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Our Top 4 Fav Sony Bundles

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Focus Camera
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Focus Camera is known for putting together quality bundles that save you money on camera bodies plus lenses and other accessories. For Sony fans, we’ve compiled a list of our four favorite Sony bundles!

Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Camera (Black) with 16-50mm and 55-210mm Lens BundleSony Bundles

While the Sony a6000 was upgraded to Sony a6300 and a6500, this 2014 model is still very popular — and affordable. It might not have a touchscreen like more recent cameras, but the Sony a6000 is a great compact mirrorless.  The Bionz-X processor still provides excellent processing power, a quick start up time and an autofocus of just 0.06 seconds. Meanwhile, the hybrid autofocus system locks onto subjects and recognizes scenes, and 179 phase-detection points cover almost almost 100% of the frame. To combat noise, the Sony Alpha a6000 uses multi-frame noise reduction in its ISO settings that stacks six frames for a single image in low light. Plus, the bundle includes two zoom lenses, 16-50mm and 55-210mm, to capture a wide range of images. There’s also a tripod to steady shots, a UV filter to protect lenses, a 128GB SD Card, HDMI cable, battery charger, and more.

Sony a6300 Mirrorless Camera w/ 16-50mm & 55-210mm Zoom Lens BundleSony Bundles

Next up is the Sony a6300, a slightly newer mid-range mirrorless with comfortable grip and ergonomic design. While it still only features 24MP, it provides upgraded video, build, viewfinder resolution, and autofocus. The Sony a6300 comes with 425 phase-detection AF points to track and identify subjects. There’s also excellent image quality for an APS-C camera with beautiful dynamic range and noise performance. Plus, it captures 4K for almost half an hour. The bundle comes with two zoom lenses, 16-50mm and 55-210mm, for diverse workhorse functionality, as well as a flash, tripod, accessory kit, and more.

Sony Alpha a6500 Mirrorless Camera w/ 55-210 & 16-50mm Lenses & Backpack BundleSony Bundles

Similar to the Sony a6300, the a6500 also offers image stabilization, a touchscreen, and faster processing with a Front End LSI processing chip. While it utilizes the same autofocus system as the a6300, the a6500 touchscreen improves the point selection process. It offers 27 seconds of continuous shooting with a deep buffer, which is particularly useful for sports and action photography. Like previous bundles, this one offers diverse 16-50mm and 55-210mm zoom lenses to capture a whole spectrum of shots. There’s also a rechargeable battery, AC adapter, 32GB memory card, battery grip, and more.

Sony Alpha a7R III Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera (Body) with Tamron 28-75mm Lens

One of the best cameras on the market, the Sony a7R III draws from super quick a9 technology. There’s the densely populated 42.2MP back-illuminated full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor along with the latest BIONZ X image processing engine for enhanced processing speeds. The 15-stop dynamic range and  ISO50-102,400 (expanded) handles low light image noise well, while the large and bright electronic viewfinder features 3,686k dots. Plus, the 1.44 million dot display boasts rear angle tilt and touchscreen functionality. Meanwhile, the improved autofocus offers 399 focal-plane phase-detection AF points with 400 contrast-detection AF points to provide 2x faster autofocus speeds in low light conditions. There’s also 4K video functionality. The bundle features a Tamron 28-75mm Lens, which was designed from the ground up to suit Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras with optical quality, portability, and silent autofocus. The bundle also includes a filter kit, 64GB SD card, Wasabi power battery and Dual USB charger, and Monoprice Weatherproof Hard Case.

So, whether it’s the beginner a6000 or the professional A7R III, there are Sony bundles for every level of user. If you don’t see what you’re looking for here, keep searching! Focus Camera offers a wide variety of bundles to suit diverse needs.

Our Top 4 Fav Fujifilm Bundles

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Focus Camera
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We love Fujifilm, and we love providing you with great deals on bundles! It’s only natural that we should have a few Fujifilm bundles as favorites. From the X-T100 to the X-T20, these are our four preferred bundles to save on gear and camera bodies.

Fujifilm X-T100 Digital Camera (Dark Silver) with 14-45 and 50-230mm Lens Bundle

Stylish and lightweight, the new Fujifilm X-T100 offers a retro design with high-end image quality at an excellent price point. In fact, this bundle is going on rebate from $999 down to $799. The 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor boasts a native ISO range of 200-12,800, expandable to 100-51,200, and the autofocus system features single point, zone AF and wide/tracking AF modes. With continuous shooting at up to 6 frames per second and a JPEG buffer of 26 frames, it’s an improvement over the X-A5. Along with a Focus Camera accessory kit and 32GB memory card, this kit features a 14-45mm lens and Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS II lens that employs 13 all-glass elements in 10 groups. From wide angles to portraits and clear images at a distance, these two lenses offer a broad range of shooting possibilities.

