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Posts Tagged ‘gear’

KitSplit gear rental company raises $2.1m in seed funding

03 Mar

Camera gear rental company KitSplit has announced that it raised $ 2.1m in seed funding from investors that include 3311 Ventures, HearstLab, Entrepreneurs Roundtable, NYU Innovation Venture Fund, and others. The funds will, in part, help the company grow its presence in Los Angeles, according to TechCrunch.

KitSplit is an affordable—and increasingly popular—gear rental company that boasts a large customer base including notable companies like National Geographic and NBC. For renters, KitSplit provides access to a large roster of gear, including lights, camera, lenses, and even VR equipment, which are listed for rent by both individuals and businesses.

The company acquired then-competitor CameraLends last year, a business move that made it the largest rental company in the world.

According to company CEO Lisbeth Kaufman, who spoke with TechCrunch, digital media companies have expressed ample interest in KitSplit’s platform. “We’re reimagining the Hollywood production studio as a local marketplace,” said Kaufman. “We want to make resources like gear and staffing and location more accessible to all content creators.”

Though KitSplit offers rentals throughout the entire US, the company is currently focusing on the Los Angeles and New York City markets where it is hiring.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Photography Equipment Comparisons – Entry-Level Versus High-End Gear Does it Matter?

16 Feb

Photographers tend to get obsessed with having the latest, greatest toys. But does it matter which camera or bits of equipment you use? If so, how much? Or is it more about how you use it, and the skills you possess?

Let’s take a look at three video comparisons of some of the top level photography equipment available and some entry-level options.

Rich photographer – poor photographer

I like the play on words here, hinting at the concept of the “Rich Dad Poor Dad” series of books by Robert Kiyosaki. In the video, the guys over at f-stoppers do a portrait shoot with two different sets of lighting equipment. One which costs nearly $ 10,000, and the “poor man’s” version which will run you about $ 425.

Can you see a difference in the final portrait results? No, I can’t see much difference either.

$ 1100 versus $ 5499

In this second video, Peter McKinnon looks at the virtues of both the Canon 80D ($ 1099) and the Canon 1Dx Mark II (Note: at the time of writing, this camera is listed at $ 5499). Is the latter worth five times as much? You decide.

If you are a sports shooter, you may need the extra frames per second rate the 1DX offers. But if you’re a wildlife photographer you may prefer the extended reach of the crop sensor in the 80D. Portrait photography can be done with either, but you likely don’t need to spend the extra money on the 1DX if that’s what you shoot.

Note: when the video was made the 1DX was likely priced higher, so please note the difference in prices in the video to current pricing.

Camera shootout – it’s not about the gear

In this last video let’s see what happens if two professional photographers each pick up an entry-level Canon Rebel T3i and hand their Canon 5D Mark IV to an amateur. They do a little shootout with the same model, in the same lighting conditions and studio. Let’s see who comes out on top.

The Canon T3i is discontinued, the price for the current model, the T6 is $ 449 with the 18-55mm lens. The Canon 5D Mark IV is $ 3299 + $ 1699 for the 35mm f/1.4 lens shown in the video = total $ 4998.

Your thoughts?

So what are your thoughts after watching the videos? Have you made the decision to invest in high-end lenses or a full frame camera body? If so, have you found it to fill your needs better – was it worth it? Let’s discuss in the comments below.

The post Photography Equipment Comparisons – Entry-Level Versus High-End Gear Does it Matter? by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust

29 Jan

Gear lust – it’s out there and is bound to bite you sooner or later. Whether photography is a business or a hobby for you, gear lust is a natural part of the consumer cycle. But there is a sane way to approach your desires and check if they are ruling you or you are ruling them. So here are some tips to help you know if you should upgrade or it’s just gear lust.

How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust

New Photo Equipment Flowchart

Follow this flowchart to see where you land. Only if you end up at a green bubble should you consider upgrading or buying more camera gear.

How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust - infographic

Click to view the chart in a new tab or print it out.

Do you shoot for profit?

The first question on the chart is the most defining, “Are you going to make money from this lens?” Whether photography is a hobby or profession for you makes a big difference in the purchase decision. I believe both groups should look at the choice through different eyes, so let’s start down the hobby side of things first.

Skip down to below the hobby section to find the questions for profitable shooters.

How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust

Hobby: What can’t you currently do with your gear?

If you can’t answer this question truthfully, then you have textbook gear lust. If you answer it and that answer is, “Nothing,” you too have gear lust. That’s not a bad thing! I just want to help you recognize it so you can make your choice with a little more clarity.

