The Phoblographer

Fujifilm cameras have definitely been the flavor of the month.

Cupid has been out and about with his arrow during February, and he made many photographers fall in love with Fujifilm. This month, our readers have added many Fujifilm cameras to their personal collections. We’re not surprised. The Current lineup of Fujifilm cameras is really quite special. Another older DSLR camera that might surprise you well has also been doing well this month. After the break, we’ll share with you the best-selling cameras among our readers.

So, how do we determine which are the most popular cameras for any given month? We take a look at which cameras have been selling via our affiliate links. This really gives us some excellent insight into current trends in the photography world. As we said above, it does not surprise us that Fujifilm cameras have been selling well. They have one of the most rounded out selections of cameras on the market. The XS10 has also increased the brand’s popularity. Especially with those put off by the vintage style controls on models like the X-T3 and X-T4. Take a look at the cameras that have been snapped up below. Are any of these models on your wish list?

Fujifilm XS10

In our review, we said:

“The Fujifilm XS10 is an entry-level camera with more bells and whistles, like IBIS than the competition. The XS10 is certainly a compelling option because of the great image quality, fantastic handling, and price.

Brett Day – Gear Editor

Buy now: $999

Fujifilm X-T200

In our review, we said:

“The X-T200 would be a fantastic camera to step up to from a smartphone, or for anyone who just wants to be able to grab a fun camera to go out and shoot JPEGS with”

Brett Day – Gear Editor

Buy now: $699.95

Nikon D500

In our review, we said:

“The Nikon D500 is an incredibly capable camera–and I honestly recommend it for both pros and semi-pros. It offers very good image quality, superb battery life, great ergonomics, high reliability in the autofocus department, and a load of other cools things like WiFi.

Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief

Buy now: $1,496.95

Fujifilm X-T30

In our review, we said:

“For roughly a 2/3 of the price it’ll cost to pick up a Fujifilm X-T3 body, you can pick up a X-T30 instead that can do almost everything its larger cousin is capable of, with enough money leftover to put towards a nice lens to boot.

Buy now: $899

Fujifilm X-T3

In our review, we said:

“The Fujifilm X-T3 is a phenomenal camera, delivering significant improvements over the already impressive X-T2 in terms of autofocus and low light performance. While $1,499 is certainly a premium price tag, it’s actually cheaper than the X-T2 when it first launched, retailing for an additional $100. The price tag is actually very reasonable when you consider everything that Fujifilm has packed into the X-T3. It’ll even give Full Frame mirrorless cameras like the Sony A7 III a run for its money, with the X-T3 having slightly higher resolution power (26.1 MP in the Fujifilm X-T3 vs. 24.2 MP in the Sony A7 III).”

Buy now: $1,499

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max camera is a very valuable tool for journalists, but it’s also just a lot of fun!

Our staff always says that photography should be fun. And for us, it isn’t always fun. Some cameras are too serious. Some are too complicated. But the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max camera is both fun and useful. One of my best friends is an Editor at a large Tech Publication. He’s been shooting for years, and has gotten sick of dedicated cameras. The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max embraces the fun associated with spontaneity that Canon and Fuji don’t. It even rival’s Sony’s fantastic controls on their Xperia 1 Mk II. And if this were the only camera you had on you, I really couldn’t blame you.

Editor’s Note: We’re a blog that specializes in photography and imaging. And so we’re focusing our review on just the camera. You can read more about the phone from literally any other blog or website.

Pros and Cons

Pros

An incredibly versatile camera

Image stabilization

4K video

A return to the older ergonomics

Somehow or another, it doesn’t suffer as bad from fingerprint smudges

Cons

Apple does this really weird thing with the selfie camera where you automatically have super smooth skin and a super crispy face.

What’s Innovative

Apple has a bunch of cameras built into this thing. And the wider lens has image stabilization. Plus, there’s so much opportunity through apps.

Gear Used

We used the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max by itself.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera Tech Specs

These specs were taken from the Apple listing.

