I already wrote about my trip to Spain and Europe and choosing the camera. Traveling with the Nikon Z7 II was definitely the right choice for me. What I haven’t mentioned was that I packed the wrong USB cable.
Continue reading “The Importance of Choosing the Right USB Cable”Category: Photography
I started with photography at the age of 13 or 14 when my mother gave me her 35mm Kodak film camera. Much later in 2004 I bought my first DSLR, a Nikon D70. Since then I’ve owned or own a Nikon D700, D850, Z6 II, Z7 II, Z8, Olympus OM-D M10 (Mark I and IV), and the Canon R5.
Below you find a selection of posts about photography, including camera and lens reviews, photos from different places I’ve visited (mostly Israel and Europe), and other related subjects. Hope you enjoy!
Traveling to Spain with the Nikon Z8 or Nikon Z7 II?
In June this year I embarked on a 6-week photography trip to Spain and other places in Europe. A few days before the departure I received the brand new Nikon Z8. I wanted to travel light, only a small camera backpack and a boarding trolley. But which camera should I pack – the Nikon Z8 or Nikon Z7 II?
Nikon Z7 II Review
Half a year ago I replaced my Canon R5 and RF lenses for the Nikon Z7 II and some selected Z mount lenses. Both mirrorless cameras feature a 45 MP sensor, weather sealing, and are in many ways comparable. But a closer look shows substantial differences between both cameras and lenses.
This Nikon Z7 II review attempts to not only show the pros and cons of the camera and the lenses I own or used, but I feel also able to compare it with the Canon R5 and some Canon lenses. I will also share some impressions on how the Nikon Z7 II works with the FTZ-II adapter and the Nikon 200-500mm/f5.6 F mount lens.
Continue reading “Nikon Z7 II Review”Canon: Why Make Shutter Count Inaccessible?
Yesterday I finally decided to part with my Canon gear. I tried everything to make it work but it doesn’t work for me. See my Canon EOS R5 Disappointment post.
So, the first thing I thought a potential buyer of a camera might want to know is the shutter count. It is kind of the milage of the camera. Mechanical shutters have a maximum life expectancy that is published by the camera manufacturer. My Canon EOS R5 has an impressive shutter life of 500,000 actuations. That is a lot even for a professional camera body. Compare that to the shutter rating of the Nikon D850 with a mere 200,000 shutter actuations.
Continue reading “Canon: Why Make Shutter Count Inaccessible?”Camera Manufacturers: Please Use Accurate Time Stamps for Image Files
Update: October 4, 2023
My Canon and Nikon cameras use either the exFAT file system or the (older) FAT file system for image storage on their SD, SDxx, CF, CFexpress or XQD cards. In theory, the exFAT file system supports accurate time stamps up to a precision of 10 milliseconds. The FAT32 file system, in contrast, just offers 2 second accuracy for the modification time, or 10 millisecond for the creation time.
Continue reading “Camera Manufacturers: Please Use Accurate Time Stamps for Image Files”Chromatic Aberration Removal in Lightroom
Chromatic aberration (CA) or “color fringing” is a color shift or distortion usually along high contrast edges in a photo. The wider the lens, the more likely it is that you’ll find color fringing in the picture. Old or inadequate lenses can also contribute to color aberration, so does shooting at a wide aperture.
Continue reading “Chromatic Aberration Removal in Lightroom”Nikon D850 Review
Last edited: February 21, 2022
Edit November 22, 2023: See also my Nikon Z7 II Review and my considerations for Traveling to Spain with the Nikon Z8 or Nikon Z7 II?!
Two and half years ago I wrote a Nikon D700 Review (and D850 Preview) that – for most potential buyers – came a little late. The D700 was long taken off the shelves, replaced by newer models. This time I try to be a little faster and post my Nikon D850 review when this camera is still sold.
Canon EOS R5 Disappointment
Updated on November 21, 2023
See also my latest Nikon Z7 II Review for a comparison!
In March 2021 I did it: I bought a new camera, and it wasn’t a Nikon! Not that I never owned other cameras. I’m loyal to my wife, not to my camera gear.
I was looking for a way to reduce weight when hiking. At first I bought a Nikon Z6 II and lenses but wasn’t happy with the focus system and switching between rear display and EVF. While on a hike I missed a good opportunity to shoot low flying eagles because of these two issues. To be fair, I had the “cheap” 24-200mm lens mounted, not some top glass. And I had practically no hands-on experience with that camera. Within a few days I returned the equipment and – after all the recommendations, positive reviews as well as out of curiosity – I jumped to the “other” side: I bought the Canon EOS R5 and an assortment of lenses.
Continue reading “Canon EOS R5 Disappointment”Wildlife in the City
Wildlife in the city of Tel Aviv, Israel – birds in flight and other birds and wildlife photos
Tel Aviv’s Yarkon park is an excellent place to photograph animal wildlife in the city, especially birds. The Yarkon park stretches along the Yarkon river, from the Mediterranean Sea to the neighboring city of Ramat Gan.
Birds shown are egrets, gulls, cormorants, Egyptian geese, moorhens, parakeets and more. Finally there is the hoopoe, Israels national bird.
Click the thumbnail for larger view, then click the “i” (show info) button on the bottom of the image for more information as well as the name of the bird.
The photos were taken with the Nikon D850 or the Nikon D7200 DSLRs using a Nikon 70-200/f4 or a Nikon 200-500/f5.6 lens. Enjoy and come back for updates and more photos.
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Photos from Acre, Israel
This is a selection of photos from Acre, a town in Northern Israel. UNESCO declared Acre, also known as Akko, a “World Heritage Site”. The old city preserves substantial remains of its medieval Crusader buildings beneath the existing Ottoman period town.
Many citizens of Acre, especially those in the old city, live from tourism. Acre has been a popular destination for tourists arriving from abroad, but also Israelis going on a weekend trip. The current CoVID pandemic has practically shut down the old city.
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