The Phoblographer

Every single one of them are good. Every single camera these days is very good and has gotten to a point where they’re all capable of taking great photos. But there is a lot more that goes into making a camera. Believe it or not, they’re all mostly the same in some ways. And it’s easy for someone to sit there and think that one camera is very similar to another until you pick them up and use them. With this in mind, cameras need to diversity.

They Can All Achieve Fast and Accurate Autofocus, But They’re Not the Same

Years ago, some cameras just wouldn’t be able to autofocus. They would be as slow as molasses. The performance would be bad for both contrast and phase-detection. But that’s all changed. They can all autofocus. Will they always be able to autofocus quickly? No. Can they all keep a moving subject perfectly in focus? No. Do they all have animal and bird face detection? No way. And you can surely bet that they all don’t have vehicle detection. However, they can all autofocus and take a portrait of a subject in good lighting. The performance will really vary in low lighting. More importantly, the speed will really vary depending on the brand used.

But again, if you just want them to take a picture, they can all do it pretty well. Even Sigma, much maligned by many reviewers, can make a camera that can do the very basics.

They’re all more or less copying one another. When one brand does face detection, so too does another. Some brand will try to do animal detection, and then another brand will too. Because they’re constantly copying each other, the products become the same.

Most are Weather Resistant, and That’s Very Important

Most cameras have weather resistance these days. And we’re happy about that. It’s not important just for going out into the rain, but also for overall sensor protection. Plus, your cameras will keep working in tip top shape for longer if they’re built better. The way I like to think about this is like what my mother did to the poor Camry we had growing up. She’d use it to haul hundreds of pounds of stuff from Home Depot. The entire suspension system would be screwed up. Of course, there are cars designed to do that kind of stuff. A 1997 Camry couldn’t do it in 2011. Similarly, your Nikon z50 isn’t going to resist what a Nikon Z7 II will. The Sony a7c won’t stand up to everything the Sony a1 can either.

At this point though, more and more weather resistant cameras need to be hitting the market.

There are also folks that say that weather resistant cameras don’t necessarily need weather resistance. But it’s a big issue for anyone that actually uses their cameras, warranties, insurance, etc.

All Ergonomics Follow More or Less Two Design Variants

All cameras follow one of three designs:

The SLR: like most cameras with a raised viewfinder.

The rangefinder: in my opionion, this is the best.

The box: Hasselblad and Sigma more or less do that.

So with that in mind, there are subtleties that make one camera look and feel different from another. Sometimes it’s a small thing like thumb grips. Other times it can be the exterior materials. But when they’re all copying one another or changing things slightly, it’s easy for everything to be the same.

They’re All Using More or Less the Same Sensors

All sensors come from maybe three companies: Canon, Sony, or Tower Jazz. So they’re all getting the same image quality until they start doing this own tweaks via the processor and more. This is a big problem. At the root of it all, most cameras on the market have the same Sony sensors in them. What’s the point of discussing image quality if they’ve got the same starting point? The processor and the tweaks companies make can surely have something to do with it. But again, they’re all more or less similar.

For well over a decade, we’ve worked diligently to review as many lenses as we possibly can. We believe that lenses are the lifeblood of a camera system. The Leica L mount camera system is one of the oldest mirrorless full-frame systems, and Leica SL lenses have grown since it started. In our typical fashion, we dove into our Reviews Index to find all our reviews of all Leica SL lenses, and we’re putting them all in this roundup for you. Interested in a Leica SL2 or Leica SL2-S? Well, here are the lenses you might be interested in.

You can view this article and much more with minimal banners ads in our brand new app for iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

This piece is presented in partnership with Leica. We’ve independently and ethically reviewed all the lenses in this roundup already without sponsorship. And we worked with them to recommend a few key gems to you. The Phoblographer’s various product round-up features are done in-house. Our philosophy is simple: you wouldn’t get a Wagyu beef steak review from a lifelong vegetarian. And you wouldn’t get photography advice from someone who doesn’t touch the product.

