Category: camera equipment reviews

Category for all reviews of camera equipment like flashes, diffusers, cases, modifiers, straps bags, battery chargers.

Lightroom Mobile review for ipad

Lightroom Mobile review for iPad

I’ve been using this interesting app for a few weeks now, and I thought it was time for a Lightroom Mobile for iPad review. This app is currently only available for iPad from 2.0 upwards, but Adobe will be releasing an iPhone and Android version within the next few months.

The basics of Lightroom Mobile for iPad

To start with my Lightroom Mobile review, I’ll quickly explain the basics: Lightroom on your desktop syncs with the downloadable app through Adobe’s creative cloud environment. Once you have signed into your CC account on both devices, you’ll find an All Synced Photographs tab in your catalog navigator. One can simple drag collections to this tab, and it will automatically sync your Lightroom library on both devices. On the mobile app, you’ll see all your collections neatly organized according to the folder structure you made on your desktop. All edits done inside your mobile app will show up on your desktop virtually immediately. Very simple yet genius idea Adobe implemented here.

The app does not download the full RAW or jpg files, but instead uses the previews generated during import. All basic Lightroom functions are available, so I’ll quickly run through all the screens with you.

Lightroom Mobile App structure

Start page

Here you’ll find your synced folders and some basic settings. Tapping on the desired folder will open up the folder stream.

– Sync only over Wifi: avoid roaming charges if desired and only sync when a WiFi connection is available

– Presentation mode: will show a pop-up where gestures and clicks are placed

– Gesture shortcuts: Since the iPad supports multiple finger gestures, Adobe has made smart use of this functionality and assigned different shortcuts. These are in-line with the feature assigned by Apple on iPad, so you’ll quickly get the hang of it.

Grid and Loupe menu

As in the image scroll bar in the full Lightroom version, your selected picture is displayed in large format with a scrollbar on the bottom. All relevant metadata like camera, shutter speed, ISO lens, focal length, and aperture are displayed on the left hand, and you’ll also find the histogram on the right hand.

Tapping the selected picture twice will zoom in, so you can check detail focus and choose your best shots for further editing. Swiping down up or down will flag the images you want to use.

Adjustments menu

This is similar to the Develop module in Lightroom desktop. White balance, Color temp, tint, Auto tone, contrast, whites, blacks, clarity, vibrance, saturation, B&W, B&W filter, B&W toned; color and effect are all available. These functions are easy to adjust by swiping the screen. Currently, only Adobe’s own presets and effects are available, but perhaps you’ll be able to sync your own in the future.

Crop menu

The crop menu allows you to switch between different crop values to explore what suits the image best, and manually change crop and rotation if desired.

Conclusion

During my month of testing for this Lightroom mobile review, I’ve found this a very useful app. Not only does it allow you to do all the fundamental editing and selecting from your couch, on the train or even in the bathroom, but also you have the advantage of viewing your images on another screen. I use 2 calibrated screens in my desktop setup, yet still it is very useful to check it on a 3rd mobile screen to avoid surprises later on. Besides this, the Lightroom Mobile app makes a breeze out of editing tasks like straightening horizons, adjusting white balance, black- and white points and contrast. You can even try out some effects to get a feel for what would work with your images. Everyone using Lightroom, who has an iPad should try it out, and I’m sure it will make your girlfriend jubilant having you next to her on the couch for a couple more hours per week!

May 3, 2014
Sony PlayMemories timelapse review with the A6000 and A7r
Sony Playmemories timelapse review with the A6000 and A7r

Sony PlayMemories Camera Apps recently released a few new apps; I thought my photography trip to the Azores would be an excellent way to do a Sony Playmemories timelapse review. I used the new Sony A6000 and the Sony A7r with the SEL2470z lens. The app has eight programs dependent presets to choose from. Each preset can be adjusted to a varying degree in the Application Settings 5-page menu (accessed by pressing the MENU button):

