Posts

Night Sky Photography Techniques

Starting tips and techniques to capture amazing night time photographs. This information will help you to grow your skills and make progress where night photography is concerned.   1. Manual focus: Manual focus is crucial for astrophotography because autofocus systems often struggle in low light. Set your lens to manual focus and turn the focus ring to infinity. However, many lenses focus slightly before or after the infinity mark, so fine-tuning is necessary. Use your camera's live view feature, zooming in on a bright star or distant light. Adjust focus until the star appears as a sharp point of light. Some photographers use a Bahtinov mask for precise focusing. 2. Aperture: Using the widest aperture (lowest f-number) allows your lens to gather the most light, which is crucial for capturing faint stars and the Milky Way. However, some lenses perform better when stopped down slightly. For instance, a lens that's softest at f/1.8 might produce sharper stars at f/2.0 or f/2.2. Ex

Astrophotography (Night Photos)

Here are some lens models that are well-suited for astrophotography and night sky landscape photography, along with their key features: 1. Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art : - Ultra-wide angle with an exceptionally fast aperture - Excellent sharpness, even wide open - Minimal coma, crucial for star points - Available for Canon, Nikon, and Sony mounts 2. Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 : - Budget-friendly option - Manual focus, which is often preferred for astrophotography - Very low coma and astigmatism - Available for multiple mounts 3. Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM : - Exceptional sharpness and low coma - Fast aperture for light gathering - Lightweight for its class - Native E-mount for Sony cameras 4. Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED : - Versatile zoom range - Excellent edge-to-edge sharpness - Low coma and chromatic aberration - Weather-sealed for outdoor use 5. Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM : - Wide zoom range for composition flexibility - Image stabilization helpful for foreground elements - Excellent opt

Landscape Photography

When choosing a lens for landscape photography to achieve a specific artistic style, consider these key factors: 1. Focal length: - Ultra-wide (14-24mm): For dramatic, expansive views and exaggerated foregrounds - Wide-angle (24-35mm): For capturing broad scenes while maintaining more natural proportions - Standard (50mm): For a classic, natural perspective - Telephoto (70mm+): For compressing perspective and isolating distant elements 2. Aperture range: - Wide apertures (f/2.8 or wider): For astrophotography or selective focus - Moderate apertures (f/4-f/8): For balancing sharpness and light-gathering ability - Narrow apertures (f/11-f/16): For maximizing depth of field 3. Image sharpness: - Edge-to-edge sharpness is often crucial for landscape work 4. Distortion control: - Minimal distortion is typically preferred, especially for architectural elements 5. Color rendition and contrast: - Look for lenses that produce natural, vibrant colors and good contrast 6. Weather sealing: - Impor

Lens Deals available at a discount

Canon EOS R5 Mark II &  Canon EOS R1  Canon EOS R5 Mark II The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is the long-awaited successor to the R5. This iteration features groundbreaking technology that will change the industry as we know it. From 8K 60P RAW 12-bit internal recording to next-generation AI autofocusing algorithms redefining AF accuracy; the Canon EOS R5 Mark II is the next step in camera technology. Back-illuminated, dual-pixel CMOS sensor 45MP upscalable to 180MP with AI algorithm Groundbreaking AI Autofocus technology 8K 60P RAW with 4K video up to 120p and 60p Dual shooting video and photo at the same time 8.5 stops of in-body image stabilisation C LOG2/ 3, XF-HEVC S/XF-AVC S, HLG Even better, customers from Wex can get a half price CFexpress and/or SD card from Lexar with an EOS R5 Mark II purchase, this offer is available while stocks last. Available on the following: Lexar 128GB Professional (1750MB/Sec) Type B Cfexpress Gold Series Memory Card - £62 Lexar 128GB Professional 2000x 3

Key Considerations: Choosing a Lens

When choosing a lens to achieve a specific creative effect, there are several key considerations to keep in mind: 1. Focal length: - Wide-angle (e.g., 16-35mm): For expansive landscapes, architectural shots, or exaggerating perspective - Standard (e.g., 50mm): For a natural perspective, street photography, and everyday shots - Telephoto (e.g., 70-200mm): For compressing perspective, isolating subjects, and wildlife photography 2. Maximum aperture: - Wide apertures (f/1.4 - f/2.8): For shallow depth of field, subject isolation, and low-light performance - Narrower apertures (f/4 and above): For deeper depth of field and often lighter, more compact lenses 3. Depth of field: - Consider how much of the image you want in focus. Wider apertures and longer focal lengths create shallower depth of field. 4. Bokeh quality: - If you're aiming for pleasing out-of-focus areas, look at reviews of the lens' bokeh characteristics. 5. Distortion: - Some lenses, especially wide-angles, can creat

Advancement in Technology - The Benefits

 Advancements in lens technology have significantly expanded the creative possibilities for photographers in several ways: 1. Improved image quality: Modern lenses offer superior sharpness, contrast, and color rendition. This allows photographers to capture more detail and produce higher quality images, giving them greater flexibility in post-processing and printing at larger sizes. 2. Wider apertures: The development of lenses with very wide maximum apertures (e.g., f/1.4, f/1.2, or even f/0.95) has expanded creative options for shallow depth of field. This enables photographers to create images with beautiful bokeh and subject isolation, particularly useful in portrait and street photography. 3. Specialized lenses: Advancements have led to a wider variety of specialized lenses, each offering unique creative possibilities: - Tilt-shift lenses for controlling perspective and focus plane - Macro lenses for extreme close-up photography - Ultra-wide angle lenses for dramatic landscapes an