While this video is a good overview of Mathieu's lengthy and helpful review of the Typ 246 here, I really suggest watching and reading both parts.
The Sony A7ii taught me to respect the Fujifilm X100s
Editor's note: Fook and ohm have been following each other for who knows how long. We trade war stories about lenses, amps, headphones, and forum- bashing. It is a real privilege to have Fook contribute to ohm with an article that clearly resonates with me.
Without further ado, I bring you Fook:
A little about me:
I basically took up photography as a way to get out of being in photographs. That, and I found it a good way to make friends after moving to Australia. It took me a while, but I eventually figured out that photographing people was something I really liked.
Read moreThe original selfie stick (circa 1980s)
Inventor Ueda with early selfie stick
What short memories we have. Surely you saw these around. I did. But then I'm 35, and you may be 23. Anyway, the selfie stick isn't new. The BBC tell us how it came about twice:
Read moreSoftbox for the Fuji X100 series internal flash!
DPReview member, Thomas D, has constructed a mini softbox for his Fuji X100. While he has uploaded with/without photos showing how the softbox softens wall shadows, he has yet to post photos of more appealing subjects. I'm looking forward to seeing how well his softbox works.
Camera rumour sites: TIPA Awards are not news
Fujirumors, Canon Watch, Sony Alpha Rumors, et al, TIPA Awards are like pre-school: show up and you get candy. At their most stringent, they are like those everyone-that-signs-up-wins scholarships.
Full disclosure: it doesn't hurt to try. If you're a cash-strapped student in a land that requires you pay for post-secondary, hit up as many gimme scholarships as you can. If you're a camera manufacturer desperate to tell your most ardent supporters that they should still purchase from you, hit up as many gimme awards as you can. I recommend TIPA.
TIPA's website explains how to apply:
“By informing TIPA members about the launching of new products, you will automatically be considered for a TIPA Award. So be sure to keep information flowing on a regular basis.”
Yep, keep the information flowing. That's it.
Kudos to 43s Rumors in 2014 for pointing out that everyone wins. And shame on them for pointing out the cameras that actually won.
Rumour sites: stop 'reporting' this stuff. It negatively impacts your own brand, and seriously fails at fulfilling the quality requirement of 'content is king' publishing.
Having difficulty deciding between a Fujifilm X-T1 and X-E2?
Check out this DPReview thread, including why the X-M1 isn't a bad idea.
Over-reliance on user-programmable interfaces is part of the race to the bottom
Thom Hogan's article from 8 April, entitled: Price is the Problem? reiterates one of the many problems camera makers face: addressing the usability of their cameras. Advances in megapixels and benchmarkable performance metrics such as dynamic range and high ISO performance are not the iterative improvements camera users really need. Current silicon is more than capable. Thom recently essayed on that very topic.
Read moreNo One is Writing a Good Camera Blog, Trust The Phoblographer
Last year, The Phoblographer's Chris Gampat published an article entitled: No One is Making a Bad Camera, You’re Just a Bad Photographer. It's the typical rant of the typical gearhead photo blog, ragging on the person that has problems with her camera and/or lens. Why? Because Phoblo is in the know, that's why. In Chris's own words:
This year, the site is turning five years old–and we’ve been reviewing cameras since day one. The technology has become better and better and back then (sic) folks used to say that something is a good camera or a bad camera. To a certain point, this is still expressed in forums, in conversations amongst friends, and by people that have nothing better to do with their lives than be trolls. But I’m going to tell you the complete God’s honest truth (sic) right now about the world.
Chris had me at the complete God's honest truth. And by the way, he never says anything about the world. Trust me, I read his article thrice. The conclusion I came to is that to Chris, a 'camera' is the following and only the following.
a sensor
autofocus
technology
If a sensor performs so well that real photographers can add noise if they want, then that's all that matters. If it autofocuses fast enough, then that's all that matters. If its technology is better than before, then that's all that matters.
In part, Chris is correct: no one makes bad sensors anymore. Indeed any user of any modern camera system should be able to publish amazing images, even with the kit lens. And AF is good to great on most, if not all major hardware releases. In which case, I agree with Chris's longest paragraph:
No one is making a bad camera or a bad lens or a bad light or a bad camera bag or a bad sensor. For years (yes, years) the sensors have been incredible. Too much noise at a high ISO level? Oh well, bring it into Adobe Lightroom and no one will bitch about it unless they like looking at an image at 100% all the time. But those people never go on to become better photographers and only worry about looking at lab tests all day and night. Now, more than any other time in history, it is possible for you to create a better image.