Ultra-Wide Camera

13 mm focal length

120º field of view

ƒ/2.4 aperture

5-element lens

Lens correction

Wide Camera

26 mm focal length

1.7 µm pixels

ƒ/1.6 aperture

100% Focus Pixels

7-element lens

Sensor-shift OIS

Telephoto Camera

65 mm focal length

ƒ/2.2 aperture

Focus Pixels

6-element lens

OIS

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera Ergonomics

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is a phone first and foremost. So it’s going to look and function like one. Ergonomically speaking, the camera is in a great spot. It’s well out of the way of where you’d ever put your hands or fingers. Apple’s return to their older body style really helps with this. And because of how big the phone is, you’re always gripping from the bottom anyway.

On the side, you can use the volume buttons as shutter controls. It’s rare that I’d ever really want to do this. If I’m shooting a long exposure, I feel it makes me shake the camera more. So always opt to just tap the screen instead.

Build Quality

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max has weather resistance for sure. I’ve taken it out into the rain and snow many times. I’ve used it to shoot product images of the cameras and lenses we test. As those products are getting pounded with rain, so too is my phone. But it’s never had a reliability problem. Apple’s return to the hard edges also makes it so much easier to hold. This is the first iPhone I’ve ever used where I felt I didn’t need a case around it.

Further, the lenses are also oddly shaped. They jut out a bit from the rest of the phone. When you put it down on a surface, it’s not totally flat. But for some odd reason, they also don’t smudge as easily. I’ve eaten lots of Korean Fried Chicken during the pandemic. And never have I seen a major effect on the lenses after handling them.

Ease of Use

The iPhone’s camera has always been simple to use. Switching between the various lenses is easy with just a tap. Going from normal to portrait mode is done with a swipe. With ProRAW, there’s a bit more that was realized. If you go to settings, then camera, and then enable Apple ProRAW you’ll get more versatility. Apple’s own software editor isn’t so great at getting the most from it. Instead, you should probably use Lightroom or RNI Films. The latter is my personal favorite. It edits RAW files with ease.

Overall, the main strength of the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max isn’t the image quality. It’s the ease of use...

The Sony a1 shows that electronic shutters are the future.

Sony stunned the photography industry when they announced their new flagship camera, the Sony a1. Sony is back to innovating again when it comes to silicon, and this is incredibly exciting. On paper, this camera with its new stacked sensor should impress even the most hard-headed photographers out there. Still, we all know that specs on a piece of paper don’t always equate to great real-world performance. We’ve had our hands on the new Sony a1 for a week, and we’ve put it to the test in some tough conditions. Will the wow factor from the spec sheet carry over into the wild when we test it? Find out in our full review of the Sony a1.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Sony’s a1 shows that stacked sensors are the future

Detail rich images with great dynamic range

Excellent ergonomics (the best Sony camera to date)

The a1 features the new touchscreen menu system

Fantastic overall autofocus performance

30 frames per second with the electronic shutter with virtually no rolling shutter or banding issues

1/400th mechanical shutter speed with compatible TTL flashes and triggers

Sony’s 9.44 million dot EVF is a work of art

Excellent build quality

Good battery life

8K video

Excellent performance with CFexpress A cards

Cons

It has the same old 1.44 million dot LCD

The LCD is not fully articulating

Bird AF is a work in progress

Multi Shot mode is inconsistent

Autofocus suffers a little in very low light situations

It’s $6,499

Too Long, Didn’t Read

The Sony a1 is a camera designed for professionals who need the best in stills and video. 50MP images at 30 frames per second with autofocus make this camera a must-have for pro sports, pro wildlife, and photojournalists. It’s pricey at $6,499. However, if you need a solid camera that can produce high-resolution images by the bucket load and 8K video, the Sony a1is a no-compromise camera that delivers.

Gear Used

We used the Sony a1 with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM and the Sony 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 GM OSS. Also used was a Sony CFexpress A memory card.