Page 1
- Exit Application: you have to go into the menu system to exit
- Application Top: goes to the preset menu
- Application Settings: you’ll find most of the essential customizing features here (see below for a full breakdown)
- Self-timer: sets how long it takes before the first capture starts
- Interval priority: When the theme you selected is either Sunset, Sunrise, or Custom, you can set Interval Priority to either On where the camera shoots images at the same shooting interval value that was set. Or to Off where it shoots pictures at the shutter speed range when the shutter speed is longer than the shooting interval value that was set.
Page 2
- Image Size: select the regular Jpg and RAW storage options
- Aspect ratio selects the image dimensions
- Quality: choose the regular Jpg and RAW storage options
- Movie size: full HD (1920×1080) or HD (1280×720)
Page 3
- Focus Mode: Automatic (A), Continuous servo AF (C ), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M)
- Focus Area: Wide (179 points phase-detection AF, 25 points contrast-detection AF), Zone, Center-weighted, Flexible Spot (Small, Medium, Large)
- Exposure Comp: Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
- ISO set the ISO to Auto or manually to the desired value
Page 4
- White Balance: choose a custom white balance
- Creative Style: choose between Sony’s original color styles, the movie (or images) generated will have your preferred color style
- Picture Effect: choose between Sony’s built-in image effects, , the video (or images) generated will have your preferred effect style
Page 5
- Zoom: the amount of zoom you want to use the focus magnifier (set in the camera’s menu system)
- Focus Magnifier: check the focus of your shot by zooming into your subject
Application Settings on page 1

This is probably the most useful page where you can set all the basic tweaks for your selected preset.
- The file format choices are 24p,30p, or still images that save the individual images for processing with third party software.
- Interval from 1 second to 60 minutes
- Number of shots from 1 to 990
- Auto exposure can be set to lock with the AEL lock button. Focus on the spot for which you want to set the exposure, press the AEL button to fix the exposure. Or AE tracking from low to high.
Presets

Now we got the basics out of the way; we’ll take a look at the different presets available forSony Playmemories timelapse review. I’ve added an example when available.

Cloudy Sky shoots a scene of dynamically flowing clouds for 20 minutes at 5 second intervals for a total of 240 shots at F8 ISO 100. AEL mode

Night Sky shoots the movement of the stars. Effective for shooting from a dark place can be well seen in the sky for 2 hours at 30 second intervals for a total of 240 shots at F4 ISO 1600. AEL mode

Night scene shoots the lights of the city at night. Including the lights of cars moving on the streets and the movement op people for 12minutes at 3 second intervals for a total of 240 shots at F5.6 ISO 100. AET-LO mode

Sunset shoots the brightness of the setting sun and the dramatic color changes of this scene for 40 minutes at 10 second intervals for a total of 240 shots at F8 ISO 100. AET-LO mode

Sunrise shoots the brightness of the rising sun and the dramatic color changes of this scene for 40 minutes at 5 second intervals for a total of 240 shots at F8 ISO 100. AET-LO mode

Miniature uses the miniature effect to shoot people and car rhythmically. Effective with compositions like looking down on the city street from a high place. For 8 minutes at 2 second intervals for a total of 240 shots at F5.6 ISO 100. This preset has some horizontal vignetting on the top and bottom, I don’t like it for this scene, but perhaps it might look nice on a more appropriate subject.

Standard shoots with ISO Auto, lowest possible aperture for 4 minutes at 1 second intervals for a total of 240 shots at F5.6 ISO 100. AEL mode

Custom allows you to set aperture and shutter speed manually.AEL mode I’ll be adding some new examples of the different presets in my Sony Playmemories timelapse review this week when I find a suitable subject. You can subscribe to my site if you want to keep updated.

Conclusion

The menu system is a bit confusing at first, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. After that, it is an easy app to use, and the time-lapse movies generated are excellent. It is a bit expensive though; this app will set you back 10 Euro.
April 15, 2014
Sony HVL-F20M flash review

Sony HVL-F20M flash review

Introduction and Specifications

The Sony HVL-F20M is an on-camera flash that slides on the new Sony multi-interface shoe.

It supports the use of the Sony Alpha TTL (through the lens) system. With TTL, light is metered through the prism and all other optical elements that influence exposure. This means that filters, extension tubes, etc. are automatically factored in the flash metering. For controlling the flash exposure, the Advanced Distance Integration (ADI) flash metering system measures the subject-to-camera distance, as well as ambient light and subject reflectivity. The ADI system uses all this information to control the flash output in order to provide optimised flash exposures.

When compared to the built-in pop-up flash of many cameras, this flash helps to extend the effective flash working distance by providing a guide number of 20m at ISO 100. This flash can also serve as a wireless controller for triggering an off-camera flash.

