There is no doubting the fact that this year is going to be very competitive for photographers. This means that if you are not well-equipped with the proper software, there is a chance that your business may suffer. Many photographers don’t know how to remain competitive. They have yet to understand the fact that rendering top services requires some of Continue Reading
Photodoto
Posts Tagged ‘List’
Here’s our wish list for the Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II
05
Oct
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| Thanks to a process of continued improvement, the Z6 and Z7 are going to be hard acts to follow. |
Nikon has already started teasing its forthcoming Z6 and Z7 Mark II cameras, so the question is: just what are they going to bring? We’ve collectively put together a list of what we’d like to see on these updated models. It’s not necessarily what we think Nikon will provide, more a list of what we think would be nice.
Fixing the things complained about
On the hardware side, there are a couple of obvious changes that would immediately justify the incremental implications of that ‘Mark II’ billing: correcting the much-criticized omissions in the original models.
The most obvious would be the provision of twin card slots. It’s a feature many professional photographers lean on, which meant the Z7 looked less attractive to that crowd than it could have been. The Z6 was beaten with the same stick, though perhaps with less justification (though Nikon has tended to include them on even its most lowly full-frame models).
Providing twin card slots would be an easy ‘win’ for Nikon
Wherever you stand on the issue, providing twin card slots would be an easy PR win for Nikon. Adopting the smaller CFexpress ‘A’ cards would, perhaps, make it easier to do without increasing the size of the camera body but then risks incurring the wrath of existing users who’ve bought into XQD and CFexpress type B formats.
Another feature missed-off the original cameras was a connection port to allow a battery grip with duplicate controls for portrait orientation shooting. This would be another comparatively simple way to expand the capabilities of the new cameras.
And, on the subject of battery endurance, a larger battery pack wouldn’t go amiss, if the bodies are being re-worked. I’m sure there will be plenty of comments saying that they’ve had no problems with the existing cameras, but whether it’s to give professional Z7 II-shooters or Z6 II video users one less thing to worry about, additional battery life is rarely a bad thing.
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| Yes, XQD (as are the CFexpress type-B cards that Nikon also now supports) are fast, but there’ll be a lot of frustration if the Mark II models only have single slots. Especially in the light of the Z5 sporting twin SDs. |
Moving the hardware forward
Beyond this, it’ll be interesting to see whether Nikon has managed to source new sensors for the new cameras. We’ve not yet seen anything that obviously surpasses the 24MP sensor in the Z6 (also used by other manufacturers, including models as recent as the Sony a7C and Lumix S5), so it wouldn’t leave the Z6 II lacking by pressing on with the same chip. That said, a newer sensor with faster readout could help with both autofocus and video performance, so it would be an attractive upgrade if there’s one available.
The 24MP sensor in the Z6 is still competitive but a newer sensor with faster readout could help both autofocus and video
With regards the Z7 II, a jump from 46MP to somewhere closer to the Sony a7 IV’s 60MP wouldn’t hurt its chances: both in terms of looking competitive against the Sony to newcomers and in terms of giving Z7 users a reason to upgrade.
It seems highly likely that the Z7 II, or even both new models, will gain higher resolution viewfinders. The 3.68M dot EVFs used in the original models were good for their day but there are 5.76M and 9.44M dot panels available now, so we’d expect to see a move to one of those higher-res displays.
Which brings us to the rear LCDs. We’ve really enjoyed the two-way tilting LCD cradles used on the likes of Fujifilm’s X-T3 and Panasonic’s S1 and S1R. We think it’s unlikely, but there’s an argument to be made that a similar design would be a good fit for the Z7 II, and perhaps even a fully-articulated panel for the Z6 II, assuming Nikon continues its impressive work towards providing a camera that’s as adept at video as it is at stills.
Yes, we are aware that there’s a cohort of stills photographers who’d be aghast at such a suggestion, and we suspect Nikon won’t want to upset them too much.
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Keep rolling!
We have to assume there will be some new video features in the cameras, because it’d be senseless to sit back and relax after all the progress made with the Z6. The addition of 10-bit internal capture would certainly expand the appeal of the camera, making Log footage more flexible and allowing the capture of HDRTV-compatible high dynamic range footage.