Tech Specs

All of the technical specifications have been taken directly from the official Sony website:

50.1-MP 35 mm full-frame stacked CMOS sensor with integral memory

Advanced BIONZ XR engine boosts speed by up to 8x

30fps continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking

Movie-making with 8K 30p and 4K 120p

Wide AF coverage with 759-point phase-detection and 425-point contrast-detection AF points

Battery life (stills) – Approx. 430 shots (Viewfinder) / approx. 530 shots (LCD monitor) (CIPA standard)

Image Quality Modes – RAW (Compressed / Lossless Compressed / Uncompressed), JPEG (Extra fine / Fine / Standard / Light), HEIF (4:2:0 / 4:2:2) (Extra fine / Fine / Standard / Light)

Viewfinder – 9.44 million dots

LCD 1.44 million dots

Human face and eye AF, animal body and eye AF, and a new Birding AF mode

Flash Sync. Speed – (Mechanical Shutter), (Flash Sync. Priority) is (ON) or (AUTO):1/400 s (35 mm full-frame), 1/500 s (APS-C), (Flash Sync. Priority) is (OFF):1/320 s (35 mm full-frame), 1/400 s (APS-C), (Electrical shutter), 1/200 s (35 mm full-frame), 1/250 s (APS-C)

Image Sensor-Shift mechanism with 5-axis compensation

Continuous Drive Speeds – AUTO/Electronic Shutter: Continuous shooting: Hi+: 30fps, Hi: 20fps, Mid: 15fps, Lo: 5fps,10111213 Mechanical Shutter: Continuous shooting: Hi+: 10fps, Hi: 8fps, Mid: 6fps, Lo: 3fps

Sony a1 – Innovations

The Sony a1 features a brand new stacked with high-speed RAM stacked to the back of it. This is what makes the sensor achieve incredibly high read speeds. As a result, the rolling shutter issue is virtually eliminated when using the electronic shutter. It’s also what gives the camera power to capture 50mp files at 30 frames per second. Sony has also introduced new AI in the form of Bird detection and a 9.44 million dot EVF with a refresh rate of 240fps. You can also now use a flash with a ...

If you’re passionate about photography and ready to take things up a notch, you need to see these cameras for enthusiastic photographers.

Now is a great time to buy a dedicated camera. Over the last year or so, entry-level cameras for enthusiastic photographers have been flooding the market. Now, just because we say ‘entry-level,’ don’t for one second think you’ll be giving anything up. The Mirrorless cameras we’ve listed after the break are bursting at the seams with technology. They’re perfect for anyone who wants to take their photography to the next level. The best part is that these cameras are incredibly affordable. If you’re an enthusiastic photographer and want a camera that will wow you, check out these five options.

Fujifilm XS10

In our review, we said:

“The Fujifilm XS10 is the Fujifilm camera for the masses. It’s for those who are thinking about stepping up from their smartphone. It’s for enthusiasts who want a camera that’s easy to use. This camera is for photographers who were put off with Fujifilm’s usual vintage-style controls and dials. The Fujifilm XS10 is an entry-level camera with more bells and whistles, like IBIS, than the competition. The XS10 is certainly a compelling option because of the great image quality, fantastic handling, and price.”

Brett Day – Gear Editor

Buy now: $999

Nikon Z50

In our review, we said:

“Now, I have to say that the Nikon Z50 has blown my mind when it comes to high ISO performance. I was shooting ISO 6400 for fun and had no concerns about image quality. Then I shot at ISO 12,800 for fun and had no concerns about image quality; I even shot at ISO 25,600 and was stunned at the amount of detail the images were retaining. Will you see some color noise as these high ISOs? Yes, of course, but just behold the glory of high ISO images from the Nikon Z50.”

Brett Day – Gear Editor

Buy now: $856.95

Canon EOS RP

In our review, we said:

“There is a lot to like the Canon EOS RP. It’s a simple and fun camera if you’re more inclined to the world of automation. But even so, with the right settings and a bit of patience, it can be a great camera in the hands of someone who has a creative vision. You’ll just need to take your time with it. The Canon EOS RP is also really, stupidly affordable. With a full-frame sensor at the heart, it’s going to appeal to anyone that says, “Oh well, full-frame is better.”

Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief

Buy now: $999

Pro Tip: Any of the cameras listed here will serve enthusiastic photographers well. They’re speedy, feature-packed, and produce great images. However, not all of these Mirrorless cameras offer weather sealing. If you want to shoot in the rain or snow, pick up one of these weatherproof camera covers. Quickly slip it over your camera and lens when needed, and you’ll be able to make photographs no matter what Mother Nature is doing.