A built-in diffuser gives you a wider spread of the Sony HVL-F20M. This feature can be turned off to facilitate tele lenses, giving you a longer reach. Another interesting feature is the bounce slider that angles the flash head 75° upwards, giving you greater control over direction and spread.

Raising the flash upwards into shooting position turns it on, so there is no button for this. A charging lamp indicates when the flash is ready for use; a LED bellow tells you the state of your two AAA batteries that provide around 90 flashes.

Sony HVL-F20M flash In use

The Sony HVL-F20M is the smallest and cheapest flash from Sony currently available. It pairs great with an Sony A7(r) or RX1(r) where you don’t want to but a humongous flash on a small and portable body.

Despite its small size, it is a very capable device with some interesting features. Especially the bounce mode comes to mind, raising the flash (with diffuser) upwards, allowing you to use the ceiling as a bounce source. This gives a much more natural light than the direct mode. I’ve included some test pictures where you can see the effect.

No flash

direct flash

bounce flash

Additionally, TTL and ADI automatically lower the ISO in-camera, giving you a less grainy and clearer shot. In A, P, and M modes, you can turn down the flash strength with the compensation dial. This also affects aperture and shutter speed of course, so If you don’t want this you’ll have to delve into the menu and adjust flash compensation in camera settings.

Conclusion

I was pleasantly surprised by the Sony HVL-F20M, and it has turned out to be more useful than I thought. Despite its apparently lower power than bigger units, it has all the features of a pro flash at a decent price. If you are looking for a flash for your NEX, A6000, A7(r) or RX series, and you still want to keep your system portable, this is the one to get.

March 25, 2014
Sony LA-EA3 adapter for full frame cameras

Sony LA-EA3 A- to E-mount adapter review

Introduction

The Sony LA-EA3 A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter enables you to attach any A-mount lens to any full frame or APS-C Sony E-mount digital camera. This lens mount adapter supports Auto Exposure, Autofocus, TTL metering, Aperture and hence basically turns your A-mount lens into an E-mount lens. This is possible due to the shorter flange distance (distance from the lens mount too the sensor) of the mirrorless E-mount system compared too Sony and Minolta A-mount.

This adapter is lightweight and also has an integrated, standard 1/4″-20 tripod mount to give more support to larger and heavy lenses. You should know that autofocus is not possible with the older Sony and Minolta screw driven lenses (like the excellent SAL135F18Z) , as these use a mechanical pin to change the internal position of the elements in order to achieve focus. This is where the LA-EA4 comes in, Sony’s other adapter for excactly these kinds of lenses.

The Sony LA-EA3 uses the in-built autofocus engine of the camera, hence performance can differ depending on the camera model you’re using it with. I’ve used it excessively with the Sony A9 over the years.

Sony LA-EA3 In Use

Before the firmware v2.0 update, I had the feeling that Sony deliberately crippled the overall performance of this adapter in order to convince you to buy new E-mount lenses over using your older A-mount equipment. But since firmware version 2 and of course the better overall autofocus performance of Sony mirrorless cameras starting from the Sony A7 Mark 2 including Phase detection AF, this adapter is very useable indeed.

On my Sony A9 for instance, this update enabled the camera to focus continuously on a subject during continuous shooting at speeds up to 10 fps when using Hi or Mid Continuous Shooting mode.

Since very few people are still buying A-mount lenses, prices have dropped significantly on these, and I picked up Tamron 85mm, 45mm and 35mm f/1.8 on the cheap in the last few years. These are really excellent lenses, as good as the Zeiss designed Sony offerings, and they really work as native lenses on the Sony A9. Full continuous autofocus including Eye AF and face detection, and since these lenses have a focussing system like Sony’s own SSM they are just as fast. I would wager that if you have a relatively new APS-C camera staring from the Sony A6300 with Phase-Detection AF or a full frame A7 mark 3, that performance would be impressive too.

Conclusion

The Sony LA-EA3 might well be worth the investment if you own a few SSM A-mount lenses and a relatively new Sony camera with phase-detection AF. This combination will give you near native lens autofocus performance and at a fraction of the price too. Especially if you own a Sony A9, Sony has opened up the entire autofocus capabilities of this camera with adapted lenses in order to attract sports and wildlife photographers who still use their older A-mount telephoto primes.