And maybe Chris is just poking fun at the people that can't get over a few points of dynamic range points. In his words, these people are trolls. But seriously, since when did cameras boil down to simple constructs of sensor and autofocus? And if it did, wouldn't the people bemoaning performance be in the right? I don't get it.
The majority of people with cameras around their necks don't read DPReview, or Rangefinder Forums; certainly they read neither your rag nor mine. If they wish something was different on their camera, it's probably with something from the below list:
1. simplicity and consistency of use
2. battery life
3. size/weight
4. start up time like right now?
The things I seethe about -- and, what in Phoblo's definition don't count in the definition of a camera -- are the following: broken interface, poor ergonomics, and especially, the constantly multiplying number of unlabelled, user-programmable buttons. Fujifilm's insistence on using two controls (one labelled and one unlabelled dial/ring) for aperture and shutter speed, could be cut down to two controls.
Sony's splitting of magnification functions between three buttons, and hyper sensitive eye-sensors that disable displays with a wayward wave of the hand, are equally as idiotic. And yet no one in the Trust me, I should know camp has a bug to bear about anything but ISO performance.
Buttons that either cannot be reached by normal thumbs, or that depress too easily, or are impossible to reach should not be turned into AF-ON buttons. Worst of all is the constantly changing interface. Camera makers should design interfaces to stand the test of simple interaction, and those interfaces should stand the test of time. Most of the problems lie in the mirrorless camp, whose main aim appears to be to make SLR cameras with out the R.
Notice how none of my complaints tick ISO performance, dynamic range, or AF boxes? I might also note that I am one of the simplest camera users out there. So is my wife. Myriad others out there merely want to take photos without having to drag along an in-the-know friend, or the manual. Hand them a camera from the same manufacturer and they want to take photos, not a 1000-level course on how to operate a camera.
Today's consumer cameras have more buttons than ever before. They are more complicated to work than ever before, and many manufacturers mate them to control schemes that change from release to release.
Bad designs exist. Bad cameras exist. And camera blogs whose sole focus is on the speed of this, or that, and draw no attention to bad design, and who place no responsibility on the manufacturer (ostensibly to procure samples and freebies), do nothing at all to improve the market. They are in fact, bad blogs.
Trust me, Chris, I've worn glasses sine I was twelve. Do the maths.
On Fujifilm digital camera rental programme prices
Most X fans await the X-Pro 2 with breath abated and hovering pointers caressing the checkout button of their nearest online retailer. Still, the X-T1 is Fujifilm's de facto top model, both in price and performance.
The X-Pro 1 debut price was higher, but it fell to about half within a hear of release. I picked mine up for less than 850$ in 2013. Meanwhile, the X-T1's price has fluctuated by less than 15% since its debut. Today, new X-Pro 1s cost significantly less than new X-T1s (BH Photo):
X-Pro 1 999$
X-T1 1299$
But eager to prove to customers that the X-Pro 1 still is the PRO model in its lineup, Fujifilm have kicked off rental prices of the X-Pro 1 at 120% premium over the X-T1.
Source: Fujifilm Pro Rental Service (lens and camera prices linked in PDF files)
via Fujirumors: RENT – SHOOT – RETURN: Fuji’s Pro Rental Service effective NOW in USA! Rent X-gear for 3 to 7 days!
The Missing D300s Replacement, Redux
Thom Hogan on the missing Nikon D300s replacement:
“Will Nikon give us a D300s replacement? When would they give it to us? What will it be like? My predictions are yes, fall 2015, and not as good as what I just described.
Here’s another thing that comes into play: I don’t think that the remaining customers for DSLRs are entirely price sensitive. Sure, they are at the D3300/D5500 level, and Nikon needs to do more to make that work for them. But those DSLRs are likely to be eclipsed by mirrorless at some point, anyway. At the D7200 and up level, and especially at the pro body type we’re talking about with a D300s replacement, the customer is far less price sensitive than they are feature sensitive. If the options are (1) what I described above at US$2199 versus (2) the current 24mp sensor doing 10 fps in basically a D810 type body without the other things I described at US$1799, I’ll bet #1 would outsell #2.
We’re looking at a glass half full, half empty type of situation. Nikon would probably think they’ve been successful in filling half the glass (FX is doing okay, and they’re still selling DX DSLRs and making a profit). I’d say they’ve failed to fill more than half the glass (the pro gear right now is decidedly awkward, the DX DSLRs are arbitrarily defined and the channel is overstuffed with them, the Nikon 1 has been a random walk through design ideas with no one polishing anything, etc.).
A D300s replacement will tell us whether the glass will continue to be half full, or is still half empty ;~). But boy is it coming late to market. Really late. Harvard Business School Case Study late. ”