But, if there is a technique or style you have tried to replicate over and over again with your current equipment, such as parallel lines in architectural photography or a ten-minute exposure when your camera has no Blub mode, you’re one step closer to justifying an outlay of cash. So let’s take a look at your next question.

Hobby: Should you buy pro equipment?

This question is usually related to lenses but can be adapted to camera bodies, lighting equipment, printers, and more.

If you’re in this photography game for the long haul, it’s in your best interest to purchase higher quality equipment. Lenses specifically will last through a number of camera bodies over the years, while camera bodies tend to make reasonable improvements every 3-5 years.

How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust

I usually suggest intermediate or pro-quality equipment to anyone who has been using their gear for a couple of years and continually hits the limit for its abilities. Then we need to ask the next critical question…

Hobby: Can you afford it?

If you can’t afford the higher quality equipment, and you can still justify the need to upgrade, I would suggest looking for used equipment in the style you want or possibly renting it for a short-term project. This is an excellent idea for trips abroad, for instance.

If you have come this far and can afford the purchase without going broke, hungry or breaking up a relationship to do so, I say go for it! It might be wise to do a quick cost/benefit analysis (e.g. I’d rather spend $ 1500 on travel than on a new lens). That might point you to a cheaper option to balance the scales, which tends to be a wise choice for hobbies. Or you might find bliss in your Gear Lust (this time) and will revel in the joy of new shooting opportunities.

Profit: Should you get pro equipment?

How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust

If you are making a profit or looking to do so with your equipment, you’re going to want to look at this decision through money-making glasses. That equipment won’t do you any good if it just sits on a shelf. It needs to be making you money!

To answer the pro equipment question for profit-seekers, let’s look at how this lens will be used. Make no mistake; it’s easy for pros to justify business-related purchases right away when they are really just gear lust in disguise.

Real Life Lesson: I bought a drone on the chance that I’d get a gig where I’d use it heavily. The client ended up canceling the project, but I bought the drone before the contract was signed, because of my gear lust. I made up a reason to justify it when I had no concrete payback schedule. Now I use the drone mostly as a hobby and it dented my pocketbook unnecessarily.

Should you get pro equipment? Let’s ask first if the photos are mission critical.

Profit: Are your photos mission critical?

Relating another analogy from my recent past, I bought a nice Sigma 150-600mm Sport Lens because I recently got into birding. I ‘”needed” (heavy emphasis on the quotes) a longer lens to capture those small or far away birds. That’s bad, expensive gear lust and I didn’t ask myself the “Mission Critical” question.

On the other side of the coin, I also shoot weddings and portraits, so buying a new 24-105mm lens would easily be justified, because the lens will pay for itself over time. Those photos are mission critical and pay my bills. Photos of bird, currently, do not. “Maybe I’ll sell some photos in the future,” is not the best business decision to make and the purchase of said item should be put off until it can be afforded as a hobby.

Profit: Will the equipment increase profits?

These new photos you will take with this new equipment, will those photos increase your profits? Really?

How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust

Dig deep with this one, because you need to look at this as a business decision. Do you have work lined up that will pay for most, if not all, of the new equipment purchase? If so, skip to the last question. If not, continue.

Profit: Is the new equipment replacing old equipment?

If you’ve answered no this far, this no is your last. It’s gear lust, plain and simple.

How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust

If you are replacing old gear, the purchase can likely be justified. Especially if you can offload your old equipment or use it as a much-needed backup. But I have one last question for you before you click the “Buy Now” button.

Profit: Can your old equipment be repaired?

I felt gear lust strong and clear when my 28-300mm L lens started having problems. A new one, not all scratched up, would be so nice. Then I asked Canon about fixing it. They said it would cost me $ 300. Once I compared that to the $ 2700 cost of buying a new lens, my decision was clear.

This choice can be made more difficult if the manufacturer has upgraded your camera or lens to a Mark II or III version. If your old equipment is simply aged beyond your capabilities, or it can’t be repaired, it’s time to buy new gear. But if it can be repaired and you can get a few more years of use out of it, then save your profits for expanding your business rather than giving in to gear lust.

Profit: At what photo business stage are you?

You’ve made your way through the chart and are going to buy that new piece of equipment. Congratulations on being clearheaded!

There is one last thing to consider: What stage are you at in your business development?