Alongside this, it would be lovely to see waveform displays added, to make it easier to assess exposure. This would be a big step for Nikon but it does appear the company has been listening to the needs of videographers, so we think it’s possible.
The addition of 10-bit internal capture would certainly expand the appeal of the camera for videographers
Similarly, it would be useful for the Z6 II to display the shutter speed in terms of shutter angle: this would become particularly useful if the camera can shoot 60p footage, as it allows you to maintain a 180 degree shutter angle (meaning a shutter speed that’s twice the frame rate) as you jump between capturing footage at different frame rates.
Beyond this, it’s difficult to anticipate what Nikon could sensibly add to a camera that isn’t trying to be dedicated to video. 6K Raw output would avoid the sub-sampling aliasing we saw in the Z6’s Raw video stream but would entail much larger video files. At the very least, it would be nice to see Nikon communicate more metadata so that Atomos recorders can create ProRes Raw files that allow a broader range of adjustments within Final Cut Pro than is currently possible.
Software/UI:
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Finally, there are a few aspects of the software and user interface we’d like to see improved.
A generational update of the camera would usually also come with a generation’s improvement in the AF tracking performance. Nikon has continuously improved the AF performance and interface on the Z6 and Z7, so we’d only expect a relatively small improvement, but there is room for improvement on both counts.
Nikon’s tracking in its mirrorless cameras has steadily improved but it still isn’t quite as ‘sticky’ as the latest Sony and Canon cameras, we’ve tended to find. It’s not far off, but it would be nice to see a further improvement, particularly in video mode.
Nikon has been improving the Z6 and Z7’s autofocus interface but better integration of its features would be good to see
As well as the performance, Nikon has also been fine-tuning its user interface: letting you pre-select where you want subject tracking to start, and letting you start and stop tracking by pressing or releasing the shutter button, for instance. But Tracking and Face/Eye detection remain separate modes, built on top of the ‘Auto’ area mode. We’d love to see a distinct mode, let’s call it something like ‘3D Subject Tracking,’ that tracks the subject under the focus point and utilizes Face or Eye detection if that subject happens to possess either of those things. This better integrated system is really simple to use on the latest Canons and Sonys, and it would be good to see it replicated here, just for speed and convenience.
Finally, we’d love to see a return of the ability to format the card or reset the camera by pressing pairs of buttons: it was a feature unique to Nikon DSLRs and became second-nature to many Nikon photographers.
No easy task
Overall, though, preparing this article reminded us just how good both the Z6 and Z7 have become. We thought they were pretty polished first efforts when they arrived, and Nikon has continued to improve them ever since. It’ll be interesting to see what the company will do to top them.
Let us know in the comments what changes, improvements or additions you’d most like to see in the forthcoming models.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Netflix certifies the Panasonic S1H for productions, making it the smallest (and only stills/video) camera on the list
26
Oct
 |
Panasonic’s full-frame S1H full-frame mirrorless camera has been certified as a Netflix primary camera and is now part of the Netflix Post Technology Alliance. This recognition means productions are now able to use the relatively affordable S1H as a main camera, so long as the footage is captured within a range of formats and settings.
As laid out in Netflix’s camera production guide, the S1H needs to be shot in at least 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels or 4096 x 2160 pixels) in V-Log with 4:2:2 10-bit All-I (400Mbps) encoding and pixel-for-pixel readout in either full-frame or Super 35 modes.
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| The capture settings Netflix is requiring of the S1H, according to the camera production guide linked above. |
Other specific requirements within the production guide include Noise Reduction be set to zero and sharpening be set to zero, while less-strict recommendations include turning off diffraction compensation and vignetting compensation. Additional suggestions include using the S1H’s Pixel Refresh setting at least yearly, using the sensor cleaning feature and making sure the firmware is always up to date.
Currently, there are no current Netflix Original productions using the S1H, ‘to the best of [Panasonic’s] knowledge,’ but having the full-frame mirrorless camera available as an approved camera should draw massive appeal for smaller operations where budget is more a factor. Yes, $ 4000 for a single camera body isn’t cheap, but it’s easily the most affordable camera on Netflix’s approved list, which includes the like of ARRI’s Alexa LF, Canon C700, RED Weapon Dragon 8K And Sony F55 camera systems.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Lighting Workshop Interest List
03
Oct
Apologies for how the lighting workshops announcement went yesterday. They filled within a few hours, and before many of you even saw the email.