Fujifilm X100F Silver Digital Camera w/ Fuji Black Leather Case BundleFujifilm Bundles

Part of the much loved X100 series, the Fujifilm X100F offers a large 24MP X-Trans sensor with a classic appearance and improved ergonomics. As a compact camera, the sensor provides solid noise performance and good dynamic range, while the autofocus is much faster than previous X100 models. There’s less hunting, too. Video shooting is a bit of an afterthought, but the X100F is still suitable for recording short clips. There’s also a hybrid viewfinder that combines an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder to switch between using a lever. The bundle comes with a premium leather case to go along with the vintage look of the X100F, as well as a soft gadget bag to carry your accessories. The kit also features all kinds of caps, clips and straps for handling.

Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera w/ Lens & Accessory Bundle

With a greatly improved autofocus system and elegant handling, the Fujifilm X-T2 is a desirable mirrorless. Plus, this kit just dropped $400. The X-T2 features Fujifilm’s latest sensor, the 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans III CMOS, designed to capture even more detailed imaging. Meanwhile, the ISO ranges from 200-12,800, and can be expanded up to 100-51,200. Its electronic viewfinder is particularly bright with an automatic brightness adjustment function. While the baseline frame rate is 60fps, it also features a Boost mode that jumps it to 100fps (with a compromise in battery life). The articulated display is particularly good at shooting landscapes. As for the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS kit lens, it’s a versatile 27-84mm equivalent focal length that delivers a solid maximum aperture. The bundle also includes a flash, battery pack, charger, shoulder strap, protective cover, and more for a diverse range of functions.

Fujifilm X-T20 Mirrorless Camera with Lenses and Accessories Bundle

Sometimes referred to as the younger sibling of the X-T2, the beautifully designed X-T20 features a 24MP CMOS sensor, 4K video, and great autofocus. The image quality is basically the same as the X-T2, with noise-reducing performance and solid dynamic range. The X-T20 offers three different types of autofocus, single-point, zone, and wide/tracking, with on-sensor phase detection that covers 50% of the frame horizontally and 75% vertically. The 4K boasts up to 10 minutes of video or Full HD for up to 15. Meanwhile, the bundle includes a Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II Lens, a versatile zoom with a focal length equivalent of 24-76mm, as well as a Fujifilm XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS II Lens that provides a 76mm-350mm equivalent. Other bonus pieces in this kit include a metal handgrip for for masterful control and ultimate comfort, as well as Focus Deluxe SLR Soft Shell Camera Bag, Focus 5 piece cleaning kit, Focus lens cleaning pen, Focus card reader, professional wrist grip strap, silicone band for zoom lenses, and an HDMI to Micro HDMI cable.

Bundles are always a great way to save on additional gear. Between the X-T2, X-T20, X100F, and X-T100, these four cameras are some of our favorite Fujifilm bundles on offer. Of course, if none of these bundles have exactly what you’re looking for — don’t give up! Focus Camera offers a wide variety of kits and bundles to suit a broad range of needs.

NYC Fotoworks 2018

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Focus Camera
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Focus Camera TV heads to Manhattan and speaks to Mark Asnin about what NYC Fotoworks is all about.

What You Need to Watch the Mars Close Approach

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Focus Camera
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Mars Close Approach
Planet Mars isolated in black

The Mars Close Approach refers to when Mars and Earth come closest to each other as they both orbit the sun. Earth and Mars have elliptical paths (and Jupiter influences the Mars orbit), so their distance from one another isn’t consistent.  Of course, “close” is relative – in this case we’re talking about 33.9 million miles. Still, it’s a big deal and only happens once or twice every 15 or 17 years! While it’s easier to see Mars with the naked eye during the Close Approach, it’s even easier to see with a telescope. So, we’ve put together some kits you can use to view Mars in the night sky in late July.

BEGINNER KITS

Celestron AstroMaster 90 AZ Telescope with Deluxe Observing Kit and Adapter

Celestron AstroMaster 90AZ is primarily an easy to use, beginner telescope that produces bright, clear images of the Moon and planets. It takes very little time to put together with no tools, so it’s a good option for even the most spatially challenged viewers.  The kit also comes with a 3-axis adapter to take pictures of the night sky through the telescope with your smartphone, as well as a set of filters (including a Mars filter) to better view planets. In addition, Focus Camera includes a photography backpack for beginner astrophotographers to store their gear.