Beginner

How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust

If you’re just beginning, I would consider some lower cost options for equipment. This might mean getting a mid-level camera body instead of the $ 8000 pro-version that gear lust is drawing you toward. Spending $ 6500 more than you need to on a camera body won’t make you that much more profit. Investing it in advertising has a better chance of bringing in more clients and hence more profits.

If you have a specific project to shoot for a client and you’re not sure if you’ll use that equipment afterward, renting can be a viable option to keep your profits up.

You’re getting some paid gigs

If the money is coming in steady enough, but it’s not your main source of income yet, then it’s likely a good time to upgrade to better gear. Especially if you have made a case for how you can increase profits or ease workflow (e.g. replacing a 6-year old computer will vastly improve your editing speed and leave more time for finding and shooting new gigs).

Be honest with yourself here. If paid work is sporadic and you can do other types of jobs to make cash, hold off on spending profits until the volume is up and more regular.

Also, I highly suggest upgrading your lenses before your bodies, all things being equal. While getting a new body that has GPS or one extra frame per second in high-speed mode might seem tempting, a faster and sharper lens will improve your end product in a more profitable way.

You make regular income with photography

If the dough is rolling in regularly and you can see the next three years being this way, pull the trigger and buy that new gear. You’re in this for the long-haul and can write off the new equipment as a business expense over its useful life.

Hint: If a new purchase would put your balance sheet far into the red for the year, you’re not making enough regular income.

How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust

Conclusion

Gear lust happens to us all and it can be a struggle. I’ve suffered from it more than once and made bad choices more than once – thus the reason for this flowchart.

I hope it helps you find your way to photo-taking bliss. Remember, that’s why we own all this stuff: to take amazing photos. Don’t let the gear lust pull you away from that goal.

The post How to Know if You Should Upgrade Your Equipment or if You Just Have Gear Lust by Peter West Carey appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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8 Tips for Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear

17 Jan

“I really don’t need any more photography equipment in my gear bag”, said no photographer ever!

We all know that is this far from the truth. Even if you have not voiced this thought out in the open, you have certainly thought it. Especially when you see a photographer that you admire rave about a certain piece of gear that they absolutely cannot live without.

We, photographers, get very upset when strangers compliment our gear over our skill. Yet we seem to fall into that same trap when we don’t quite get the shot we really want.-If only I had that fast lens, if only my camera could handle a low light situation, if only I had image stabilization on my lens, or if only I had a camera that takes more frames per second, etc., etc., etc.

Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear

Before you get ready to give up on the gear you have, I encourage you to look at your pictures with a critical eye and analyze if it is truly a gear limitation versus user error or inexperience. Now, I am not saying that the user is at fault in every situation. I will admit that in some situations gear is very important. For example, photographing a leopard chasing down its next meal or that sports car as it races around the track.

But in most cases, depending on your skill level AND the intended use of your pictures, you can get the shot with the equipment you already own. Here are some tips to help you.

#1 Perfect your composition skills

There are several different composition techniques that you can use to take your photographs from boring to interesting. Often just a small change can create a big impact. Are you finding yourself using the same center focused composition time and again? Try using the rule of thirds instead. Are you always photographing at eye level? Change your perspective and perhaps photograph from top-down or at a 45-degree angle.

Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear

A cloudy gloomy day in Vridhavan, India gave me the perfect opportunity to capture reflections on this relatively still river. I intentionally chose an off-center composition to add additional interest to this image.

#2 Take your camera everywhere

If you are really serious about improving your photography, one of the first things to do is to understand your gear. The best way to do that is to take lots of photos. Take your camera with you everywhere you go.

If you really want to improve your photography, you have to take lots and lots of photos. By taking lots of pictures, you will start to understand how to use your camera in different lighting conditions and what works and what doesn’t. You can only do this if you give yourself many different opportunities to photograph different subjects in different lighting situations.

Take this a step further by actually taking and using the gear you want to perfect. If you own a DSLR but find it too heavy or cumbersome, then perhaps it is time to buy a simple point and shoot or smaller mirrorless camera.

Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear - horse photos

I am always carrying my camera to the barn where my kids learn horse riding. There are so many interesting stories that unfold and the lighting is quite challenging especially during winter so it gives me a chance to practice difficult lighting techniques as well!

#3 Learn to read and analyze light effectively

One of the most important elements of photography is light and yet it is amazing how many photographers don’t understand this important concept. Also, not all light is equal.