Given that I typically only do the small-class shooting workshops once a year, I sat down last night and figured out a fairer way to announce them. If you are interested in perhaps one day attending, click through to learn more. Read more »
Strobist
Your Vacation Photography Packing List
26
Jun
The post Your Vacation Photography Packing List appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.
Andrew Neel
It’s summer, and for most people, that means a vacation somewhere nice and sunny! Now, of course, it’s nice to bring those holiday memories back home. That is why people bring nice cameras with them, and perhaps purchase new lenses to get the very best images. You’ve chosen an amazing exotic location, so this is a chance to photograph something that’s not from your regular day. The big question pre-trip is what to pack! Having read this article for your vacation photography, you’ll make the trip knowing you have the right equipment for your needs.
Going alone, or with family?
The group photo, how will you take yours?
Depending on your age and life circumstances, you will either be going alone or with a group. The equipment you bring for either of those situations will be different. If you’re with family, you won’t be able to spend the whole day out photographing somewhere, so the amount of equipment you’ll need is going to be less. This article is going to assume you are traveling with the family since if you’re traveling alone, that’s a different packing list more aimed at a travel photographer. That’s not to say you won’t get great travel photos on your trip. With the right equipment, you’ll hold your own against someone who perhaps has more time.
Landscape and portrait photos?
Landscapes and portraits are the two main areas that every photographer will focus on during a trip. There should be a balance of both of these photos. Then you’ll get a better sense of place from your album.
To get the best results, you’re going to need the following equipment.
This is a broad list which will be referenced when you think about your final packing list. The camera body and cleaning equipment are a given, so here you’ll see the other equipment needed.
- Landscape – The items you’ll need here will vary depending on the landscape you’re going to photograph. It’s always a good idea to bring a tripod, remote shutter release (Cable or Infra-red), ND1000 filter, CPL filter, UV filter and Graduated ND filters. To capture the scale of the scene you’ll also want a good wide angle lens. The majority of these will be 16mm or 17mm wide on a full frame camera with an aperture of f2.8 or f4. Do you need a longer focal length? Some landscape photos require compression of the background to work, with main subjects too far into the distance. That means that, yes, you do need a longer focal length. A superzoom for travel photography is, therefore, a good option here.
- Portrait – This isn’t photos of your fellow vacationers, we’ll come to that in a minute. This is about capturing the local life in the place you’re staying. The setup here is simpler. You’ll need a good prime lens. The 50mm f1.8 is a good choice here. Should you want the most striking photos, bringing strobes, radio triggers, and light modifiers will help. However, it’s unlikely you’ll need that for most vacation portraits.
Everyone enjoys seeing a good sunset on their trip abroad.
Vacation photography of friends and family
You’re going to spend the vast majority of your time on this trip with your family. They know you’re the photographer in the family, so the expectations are that you’ll take the family photos. The equipment you’ll need here is dependent on the photography type.
- Group photo: If you wish to be in the photo yourself you have two options; find someone to take the photo for you, or use a tripod and self-timer. You’ll want a lens with a wide angle for this as well.
- Posed photos: A good portrait lens like the 50mm will do the job here. They are nice for bokeh background and will work well into the evening when the light begins to fade.
- Fun moments: The candid captures are best caught using a 50mm lens, or a telephoto lens so you can capture from a distance.
- Eating together: Eating picnics on the beach, or evening meals at the restaurant? A 50mm lens or your wide angle will work here. Don’t forget to take some photos of the food as well! In the lower evening light, you’ll likely need the 50mm lens. Alternatively, pack a strobe, but be wary of disturbing other diners with your flash. If the situation allows using off-camera flash for food photography, you will really get better results.
- Famous locations: One of the reasons you’ll have traveled to a place is the famous attractions. Whether it’s the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Taj Mahal – you’ll want the photo. In terms of equipment, you’ll most likely want a wide-angle lens. That’s so you can position both your family and the famous landmark in the same photo. Look to get creative with your photos as well, go beyond the standard group of people standing in front of a famous building.
Candid photos of those you are on holiday with are always nice.