As a further Editor’s note, the reviews aren’t sponsored content. We don’t do sponsored reviews: it’s against our ethics. But over the past year, we’ve done a lot of sponsored roundups for Leica. To provide variety, we’ve reviewed a ton of Leica cameras and lenses. And that helped us create this guide.

Table of Contents

Some things about Leica SL lenses might not be very clear. So here are a few things worth explaining to you folks quickly:

Nomenclature for Leica SL Lenses and Understanding Them

Pro Tips on Using Leica SL Prime Lenses

Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35mm f3.5-4.5 ASPH

Essential Tech Specs

Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f2.8 ASPH

Essential Tech Specs

Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f2.8-4 ASPH

Essential Tech Specs

All Leica SL lenses have weather sealing built in. Considering that Leica SL series cameras have an IP-rating attached, you can guarantee that the lenses will be just as durable.

Leica 28mm f2 APO-Summicron SL ASPH

Essential Tech Specs

Leica 35mm f2 APO-Summicron SL ASPH

Essential Tech Specs

Leica SL lenses are all autofocus. There are no zone focusing or depth of field scales like their M-variants. This means that if you’re shooting a portrait, you can use the face and body detection built into the cameras.

Leica 50mm f2 APO-Summicron SL ASPH

A lot of these lenses have an Apochromatic design. In our findings, this is what helps give Leica lenses a bit more “pop” than regular lenses. These are our findings universally across our entire reviews team.

Essential Tech Specs

On the Leica SL2, the Leica SL Prime Lenses will render their sharpest images because of the resolution of the sensor.

Leica 50mm f1.4 APO-Summicron SL ASPH

On the Leica SL2-S, the Leica SL Prime Lenses will focus faster and help passionate photographers in low-light situations better.

Essential Tech Specs

Leica 75mm f2 APO-Summicron SL ASPH

Essential Tech Specs

Something I truly adore about the Leica 16-35mm f3.5-4.5 SL is the color. Combine that with fixed white balances, and you’ll be very, very happy. Part of that comes from Leica’s sensors and processors.

Leica 90mm f2 APO-Summicron SL ASPH

Essential Tech Specs

Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f2.8-4

Essential Tech Specs

Nomenclature for Leica SL Lenses and Understanding Them

Some things about Leica SL lenses might not be very clear. So here are a few things worth explaining:

Summicron: Leica’s designation for a lens being an f2 maximum aperture.

Summilux: Leica’s designation for a lens being faster than f2.

SL: Meaning the lens is designed for full-frame L-mount cameras. For reference, all Leica SL lenses can go onto the smaller system cameras like the Leica CL.

ASPH: Aspherical lens elements.

APO: Apochromatic design.

Pro Tips on Using Leica SL Prime Lenses

Here’s what you need to know about Leica SL lenses:

All Leica SL lenses have weather sealing built in. Considering that ...

Beautiful, comfortable, and functional. This is what most photographers look for when shopping for camera bags. As it turns out, few offerings deliver on all three bullets. Even fewer are successful when it comes to larger camera bags. Billingham is known in the industry for beautiful bags that are built to last, which is reflected in the price. As someone moving to a medium format sensor, I was curious to see if the Billingham Hadley Large Pro could deliver style, comfort, and functionality. Could it be as successful as the original Hadley?

Table of Contents

Too Long Didn’t Read

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Gear Used

Innovations

Tech Specs

Ergonomics

Build Quality

Ease of Use

Conclusions of the Billingham Hadley Large Pro Review

Likes

Dislikes

Too Long Didn’t Read

The Billingham Hadley Large Pro camera bag is beautiful and functional. An add-on purchase of the SP50 shoulder strap makes it comfortable. It’s designed to carry a lot of gear in style. The addition of a luggage trolley strap and their renowned quick-release straps would make this quality bag even better.

Pros and Cons

Pros

It’s beautiful

Well-constructed

Plenty of room for gear

Doubles as an overnight bag

Waterproof FibreNyte

Cons

A bag of this size needs a luggage trolley retainer strap

It doesn’t have the quick release system

FibreNyte gets dirty easily, although the sage green wears it very well

Gear Used

We tested the Billingham Hadley Large Pro with a 16” MacBook Pro, Sony a7 IV with the Sony 35mm f1.4 GM lens, Sony 50mm f1.2GM lens, Canon 5D Mark III with Canon 50mm f1.2L lens, Hasselblad 501cm, Sekonic light meter, film, and accessories.