Light changes during the day and different types of light can affect images differently. Morning light is different from afternoon light which is different from evening light (a.k.a golden hour) which is yet again different from blue hour. In order to really improve your photography, you must learn to distinguish these different types of lighting situations and how to effectively work in each situation.

Dark and Moody Lifestyle Equestrian Photos - Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear

I saw this image long before I even took the photo. Just something about the light filtering from the right, the catch light and even the color of the horse just made this one of my favorite equestrian photos of all times!

#4 Use a tripod

A tripod is a very useful tool for you as a photographer. It opens up new opportunities for creative photography like low light or night photography. You can experiment with the light at night to capture really beautiful images.

A tripod can let you capture sharp images of non-moving subjects and blur out moving subjects, creating very interesting photographs. You can take this a step further by using a remote trigger that will also enable you to take long exposure shots without fear of camera shake.

#5 Learn to photograph in manual mode

Your camera is a pretty sophisticated piece of machinery with a pre-programmed brain (shooting modes). These modes can be found on the top dial of your camera and are generally labeled as P (Program), M (Manual), Av/A (Aperture Priority), and Tv/S (Shutter priority), plus other automatic modes.

Manual mode (or M on most cameras) is much like using an old film SLR, when they didn’t have buttons that do it all for you. Being the only option, photographers were forced to learn to use their cameras in Manual. In doing so, they fully learned how their cameras worked. Once you know how to properly use your camera, it becomes much easier to spot where you’re going wrong and to fix it.

Semi-automatic modes are good for some situations but, once you know how to properly shoot in Manual, you’ll find there’s no need for them and you’ll get better results on your own. Manual mode also gives you the freedom to make mistakes, freedom to bend the “rules” of photography, and in turn, gives you the freedom to excel in your art.

Car in a foggy day along a ridge road - Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear

Manual mode on your camera gives you so much flexibility in terms of getting creative, photographing in different conditions and also allowing you to experiment with different techniques.

#6 Find great locations to photograph

Don’t just sit at home and expect great pictures to happen. Find local and state parks or perhaps even national parks that might be close to you (by close I mean within an acceptable driving distance) and look for potentially good spots for photography.

When shootig landscapes, you will have to envision your image to see what could look good and what may not. For example, a still lake is a great way to produce a mirrored image where the clouds, trees, and other objects are reflected on the lake. For portrait photography, drive around and see if you can find locations that will look good in the background.

The great thing about portrait photography is that a good background is often easy to find like a white wall, an old building, or an interesting fence. Use your imagination and you will soon be finding great spots all around you.

Custer State Park Outdoor Photos - Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear

#optoutside and I guarantee you will find amazing things to photography. Just being outside in nature changes our perspective and lifts the mood!

#7 Understand basic post-processing

Exposure or brightness, contrast, color balance, and tone/tint are some of the basic things you can fix in an image. There are many free post-processing software out there in the market that you can use to make basic adjustments to your image.

If you want to learn advanced editing techniques there are many options for you like Photoshop, Lightroom, Luminar, etc. Adobe has great creative editing programs that are subscription based (a fee every month). Maybe invest in these programs on a trial basis and see if they will suit your editing needs.

Custer State Park sunset photo - Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear

I have a certain style of how I like my photos and I always look for elements that will work well with that style. I have a relatively easy hand in terms of editing my photos – minor adjustments in exposure, contrast, tonality and shadows/highlights and I am done. My preference is to keep the natural look and feel of my images intact – just my personal style of photography!

#8 Photograph in RAW

If you are still using JPEG for your pictures, it is about time to move to RAW. Most of the newer cameras today are capable of recording images in RAW format, so give it a try. A RAW image is called “raw” for a reason – it is an unprocessed image with a lot more colors to work with than a JPEG image.

It might not look great at the back of the camera when you take the photo but when you import it into your editing software, you have a lot more options to adjust to give it the look and feel you want. One caveat is that RAW images do take up more space than JPEG, so you might have to invest in memory cards with more storage and a larger hard drive.

Custer State Park Paddle boarding in Lake Custer - Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear

When we visited this state park, there were a lot of wildfires that were burning in the neighboring areas, so the sky had this general pink glow all throughout! By photographing in raw and editing in post, I was able to retain the look as I remember seeing the park when we visited!

Conclusion

I hope these tips help you understand your existing gear a little bit better. Sure, you may have reached a point in your career where an upgrade is absolutely required and essential.

If not, rather than investing more money in gear that you may not be ready for, try to improve your craft with what you have and a little extra effort.