Special events
If you’re lucky, or better still you’ve planned it, a special event may coincide with your trip. This is a great chance to make your vacation photos stand out even more. This is likely to be something like a street carnival like Carnevale in Venice, or a street performance like the Chinese opera. To best capture these type of events during the day, you’ll want a super zoom lens, one that covers the focal range of 28-300mm. If the festival is at night, different lenses will be needed. At night look to bring a fast prime lens, so your 50mm f1.8 will work well.
Getting great portrait photos from your trips abroad will balance out your set of images.
Non-photography equipment
Much of the following are sensible items that you should travel with, whether you’re photographing or not. You may not even have to pack them. In some cases, you’ll be wearing these items.
So bring these items for your vacation photography. The list here could be very long, so items such as clothing, passports, and toiletries, I will assume are packed.
- Footwear: A special mention for the correct footwear here. In hot countries, a strong pair of hiking sandals are a good investment for walking around towns. Anything more outdoors than this, and consider bringing hiking shoes.
- Water: Getting good photos will mean a fair bit of walking (if you have the time away from your family that is). You can always schedule your time for the morning and meet your family later. If the country’s hot, bring water bottles and water bladders to keep hydrated while you photograph.
- Smartphone: A smartphone is useful for many photographic reasons. It can act as a second camera, and there are numerous apps to download for your photography.
- Weather protection Being prepared for the weather for your vacation photography is a good idea. It could rain, so bring a poncho and weather protection for your camera. You don’t want to burn, so pack the sunscreen, a hat and some sunglasses. If you happen to be going somewhere cold, you’ll need equipment for that as well. Specialized clothes for the cold include a hat, hot packs, and gloves.
- Money belt: Keep your valuables somewhere it’s difficult for them to be stolen, so using a money belt is wise. Split up your money as well, so keep some on your belt, some in your pocket, and some in your camera bag.
At night you’ll need a fast prime lens, something like a 50mm f1.8.
The final packing list for vacation photography
As you’ll have noted, there is lots of potential for great photography on your vacation. You can’t pack absolutely everything, so here is a suggested packing list to make the best of your vacation photography.
- Camera bag – This needs to fit all your camera gear into your hand luggage, assuming you’re going to fly somewhere. Never put expensive camera equipment into your checked luggage! The Manfrotto 3N1-35PL is a great bag for this. It’s a large bag so you can probably fit non-camera equipment in this as well.
- Camera body – An entry-level Canon or Nikon dSLR is ideal. If you want to splurge and carry the extra weight look to a full frame dSLR or the Sony Alpha 3.
- Lens – Take two lenses with you. A wide angle and a super zoom lens if you’re more into landscapes. Or a 50mm prime and a super zoom lens if you’re more into portraits and street photography. The super zoom should go from 28-300mm.
- Tripod – This doesn’t need to be too heavy, but it needs to be sturdy. The Sirui T120-5X is all the tripod you’re going to need. Don’t fancy a full tripod? The gorilla pod is a good alternative.
- Strobe – This is optional, but if you do bring one, look to pack a radio trigger as well so you can use the flash off camera.
- Filters – Each lens should have a UV filter attached. Look to have a CPL filter, and ND1000 filter, and perhaps an ND4 filter to use with the 50mm prime lens in the midday sun.
- Storage – Bring a laptop or tablet with you, depending on your way of storing images. A blue-tooth external hard drive is also a great idea.
- Memory card – Enough for one day worth of photography. If you choose not to bring extra storage devices then enough memory cards for your entire trip.
- Batteries – Two camera batteries and a charger.
- Camera cleaning – A blower and cloth to clean your lens and camera when needed.
Try and get some photos of your family eating together.
Conclusion
You’re now all set to nail your vacation photography, with a camera bag that will suit your needs.
Do you agree with everything on this list? Is there anything you’d remove, or anything you’d add to this list?
What camera equipment do you take with you on a trip with your family?
At digital photography school, we’d love to see examples of the photos you’ve taken on your family trips. So please share any thoughts or photos in the comments section of this article.
The post Your Vacation Photography Packing List appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.
Shopping for a lens? Our buyers guides list our top picks
25
Jun
|
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Looking for a lens for your Canon or Nikon DSLR, or Fujifilm or Sony mirrorless camera? You’re in luck, as we have four buying guides to help you pick out the best lens for your shooting situation, whether it’s landscape, macro or travel.