Innovations

The Billingham Hadley Large Pro isn’t very innovative. It follows a very classic design and pairs it with beautiful materials. The bag is more attractive than many of those on the market. Plus, it’s built to last.

Tech Specs

All technical specifications are from Billingham.

External Dimensions: W440mm (17¼”) x D180mm (7⅛”) x H320mm (12⅝”) (excluding top handle), W440mm (17¼”) x D180mm (7⅛”) x H340mm (13⅜”) (including top handle)

Internal Dimensions (Main compartment): W400mm (15¾”) x D135mm (5⅜”) x H280mm (11″)

Capacity with padded insert: 10 litres (0.35 feet³)

Capacity without padded insert: 13 litres (0.46 feet³)

Weight: 1.64 kgs (3.62 lbs)

Front ‘dump’ pockets (x2) Dimensions: W165 to 205mm (6½” to 8″) x D40 to 60mm (1½” to 2⅜”) x H250mm (9⅞”)

Capacity (each): 1.5 to 2.5 litres (0.05 feet³ to 0.09 feet³)

Internal laptop slip pocket: W390mm (15⅜”) x D Nominal x H300mm (11⅞”)

Rear zipped pocket: W390mm (15⅜”) x D Nominal x H270mm (10⅝”)

Capacity Nominal

Padded Insert External Dimensions: W400mm (15¾”) x D140mm (5½”) x H290mm (11⅜”)

Padded Insert Internal Dimensions: W400mm (15¾”) x D135mm (5⅜”) x H280mm (11″)

Capacity: 10 litres (0.35 feet³)

Weight: 0.44kg (0.97 lbs)

Shoulder Sling Measurements

Length: can be adjusted between 970mm (38⅛”) to 1550mm (61″) approx.

Width: 50mm (2″)

Ergonomics

The first thing you will notice about this Billingham bag is that it lives up to its name. It looks like a much larger version of the Hadley Pro 2020. The Hadley Large Pro fits on my Vespa and allows plenty of legroom, making for a comfortable commute.

The bag is designed to be carried in several different ways. The adjustable shoulder strap can be worn cross-body as well as single shoulder carry. Although, it’s best to wear the Hadley Large Pro cross-body style when it is loaded with gear.

A leather grab handle is located on the top and allows you to carry it like a suitcase. The handle is a nice feature as the amount of gear this bag can carry can get heavy.

Here is a look at the optional SP50 shoulder pad. It is one of the most comfortable that I have encountered, and I think it really should come standard with this bag. As you can see, the Hadley Large Pro is the only camera bag offered by Billingham that does not have quick-release straps. Instead, you will find traditional brass buckles.

A large zippered pocket is locate...

The cool thing about Billingham bags is that they last a very long time. On the camera bag market, their durability is truly second to none. The brand has also been around for a very long time and their products aren’t made cheaply. In 10 years, your bank account will thank you. Today, they’re announcing the new Billingham Eventer Mini. It’s a smaller version of their Eventer messenger bag (which is an even smaller Hadley more or less). It’s as durable as it is beautiful. However, there are some modern updates Billingham really needs to make at this point.

Editor’s Note: In a previous version of this article, we stated that this camera bag was made of canvas. We were wrong. It’s made of Black FibreNyte.

Table of Contents

Too Long; Didn’t Read

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Gear Used

Innovations

Tech Specs

Ergonomics

Build Quality

Ease of Use

Conclusions

Likes

Dislikes

Too Long; Didn’t Read

The Billingham Eventer Mini is a smaller version of the company’s Eventer bag. It’s designed mostly passionate photographers and event photographers. You can stuff just enough kit in here to shoot an event.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Very convenient

Small

Super stylish

Incredibly well built

Encourages you to not bring everything with you all the time. Perfect for the photographer who doesn’t edit on a laptop (or edit at all).