The post 8 Tips for Rocking the Photography Equipment You Currently own Versus Buying New Gear by Karthika Gupta appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Reviews and Articles on Photography Gear – 2017

30 Dec

If you’ve been reading over the last few of days you may have seen these already:

The Best Landscape Articles on dPS in 2017
Top Portrait Photography Tips of the Year on dPS in 2017
Most Popular Post-Processing Articles of 2017
Best Beginner Photography Articles 2017

Now it’s time to geek out a bit and talk about photography equipment. Here are some of the reviews and tips from 2017 to help you make the best of your gear.

Reviews and Articles on Photography Gear – 2017

Review of the New Sigma 500mm F4 DG HSM OS Sport Lens
Review of the New Flagship DX Camera – The Nikon D500
Review of the New Formatt Hitech Firecrest Filter Holder and Neutral Density Filters
Review of the Wine Country Camera Filter Holder System
Review of the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art Lens
Review of the New Nikon D5600 Camera Body
Review of the Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens
Camera Bag Review – The Udee Backpack
Review: Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens
Think Tank Signature 13 Camera Shoulder Bag Review
The New Canon 6D Mark II – Hands-On Previews and Thoughts
Review of the K&F Concept TC2534 Lightweight Carbon Fiber Tripod
Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System
VSGO Camera Sensor Cleaning Kit Review
Eight Ways to Get Rid of GAS – Gear Acquisition Syndrome
When is the Right Time to Upgrade Camera Gear?
Tips for Buying Used Camera Gear
Recommended Gear for Doing Long Exposure Photography at Twilight and Dusk
DIY Hack 2-for-1 Luggage and Camera Roller Bag

The post Reviews and Articles on Photography Gear – 2017 by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Canon and Sony dominate Lensrentals’ most rented gear of 2017 list

28 Dec

Lensrentals has released its most rented gear of 2017 list, and the results are very interesting. You can check out the full list here, but we thought we’d point out the three things that immediately caught our eye.

1. Sony’s claim that it’s beaten Nikon to take the #2 position in sales of full-frame interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs) is backed up by the rental data. According to Lensrentals, for the first year ever, Sony has out-rented Nikon and “is slowly closing the gap to Canon.”

2. That said, Sony’s top renting piece of gear—the Sony a7S II—only reached the number five spot behind four Canon products; the Canon 24-70mm F2.8L II, Canon 70-200 F2.8L IS II, Canon EOS 5D Mark III, and Canon EOS 5D Mark IV took the numbers one, two, three, and four spots, respectively. Canon may not have released anything overly exciting this year, but there’s no doubt it’s still the best-selling camera brand in the world.

3. Finally, the last bit that caught our eye is that a battery—Sony’s NP-FW50, which was recently replaced the the NP-FZ100 that our own Richard Butler loves so much—took the number 6 spot, beating out some seriously popular gear like the Canon 50mm F1.2L and Canon 6D. This just foes to show: upgrading the Sony a9 and a7RIII to the much bigger FZ100 battery was an absolute necessity.

To see the full list and breakdown, or dive into a few other categories like last year’s most-rented list or the most popular new equipment rented in 2017, head over to the Lensrentals blog.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Have Your Say: Best Gear of 2017

22 Dec

Have Your Say: Best Gear of 2017

For the past few weeks we’ve been running a series of polls to find out what you – our readers – think of the major product releases of 2017. For the first round of voting we made six initial polls covering lenses, compact cameras and interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs). Now that those polls have closed, we’re pleased to announce the winners. Thanks to everyone that voted!

But the voting isn’t (quite) over yet. You don’t get away that easily…

In this slideshow we’re announcing the winners and runners-up in each category, and kicking off a final poll, to determine which of the twelve individual winners from the first round should be crowned as your choice for overall best gear of 2017.

Best smartphone camera – Runner-up: Google Pixel 2

In terms of ‘pure’ photography (if that’s even a thing, anymore, in the age of smartphones) the Pixel 2 turns out some of the best images you’ll find from any curren smartphone, and at the moment holds the top spot in DxO’s Mobile rankings. Stills and video (up to 4K/30p) footage looks great, and future firmware updates promise further enhancements.

The Google Pixel 2 just edged out the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 to take the runner-up spot in this year’s readers’ choice poll for best smartphone camera.