Best lenses for Canon DSLRs
Best lenses for Nikon DSLRs
Best lenses for Fujifilm X-mount mirrorless
Best lenses for Sony mirrorlessOur Micro Four Thirds buying guide is currently in development and will be published in the new few weeks.
View all our buying guides
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Panasonic S1/S1R to ship in March; HLG Photo and High-Res mode added to feature list
08
Jan
 |
Panasonic has announced that its Lumix DC-S1 and DC-S1R full-frame mirrorless cameras will ship at the end of March. The company also disclosed two previously unmentioned features that will be offered on both cameras.
First is a ‘HLG Photo Mode’, which captures photos with high dynamic range using the Hybrid Log Gamma profile. Photos are saved as HSP files, which can be viewed on HLG-compliant devices.
These will be among the first cameras to be able to take advantage of the latest HDR displays: showing a natural-looking image with a wider dynamic range (not squeezing a wide dynamic range into the limitations of older, standard-DR monitors). The movie and broadcast industries have already developed a series of standards for capturing and showing HDR footage but there’s been less progress in the photographic world.
Apple’s recent iPhones can capture and display HDR images but it’s not clear which standard they’re using: the HDR images only currently appear as HDR on the device’s own screen. By adopting the simple and increasingly widespread HLG system (currently used by the BBC and cameras from Panasonic, Fujifilm and Sony), Panasonic could help establish a way for photographers to shoot and edit HDR stills, knowing that some displays will know how to show them correctly.
The second feature is a multi-shot high-resolution mode, that uses the camera’s sensor-shift image stabilizer. The camera moves the sensor a tiny amount to capture eight separate exposures, which are combined into a single image with high levels of detail. A ‘suppress motion blur’ option is available, which we’ll surely be testing once we have an S1/S1R to review.
Lumix S1 sample photos by Daniel Berehulak
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Press Release
Panasonic Announces Additional Key Functions for the New Full-frame Mirrorless Camera at CES 2019
Las Vegas, NV (January 7, 2019) – Following an announcement at Photokina 2018, Panasonic will unveil additional key features of the new LUMIX S full-frame mirrorless cameras at CES 2019. The LUMIX S full-frame mirrorless cameras and lenses will be available at the end of March 2019.*
A Whole New Style of Photo Expression
High Dynamic Range Still Photo – HLG Photo Mode
HLG Photo allows images to be shot with a wider dynamic range. By reproducing both glaring lights and dark shadows that are likely to be overexposed or underexposed, the Lumix S achieves rich, precise color expression as close as possible to visual memory.
HLG Photos are produced as an HSP file. The user can play back these vibrant images on the latest Panasonic HLG-compliant 4KTV via HDMI cable connection or other HLG-compliant devices. It is also ideal for photographers’ photo presentations.
Stunning Details with a Realistic Sensation
High Resolution Mode
Taking advantage of the Body Image Stabilizer. (I.S.) mechanism, eight consecutive images are automatically shot while shifting the sensor. These eight images are synthesized into a single image by the new Venus Engine, which boasts high-speed signal processing. Precise details are faithfully reproduced to be saved as a beautiful, highly realistic image. This mode is ideal for shooting natural landscapes or fine art objects with delicate details.
Considering situations where moving subjects are included in the scene, sub options are available to suppress motion blur, so photographers can use this mode the same as shooting in a normal photo shooting mode.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Instagram launches Close Friends list for story sharing
01
Dec
 |
Many Instagram users aim for a large number of followers. However, sometimes you’d like to share an Instagram moment with just your closest friends and not hundreds or thousands of followers, most of whom you probably don’t know.
This is now possible, thanks to a new feature announced by Instagram today: Close Friends lets you share stories with a select group of people instead of all your followers.
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Instagram says Close Friends gives you the “flexibility to share more personal moments with a smaller group that you choose.”
To do so, you create a close friends-list and at the time of posting your story select the option to only share with the people on that list. You’ll find the option to add people to the close friends-list in the side-menu.
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Your list can only be seen by yourself. When someone has added you to their list, you will see a green badge when you viewing their stories and a green ring around their profile photo in the Stories tray.