Black FibreNyte and leather make us super happy. Though these days, I’m very curious about a hemp material bag.

Seriously holds just the right amount of gear

Billingham’s quick release straps continue to be the best we’ve used on any messenger bag

Cons

It’s time Billingham steps into 2021 and gives us a waist strap for support. I do Pilates and yoga every day, and even this threw my back off. There was a point where I needed to take it off and rest up.

One could say it’s pricey, but their bags last the longest of any I’ve used.

Gear Used

We tested the Billingham Eventer Mini with the Sony a1, Sony 35mm f1.8 FE, two Sony flashes, the Fujifilm X Pro 3, Tamron 18-300mm, and Flashpoint Zoom Lion R2 flash.

Innovations

Let’s be honest, the Billingham Eventer Mini isn’t doing anything to change the game. Instead, it’s being the most stylish and rugged offering of a small messenger bag on the market. But Billingham can totally do a lot more.

Tech Specs

Provided by Billingham.

External dimensions (W x D x H)Internal dimensions (W x D x H)36cm x 16cm x 30cm (inc. top handle)33cm x 10cm x 21cmWeight (inc shoulder pad and padded insert)2.78 lbsMain compartment capacity5 litres (inside padded insert)Front pockets (x2) capacity0.75 litres per front pocketIncluded accessoriesSP50 Shoulder PadRemovable, padded insert featuring a tablet slip compartmentDivider set (2x vertical and 2x flap dividers)Mini Eventer Front strapsOptional accessoriesLeather luggage tally

Ergonomics

Here’s a look at the gorgeous Billingham Eventer Mini. Indeed, it looks like a smaller Hadley. That’s pretty much what it is.

Like other Billingham bags, it has the quick release straps. These are wonderful. I now own four Billingham bags, and I always swear by these.

At the top of the Billingham Eventer Mini is this suitcase handle. It comes in handy for sure when the bag is starting to cramp your back and shoulders.

In the back, there’s room for a tablet and other random things. It’s an incredibly useful pocket. I put business cards in here.

Here’s a look at the shoulder strap. As always, Billinham’s shoulder straps are wonderful. They attach using buckles. However, most of the time I don’t end up using it on the shoulder.

Here are the front pockets. These aren’t expandable like some on the Hadley bags. So again, you’ll go minimal.

Under the main flap, you’ll find this zippered pocket. This is for the main compartment.

Here’s a quick look at what can fit in here. There are more dividers, but they often don’t make sense. I put an X Pro 3 with a Tamron 18-300mm in there and a Flashpoint flash on the side.

Here’s more of a look at the interior divider system.

Build Quality

In ter...

A Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 will look and feel fantastic strapped around you.

Bags like the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 and others have just become better for photographers over the years. Though I’m still partial to a backpack instead of a messenger, this update feels just a bit special. Arguably, the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 is for photographers. But in use, one could say that it’s for content creators and journalists. Messenger bags over the years have evolved a lot, and the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 shows evidence of that. The internals were updated to give photographers who shoot with mirrorless systems a bit more organization. Further, you can shove a laptop in this bag along with pretty much every tool you’d possibly need. If you’re the type to go for hot shoe flashes, there’s room for that. But if you tote along a Profoto B10 the way I do, you’ll have a bit more trouble. We’ve taken the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 with us on planes, on trips, on commutes, to meetings, and everywhere. We’re very impressed.

However, this is more of a bag for a content creator than a photographer.

Editor’s Note: In a previous version of this article, we said that this bag was made from canvas. It is not, but it surely feels like it!

Pros and Cons

Pros

Weather sealed

Beautiful

Leather and Khaki FibreNyte

Expandable pockets

Incredibly comfortable

Can pack a whole lot of gear, laptop, cords, and more.