Best smartphone camera – winner: Apple iPhone X

All screen, all the time (well, apart from that awkward notch). The Apple iPhone X is the company’s flagship handset and the most significant redesign of the iPhone’s 10-year history. As a photography device, the X delivers excellent still images, a useful Portrait mode, some fun lighting effects, and truly stunning 4K video. It’s not cheap, but it’s your pick for the best smartphone camera of 2017.

Best prime lens – Runner-up: Sigma 14mm F1.8 Art

One of the first new lenses we used in 2017 turned out to be one of the best. It’s a big piece of glass, but the Sigma 14mm F1.8 Art is a stunning lens, equally as useful for landscapes and cityscapes as it is for more specialist applications like astrophotography.

Clearly this fast, wide prime has impressed you too, earning (we think) a well-deserved runner-up spot in this year’s readers’ poll for best prime lens of 2017, just beating Sony’s FE 85mm F1.8.

Best prime lens – Winner: Sigma 135mm F1.8 Art

Sigma really cleaned up this year, taking both winner and runner-up spots in our readers’ poll for best prime lens. Just edging out the 14mm F1.8, Sigma’s 135mm F1.8 was your overall pick, and deservedly so. The combination of speed, sharpness and handling is hard to beat. We rate this lens very highly, and clearly so do you.

Best zoom lens – Runner-up: Tamron SP 70-200mm F2.8 G2

Plenty of great zoom lenses were released in 2017 from all of the major manufacturers, but Tamron’s two F2.8 G2 lenses were a hit with our readers. Taking the runner-up spot (just) is the 70-200mm F2.8 G2. We love this lens for its combination of compact build, excellent handling and effective image stabilization. Great image quality and a low price compared to big name competitors doesn’t hurt either.

Best zoom lens – Winner: Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 G2

And the winner, beating out some outstanding competition (including Sony’s pair of excellent wideangle zooms) is Tamron’s G2 24-70mm F2.8. An affordable alternative to offerings from Canon and Nikon, the Tamron 24-70mm F2.8 G2 performs well, handles well, and delivers solid image quality.

Third-party lenses are always popular with DPReview readers, and for good reason. The Tamron 24-70mm F2.8 G2 has clearly proven a hit with you this year.

Best high-end compact camera – Runner-up: Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV

Yes, we know that the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV isn’t exactly ‘compact’ (thanks to the many people that pointed that out in the comments on these polls and the DPReview awards article) but technically, fixed-lens cameras of this type are classed as such, and we’re not very good at coming up with new names for things.

Sony are pretty good at naming things, but when all you have to do is just count upwards, it’s probably pretty easy. The fourth model in the company’s RX10-series, the Mark IV improves on the Mark III (which also came second, in last year’s DPReview readers’ poll for best compact) with the addition of phase-detection autofocus to its already very impressive feature set.

Best high-end compact camera – Winner: Fujifilm X100F

OK, now you have to admit that this one is pretty compact. The Fujifilm X100F is another fourth-generation camera, but compared to the Sony RX10 IV it’s a very different beast. There’s the larger, APS-C format sensor for one thing, and a fixed, fast 35mm equiv., prime lens, as well as a hybrid optical / electronic viewfinder.

Beyond the core specifications, the Fujifilm X100F offers an entirely different handling experience. More refined, more discreet, more traditional. And slightly more popular with you, our readers, apparently. The award for best high-end compact of 2017 goes to the Fujifilm X100F.

Best entry-level ILC – Runner-up: Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850

Designed to be as small as possible, the DC-GX850 comes kitted with a slimline collapsible lens and a stripped-down control interface which makes heavy use of a tilting touch-sensitive LCD screen. There are better cameras out there for beginners wanting to learn about the practice of adjusting exposure, but few which can fit as comfortably into a handbag or jacket pocket.

The DC-GX850 is evidently a hit with our readers, earning the runner-up spot in our poll to find the best entry-level ILC of 2017.

Best entry-level ILC – Winner: Olympus OM-D E-M10 III

We’ve really enjoyed testing and using the Olympus OM-D E-M10 III since it was released this summer. Despite being absolutely tiny, it offers full manual control, in-depth custom options and a great feature set. Yes, this is an entry-level camera, but features like 5-axis in-body stabilization, a high-quality electronic viewfinder and 4K video make it one of the most versatile models in its class.

We selected the OM-D E-M10 III as our choice for the best entry-level ILC of 2017 recently, and it’s obvious that you agree.