Olympus OMD EM5 Mark III

In our review, we said:

“All things considered, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is a solid performer. While it may not have the latest and greatest tech under the hood, the sum of all of its parts culminates in a pleasant shooting experience overall. The EM5 Mark III’s autofocus is quick and accurate, the weather resistance is top-notch, and the image stabilization is arguably one of the best in the industry.”

Buy now: $999

Sony a6100

In our review, we said:

“The a6100 will suit those who want a small camera they can pair with a pancake lens and can slip into their pocket to capture everyday moments. The a6100, when paired with a lens like the Sony 70-350mm f4.5-6.3 G OSS, will also provide photographers with a rig that’s more than capable of capturing sports, nature, and wildlife photography. If you like capturing any of those genres and you’re on a budget, you need to keep this camera on your radar.”

Brett Day – Gear Editor

Buy now: $748

Why did Sigma announce the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens?

Sigma is a company that makes some questionable choices. We’ll never discount their image quality. But the rest of the package is just always odd. Take the new Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary. For the most part, they say it’s an Art series lens. But the big differences are with the build quality and the focal range. The Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art is around double the weight. We really liked that lens and gave it a five-star review. But the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary is claiming similar image quality performance for a few hundred bucks less at $899. To me, it seems like a diet Art lens. And in the grand scheme, we wonder if it’s a disposable option.

Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary Tech Specs

28-70mm full-frame coverage

Constant f2.8 aperture throughout the range

16.6 ounces (just over 1 pound)

Two FLD elements

Two SLD elements

Art level optical performance

Dust and splash-proof mount with water and oil-repellent front element

Thermally stable composite

No zoom lock switch

No dedicated AF-L button

67mm filter thread vs 82mm on the Art version

Much smaller than the Art version

9 Aperture blades

Close focusing distance of 2.8 inches vs the Art version at 0.6 feet

Stepping autofocus motor

Available for E and L mount

On Sony, you need to turn on the optical correction.

$899 available in early March 2021

On the Life Span of Lenses

Some of the best thoughts come to me when I talk to the rest of The Phoblographer staff. Brett, Dan, Hillary, and Mark are incredibly intelligent. A conversation I had with Brett really struck me. “Man, I remember when those things used to cost a whole lot more and lasted you a long time,” Brett said to me in a phone call. And that’s what stuck out at me.

Why would Sigma make the 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary? And why would they make it so cheap? Well, part of that is technology: Megapixel counts just keep going up.

My conversation with Brett brought me back to an article I worked on years ago about a lens’s lifespan. All the manufacturers, including Sigma, said that the decade-long lifespan of a lens is gone. Here’s a critical quote from that article:

“Compared to the time when sensor resolution is lower, the life of the lenses will be shorter. When the resolution was lower, the lens performance difference was not as noticeable.” states Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki. “The higher the resolution, the easier the customers can tell the difference in the lens performance. This could be the driving force behind the shorter life span of modern lenses. Seeing this noticeable difference in lens performance may drive the customers to upgrade.”

So, to be honest, we can’t complain about the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary if this is the strategy. It’s probably not the best solution in the long run, but it’s working for Sigma. But Mr. Yamaki also made another interesting point:

“Sometimes, your favorite lens may not be sharpest or best performing lens, but its images stands out to you. Customers may like the lens because of its special ‘taste.’ It’s not as simple as camera resolution. That’s why the lens is so interesting.”

He’s right! And ultimately, I think this is a good choice for Sigma. They finally made something very lightweight. I reviewed the 24-70mm Art lens and talked about needing to do yoga stretches. Where I feel Sigma is lacking is fully weather sealing the lens. They’d probably say that you can’t have both. And I’d tell them to look at Tamron.

The point here is that these lenses are very cheap in a financial sense. But they’re probably also not meant to last you a long time. I gave away my old Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art lens to my cousin. When it was announced in 2012, I never thought that would be the case. Personally speaking, if I bought the Art lens, I’d probably be furious right now.