Very well built

Cons

Nothing really to be honest

Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 Technical Specifications

External dimensions (W x D x H) W430 x D140 x H280mm (Height excluding handle: 240mm) Internal dimensions (W x D x H)(inside removable padded insert) W340 x D80 x H210mmPadded insert is flexible so ‘D’ measurement can expand to 100mm at the bottom of the bag and (up to) 160mm at the top. Capacity. 6 liters. Weight. 1.2kg (including removable shoulder sling) Pockets. 3. Front dump pockets x 2 (W x D x H) 130-170mm x 40-60mm x 200mm, 1-1.25 litres capacity. Rear zipped pocket (W x H) 320mm x 180mm. Detachable, adjustable shoulder sling. Length – can be adjusted between 94cm and 164cm approx. Width – 38mm; Weight – 0.16kg.

Ergonomics

The Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 is a bag that looks pretty compact. And in truth, it’s really not excessively large. But it’s capable of carrying a lot of stuff. It also doesn’t necessarily look like a camera bag. Instead, it just looks like a beautiful bag.

We’ll start our tour of the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 with the leather straps. These allow you to get into the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020. There’s a buckle and top metal knobs. To accommodate more gear, just adjust the buckle.

Undo the top flap, and you’ll be treated to these pockets. They’re quite large and can carry a whole ton of stuff for when you travel.

Oh yeah, these pockets are expandable. There are buttons on each that let them hold more gear or make the entire bag’s profile smaller. These are great!

Get to the inside, and you’ll see the removable divider system. There is a top flap that contains all the gear inside of the rest of the divider case. In the case is padding that can be adjusted and moved all around.

The back of the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 has a zipper for stuff like cables, documents, and other smaller profile things. I’ve stuffed Macbook Pro cables in here.

Before we forget, you can put your laptop inside the main compartment of the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 too! A 13-inch laptop slides into the back just fine.

Last, there is the top handle that lets you carry the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 like a briefcase. It’s sturdy and can be really convenient when your chest/shoulders need a break.

Build Quality

We took the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 through rain, airports, subways, cabs, and several different environments. It survived everything, and it kept our gear safe. I’m most satisfied that it kept my laptop secure and the various camera systems that I was testing safe too. Part of this is due to how you have to open up the bag. This is...

Tamron lenses are fantastic. I’m not sure there’s any independent reviewer that would disagree with that. Tamron zoom lenses for Sony FE cameras are notably incredible. Their lenses don’t exactly compete with what Sony offers, but they augment it. What’s more, they do so while providing a ton of value for what they are. We’ve reviewed every Tamron zoom lens for Sony FE cameras on the market. And in this roundup, we’ll tell you what you need to know if you’re considering purchasing.

This piece is presented in partnership with TAMRON. We’ve independently and ethically reviewed all the products in this post already without sponsorship. And we worked with them to recommend a few key gems to you.

The Phoblographer’s various product round-up features are done in-house. Our philosophy is simple: you wouldn’t get a Wagyu beef steak review from a lifelong vegetarian. And you wouldn’t get photography advice from someone who doesn’t touch the product. We only recommend gear that we’ve fully reviewed. If you’re wondering why your favorite product didn’t make the cut, there’s a chance it’s on another list. If we haven’t reviewed it, we won’t recommend it. This method keeps our lists packed with industry-leading knowledge. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Table of Contents

Tamron Nomenclature

Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD

VXD: (Voice-Coil eXtreme torque Drive) The VXD AF Drive provides the highest levels of autofocus speed and precision in Tamron’s long history and is Tamron’s first-ever linear motor focus mechanism for stunningly fast and accurate auto-focusing. Two VXD units are arranged in a floating system and operated simultaneously via electronic control to achieve excellent optical performance at all shooting distances near and far. Focus tracking is vastly improved for sports and racing photography.

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2

Tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6 Di III RXD

Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 Di III VXD

Tamron 70-180mm f2.8 Di III VXD

Tamron 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD

Tamron Nomenclature

Here are some common Tamron terms in their lens naming and what they mean.

Di: Tamron Di (Digitally Integrated) lenses are performance-optimized for digital cameras. Lenses with the nomenclature Di are lenses for DSLRs featuring full-frame sensors; Di II for DSLRs with APS-C sensors; Di III for mirrorless cameras with full-frame sensors; and Di III-A for mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensors.

