vs D90 High ISO Noise Comparison
Let's take a look at high ISO noise comparisons in a low-light environment between Nikon D300 and D90. I ran two quick tests - one with an external flash and one without. Both tests are performed on a sturdy tripod, with timed exposure to prevent camera vibrations. Both Nikon D300...
How to Buy a DSLR Camera – DSLR Purchase Guide
By now, most people are using and buying mirrorless cameras, but that doesn't mean DSLRs are worthless. You can still buy a DSLR new like the Canon 1DX III or the Nikon D850. And, because most people are selling their older cameras, you can get amazingly good DSLRs lightly used...
Focal Length Comparison on Nikon DX (1.5 Crop Factor) Cameras
This test shows focal length comparison on a 1.5 crop factor camera (all Nikon DX cameras) from 12mm to 500mm. All images were taken on Nikon D300 with ISO 200, f/10. The focal lengths are not 100% accurate because of different lens sizes and mounts (when short lenses such as...
Nikon Lens Bokeh Performance
If you don't know what Bokeh is, I suggest reading an article here. Basically, bokeh is the rendering of out-of-focus areas by a camera lens. The tests on this page illustrate how bokeh is rendered by different Nikon lenses. (more…)