But Why the Race to the Bottom?

Yes, I pretty much asked Sigma...

If you want to get started with film photography, the Harman EZ35 kit will make the process totally painless.

Shooting with film is one of the best ways to experience photography. Still, for photographers who have only ever experienced photography in its digital form, film photography can be daunting. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you want something that will easily break you into film photography, you might be interested in the new Harman EZ35 reusable film camera kit. We’ve got all the details about Harmen’s latest release after the break for you.

Back in the day (man, it makes me feel old saying that), reusable 35mm film cameras were a dime a dozen. However, as we’ve transitioned to digital, they have become quite scarce. Harman is looking to change this with their new Harman EZ35 film camera kit. The kit contains one reusable 35mm film camera and a roll of ILFORD HP5+ 36exp film. You’ll also find a wrist strap, and a battery. The kit has everything you need to get shooting with film immediately! Now, this is pretty cool indeed. Here are a few more specs for the camera:

Harman EZ35 Tech Specs

Film Format: 135 Film (24x36mm)

Lens: 31mm, F/11

Shutter: 1/100s

Focusing: Focus Free, 1m – ∞

View Finder: Field = 70%

Film Transport: Motorized load, advance & rewind

Flash: Built-in Flash, 15s recycle time

Lens Cover: Also acts as a shutter lock

Dimensions: 110 (W) x 62 (H) x 38 (D) mm

Weight: 126g/0.2lbs (w/o battery)

What makes the Harman EZ35 so easy to use is that the film, once inserted, is automatically forwarded to your first shot. After every shot, the camera will automatically advance to the next frame. When you’re finished, the film automatically rewinds into the canister. The lens is a focus-free affair, so you just need to be there to take the shot. It takes all of the guesswork away from shooting film, which makes it perfect for film beginners. The kit should cost around $54 upon launch.

There’s Nothing Like Shooting Film

If you’ve never had the chance to shoot with film before, we highly recommend that you do. You’ll quickly find that there’s nothing like it. There are no complicated menus. No glaring LCDs or EVF’s that take your attention away from what’s in front of you. The best part is just being in the moment. Just you, a simple camera, no distractions, and your creative vision. It’s incredibly liberating, and it’s pure bliss. Waiting for your film to come back from the developers adds to the whole experience. Seeing your images printed is always fantastic. It’s quite easy to catch the film photography bug. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. So, if you’ve never shot with film and want an economical and environmentally friendly way to do it, check out the Harman EZ35 camera kit. If you’d like more information about the kit, head over to the official Harman website.

Canon has a new technology called PHIL AI, but it’s not helping you become a better photographer.

How many times have you sat there and said you’ll worry about a problem later on? We all do it. This is what Canon’s PHIL AI reminds me of. My mom used to put off repairing the family car a lot. Eventually, it just stopped working. Similarly, my uncle used to put off many health issues – that landed him in the ER. And on a less serious note, I had a former staffer who used to put off a critical vision care benefit. We as a society are just trained to procrastinate and worry later. And that’s the mentality I feel Canon’s new PHIL AI is catering to.

AI in Photography Ratings and Ethics

Canon isn’t alone in technologies like this. Canon PHIL is pretty much an AI photo rating app. And that’s awesome for consumers. It will help them pick the best photo since they obviously shoot recklessly. From an ethical standpoint, I commend Canon on this. They’re currently pitching it to consumers. It’s much better than another company.

That company is EyeEm. Years ago, they were a serious social media app. We were partners of theirs on a few projects. It was clear that Instagram was playing favorites, and EyeEm seemed a lot more friendly. One year, they released an AI algorithm into their app. This algorithm let people figure out what photos were best. It was based on compositions, sharpness, etc. By all means, it honestly seemed more advanced than Canon’s PHIL is. But then they released a magazine that shocked me. It portrayed the company’s photo editors as nothing more than brain algorithms. Indeed, it seemed that EyeEm’s AI learned from these folks and stole their rating habits. How could you make such a dehumanizing decision? Later, I was informed that EyeEm was shopping it around to publications. Specifically, it was being pitched to replace Photo Editors. And that’s where I drew the line.