Best midrange ILC – Runner-up: Fujifilm X-E3

We loved the X-E2/S but with the launch of the X-T10 and X-T20, we didn’t really expect to see it superseded. We were pleasantly surprised, therefore, when the X-E3 arrived on the scene. The X-E3’s combination of classic handling and excellent image quality is hard to argue with, and clearly it’s popular with you, our readers too. The X-E3 took the runner-up spot in this year’s midrange ILC poll, with 14.8% of the total vote.

Best midrange ILC – Joint-winner: Fujifilm X-T20

There were a lot of tight polls this year, but none was tighter, for longer, than the contest for best midrange ILC. In the end, with only 0.2% of the total vote separating the two front-runners, it’s only fair that we call them joint winners.

First up is the Fujifilm X-T20 – one of Fujifilm’s new generation of mirrorless ILCs, featuring a 24MP sensor and DSLR-style ergonomics, plus a high-resolution, tilting touch-screen. The X-T20 is a fantastic performer, and in our opinion, one of the most likable cameras in its class. Obviously you agree.

Best midrange ILC – Joint-winner: Nikon D7500

Joint-winner of our 2017 Readers’ choice award for best midrange ILC is a very different, but still very likable camera. The Nikon D7500 is a powerful DSLR that inherits a lot of its core features from the professional D500.

Capable of shooting at up to 8 fps with a 51-point AF system borrowed from Nikon’s previous-generation flagship DSLRs, the D7500 is a fast and capable camera. Since its release earlier this year we’ve been hugely impressed by the D7500, and apparently so have you.

Best high-end / professional ILC – Runner-up: Sony a9

This poll was so tight that we issued a last-minute request for more votes to break a tie between four cameras – two runners-up and two front-runners. A handful of last-minute votes just (and we do mean just) nudged the Sony a9 ahead of the Fujifilm GFX 50S to claim the runner-up spot in our readers’ choice poll for best high-end ILC of 2017.

The Sony a9 is one of the most technologically advanced cameras we’ve ever seen, capable of reliable high-speed capture in the kind of demanding environments that professionals need to work in. It impressed us in our full review, and obviously it has impressed you too.

Best high-end / professional ILC – Joint-winner: Nikon D850

With 0.4% of the total vote separating the two front-runners, this was another extremely tight poll and one in which (again) we’ve opted to award two cameras the winning position. The Nikon D850 is one of our favorite DSLRs of recent years, and was joint-winner (with the Sony a7R III) of our DPReview Award for best high-end camera, and runner-up for product of the year when DPReview staff voted internally earlier this month.

Clearly, some of our readers are having the same arguments that we did, because the results of this poll basically match our own opinions after testing this year’s crop of high-end ILCs. With 27.3% of the total vote, the Nikon D850 is joint winner of this year’s readers poll for best high-end ILC, alongside… you guessed it…

Best high-end / professional ILC – Joint-winner: Nikon D850

The Hasselblad Lunar! Just kidding, that would be ridiculous. There was only really one more contender for best high-end ILC of 2017, and that was the Sony a7R III. Announced towards the end of the year, the a7R III rewrote the rules for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, providing high resolution capture without compromising on speed, and a solid hybrid stills/video feature set.

It seems like there’s not much that the a7R III can’t do. Some people will still prefer an optical viewfinder and more conventional DSLR ergonomics (clearly – since the D850 was joint-winner in this poll) but the a7R III closes the gap between DSLR and mirrorless technology more convincingly than any previous camera in its class. After a nail-biting poll, the a7R III is a well-deserved joint winner of this years’ readers’ choice award for best high-end ILC.

Have Your Say

You’ve seen the results from our six polls, so now’s the time to pick an overall winner. You can vote for up to three of the products in this poll, and voting closes at midnight (PT) on January 4th, 2018. We’ll announce the overall winner and runner-up early in the new year. And before you know it, it’ll be time to round up the best product of 2018! How time flies…

As always, thanks for voting, and for contributing to DPReview over the past year. We couldn’t do any of this without you and we don’t take it for granted. Happy holidays from all of us, to all of you.

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Have your say

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Have your say: Best product of 2017

Apple iPhone X

Fujifilm X100F

Fujifilm X-E3

Fujifilm X-T20

Google Pixel 2

Nikon D850

Nikon D7500

Olympus OM-D E-M10 III

Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850

Sigma 14mm F1.8 Art

Sigma 135mm F1.8 Art

Sony a9

Sony a7R III

Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV

Tamron SP 70-200mm F2.8 G2

Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 G2

Voting is easy – you pick your favorite products by dragging and dropping. You can pick up to three, and rank them in order of priority.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Calgary police catch suspected Camera Store thieves, recover most of the stolen gear

22 Dec

Photo: The Camera Store

Earlier this week, we reported on a high-profile burglary at Calgary’s well-known camera shop “The Camera Store”—best known for its popular YouTube channel. Well, thanks to sharp-eyed tipsters and the fast-acting Calgary police, it only took 48 hours from when the store was robbed to catch two suspects and recover most of the stolen gear.