VXD: (Voice-Coil eXtreme torque Drive) The VXD AF Drive provides the highest levels of autofocus speed and precision in Tamron’s long history. It is Tamron’s first-ever linear motor focus mechanism for stunningly fast and accurate auto-focusing. Two VXD units are arranged in a floating system and operated simultaneously via electronic control to achieve excellent optical performance at all shooting distances near and far. Focus tracking is vastly improved for sports and racing photography.

G1 or G2: First or second generation of a particular Tamron lens.

VC: (Vibration Compensation Image Stabilization System) Tamron’s VC uses a proprietary actuator and algorithms to deliver an extremely stable viewfinder image with excellent tracking. The 3-coil system electromagnetically drives the lens element that compensates for vibration, which glides smoothly on three balls with little friction. Several lenses offer different modes for panning and video shooting. VC can also be customized with the TAP-In Console or Tamron Lens Utility. VC should always be turned off when using the lens on a tripod.

RXD: (Rapid eXtra-silent Drive) The RXD stepping drive uses an actuator to precisely control the rotational angle of the motor, allowing it to directly drive the focusing lens without passing through a reduction gear. A sensor that accurately detects the position of the lens enables high-speed and precise AF, which is ideal when shooting mo...

ND filters and Light Pollution filters can be really fun to work with! We’ve got another special FLASH SALE EXCLUSIVELY FOR PHOBLOGRAPHER READERS from K&F Concept. We’re partnering with K&F Concept to give you the K&F Concept ND2-ND400 filter for 10% off and the K&F Concept Light pollution filter for 20% off! This is exclusively for Phoblographer readers. Live in a city and want to get rid of noise pollution? Well, this can solve that problem! Or maybe you want to capture the seascape with an ND filter! Below, you’ll find the details on how to take advantage of this special discount.

Who: Teaming up with K&F Concept for an exclusive flash sale!

What: Take 15% off the K&F Concept ND2-ND400 filters right here when you use code Phoblog10. Or take 20% off the K&F Concept Light Pollution Filter right here when you use code Phoblog20. YOU MUST USE OUR LINKS TO MAKE THIS WORK!

When: This is a short-lived flash sale. December 20th to December 22nd 2021

Where: Head to this listing right here to take 15% off the K&F Concept ND2-ND400 filters. Or head to this listing right here to take 20% off the K&F Concept Light Pollution Filter.

How: After heading to the listings and adding the product to your cart, check out as normal. When you get to the payment portion, there’s a little area to insert our special code. Type the promo code previous listed to take the according percentage off.

The Phoblographer’s Cheap Photo deals posts are designed to focus on giving you some of the best deals on photography gear we find. We spend a literal business day researching the most attractive camera deals, lens price drops, and all other sales we can find. Some of the gear is brand new. But other times we’ll serve you used or refurbished products at good prices. Our Cheap Photo deals are different from the Phoblographer’s thoroughly researched Feature Roundups. If we’ve tested a unit, we may link to our reviews and coverage in our Cheap Photo deals. With our Feature Roundups, we’re guaranteed to have used the product — often exhaustively. The site may receive affiliate commission payments if you make a purchase. These help us keep the staff fairly compensated, the server bill paid, and us continually delivering content.

“The universe is telling you you’re not here for a very long time,” answers Paul Zizka when I queried why he places himself in many of his night landscape shots. He enjoys doing this to communicate the connection of mankind to the landscape on which we live. Some of his nightscapes look like they were taken on a different planet altogether, a testimony to the diverse Earth we inhabit but have yet to explore in detail.

You can view this article and much more with minimal ads in our brand new app for iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

It takes incredible patience to get the kind of images Paul Zizka is famous for. But it also takes a lot of determination and persistence to capture unique photos from popular locations. Seeing the vantage points that some of these photos are taken from, it also needs a lot of physical and mental strength. Many of these images reminded me of some otherworldly scenes from the movie Prometheus, except that mainly was CGI. These images are 100% real, and equally stunning.