Thankfully, PHIL isn’t nearly as unethical. And Canon should be praised for this. What’s more, I think they should have gone even further!

How Canon PHIL Works

Canon’s PHIL stands for Photography Intelligence Learning, and it works by doing one of the most dreaded parts of photography: culling. You essentially feed PHIL your photos. It digests them and keeps the ones it thinks are good. The rest are just wasted and flushed away. But unlike you who needs magnesium and Vitamin B, PHIL craves other things. According to Canon’s press release, it seeks out sharpness, noise, emotions, and closed eyes. Indeed, PHIL is focused on the post-production side.

What you input to PHIL will determine a whole lot. Similar to stuffing your face with a ton of spinach, you’ll get lots of great nutrients. If you feed it lots of great images, it will probably rate a lot very positively. But there are also times where you shovel tons of onion rings into your mouth. In PHIL’s situation, little good will come of this.

I understand that not many folks think like me. I’ve always been a person to eliminate a problem at the source. However, PHIL isn’t catering to folks like me.

“While we don’t have immediate plans for incorporating the AI utilized in the app into our cameras, we are always looking to help our customers improve their photographic skills to enable them to become better creators,” says Theresa Mattia, Marketing Specialist, Imaging and Technologies Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. Inc. She continued to state that faces are at the center of PHIL’s functionality.

“Photo Culling works with faces and subjects that are the central part of the photo. If pets are captured as the main subject in a photo, the app will provide the sharpness and noise scores.”

PHIL works in a sort of odd way with faces, in my opinion. The pandemic proved itself to be a perfect time to work on detecting people wearing masks. But PHIL isn’t really working to recognize someone wearing a mask. Most cameras sort of recognize that you have a face. And if PHIL doesn’t register a...

These professional grade Mirrorless cameras are built tough and can do it all.

Are you ready to go pro? If so, you might be wondering if your current camera will be up to the demanding nature of professional photography. Your camera needs to perform in different situations, but it also needs to be as rugged as possible. Fortunately, a handful of professional grade Mirrorless cameras on the market fit this bill perfectly. All the cameras we’ve listed here are well suited to a professional photographer’s demanding role. They boast excellent autofocus systems, and have brilliant sensors that can help capture stunning images. They’re also built like tanks and will take anything you’ll throw at them, and have a great collection of lenses you can pair with them. If you think you need professional grade Mirrorless cameras, these are the five we recommend.

Canon EOS R5 (The Best Camera for All-Around Pro Performance)

In our review, we said:

“It does everything that photographers want it to do. If you want good colors, this camera boasts that ability. Need good dynamic range? The Canon EOS R5 delivers if you just know how to meter a scene. If you’re looking for fantastic autofocus, we can’t find a major fault with the Canon EOS R5 within reason. The camera can take so much abuse and keep snapping images. Not only is the camera reliable, but it’s also very capable. I’d gladly make it my main camera.”

Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief

Buy now: $3,899

Sony A9 II (For Professional Sports and Wildlife Photographers)

In our review, we said:

“The Sony a9 II is honestly one of the most impressive cameras I have used to date. The sheer amount of tech and wizardry in this camera is enough to blow anyone’s mind. If you pick one of these cameras up, you’re going to get unmatched autofocus performance, great overall image quality, class-leading connectivity options, and one of the most comfortable cameras to use for long periods that Sony has produced.”

Brett Day – Gear Editor

Buy now: $4,498

Pro Tip: Using professional grade Mirrorless cameras is one thing. Getting from point A to point B safely is a completely different story. If you plan on going pro, you need to look the part and protect your gear. Check out our camera bags review section. There, you’ll find one of the largest databases of camera bag reviews on the web. You might not think the camera bag you use is important, but believe us when we say it can be everything.

Fujifilm GFX 50R (For Landscape and Portrait Photographers)

In our review, we said:

“The Fujifilm GFX 50R is almost a perfect camera. This is truly the first viable medium format camera designed to not be used in the studio. The Fujifilm GFX 50R is a camera that is meant to be out there with you. This is reflected in the autofocus, the size, the weight, the overall philosophy behind the camera, and the feel. This is by far Fujifilm’s best camera thus far.”

Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief

Buy now: $4,498

Leica SL2s (For Documentarians and Photojournalists)

In our review, we said:

“By and large, the Leica SL2s is the most rugged camera on the market for a working journalist: there’s no question about that one. It’s incredibly reliable, and I know that I’d be able to use it in any weather or environmental situation. It feels good in the hand. You’re getting a solid menu system, the lenses are wonderful, and best of all, the high ISO images are super clean. Again, the Leica SL2s gave us the cleanest ISO 6400 prints from a 24MP full-frame sensor we’ve seen so far. Personally speaking, this is a camera that I’d want to have with me everywhere.”

Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief

Buy now: $4,895

Olympus OMD EM1X (For Professionals Who Need Ultimate Durability

In our review, we said:

“The Olympus OMD EM1X has fantastic image stabilization, class-leading durability, some of the best ergonomics that I’ve ever held for a mirrorless camera, and a bevy of lenses for the photojournalist to use ...

The Hasselblad XH Converter is a nice idea, but it introduces some problems that many won’t want to deal with.

Over the years, Hasselblad has produced a nice collection of H mount lenses for their Medium Format cameras. However, with the introduction of the X1D, the X1D II, and the 907X, Hasselblad also introduced a new mount. Seasoned Hasselblad users who built up a solid H mount lens library might be put off the new cameras because of this. This is where the Hasselblad XH Converter 0.8 comes in. This focal reducer will adapt H mount lenses to Hasselblad X system cameras. The focal reducer will roughly give you the same field of view and aperture performance of H System (645 Medium Format) cameras. As a bonus, you’ll keep autofocus functionality. It sounds great in theory, but how does it perform in the real world? Find out in our full review.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Allows you to use H mount lenses on Hasselblad X Series cameras

Increases your field of view and maximum aperture

Weather sealing

Solid all metal build

Cons

Makes an already slow-focusing camera slower

Dramatically increases the amount of CA and fringing in images

Big, bulky, and adds significant weight to your camera

Not all HC lenses are supported as they can’t be updated to the latest firmware

Images are a little soft when lenses are shot at their widest aperture

Pricey at $949

Gear Used

We used the Hasselblad XH Converter 0.8 with the Hasselblad X1D II 50c and the Hasselblad HC 100mm f2.2.

Technical Specifications

All tech specs have been taken from the official Hasselblad website:

Focal length conversion factor: 0,79x

Aperture conversion factor: +2/3 Stop

Close range: Same as for the lens

Length/diameter: 51,5 / 84,6 mm

Weight: 430 g/ 0.94lbs

Product number: CP.HB.00000627.01

Design: 5 elements in 3 groups

Innovations

There are no real innovations to speak of here. Focal reducers have been around for quite some time, and they haven’t changed over the years. This is just another adapter with no real stand-out features other than it being for Hasselblad cameras and lenses.

“There’s not really much that can be done with a converter when it comes to ergonomics. Still, Hasselblad has done a nice job here.”

Brett Day – Gear Editor

Hasselblad XH Converter 0.8 – Ergonomics

From an ergonomics standpoint, the Hasselblad XH Converter 0.8 pretty standard for an adapter. The first thing you’re going to notice, though, is just how big the unit is. It’s the size of some primes on other systems. This adapter will add a significant chunk of metal to the front of your camera. Weighing in at just under a 1lb, you’re going to feel it. In fact, with the weight of the camera (1.69lbs), the lens (1.7lbs), and the adapter (0.94lbs), the total rig we used weighed 4.33lbs! Just keep this in mind if you have weak wrists.

This is what the Hasselblad XH Converter 0.8 looks like from the front with no lens attached. You can see the elements on the inside. Here you can also see the electronic contacts and the H mount.

As you can see, there are no external controls on the adapter apart from the lens release. The body of the converter is completely smooth, which makes it a little slippery. I like how Hasselblad went with a minimalist design here, though. All you’ll see on the body is some Hasselblad branding and the name of the converter. The extra metal jutting out the front of the camera also gives you a nice place to rest your hand. There’s not much that can be done with a converter when it comes to ergonomics. Still, Hasselblad has done a nice job here.