Celestron National Park PowerSeeker 114AZ with Deluxe Mars Kit and NeXYZ Adapter

Also suitable for beginners, the Celestron National Park Foundation PowerSeeker 114AZ Telescope features a simple alt-azimuth mount that allows for smooth and accurate maneuvering. The aluminum tripod has an adjustable height with a no-tool setup. Plus, the telescope connects to the SkyPortal app, which helps you locate objects as you observe with audio descriptions. You can use the included 3-axis smartphone adapter to take pictures of the night sky through the telescope with your EOS or Android device. Like the Celestron AstroMaster 90 AZ Telescope, the kit comes with filters (including a Mars filter) as well as a photography backpack for beginner astrophotographers. There is even a bonus Mars Opposition Observing Guide especially for the Close Approach.

Mars Close Approach

MID RANGE KIT

Celestron Astro Fi 90 mm Wi-Fi Refractor Telescope Deluxe Mars Kit

Complete with fully coated optics, the Celestron Astro Fi 90 mm Wi-Fi Refractor Telescope Deluxe Mars Kit is suitable for mid-level viewers. The telescope’s robust, durable construction features a metal frame and polymer body to withstand rigorous field use. Plus, instead of maneuvering the telescope with traditional hand control, connect with a smart phone or tablet using the free Celestron SkyPortal app for a totally wireless experience. It also comes with the Celestron Mars Observing Accessory Kit including filters to better view Mars during the Close Approach, as well as Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon. Meanwhile, the 2x Power Doubling Lens doubles the magnification of any eyepiece and features T-threads to attach your DSLR for astrophotography with the aid of a T-ring.

PRO KITS

Celestron Advanced VX 8″ SCT GoTo Telescope with Deluxe Observing Accessory Kit and Mount

With a 17” optic size, the Advanced VX 8″ SCT GoTo Telescope lets you see more of the night sky during the Close Approach. It features Celestron’s unique StarBright XLT optical coatings that increase light transmission by up to 97 percent. The portable Advanced VX GOTO Mount, moreover, is designed with astroimaging in mind, and delivers many of the features found on Celestron’s most sophisticated German equatorial mounts. Plus, the Deluxe Mars Observing Accessory Kit comes with filters to better see Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon, as well as – you guessed it – Mars! The kit includes a light blue planetary filter for studying surface features and polar ice caps, a green filter for increased contrast of low clouds and dust storms, a red filter to sharpen the boundaries of dust clouds, and a special Mars filter that combines the advantages of red and blue into a single filter to view the red planet.

Celestron Advanced VX 8″ EdgeHD SCT GoTo Telescope with Mars Kit and Imaging Kit

Comfortably view the Close Approach with an aberration-free, flat field Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope designed to reduce star distortion. The advanced optics ensures that stars appear in focus, even at the edges, thanks to a flat focal plane (three-times flatter than a standard Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope). Plus, EdgeHD optics guarantees maximum light across the widest visual and photographic spectrum to deliver high quality astroimages.  It also comes with the Celestron Deluxe Mars Observing Accessory Kit, featuring a special Mars filter to view everything from polar ice caps to dust clouds.

Whether you’re a beginner, mid-level user, or advanced astronomer, there’s something for everyone to watch the Mars Close Approach in late July.

Summer Kits for Every Lifestyle

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Focus Camera
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There’s something for everyone this summer! From indie videographers to backpackers and weekday commuters, we’ve put together photography kits to suit your every need. If you want to get started right away without doing all that tedious research, check out our complete bundles below.

Backpackermarc-rafanell-lopez-639796-unsplash

The backpacker goes where the rest of us only dream. From mountain heights to deep sea depths, he or she is driven to capture the extremes of this world – camera in tow! The GoPro Hero6 Black is the latest in the GoPro lineup, complete with slow-mo, advanced image stabilization, and the best image quality yet. If you’re more of a mirrorless fanatic, the Sony a7RIII with a FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Wide-Angle Zoom lens is a light, versatile combination to help capture the glory of nature. The Manfrotto Befree Advanced Aluminum Travel Tripod Lever Lock with Ball Head is easy to tow for stabilized shots, while the Manfrotto MBOR-ACT-BP Lightweight Off road Stunt Backpack is gentle on your shoulders.

