Posted on December 10, 2017, 11:02 pm, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
Summary: The possibly first in-depth review of the new Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS lens comparing it for reference to the Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 and Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L lenses using precise and reliable measurements. A much anticipated lens When I started to photograph with the Sony A7R2 in the summer of 2015, […]
Posted on December 3, 2017, 11:20 pm, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
Lessons learned with the Phantom 2 I’ll start with a bit of background that will help make clear what is remarkable with the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, and also give prospective users a hard-learned tip. Drone videos have captured the attention of audiences, but although video is the most natural application of drones, they also […]
Posted on July 22, 2016, 2:17 pm, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
This year has seen promising new apps for visiting the national parks. In this survey, I review all top national park apps, new and old, with an emphasis on the features that set each of them apart, so that you can find the app best suited for your style of visit. Chimani Since 2010, Chimani […]
Posted on July 31, 2015, 6:59 pm, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
A particular equipment challenge occurs when you are photographing mostly above water, but you may be briefly drenched or submerged in water. To address a range of needs, I review four camera systems that I’ve used in those situations, in increasing order of complexity, cost, and image quality. Updated in 2024 with more options, some […]
Posted on June 17, 2015, 10:36 pm, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
GPS can be a very useful tool for a photographer to reach locations and keep track of them. After finding out about the value of having a GPS app on my iPhone during a close call in the desert, I researched carefully many GPS apps. In this post, I survey the 8 most useful apps […]
Posted on March 12, 2015, 10:13 am, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
Night photography requires the right tools, chief amongst them lights. After trying many, I’ve settled on a diverse arsenal of lights. The capabilities of some of them will surprise you. In this post, I will point out to a number of inexpensive high performance items that I use and can help enhance your long-exposure night […]
Posted on October 29, 2012, 9:41 am, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
This is a review of the Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 lens from the point of view of a Canon user. However, Nikon users will find the sections about filters and focus shift of interest as well. Canon has many great lens offerings, but their area of weakness has long been the wide-angles. Both the two Canon […]
Posted on June 29, 2012, 9:34 pm, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
For last winter’s trip to Alaska where I drove the Dalton Highway and photographed the Aurora Borealis, I didn’t pack light. I flew with two carry-on bags and two pieces of checked in luggage. In this post, I’ll discuss some of my equipment choices for that trip. Clothing I had a large assortment of hats […]
Posted on June 8, 2012, 5:39 pm, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
Watching a moonbow with your own eyes is an awesome experience. While the camera can capture colors that the eye doesn’t see (as explained in my previous blog post about moonbows), the way it works doesn’t capture the experience that well. A long moonlit exposure looks almost the same as a daylight exposure that one […]
Posted on January 12, 2012, 2:39 pm, by QT Luong, under
Gear.
The short 70-200 tele-zoom is one of the most popular professional lenses. It covers a useful focal length range, good from portrait work to sports shooting and also for distant landscapes as well as details. Canon makes four of such lenses. All of them use a ring USM motor which offers fast, silent focus plus […]