“This is a solid chunk of metal and glass that’s built to the standards you’d expect of Hasselblad.”

Brett Day – Gear Editor

Hasselblad XH Converter 0.8 – Build Quality

Solid! That’s how I would describe the build quality of the Hasselblad XH Converter 0.8. I recently said that David could put it in a sling and take down Goliath with it. That still rings true. This i...

The Sony Xperia 1 II makes it easier than ever to capture forever memories of your fur babies.

Pet photography is increasing in popularity all the time. We all love capturing forever memories of our pets, but sometimes we just don’t want to drag out all our pro gear. Well, what if we told anyone can create pro-quality pet images with a smartphone? It’s true. You can. Smartphone camera technology is pushing boundaries these days. The Sony Xperia 1 II is the most traditional camera-like smartphone we’ve put our hands on. After the break, we’ll show you how the Xperia 1 II can be used to create stunning shots of your furry friends that can then be shared instantly with the world.

This post is presented by Sony. Experience the power of the Sony Xperia 1 II from Amazon, Adorama, or the Sony Store. You can learn more about Xperia Trade-In offers here.

The Sony Xperia 1 II Can Do It All Thanks To the Pro Camera App

If you use Sony Mirrorless cameras, you’ll feel at home with the Sony Xperia 1 II. The Pro Camera app gives you all of the controls you need in a familiar-looking interface. The UI looks the same as the interface in Sony Alpha cameras. The controls are well laid out, and the gorgeous screen makes using the phone easy. Let’s take a quick look at the camera specs of the Sony Xperia 1 II:

16mm f2.4 12MP, 24mm f1.7 12MP, and 70mm f2.4 12MP cameras with Dual Phase Detection AF

0.3 MP 3D depth camera

LED Flash

HDR Mode

Eye-tracking

8MP f2 Front-facing camera

Dedicated shutter button

All of the lenses feature optics from Zeiss

1/1.7′′ sensor that’s 50% larger than the one in the previous Sony Xperia 1

20fps with autofocus and autoexposure when shooting in JPEG mode

The Sony Xperia 1 II is chocked full of features that will make your photography life easier. We’ve already shown you how you can use this phone for street photography. Now we’ll show you how you can utilize all of this power to create lasting memories of your furry friends.

The Xperia 1 II Shoots DNG RAW and JPEG

We all know the importance of being able to shoot in RAW formats. Being able to manipulate the RAW files from the Sony Xperia 1 II gives you so much freedom. The best part is that you can use image processors like Adobe Lightroom Mobile to edit your images instantly on the phone. As you can see, I was able to bring back quite a lot of detail in the shadows, and the highlights were nicely tamed.

The resolution and color reproduction of the screen means you’ll be able to take care of the smallest details while keeping your image color accurate. The JPEGS produced by the Xperia 1 II are also excellent. So, if you don’t want to spend time editing, you can shoot, save, and share images of your pets instantly.

Make The Most Of Manual Mode and Animal Eye Focus

The Xperia 1 II has program and shutter priority modes. Still, manual mode is where I wanted to be. I used a simple setup to take some of these images. I used plain backdrops. After that, I placed some constant lights to illuminate my dogs. Then, all I had to do was choose which of the three lenses to use, adjust the ISO and shutter speeds, and I was ready to go. The only way you can change apertures is by switching to different lenses. No matter which lens you use, though, you’re going to get sharp images.

If you turn on the face and eye detection, the phone will instantly track your pet’s eyes as well. This is tech lifted straight from the Sony Alpha line of cameras. It’s fantastic!

The on-screen histogram is a nice touch as well. It helped me make sure my exposure was correct. Hi-burst modes (while shooting JPEGS) helped me freeze the action, and continuous focus (AF-C) made the phone track my dogs. These features made everything very easy. It really was just like using a Sony Alpha camera.

Once I got my dog’s attention, all that was left to do was use the dedicated shutter button. Being able to half-press to lock focus, track, and then being able to wait for...