As we reported on Monday, the thieves made away with over $ 27,000 worth of cameras and lenses, including a Hassleblad X1D, three Hasselblad X lenses, and a limited edition Leica M-P Edition Safari. This is the first time The Camera Store has experienced a break-in in over 20 years of business, and owner Julian Ferreira was both upset and determined: offering a $ 3,800 shopping spree “for any information that leads to a conviction.”

Fortunately for Ferreira, he need not have worried too much about the break-in. The same day that the story was spreading like wildfire across the blogosphere, the police were already tracking down the majority of the stolen gear.

Photo: The Camera Store

According to The Calgary Sun and The Camera Store’s own website, once the story went live on local news last weekend, tipsters alerted Calgary police of a Hasselblad X1D and three Hasselblad X lenses that had just been put up for sale on the website Kijiji. Undercover officers responded to the listing, meeting with two men—60-year-old Tan Bui and 36-year-old Justin Ross—at a Calgary mall on Monday afternoon, and taking them both into custody after it was confirmed the camera and lenses ‘for sale’ were the same ones stolen from The Camera Store.

Both men have been charged with possession and trafficking in stolen property, although it is unknown if police believe Bui and Ross are also responsible for the break-in. The $ 10,000 special-edition Leica M-P Edition Safari has not been recovered… at least not yet.

As for that promised shopping spree, The Camera Store writes:

Multiple tips from the public lead Calgary police to the Kijiji listing that helped them recover our equipment and to arrest the two suspects. Once convictions are made, we will contact the person who was first to provide the information to CPS that allowed them to take action quickly, to collect their $ 5000 [CAD] shopping spree reward.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Canada’s ‘The Camera Store’ robbed of $27,200 in high-end camera gear

19 Dec

Photo by The Camera Store

Calgary camera shop The Camera Store—known for their fun YouTube reviews of various camera gear—was robbed over the weekend. In what the owners are calling a “very targeted” break-in, thieves made away with $ 35,000 CAD (~$ 27,200 USD) worth of high-end camera kit, including a limited edition Leica M-P Edition Safari.

The owners are offering a $ 5,000 CAD (~$ 3,880 USD) reward to anyone who can help catch thieves or recover any of the stolen equipment, which includes:

Hasselblad X1D camera body silver #UQ27014288

Hasselblad XC 30mm F3.5 lens #2WV10784

Hasselblad XC 45mm F3.5 lens #2UVT10447

Hasselblad XC 90mm F3.5 lens #2VVT10265

Leica MP Safari Edition #09008593

It’s thought the thieves forced the stores shutters apart in the early hours of Saturday morning, December 16th, and smashed a window to gain entry. Tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment was ignored by the thieves, who went directly to display cabinets to take very specific models.

The limited edition Leica stolen in the heist.

Canada’s CBC news service reports that store owner Julian Ferreira said it is the first time he has suffered a break-in during the 21 years The Camera Store has been open. Ferreira has offered a $ 5,000 shopping spree in the store to anyone who comes forward with information that leads to a conviction.

Please call police at 403-266-1234 or if you wish to remain anonymous call crime stoppers at 1-800-222-8477

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Lumoid gear rental service has been shut down

13 Dec

Lumoid, a startup that offered photography gear and other gadgets for rent, has been officially shut down. The process had actually been underway for months, but was only officially revealed to the public late last week. According to company founder Aarthi Ramamurthy, who recently posted about the matter on Facebook, the team had “gradually wound down Lumoid” over the last four months, including selling its IP and assets.

The Lumoid website is still live and showing various gadget rental categories; however, clicking on any given rental item shows that it is no longer in stock. Speaking to TechCrunch, Ramamurthy indicated that it was Lumoid’s deal with Best Buy earlier this year that led to the decision to close the service down. The company was ultimately unable to get the money it needed to scale up the business to meet Best Buy’s needs.

Though Lumoid is gone, other camera and lens rental services remain, including the newly merged Lensrentals and LensProTogo, and Borrow Lenses.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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