This is an in-depth review of the Nikon 45mm f/2.8D PC-E, also known as PC-E Micro Nikkor 45mm f/2.8D ED, a special purpose normal-angle lens designed for architecture, commercial, macro, and nature photography. “PC” stands for “Perspective Control”, but I will refer to this type of lens as “tilt-shift” in...
Reviews Archive - Page 17
Hoya Pro1 Digital Circular Polarizing Filter Review
This is a review of the Hoya Pro1 Digital Circular Polarizing Filter in both 72mm and 77mm filter thread sizes. Polarizing filters are designed to reduce glare and reflections of light while at the same time greatly enhancing the natural colors and saturation of an image. This filter is produced...
Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack Review from a Landscape Photographer
Carrying the right amount of camera equipment in a comfortable, accessible bag is an eternal problem for photographers, or at least for me. At this point, I’ve settled on a system of a technical hiking backpack with a camera insert for my longer landscape photography trips, but I haven’t yet...
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Review
Frequently overshadowed by their more versatile brethren, macro lenses rarely receive much fanfare upon their release. Nonetheless, it is their function as close-up-photography specialists that make them essential for a range of photographic pursuits like product photography, print reduction and close-up photography of living subjects. This role has made macro...
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Review
With the introduction of Canon's first full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R, an important challenge arose: releasing spectacular lenses that convinced photographers of the new system's potential. The first two "crown jewel" lenses in the new lineup are the RF 28-70mm f/2L zoom and the RF 50mm f/1.2L - the...
Fuji XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR Review
Announced in July of 2019, the Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR is a professional-grade ultra-wide angle zoom lens designed for landscape, architecture and environmental portrait photographers. Sporting a fast f/2.8 aperture, a metal weather-sealed body, complex optics and modern coatings, the Fuji XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR...
Sony A9 Review
In the camera world, real innovation is hard to come by and indeed more elusive than the camera manufacturers would like us to believe. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the field of professional sports, wedding, and action photography where Canon and Nikon’s hegemony has created a field of...
Canon EOS Rebel SL2 Review
One of the smallest and lightest Canon DSLRs is the Rebel SL2, announced in June of 2017 and retailing for $549, body only. The SL2 also goes by the names “EOS 200D” and “Kiss X9” outside the US market. Despite the camera’s small size, Canon packed a lot into the...
Kolari Vision 550nm Infrared Filter Review
When Ilija, owner of Kolari Vision, emailed me regarding his introduction of the 550nm infrared filter this past winter and shared some of the initial images taken with it, I was intrigued. I had used various models of Nikon DSLRs converted for infrared photography since 2007, relying primarily on the...
Nikon D3400 Review
The D3400 is Nikon's entry-level DSLR announced in August of 2016 to replace the D3300. The D3400 uses a top-of-the-line 24-megapixel DX sensor, which is capable of capturing very detailed and high-quality photos. But it isn’t all perfect - the camera has noticeable compromises, especially in its handling and menu...