Reviews on gear and software

Minolta 135 f2.8 mini review

In my ongoing series on vintage/older lenses today I’m looking at the Minolta 135mm f2.8.

-nice-minolta-af-135mm-f2.8-sony-digital-alpha-a-mount-prime-lens-179.99-37139-p[ekm]499x374[ekm]

 

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Review Phottix Odin for Sony


A while ago, during the review of the Sony Alpha 99 I mentioned two deal breakers for me.
One was the ability to shoot tethered, which was solved by the guys from DNAsoftware, the second one was the ability to shoot with small flash with a pocket wizard style solution, but as soon as I mentioned this I already got a lot of good tips from social media followers, including the Phottix solution (Odin).

odin-nikon2

My “wish” was to be able to use TTL via radio, HSS and preferable (after getting used to the great new Canon ST-E3) a display with the settings. Now when I checked the Phottix website it seemed that the Odin was indeed just what I needed, but…. it was not yet tested with the A99, aaargh.

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Fuji X-E1 review

Today attention for the FujiFilm X-E1 or as I call it the Sexy-1.
It’s no secret that I absolutly love the FujiFilm cameras. It all started when was handed an FujiFilm X100 during a Photowalk and although at that time I did not like the focus etc. (was solved later) I fell in love with the fact that it felt like a real camera…. now what do I mean with a “real camera”.

Safari

In most smaller cameras you are getting a camera that feels like a digital brick that can take photos, but the whole feel of a camera is gone. Want to change the exposure compensation? go into the menu, want to change the zoom? press a few buttons and it zooms, want to change ISO? go into the menus, want to change … etc.

 

In other words I love a camera that has a more real camera feel and the FujiFilm cameras have this.
For example the Exposure compensation is right on top of the camera (where it should be), setting the aperture is on the lens itself, zooming (even on the X10) is done on the lens and not via a weird feeling button system, also shutterspeed etc. is all set on top of the camera and if you want everything to be auto… no problem set both on A and you’re in auto mode.  So now that this is out of the way, let’s look at the “sexy-1”.

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Sigma 12-24 lens review

Before our trip to New York I contacted Sigma if they could send me an extreme wide angle lens.
Because I did not bring my Canon 5DMKIII but the new Sony A99 I was still missing some lenses in my bag, and luckily Sigma was more than willing to help me out. The lens they send me was the 12-24mm  f/4.5-5.6 EX DG ASP HSM II Wide-Angle Zoom Lens which is sold in all major mounts.
Follow this link for Sony, Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma.

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