The Essential Photo Gear Used by Paul Zizka

Paul told us:

Canon EOS R5

Canon 16-35mm f2.8L

Manfrotto tripods

Lowepro PhotoSport PRO

Lupine Blika headlamp

LumeCube

AquaTech EDGE sport housing

An extensive list can be seen at

My creative vision often involves difficult situations, whether it be mountaineering expeditions in extreme conditions or working in the dark to capture celestial events or the northern lights. Having the right gear is essential to executing my vision.

The Phoblographer: Hi Paul. Please tell us about yourself and how you got into photography.

Paul Zizka: I am a professional mountain landscape and adventure photographer based in the town of Banff, Alberta and hailing from Quebec City. I am passionate about capturing the spirit of adventure in hard-to-reach mountain landscapes. When I first got into photography, it was a way for me to share my early mountain experiences with friends and family back east. I quickly grew fascinated with the interplay between light, weather, and landscape. I purchased my first DSLR in 2007 and learned everything I could about photography on my own. Three years later, I dove into photography full-time.

The Phoblographer: When did you start having a fascination with night photography? What was the catalyst that drove you?

Paul Zizka: I’ve always enjoyed how the nighttime can turn familiar places into completely different experiences. I also love all the elements of magic associated with astrophotography – aurora, stars, moonlight. The beauty that the camera reveals, but the naked eye cannot see, intrigues me. My fascination for astrophotography developed naturally as I did more overnight trips in the backcountry.

The Phoblographer: Astro and night sky photography have been around for a few years. What did you decide to do in this genre in order to clearly set yourself apart from other photographers?

Paul Zizka: I think committing has helped set me apart since it takes a lot of cold, late nights and persistence to create a body of work in this genre. Another thing was deciding to put myself in the images for scale, perspective, and story. It was a way of communicating our connection to the landscape. It is easier to use models, but I am often shooting alone, so it had to be me. Eventually, the self-portrait aspect became a part of the photographic journey, and I enjoy the challenges it brings.

The Phoblographer: When you head out for night photography, what are some things you don’t leave home without? And what’s your favourite photography accessory for this?

Paul Zizka: The non-camera gear I bring is all about keeping me warm and comfortable, so I can stay out and shoot for as long as I need to. This includes a puffy jacket, hand warmers, warm footwear, and a hot drink. Traditional hand warmers work, but I do love my G-Tech Heated Hand Warmers.

The Phoblographer: There’s of course the fitness aspect to all of this. In between all the hiking, photography, workshops, editing, etc., how do you fi...

The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) has a long, rich history with photography. From spying to investigating UFOs, the CIA has had many requirements for cameras and what they can do. Looking into the CIA’s relationship with photography is a long-term, ongoing series at The Phoblographer in our Declassified section. We have a fascination with how one of the world’s most important agencies uses photography. And in this roundup, we’re sharing some of the best stories from over the years.

You can view this article and much more with minimal ads in our brand new app for iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

The CIA went to The Bottom of The Ocean

In 1972 the CIA took a plunge into the ocean to recover old film roll. This information was made public in 2012, and documented it took three different dives to recover the film. The film roll was Eastman Kodak and was unfortunately damaged by saltwater as it was brought back to the surface. Unfortunately, we do not know what they were looking for. However, there’s a cool story behind the camera. Read about it here.

The CIA Teaches You How to Clean Your Camera

“I’ll clean my camera next week.” If we had a penny for the number of times photographers had uttered that sentence, we’d be living in a mansion on the beach. Camera maintenance is super important, especially if you want some longevity out of your system. You can clean it yourself or pay a professional. Or, you can use the CIA’s guide to keep your house in order. Some of the tips from the CIA may seem tailored to children. However, if you’ve never cleaned your camera before, it’s worth starting with the basics. See the tips here.

Even The CIA Has Gear Lust

Most photographers experience gear lust at some point in their life. They sit in front of the computers, browsing online stores. Many hours pass as they scroll through the gear options, mouths open, drool dripping out. They reach for the tissues and unzip their—you get the picture. But what piece of gear got the CIA begging for more? We won’t give the game away in this article, but you can take a look here.

