In one of the photo boards recently, a chorus of pleas rose up to test cameras the same way as cars. There were complaints that camera testers tested under unrealistic conditions, and weren’t working pros. The whole discussion didn’t sit right with me, and I took to my keyboard, as I often do when I… [Read More]
Are amateurs unserious about image-making?
Both in email discussions and on the web, I spend a non-trivial amount of time advising people on what cameras and lenses would be best for them. I firmly believe that the right camera for the job is highly dependent on the job, and I start out these discussions by asking What gear do you… [Read More]
Violins and cameras revisited
I mentioned the violin proverb If you buy a violin, you own a violin; if you buy a camera, you are a photographer. to a violinist on the DPR MF forum, and attributed it to a friend who is both a musician and a photographer. I thought that what the violinist wrote back was dead… [Read More]
Breakthrough Photography step-up rings
Many of you know about Breakthrough Photography’s excellent filters. I use a lot of step-up rings, preferring to buy filters in 77 and 86 mm sizes. A few days ago I found out that Breakthrough makes such rings. I’ve never been completely satisfied with the brass rings from other vendors (and the aluminium ones are… [Read More]
ACR 11.2 Enhance Details — effect on details
Yesterday, I tested the ACR/Lr Enhanced Details feature’s effect on sharpness as measured by the slanted edge method, and found no effect one way or the other. Well, how can Adobe say that it enhances details? I set up a scene designed to provide a subjective test of detail rendering with a classic target, text…. [Read More]