Family Photographerderek-thomson-528231-unsplash

This documentarist is a pivotal memory maker. Whether with a small mirrorless or refurbished Polaroid, the family photographer captures candid moments with intimacy and affection. Start with the Impossible Project Polaroid 600 with accompanying 600 type film to create beautiful, nostalgic analog images for scrapbooks and photo albums. For beginner digital photographers, the Sony a6000 is an intuitive starter mirrorless with Manfrotto PIXI EVO 2 Section Mini Tripod for stable portraits. To get in on the action yourself, try out the Knox Gear Wired Selfie Stick!  Then, the Ape Case ACPRO720W Metro Collection Standard DSLR Camera Case bundles it all together for easy storage and transportation.

Indie Videographerjon-flobrant-462820-unsplash

What this filmmaker lacks in Hollywood producers, he or she more than makes up for in vision. The Indie Videographer knows the ins and outs of video, audio, and story. Capture sound with Rode Microphones VideoMic Pro-R+ Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone and Rode VMPR Deadcat Furry Wind Cover to mute wind interference. Swivel with smooth movements using the Manfrotto XPRO Monopod+ Aluminum Video Monopod. Meanwhile, the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5LK w/ Leica DG 12-60mm LENS & Rokinon 3-Lens Cine Bundle is a key director’s tool for video.

Commuter Procorey-agopian-257152-unsplash

Whether whizzing down bike lanes, gliding through subways, or even trudging across town with traffic, commuters are professionals who don’t work in a fixed space. They’re digital nomads! With an Apple 13.3″ MacBook Air Laptop, Sony h.ear in Wireless Headphones, and LaCie Rugged Hard Disk Drive, this kit features the basics for working on the go. The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR with two workhorse lenses and one 50mm prime lens offers diversity and adaptability of performance for all kids of photography. Plus, the Manfrotto Manhattan Changer 20 3-Way Shoulder Camera Bag offers 3 carry options (bag, backpack, tote) for cameras with a 70-200mm workhorse lens attached.

Weekend Warriorannie-spratt-121576-unsplash

Just because you keep your day job, doesn’t mean you don’t love photography. Weekend warriors are out shooting when the rest of us are lounging at home like potatoes. The Nikon D7500 is an enthusiast DSLR with Sigma 17-50mm and NIKKOR 70-300mm lenses to cover a whole range of shooting options. The Vortex High Country Tripod with Quick Release Ball Head is a lightweight aluminum model with flip locks for fast deployment, so you can set up quickly. (We know you’re short on time!) Use the portable Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight Flash to light your scene and the Vanguard Adaptor 46 Daypack Backpack to carry your gear – with extra space for your computer! Ya know, if you need to get some Sunday work in.

Whether you’re a backpacker, weekend warrior, indie videographer, family photographer, or commuter, these kits are designed to help get you started on the road to creative success.

Inside the Food Pairings of Hudi Greenberger

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Focus Camera
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Hudi Greenberger’s transition from foodie to food photographer was a natural one. “I love to cook. I’m not a professional chef, but I know my way around the kitchen.” He got started working with Mishpacha Magazine six years ago, after they invited him to shoot their food and recipe section. Nowadays, he designs elaborate food pairings out of fishing wire, Photoshop, and a bit of luck.

“If you had to define my style, I like drama,” says Greenberger, who creates his pairings out of a liquid and a solid, from cheese and wine to strawberries and cream. Shooting with a Nikon D750, he enhances the contrast of the food pairing with dramatic lighting and movement.

For his spectacular burger and beer tower, Greenberger suspended a deconstructed burger with fishing wire and two straight poles. “I actually shot the whole thing in one take,” he says. “Normally, I build these kinds of shots slowly in Photoshop. I take one shot at time and put them together in post.” He cooked the burger as a food stylist would: raw. “It’s to keep them plump and juicy. If you cook it, [the burger] loses half its size.” He took one shot to light the beer bottle, and then, “three, two, one, and pour it all over.” He suspended the bottle using a clamp, and took fourteen shots in rapid succession. Greenberger later matched up all the angles in post.

Hudi Greenberger

With all of his movement-intensive food pairings, Greenberger uses a very quick flash. “A strobe will flash for 1/200th of a second, and that’s actually a pretty long time. It’s not quick enough to freeze the motion.” Whereas, an Einstein Flash Unit fires at 1/8000th of a second, “so it really stops the action.”

Ultimately, however, Greenberger argues that all food photography, including his food pairings, is about “creating an emotional bond with the food,” and especially to evoke a story. “If we’re doing a breakfast theme, we want it to look like morning. I will have light streaming it, and it triggers something of having breakfast in bed. […] That’s how you create an emotional feel as an artist, and what you do to create stories.”

