https://youtu.be/k0VYnzHMv5A I'm still playing around with my new studio light, the Lishuai LED 100WB-56, a 100 watt monolight, along with a Godox softbox and reflector. The light is distributed under the Fotodiox name in North America. Last time, I shot while there was still daylight, this time I shot in the evening and the colors... Continue Reading →
Test: Lishuai LED 100WB-56, Leica 12mm f/1.4, Rode VideoMic Pro
For my first video with studio lighting, I'm using the Lishuai LED 100WB-56, a 100 watt daylight balanced fixture, along with a Godox softbox. Kelvin temperature was set manually in camera and Panasonic's Image App was used to focus and start recording. The video was uploaded straight to YouTube from the memory card. My studio... Continue Reading →
Which Zoom Lens for My GH5?
I can't recall ever seeing a negative review over at Mirror Lessons, but this is as close as it comes. To my shock and horror, they recommend getting the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 or the Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 rather than the heavily promoted PanLeica 12-60mm f/2.8-4. Just one reason being, the Leica 12-60 is really only... Continue Reading →
Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 Lens Test on Hold
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Sorry to those who were expecting to see a field test of the Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 with the Lumix G85, but looking at my clips, they only confirm what I already knew about the lens - that it really, genuinely is tack sharp from wide open with the Metabones Speed Booster... Continue Reading →
Traveling Light
Pun intended! So I just bought my very first video lights: a Lishuai LED 100WB-56 and Godox Softbox for vlogging, a Lishuai 700RSV and Yongnuo YN216 for location shoots; and I'll be going to shoot a model in the park later this afternoon. I'll be bringing along the G85 and three lenses: the Leica 42.5 f/1.2,... Continue Reading →
Field Test: Fuji 90mm f/2 + Olympus 25mm f/1.2
As promised, a field test of the Olympus 25mm f/1.2 shot on the Lumix G85 and the Fuji 90mm f/2 shot on the Fuji X-T2. At $1,200.00 USD, not sure if I'd trade in my Leica 25mm f/1.4 just yet if you've got one: the Olympus is sharp, but it's no match for the Sigma... Continue Reading →
Field Tests of Olympus 25mm f/1.2 and Fuji 90mm f/2 Almost Complete!
I've almost wrapped up shooting with the Olympus 25mm f/1.2 with the Lumix G85 and the Fuji 90mm f/2 on the X-T2. As it turns out, both lenses are excellent. Although I'm finding myself using back button focusing more and more, the clutch manual focus on the Olympus is a wonderful feature, one I wish... Continue Reading →
The Daejeon Chronicles Purchases First Video Lights!
After some five or more years of shooting street life here and in South Korea, I'm getting burned out. I made the decision to start concentrating on doing short narrative films, vlogging and maybe even some fashion shoots instead. But in order to do that, I'll need some nice video lights. Initially, I was going... Continue Reading →
Lumix GH5 AF-C Tests by Joseph Linaschke
https://youtu.be/GTMr5C50Cck These are nice test shots, pretty much what we've been asking for for a while now, since AF-C is most probably one of the major concerns of those of us who've used Panasonic cameras in the past. My only gripe is that it appears as though either the in-camera sharpening is cranked up full-tilt... Continue Reading →
The Best Lens for the Panasonic Lumix GH5
The Panasonic Lumix GH5 will be released next month, and many are trying to decide which lens to buy for their camera. It would appear that many in the online community have settled on one of Panasonic's zoom lenses, either the G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 v.2 or the PanLeica 12-60mm f/2.8-4. Yet not a... Continue Reading →
Fuji Acros Film Simulation
Shot with the Fuji X-T2, 35mm f/2 lens and Zhiyun Crane. Genesis of the project I'd been wanting to shoot with Fuji's Acros film simulation for a while, but didn't have a clear idea of why I should choose monochrome over color. I often decide to embark on a project from sheer contrariness. For example,... Continue Reading →
Field Test: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 Lens
Here's a quick and dirty test of the insanely good Olympus 75mm f/1.8, shot on the Lumix G85. Settings: Contrast -2, Sharpening -5, NR -5, Saturation at default. https://youtu.be/fIHoNCQJxos Music by Eric Matyas http://www.soundimage.org
Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4 vs. Leica Nocticron: Round II
Both lenses are sharp as a tack. Both have beautiful color rendition. But for head and shoulder shots, nothing touches the Leica for bokeh, except perhaps the insanely sharp Olympus 75mm f/1.8. https://youtu.be/O0tRTKA397g Music by Eric Matyas http://www.soundimage.org
Panasonic Lumix G85: Colors
Seriously, unless you're shooting a Hollywood production, this is all the camera you need. https://youtu.be/X7emOfB5qho Music by Eric Matyas http://www.soundimage.org
Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4 vs. Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2
I hadn't used my Sigma lens in over something like a year because I couldn't find any way to stabilize it with the GH4. Luckily, the G85 and Metabones came to the rescue, and now I'm finally able to use this incredible piece of optical engineering. Should you buy the Leica or get the Sigma... Continue Reading →
Fuji X-T2: Skin Tones
The Vietnamese New Year is just around the corner and (almost) everyone's getting dressed up in ao dai and having their picture taken. I met a few photographers here who swear by primes: none of them even own a zoom lens, yet they're absolutely certain that primes are somehow superior. How anybody who only owns... Continue Reading →
Fuji X-T2 Bug: Viewing While Recording Video
On the Fuji X-T2, you can cycle through four display modes with the button on the right side of the hump: Eye sensor, which turns the EVF on and the LCD off when looking through the EVF; alternatively, viewing the LCD turns the EVF off; EVF only, which turns off the LCD; LCD only, which... Continue Reading →
Lumix G85: Contrast vs. Curves
I find the images coming straight out of the camera a touch too contrasty to my liking, so I've been trying to determine which is better for pulling a little more detail out of the blacks: reducing contrast, or lifting shadows. These were shot outdoors just prior to and after a rainstorm and the lighting... Continue Reading →
Lumix G85: Contrast Test
I've been reviewing the best settings to use with the Panasonic Lumix G85. Firstly, after double-checking my low light test the other day, I realized that my focus was off, so what appeared at first to be serious smearing of detail at higher ISO settings turned out to be 'operator error'. At this point, I'd... Continue Reading →
The Daejeon Chronicles 