If however you are looking for an autofocus adapter for the late Minolta, early Sony screw driven (non SSM) lenses, you should look at the Sony LA-EA4 which has the appropriate mechanical drive as well as it’s own phase detection autofocus system which is needed to use them with E-mount cameras.

March 21, 2014
Sony LA-EA4 A-Mount to E-Mount FF Lens Adapter

Sony LA-EA4 A-Mount to E-Mount FF Lens Adapter

Introduction

The Sony LA-EA4 A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter enables you to attach virtually any A-mount lens to an Alpha E-mount full-frame digital camera body. Teleconverters and Minolta XI lenses are however not compatible.

The adapter has a built-in AF motor, aperture-drive mechanism and Translucent Mirror Technology (an SLT mirror) to enable continuous phase-detection autofocus. AF is supported with all A-mount lenses except STF models, and auto exposure will be facilitated with all compatible lenses.

Sony LA-EA4 in use

The SLT mirror inside the box directs light to both the imaging and focus sensor simultaneously as it does with all the Sony A-mount cameras like the A99 Mark II and A77 II. Adding this adapter to an E-mount camera effectively transforms it into a A-mount body including an SLT (single lens translucent) mirror.

The LA-EA4 has it’s own phase detection autofocus module that has 15 autofocus points AF with 3 cross sensors. It’s rudimentary, especially by today’s standard, but it works. And it also works similarly (relatively) well with all E-mount cameras from the Sony A7 upwards.

Autofocus also works during video recording and continuous shooting. Remember that for video, in order to protect the sensor from too much light, aperture is fixed at the maximum f/stop of the lens or at f/3.5, whichever is lower. There is also a way to fine-tune your auto-focus of each lens using the micro adjust feature in the camera’s menu.

The LA-EA4 autofocus adapter also has a tripod mount for supporting large, heavy lenses so that all the weight does not stress the lens mount.

Conclusion

The Sony LA-EA4 is an ideal companion for an early full frame mirrorless camera like the ILCE7R which only has contrast AF. The converter’s AF overrides the in-camera AF when connected and gives you a 15 point phase detection autofocus point AF system with 3 cross sensors. A drawback of the translucent mirror used for this focussing system is however the fact that you’ll lose 1/3-stop of light.

The Sony LA-EA4 is however an ideal way to give a second life to the older screw-driven Sony and late Minolta A-mount lenses like for instance the excellent SAL135F18Z. And this can be done with any E-mount camera upto the latest A9 and A7 mark 3. You should remember that a 15 point autofocus system won’t be what you’re used too by today’s standard, and that the Sony LA-EA3 adapter will work a lot better with mid to late era A-mount SSM lenses that don’t need the old mechanical screw drive system.

March 13, 2014
Fujifilm WCL-X100 wide angle converter

Fujifilm WCL-X100

Introduction

The Fujifilm WCLX100 is a wide angle converter for the X100(s). It has a 0.8 magnification ratio, effectively converting the fixed 23mm lens to 19mm. In 35mm full frame, this would be 28mm.

The WCL-X100 uses four lenses in 3 groups to achieve this and weighs only 150 gram so that you won’t be adding much weight to your setup. An additional benefit is that, unlike the Fujinon 23mm, the converter has a filter thread, so you can use any 49mm filter with it.

Fujifilm WCLX100 in use

The Fujifilm WCL-X100 is very easy to use, and you just need to remove the plastic protector ring from the X100(s)’s lens to reveal a the thread and screw on the wide angle converter. Secondly, you have to go into the menu system and enable the wide angle converter setting, so the camera knows you are using it.

Conclusion

The Fujifilm wcl-x100 does a great job at giving you a slightly wider angle and achieves image quality comparable to that of the original lens, even when wide open at f/2.0. Furthermore, it does not affect the minimum working distance in macro photography.

December 14, 2013
Gariz case for the EP5

Gariz case for the EP5

Introduction

GARIZ design group was established in 2003 by a professional industrial designer. They make high quality leather cases for most new cameras, often within a few weeks of release.