Close Friends is now rolling out globally on the latest versions of the Instagram iPhone and Android apps.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Equipment List for Making Better Smartphone Videos
01
Aug
In case you haven’t noticed, smartphone cameras keep getting better and better. Not only do they take better still photos, but they also record high-quality video. Many latest generation smartphones are equipped with image stabilization, focus tracking, and the ability to shoot in 4K.
This is especially notable with the recent release of IGTV and social media platforms encouraging more video creation. With that in mind, it’s worth investigating how to use your smartphone to take better smartphone videos. As usual, it comes down to the tools you use. Here are several accessories worth investing in to take your smartphone videography to the next level.
A Way to Secure Your Phone
Smartphones today are being built tougher, but they still have a sleek body that makes them easy to drop. To keep your phone more secure, consider getting one of these accessories. This will help you take sharper and better videos.
Pop Socket
In case you’re not already hip to the Pop Socket, here’s why they’re so popular.
Image courtesy of Pop Socket.
These little devices look deceptively simple. They’re just a plastic backing that sticks to your phone and pops out to give you a better grip. This helps you hold your phone with one hand while taking selfies or shooting tricky angles. They are especially helpful while shooting video.
But there are some problems with the Pop Socket. For one thing, they’re bulky. Even when retracted, the Pop Socket sticks out just enough to make it a hassle to stick your phone in your pocket or put it into your car’s cell phone holder.
Secondly, Pop Sockets look about as cheap as they cost, at least in my opinion. This can ruin the aesthetic of the pricey phone you’ve invested in. Finally, these suckers are pretty permanent. Once they’re attached to your phone, they’re useless if you remove them. For that reason, I prefer using the next accessory to keep my phone secure.
Black Rapid WandeR Bundle
Image courtesy Black Rapid.
Black Rapid is known for their camera straps, but they also have a cool new product for smartphones. The WandeR Bundle is a nylon tether wrist strap that attaches to your smartphone’s case (above).
You can also use the included TetheR-Clip to secure your phone to a bag or camera strap (see below). It’s a simple concept that is very well executed and will make it hard to drop or lose your phone again.
Image courtesy Black Rapid.
A Smartphone Tripod
Like any other camera, there’s a time and a place to use a tripod with a smartphone, especially when creating videos. The good news is that you don’t need a giant tripod for your smartphone, although you can certainly adapt any basic tripod for use with a cell phone using an adapter (more on that below).
But if you want a more compact setup, consider getting a dedicated smartphone tripod. The Manfrotto PIXI EVO is a popular option, as is the JOBY GorillaPod Hybrid Mini. Both are small, yet sturdy enough to hold a smartphone or even a small mirrorless camera if needed.
No matter what kind of tripod you end up with, make sure you get a cell phone tripod adapter to properly mount your device.
External microphone
Most smartphones have pretty good built-in audio recording features. But sometimes you need an enhanced audio solution. Note that for both of these microphones, you may need a smartphone audio jack adapter if you have a phone without a traditional audio jack.
One of the best smartphone microphones out there is the Rode VideoMic Me microphone. It’s very compact and comes with a fluffy windscreen (also known as dead cat). To use it, simply plug it into your smartphone’s audio jack. It worked well with my Samsung Galaxy S8 but didn’t work at all with the Google Pixel.
The reason is the location of the audio jack. On the S8, it’s located on the bottom of the phone, on the opposite end of the cameras. The Pixel’s audio jack is located on top, next to the camera. Thus, the microphone was in the shot both with and without the windscreen. So check the audio jack’s proximity to your camera before investing in this mic.
Another type of microphone you may need is a lavalier (or lapel) mic. It is placed in close proximity to the speaker’s mouth to isolate their voice from environmental noise. Lavalier mics are generally wired, meaning they can be difficult to use when plugged directly into your video recording device.
So the most convenient setup is to record your visuals with one camera, and record audio with a lavalier mic plugged into a smartphone. You’ll need an audio recording app to do this. A top of the line lav mic option is the Rode smartLav+, or the more affordable Stony-Edge Simple Lav. Note that sound quality typically corresponds with price, but it truly depends on your budget.
Smartphone gimbal
Many smartphones come with built-in stabilization that will help minimize or remove shake from your videos. However, you still need an extra tool if you want buttery smooth, cinematic video footage. The simplest video stabilization tool is an electronic handheld gimbal.