Tool to Help The CIA Spy

The CIA likes to spy on others. Patriots will say it’s for the greater good; conspiracists claim it’s to pry into our lives. Whatever its motive is, the CIA needs the right tools to do the job. In the 1950s, a document showed that the CIA requested a telescoping lens and several other expectations for how the lens would be built. It was willing to pay around $2500, which would be $28,832.78 in today’s money! Check out the full story here.

A Checklist on Photographing UFOs

Last but not least in the roundup is the juicy stuff you’ve all been waiting for. The topic of UFOs always leads to good conversations. From conspiracy to facts, almost everyone has opinions on what exists outside our planet. UFOs don’t always equate to an alien invasion. It can simply mean an object that cannot be identified. The CIA has its own database of sightings, and the findings may surprise you. You can take a look at them here.

We Have More on Flipboard!

If you enjoyed the above roundup, you can find more stories relating to photography and the CIA by checking out our Flipboard. There you’ll also find rounds up of the best stories from the diverse world of photography, so subscribe and share!

If you have dreams of being a travel photographer, one question you may ask yourself is, “how can I prevent my gear from being stolen?” It’s a good question, and sadly, one you need to ask. Beyond the beauty and the glory, the true travel photographer will find themselves in countries where they’ll need to pay attention to their gear. Locals can ease their economic struggles with a stolen camera and lens. So, in this article, I will teach aspiring travel photographers how to prevent their beloved gear from being stolen.

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A Note to The Travel Photographer

I’m writing this article as a photographer who has traveled the world full time for almost four years. From Asia to Latin America, I have found myself in some places where taking extra care of your belongings is a must. But here’s a note to any travel photographer who may be eager to judge certain nations and the people who make them.

Economic hardship in certain countries is vastly different from the struggles in developed nations. So, when someone enters their zone, Fujifilm, Leica, or Sony in their hand, they don’t steal it because they have nothing better to do. They do it because the money they receive from selling it is life-changing. So, we should never judge, and we should do our best not to be angry if we’re ever in the unfortunate situation where someone steals our photography gear. But hopefully, that won’t happen, and it’s likely that it won’t if you follow the below steps.

Don’t be The Overly Brave Travel Photographer

The new, fearless travel photographer may have the urge to go here, there, and everywhere. I get it. I was the same when I bought my first one-way ticket. But let me tell you, I was foolish, naive at best. There are certain zones in certain cities you just don’t want to end up in. Not only could you lose your photography gear, you could also lose your life. So if someone says “stay away,” make sure you listen to them. The consequences are not worth it.

The Smart Travel Photographer Takes a Guide

As a street photographer, it’s in my blood to go my own way. I don’t have the time (nor the patience) to go at someone else’s pace. However, I have to put my instincts to one side when I’m away from home and traveling to new lands. Not only can a guide help you navigate away from the no-go zones, but they can also act as an added layer of protection against potential thieves. It doesn’t mean you can’t slightly wander away from the pack, but at least you’re not isolated on your own.

Put Your Camera Away When You’re Not Using it

Keeping a camera around your shoulder or neck is convenient. You can grab it and shoot easily while on the go. But sometimes, it’s best to put it away in your camera bag when you’re not using it. Remember, traveling around with a camera makes you a walking advertisement. The fewer people see it, the less chance of someone snatching it.

Carry a Point and Shoot

If you have the luxury of affording a second camera, I advise you to invest in an entry-level compact camera. Two reasons: Firstly, if someone does try and rob you, you can hand over your point and shoot and tell them that’s all you have. Theives like to act quickly. If you give them a $400 system, that will likely be all they need. That way, you can keep your expensive camera (if it’s in your bag!) Secondly, if you fancy doing some street photography, a point-and-shoot is often all you need. So you can leave your main camera at home and keep it safe.

What Not to do

Above are some tips for the travel photographer who doesn’t want their gear stolen. Below I’ll share some things that you should avoid doing.

Putting Black Tape Over The Branding

An old-school way of keeping your camera gear less exposed is to put black sticky tape over the logos and branding. I can see why this was done back in the day, when cameras were not as recognizable. Today, however, it’s pretty pointles...