Practically every camera I get I end up either getting a grip extender just to make it nicer to handle. I did this with my Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, my Fujifilm X-T5 and my Sony A7R II (actually, I got a full battery grip for this). So why?
The Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS fills a gap, but is it enough?
Sony is trying to make a name for itself in the world of professional sports photography, and on the camera front it’s done a great job with the Sony A9, the A9 II and then the A9 III with its astounding full frame global shutter for zero shutter distortion at any shutter speed. But you’ve also got to count in the excellent-but-expensive Sony A1 and A1 II, offering 50MP resolution and incredible burst speeds at the same time. So what’s happening with the lenses?
So, the new Sigma BF. Are you AMAZED or HORRIFIED?
Photography isn’t simply a technical exercise. If it was, we wouldn’t have the enduring Leica M-series rangefinders, the beautiful Hasselblad X1D/X2D wouldn’t exist, and the retro craze currently sweeping the market would never have happened. People engage with the tools they use on a much deeper, more emotional level than we think.
Mirrorless cameras give lens makers an easy ride because they bring digital corrections into the mix
The fact remains that mirrorless cameras do give lens makers an easy ride. Why? Because a digital viewfinder always gives a digitally corrected image, where a DSLR’s optical viewfinder shows what the lens actually sees.
I think the OM System OM-3 is amazing, but there’s one thing stopping me getting one
OM System will probably get two sets of responses to the OM-3. One will be that it looks amazing, just like the original OM1 and OM2 film SLRs, and is a retro camera good enough to challenge the legendary Fujifilm X100 VI. The other will be that it’s ‘just’ another MFT camera, without even a new sensor, and too big and too expensive. So who’s right?
3 Legged Thing Phil review
I have a lot of phone clamps, and the 3 Legged Thing Phil is easily the best. Given the quality of the design and engineering, I think the price is pretty good – it’s also pretty insignificant compared to the cost of phones and other video accessories, and I would definitely rather pay extra for a strong and effective phone clamp like this than take a chance on a cheaper one.
Are used digital cameras any good for photography today?
I don’t just shoot with older cameras. I also use a Fujifilm X-T5 for travel and a Canon EOS R8 for video and product photography. I also review many of the latest cameras, so I have plenty of context for comparing the performance of older used models. For regular everyday stills photography, I think so little has changed or advanced over the past ten years that most beginners and enthusiasts, even many professionals, will be perfectly happy with most of the mid-high-end cameras from the past decade.
Fujifilm X-T1 review in 2024, with sample images
Verdict 4.3 stars The Fujifilm X-T1 is a terrific low-cost used choice that makes a great camera for photography students and enthusiasts today. Its traditional external exposure controls are perfect for re-discovering the lost art of exposure, and its excellent build quality and handling make it a very satisfying camera to use.
Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Di III VXD review: a unique standard zoom alternative
Verdict: 4.5 stars The Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Di III VXD might sound like an odd sort of crossover lens somewhere between a wide-angle zoom and a kit lens, but with a 2x zoom range that sounds distinctly limiting. However, that 2x zoom range offers more framing and perspective variation than you might expect, the constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is excellent at this price and the handling is smooth, light and sweet. I like it a lot.
My top 10 best used cameras to buy today: and I’ve owned all of them
This is not an exhaustive list! There are still lots of older cameras I will try to get hold of when good ones become available and funds permit. This list is of cameras I own right now or have owned, and which I think are particularly interesting buys. I happen to think that some of the best cameras have already been made, and that the new cameras now being released are not necessarily better than the ones we already had and which have now passed into history.