There are two main gimbals out there worth considering, and they’re very competitive in terms of features and price. One is the DJI Osmo Mobile 2, and the other is the Zhiyun Smooth Q. I’ve been using the Smooth Q for the past few months and have been blown away by how much my smartphone video quality has improved.
Best of all, a gimbal is easy to use and quite affordable for the features it offers.
Extra Power
While smartphone battery life keeps gradually improving, it’s still a good idea to bring a portable cell phone charger with you.
There are tons of external batteries on the market, but Anker is by far one of the more reputable brands. In particular, the Anker PowerCore 10000 is a compact, efficient, external battery. It can charge either your smartphone or electronic gimbal or both at the same time. Just be sure to charge the battery ahead of time and bring the right cables.
Over to You
In short, you don’t need a lot of tools to start using your smartphone to make better videos. However, if you add these tools to your kit, you’ll be well on your way to producing more professional-looking videos.
Do you have any smartphone video accessories? Let us know your essential tools in the comments below!
The post Equipment List for Making Better Smartphone Videos appeared first on Digital Photography School.
Tips for Making Your Travel Photography Packing List for International Trips
19
Mar
Packing for any trip abroad can be a chore. Then add in the task of making sure you have all of the photography bits and pieces you need, and it’s enough to send your head spinning. Thankfully there is a cure for this craziness: The Travel Photography Packing List.
The Packing List is my go-to resource for ensuring I have all the gear I need in order to bring back the best photos. No one wants to deal with dead batteries or a lack of memory cards while they are exploring the world at large. That’s why I use the list below to sooth my packing-frazzled mind and to get on with creating amazing photos.
Camera
I know it seems obvious but the camera is the first thing on my packing list. Why? Because I take time to check it and give it a good cleaning, inside and out, before packing it away. I often carry a spare camera these days, which doesn’t get a lot of action until it is desperately needed.
Packing time is a good opportunity to make sure all cameras are in working order. You might also want to adjust the clock (set it to the time zone you’ll be traveling to) on your camera(s) so you can hit the ground running.
Lenses
Lens choice is a dilemma for most of us. Bring them all and suffer the back strain of having to lug them around, or bring just a few and worry about missing the shot? As individual as this choice can be, I suggest thinking about what you will shoot the most if you want to limit the number of lenses you take along. Also, ask other photographers who have traveled where you are going or your tour operator for suggestions.
On my own tours, where our focus is on people, nature, and wildlife photography, I suggest a 24-105mm lens for walking around and city photos. These lenses are great for a variety of situations from close to medium distance.
Then for the landscape shots, a wide-angle or wide zoom, like a 16-35mm lens or 10-22mm on a crop sensor camera, can work wonders.
All-in-one lenses
My go-to lens for travel is the venerable Canon 28-300mm L-series Lens. It covers a huge range and with some panorama stitching, I can get mildly wide-angle shots without switching lenses. It’s a heavy lens indeed, but I’ve grown used to it. I will then bring a 10-22mm wide-angle for the monumental landscape shots I love to capture.
Optionally, a long lens may be needed in certain situations, but they can be cumbersome. For instance, I would not have gone to Panama and Costa Rica, lands rich in birds and wildlife, without a Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens. Yet, that same lens will not follow me to the Himalayas, where weight is certainly a factor and the chance for birds is lessened.
A Flash or Speedlight
For all my travels in the past decade, I have rarely found myself wanting to have a strobe along for the ride, especially due to the added weight involved. Yet I still tend to bring just one flash and I have been happy every time I did.
What I have found valuable when bringing a strobe is to make sure it is one that I can use off-camera. A flash that can be remotely triggered either with a tether or a smaller unit on the camera (either the built-in flash or a unit that attaches to the hotshoe). This has allowed me the greatest flexibility to add well-directed light to my travel photos.
Tripod
A good travel tripod is a thing of beauty. These units, built for packability and lightweight, have been following me on more and more trips abroad.
My main issue with packing a full-size tripod, even if it is carbon fiber, is the need to take larger luggage. The legs of a super sturdy tripod are often longer, even when broken down, than the luggage I wish to take.
