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Cine Lens MTF Testing
Equipment

Why We’re Going to Start Testing Cinema Lenses. And Why We Haven’t Before.

Here we go again. This isn’t my first time pissing off the status quo; I’ve been doing it for years. We spent the last few years developing better metrology (lens testing) for photography lenses. The reason was relatively simple; photography cameras with higher resolutions began to see flaws that…

Roger Cicala · July 31, 2017
Geek Articles

Guide to Photographing The Solar Eclipse on August 21st 2017

On August 21st, 2017, a solar eclipse will be happening throughout the United States, which has created a lot of excitement and questions from our readers and customers. As a result, I wanted to put together a small guide on how to properly and safely photograph this incredibly rare event. Let’s…

Brian Spencer · July 18, 2017
Geek Articles

A Photographer’s Guide to Video File Structures

Digital Single-Lens Reflective cameras have revolutionized modern photographer with their digital imitation of film. As the medium has transitioned forward, video has come into the equation, giving creatives new territory to explore their visions with digital cameras. Unfortunately, this comes with…

Ally Aycock · July 13, 2017
Sigma 14mm MTF Tests
Equipment

Sharpness Tests of the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art

We’ve had a number of fun, new lenses to test this summer and one I was pretty eager to get to was the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 Art, for a couple of reasons. First of all, it’s a 14mm lens that has a wider aperture than f/2.8, and that’s certainly interesting. Second, it’s a new Sigma Art prime lens, and…

Roger Cicala · July 11, 2017
Ultra High Resolution
Geek Articles

Experiments For Ultra High Resolution Camera Sensors

GEEK ALERT!! Let’s be absolutely clear; this is not a useful article in regards to your technique. It won’t help your photography or videography become better. It won’t help you choose equipment any time in the next couple of years. It won’t provide any fodder for your next Forum War. It’s just a…

Roger Cicala · July 7, 2017
Sony 85mm MTF Testing
Equipment

Sharpness Tests of the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8

Sony released the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens a while ago, and while it’s the kind of lens I generally love, we just now got enough time freed up to test it and present the results. As with most brands, and 85mm f/1.8 lens gives a lot of the advantages of a fast prime while saving a lot of money over…

Roger Cicala · June 30, 2017
Photography Lighting 101
Geek Articles

Simplifying the Complexities of Lighting in Photography

As someone who teaches workshops tailored to lighting, I’m always reminded how many people have a gross misunderstanding of how light travels and is used within photography. And while I usually start my workshops with an open lesson on the reality of how light functions. I’m frequently reminded,…

Zach Sutton · June 9, 2017
Testing UV Filter Quality
Equipment

My Not Quite Complete Protective Filter Article

Well, I’ve written (with some misgivings because it has a tendency to create rioting in the streets) several articles about protective filters. Articles that say sometimes you shouldn’t use protective filters, and others that say sometimes you do need to use protective filters, and most recently,…

Roger Cicala · June 3, 2017
Equipment

Yet Another Post About My Issues With UV Filters

Yes, I’m sick of filter articles, too. But I come today not to educate you, but to mock others. Because yes, people continue to try to save a few bucks by putting a cheap filter in front of their $1,000 lens. And also because they buy what they think are good filters off of Fleabay or some used…

Roger Cicala · May 16, 2017
Equipment

A Look At The New Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS With Smooth Trans Focus

The new Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS lens is one of Sony’s latest lens offerings for their full frame mirrorless cameras. It’s another lens in Sony’s pro-grade G Master series, with built-in stabilization and SSM autofocus system. It’s designed to be used as a portrait lens, and it has what Sony…

Joey Miller · May 12, 2017
Equipment

Building an Effective Workflow with RED Camera Systems

With RED’s lower-cost RED Raven and RED Scarlet-W arriving, more budget-conscious and beginner filmmakers are finally going to be able to work within the RED ecosystem. That’s great news if you’re getting your first chance to shoot 4K, 5K, or 6K RAW, but excitement can quickly turn to abject terror…

Ryan Hill · May 5, 2017
Equipment

Lensrentals.com Guide to Digital Recorders for Video Production

It’s possible you’ve navigated to this page because you find the in-camera recording capabilities of your favorite camera to be inadequate or altogether non-existent. Maybe you stumbled in looking for someone to tell you that elevating from 8-bit 4:2:0 to 12-bit 4:4:4 will finalize the…

Joshua Richardson · April 17, 2017