A little video of Rachel and I having fun doing some photography around Goshen, Indiana, with our two small cameras.
Photography for fun ~ Fuji X100T & Sony RX100VA
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sony rx100va
Why I bought a 5-year old Full Frame camera (A7Rii in 2020)
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I bought a new camera.
Actually, I bought it 3 months ago. I didn't mention it here or anywhere because the last thing I want is anyone thinking they need a new camera -or even worse, the camera I bought- to create good images.
But a few people have spotted it in my videos and asked about it. I also want to be as transparent as possible when it comes to what I use to make my images, so here we go.
Read MoreHow I made "The Night is Dark"
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I got quite a few questions about how I made my latest movie, "The Night is Dark". I hope to answer most of those in this post and video.
TL;DR
The short version is: I took a lot of shots and put them together in a video.
This is how I did it.
Read MoreNew addition to the family: RX100VII
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I just doubled down on my approach to go compact with the purchase of the newest RX100, the mark VII.
The combo mark II + VA is near perfect for what I do. There were two main problems, though:
- The mark II is falling apart, and I'm afraid it'll stop to work at any moment.
- The lack of mic input in the VA has proven to be more painful than I initially thought, making my video workflow much more complicated.
The mark VII feels familiar in every sense, slightly bigger but the same camera. The mic input and the 200mm alone might be worth the huge price tag.
It's already been in the rain and heavy snow since I got it a couple of days ago, and it behaved like a champ. I'll share my final thoughts on this camera very soon for those who are on the fence.
Life update: fall trip and going compact
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You already know about my fall trip and my decision to go compact on this trip. This is that same information but in video form, plus some of the highlights of my drive from NW Spain to SW Germany.
Going compact
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Hello from Freiburg, Germany. I've been on the road for just a week but this trip is already very different in many ways when it comes to camera gear.
You might remember I was struggling with gear and decided to leave behind most of it. The result is this: I've gone compact, I've been shooting photos with my old Sony RX100ii and videos with the RX100VA.
Read MoreThe camera settings I use for photography on my Sony RX100VA
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I love my RX100. I use it every single day.
While full-frame gets all the headlines these days, there's no better camera than the one you have with you, and the RX100 fits that bill perfectly.
Despite the small size, this is a very powerful camera, full of features and settings. I like to use it mostly as a point and shoot camera so I try to keep things as simple as possible. These are the settings I use for everyday and on-the-go photography.
Read MoreScars of war: my RX100, three months later
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A few months ago, I decided to update my older RX100II and bought the newer RX100VA. I love the form factor and the high quality images this camera makes.
The video coming out of the RX100VA is nothing short of incredible, and I've been using it intensively for my YouTube channel since I got it on my hands.
Within the last three months, it's been through a lot - and it shows. It's got multiple scars from different trips and adventures:
- The rubbery part where you rest your thumb has been falling apart since the camera got really hot in the deserts of Arizona.
- The screen protector is shattered (and I'm hoping it's just the protector). It happened when I dropped the camera while taking pictures under Corona Arch in Utah.
- Sometimes I still find sand from the Grand Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. Or maybe it's from when I dropped it in the white sand of southern New Mexico (I also lost my ND filter there).
- This gap next to the viewfinder is the newest addition. It happened when I, once again, dropped the camera. This time in Detroit, Michigan.
One could say the camera is falling apart. I say, those are scars to be proud of. A camera is meant to be used, not to be left on a shelf.
If you think this is a lot of damage after just three months, you don't want to know about the beating my previous RX100II got. And it stills works (mostly)!
I've used the RX100VA every single day, it's been to many places and I've made images I'm very proud of with it. And a lot of videos.
The condition of a camera can tell you a lot about the photographer. Get yours out as much as you can and make those images!
A weekend in Lisbon with my new video camera: Sony RX100VA
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In my quest to minimize and downsize my camera gear, I decided to look for a replacement to my beloved but bulky Sony a6500 + Sigma 16mm f/1.4 combo.
A few days ago, I purchased a Sony RX100VA. Interestingly, this is full circle for me since the Sony RX100II was the camera that got me started in photography, and the one I used for video for many years.
I spent this past weekend in Lisbon, where I had the chance to test the new camera. This video shows some footage and images from this beautiful portuguese city, and I also talk about the good and bad things about the Sony RX100VA.