Category Archives: Op-Ed

Op-Ed, Videos, Webinars

Honey, I Shrunk My Kit!

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Going small with an Olympus Micro 4/3rds System

Grizzly bear, Denali National Park | OM-1 with Olympus 100-400mm lens

Many of you know that I purchased an OM Systems OM-1 body and lenses in April of this year. Now that I’ve had some time with the system, I wanted to share my experience using this camera. I’ve now used my OM System kit for travel, portraits, and wildlife photography, and I’ve been astonished by the results. Many of the concerns I had about this small format sensor are simply not issues when using today’s gear and software.

I recently presented a webinar on my personal experience with the Olympus OM-1 kit, and you can watch the replay below.

Here are some of my recommended kits for OM Systems/Olympus Users

Gear, Op-Ed

Nikon Mirrorless System: The Image Doctors

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Mirrorless Cameras and the New Nikon Z System

Nikon Z mirrorless system
Nikon has entered the professional mirrorless camera market with the release of the Z6 and Z7 cameras and a new lens mount.

I recently sat down with my good friend and fellow Image Doctors Podcast host, Rick Walker, to chat about our thoughts on the new Nikon Z Mirrorless system [see specs] that was announced recently. These discussions are a really great way for us to see how we each view new cameras and imaging technologies and how they fit in with our current photographic styles.

Before we get into it, we just wanted to mention that there is a TON of talk out there on discussion boards and social media sites regarding the new Nikon mirrorless system, the Nikon Z. Neither of us have even seen one of these cameras in person, and as of now even people testing them are still using pre-production models. As such, we are not willing to discuss or speculate on any performance features of these cameras until they become available to the general public. It would be wholly inappropriate for us to discuss or speculate on features that we haven’t actually tested in person. Ok, enough of that… let’s sit down and talk mirrorless cameras!

Continue reading Nikon Mirrorless System: The Image Doctors →

Op-Ed

For Photographers, It’s a Matter of Size

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How Size Impacts Everything in Photography

Size matters in photography
It’s a big universe out there… photograph it!

I want to spend a little time talking about the importance of size in photography. While there are numerous factors we photographers must face when we are making decisions about our photographic subjects and adventures, we can’t escape the importance of size. Whether you’re choosing a camera, lens or your next adventure, size does matter. Continue reading For Photographers, It’s a Matter of Size →

Op-Ed

Nikon Pulls D500, Cites Lack of Pre-orders

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Is the DX format party officially over?
Vaporware… Is the DX format party officially over?

Is DX format finally dead? I pre-ordered the Nikon D500 the day it was announced.  I was informed today by my dealer that all Nikon D500 pre-orders have been cancelled. The long-awaited flagship DX body is apparently no more, after suffering from supply chain delays and production disruptions and what appears to be lack of interest in a body that just didn’t have the ISO performance of the new D5 FX flagship.

This disappoints me… no, make that this MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL! Ever since I had a D300s,  I was absolutely looking forward to using the new D500 at 10fps and ISO 51,200 with my Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E VR lens, which in my estimation would be the best damn wildlife combo out there.

In the meantime, I’ll just muddle through  using my D810 and D750 bodies with crop mode and hope that pre-orders can convince Nikon to re-think their position on the role of DX format in professional photography.

Update: At least one shop is still offering  pre-orders for the Nikon D500 here. Perhaps we still have time to change Nikon’s opinion?

Enjoy your day! 😛

Op-Ed

Are you overthinking your camera settings?

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Modern DSLRs offer many custom image settings, but do any of them really matter?
Modern DSLRs offer many custom image settings, but do any of them really matter?

How do I set up my in-camera settings? I get asked this question a lot. Most modern DSLR cameras offer a tremendous number of options for image quality and other settings that go beyond film, when all that mattered was setting the appropriate exposure.

Camera settings come in several categories, but here are the major ones:

  • Exposure (shutter speed, aperture, ISO)
  • White balance (color temperature)
  • Processing settings (color, contrast, sharpness)
  • Noise reduction settings
  • Other corrections (lens distortion, vignette removal, etc.)

Each of these settings offers the photographer control over the final image, so it’s easy to see how they can quickly become overwhelming. But here’s the deal. Unless you shoot JPEG or use your manufacturer’s raw conversion software (eg, Nikon Capture NX or Canon DPP), most of these settings are utterly meaningless.

For RAW shooters who use a 3rd party software tool such as Lightroom or Capture 1, the majority of these camera settings are completely ignored! Wait… what?! Continue reading Are you overthinking your camera settings? →