It’s a balancing act and it matters what you intend to shoot. If you have space, bring the monster tripod, especially if you are accustomed to hauling it around with you near home. If you have limited space, but still want stability in your landscape or astrophotography shots, consider something along the lines of the MeFOTO Globetrotter. It packs small, can double as a monopod and has a fully functional ball head.
Power Strip
Power strips are great for travel and there are a variety of options. I prefer a brand where the cord is easy to store and the strip comes with two USB ports. The two outlets in the power strip are meant for a variety of international plugs so it’s easy to share when you find the outlet at the airport overloaded. I’ve done this more than once and was able to get a charge when I couldn’t have without a power strip.
WARNING: See the next section about converters because it’s important to make sure the power strip is set up for universal power. I once had a strip with USB ports go, “Pop!” and puff smoke arose when I didn’t realize it was only set for US power and I was using it in India. Know before you go!
Chargers, Adapters, and Converters
Almost any charger from a major manufacturer these days will work on what’s known as “Universal Power”. They have an input range that straddles 110V-240V and 50Mhz-60Mhz. This fits almost any AC power around the world. If your charger is not set up for Universal Power (check the charger itself for those phrases above printed somewhere on its label), then you need a converter.
A converter will change the power coming out of the wall in your hotel to the power your charger needs. This stops things from literally catching fire.
Different than a converter is an adapter. All it does is makes the plug on your charger fit the wall socket in your hotel. There is a handy guide on the Internet that lists the types of plugs in use around the world, by country, so you can see if your plug will fit.
If not, I’d suggest picking up either a small adapter specific to your host country or a universal adapter that will serve you for almost any country around the world for decades to come.
Memory cards
How many memory cards should you bring? Oh boy, that’s the big question. I’m sure if we ran a poll we’d have a huge range of answers. To help in planning, I take a per diem method and figure out what my average has been on previous trips, per day. I then multiply that by the number of days I’ll be gone to get a total number of photos I estimate that I’ll take over the duration of the trip.
Next, take the total (let’s say 4000 photos) and multiply it by the average size of a photo from your camera. Mine is about 24MB, so for 4000 images, I’d need 96,000MB or roughly 96GB. I then throw in an extra card, just in case. In this example, I will bring four 36GB cards and call it good. Especially if I am going to a country where I know it will be easy to buy more.
If you shoot a lot of videos, you should do the same calculations for video and add the two together.
Lens Cleaning Kit
You can’t get a clear shot with a dirty lens and a proper cleaning is vital. We cover the basics of a simple and portable kit in our article, How Should I Clean My DSLR’s Lens?, and I’d also include a sensor brush if you are comfortable with in-field sensor cleaning.
Filters
Most of us own and carry a circular polarizing filter and they certainly have earned a solid reputation. So throw one in your bag if you are familiar with them.
Next, include a graduated neutral density (GND) filter unless you are proficient at bracketing your shots and merging them artfully in your computer later. A GND helps in situations where there is a large difference between the lighting in a scene. They will slightly darken a sky so it won’t blow out when compared to a darker foreground.
Lastly, I’d suggest a quality neutral density filter, maybe a three or 6-stop.
Shot List
We’ve released shots lists on DPS before and they can be helpful to keep you on track when every single thing you see is new and photo-worthy. A shot list is by no means a dogmatic requirement, but I have found it helpful to bring back a nice variety of shots.
Otherwise, we all tend to slide back into what we like (landscape, food, astrophotography, etc.) and miss out on all the other subjects that make our trip so memorable.
Notebook
For me, a notebook is invaluable for remembering the little things that go with those photos. Maybe you have a mind like a steel trap, in which case you’re blessed, but for the rest of us, by the time day-three rolls around, we can’t really remember little things that happened on day one.
Sure, your photos will help you remember, but they don’t always capture the emotions and conversations you might have had. They are also great for sharing information with strangers, such as writing down the name of a restaurant or attraction you shouldn’t miss.
I fill a couple of pages before my trip with ideas of what I want to see or shoot. It’s then an easy reference later when I’m feeling rudderless and need some direction.
Your List
I hope this gives you a good start the next time you make a packing list for a trip. It’s not meant to be exhaustive so I would love to hear what else you have on your list. Leave a comment below so others can benefit from your experience with travel photography.
The post Tips for Making Your Travel Photography Packing List for International Trips by Peter West Carey appeared first on Digital Photography School.
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