Gariz case uses premium leather and a metal base in their half case designs. Their products are durable and do the job. I’ve had mine for about a year, travelling all over the world, and it still looks brand new. They also focus on ease-of-use, so you’ll be able to access your battery compartment, SD slot and all buttons/functions without removing the case. This might seem logical, but most brand manufacturers like Sony, Fujifilm and Olympus don’t have these features in their available cases.

Pricing is comparable (or a bit cheaper) with major brand cases, and it is possible to order through their Facebook page. I ordered mine and it arrived within a week.

Conclusion

Since cameras keep getting smaller and use smaller capacity batteries to keep the size and weight down, it is a real hassle to unscrew the case while shootings to put in a new battery or SD card. It seems the Gariz case have found their niche here, providing logical, stylish and easy-to-use cases for the modern rangefinder camera. Major brands should take note!

November 13, 2013
Light Craft Workshop Fader ND MK II: high quality variable ND filter
Light Craft Workshop Fader ND MK II

review: The Best ND Filter?

Review: what is the Light Craft Workshop Fader ND MK II?

The Light Craft Workshop Fader ND MK II is a high-quality variable neutral density filter from Hong Kong based company LCW.

This variable ND filter consists of 2 pieces of polarising glass that turn relative to one another, enabling a variable exposure reduction of 8 to 14 stops.

In order to facilitate this turning, the filter element has a larger surface size than your filter thread. The advantage of this larger filter size in that there is less vignetting when using wide angle lenses. The filter is neutral grey, so the light is only affected in intensity and not in colour.

What is an ND filter?

An ND filter or neutral density filter is a dark piece of glass (or other transparant material) that is placed in front of the lens to reduce the amount of light that enters the camera. This allows for longer exposure times, which can create some interesting effects, such as blurring moving water or making people appear to be ghosts.

They are often used in landscape photography to capture the movement of clouds or water. They can also be used in portrait photography to create a shallow depth of field when shooting at large apertures in bright light.

How it works:

They work by absorbing some of the light that would normally hit your sensor (or film). This reduces the overall brightness of your image, allowing you to use longer shutter speeds or wider apertures without blowing out your highlights.

Advantages:

ND filters offer several advantages, including:
- They allow you to use longer shutter speeds, which can create some interesting effects.
- Allowing you to shoot at large apertures with lots of sunlight.
- They allow you to shoot in brighter conditions without blowing out your highlights.
Disadvantages:

There are a few disadvantages, including:
- They can make it difficult to focus your camera, especially Canon, Nikon and Sony mirrorless.
- They can cause vignetting (dark corners) in your images.
How to use an ND filter?

To use an neutral density filter, simply screw it on to the front of your lens. Then, set your camera to the desired aperture and shutter speed. The neutral density filter will reduce the amount of light that enters your camera, allowing you to shoot with a longer exposure or higher aperture without overexposing your image. A variable ND works in the same way, only you can change the amount of darkening by turning the front ring of the filter.

Light Craft Workshop Fader ND MK II specs

The Light Craft Workshop Fader ND Mark II is a very compact and lightweight filter, measuring just 2.2 x 1.6 inches (5.6 x 4.1 cm) and weighing only 0.4 ounces (11 grams). It features high-quality optics, with multi-coated glass elements that reduce flare and ghosting. It is very affordable, with a retail price of just $49 USD.

How does the Light Craft Workshop Fader ND MK II compare to otherfilters?

This filter that can be adjusted from 2 to 8 stops of light reduction. It is made of optical glass with a multicoated surface to reduce reflections and increase light transmission. The filter frame is made of aluminum and has a matte black finish to reduce reflections.

In use

The primary function of this filter for photographers is to use slower shutter speeds/long exposures. The 8 to 14 stops are sufficient if you want to use larger apertures in daylight or long exposures at night. Dependent on the lens, you’re using you might get a cross pattern in your exposure at extreme settings. This is a inherent design flaw of all variable neutral density filters, and this filter does no worse or better than the most expensive equivalents from Singh-Ray or B&W.

Conclusion

If you are a photographer who likes to do the math on long exposures, you’ll run into some problems with this variable neutral density filter since there are no clear markings on the number of f-stops you’re reducing with. This turned out to be no problem with my technique, but you should be aware of in none the less.

It produces very sharp photos with no offensive colour cast or noticeable loss of detail. I highly recommend it if you are in the market for a high quality yet affordable variable ND filter.
October 13, 2013