 

5 Quick Instant Photography Tips

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Focus Camera
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Admit it: you love instant photography. You love the nostalgia and the analog quality. You might even love scrapbooking – we won’t judge! But instant film isn’t exactly like digital or even regular film, so you might need some help expanding your capabilities. Look no further!

Use Natural Light

It’s no secret that instant photography doesn’t allow for the best flash options. Indoor pictures tend to look either overly dark or washed out and flat. Instead, take your camera outside. Natural light will give your pictures a more dimensional look with bright, vivid colors. (Of course, be careful of too much light. Photographing light colored sand on a bright day at the beach will yield more white space than water.)

Find Bright Colorsinstant photography

Of course, you can skip the middle man and select bright subjects – which we also recommend! Instant film chemistry tends to do best when working with bright colors.

Give it to Friends

We know, we know. You’re the photographer in your friend group. We also know that instant film is a little expensive, and it might be painful to hand your instant camera off to a less experienced photographer. But frankly, that’s what they’re for! Instant cameras are meant to be shared. You’ll get plenty of busy, buoyant, and beautiful community snapshots to fill your photobooks this way.

Consider the Crop

Apart from the Instax Mini, which comes with a little magnifier, most instant cameras lack a zoom. So, zoom with your feet! You probably won’t be able to fit your whole scene in the viewfinder, anyway. If you can, your picture is going to come out super tiny. The crop gets you closer to your subject, and closer to the heart of the image.

Experiment with Camerasinstant camera

There are a few different types of instant cameras to choose from, and knowing a bit about each will help you put together the perfect image. The new Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 creates 1:1 square format images with automatic exposure control, macro and landscape modes, brightness control, and even double exposure options. Meanwhile, the Instax Mini 9 takes smaller portrait photographs with a couple of exposure options. The Impossible Project also sells refurbished Polaroids that use Impossible film, if you’re into the nostalgia of the classic.

Take an instant camera on your next adventure! Remember to look for bright colors and shoot in natural light. Plus, pass it around and zoom with your feet.

 

Over Coffee: Mamie Heldman, Documentary Photographer

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Focus Camera
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Heldman_160311_LongTerm_22 001

As part of our Over Coffee series, we met with documentary photographer Mamie Heldman at Café Madeline to discuss Southern Gothic, finding yourself abroad, and coming of age stories.  

“I think the longer I’m away from Tennessee and the south in general, the more I appreciate it,” says photographer Mamie Heldman, who was raised in Nashville but lives and works in Brooklyn. “The work that I’m in the middle of making now, or in the research process of, are pretty much all southern stories.”

A fan of Flannery O’Connor and Southern Gothic, Heldman’s relationship to photography is shaped, at least in part, by narrative and literature. “I’ve always been a big time reader,” she says. “My mom read to me before bed every night. Fiction specifically has always been my favorite.”

Originally a Communications student at the University of Tennessee, Heldman didn’t understand the impact literature could have on her work until she met photographer Hally Pancer during her study abroad in Paris.  “[She] assigned us Hemingway and David Sedaris’ Me Talk Pretty One Day. And that was the first time that I realized the literature that I was reading was so in line with the way I was learning to understand narratives, and shaping the way I was seeing. And portraiture too. Specifically with short stories, they are, in a way, their own version of portraits.”

Picture 001

After Paris, Heldman continued to explore her identity, her family, southern heritage, and the role of narrative with photography in her “HereNorThere” series. “I first started photographing my family mostly because I missed them. And that was the first time I was gone long enough [that] I could see all of these personal transitions taking place for my family.” Coming of age in the south, Heldman felt she was a little sheltered. She grew up in a “conservative, very safe environment, which was super nurturing. My coming of age in terms of experience came a little bit later when I started to travel.” Hence photography – and photographing her family in particular – became a way for Heldman to understand, and also to show them who she was becoming.

92250022At ICP, she started the “Together, Us” project, which deals with growing up in relation to coming of age narratives. “They’ve always been my favorite films and favorite books,” she says. “This project is about that time in your life when you are trying to seek connection – real connection, but also trying to self-identify in a way that puts you apart from everyone around you. It’s kind of a convergence of ‘I want badly to belong to a community or a group of people that feel like home. But also, where is my individuality?’”

Still growing as a photographer, Heldman openly admits that she’s transitioning and developing the stories she wants to tell. “I have a lot to say and a lot to explore, but I’m still on this cusp.”

The Gold Review: Canon M50

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Focus Camera
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The Canon M50 is an intuitive beginner or travel camera with a 24.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and new DIGIC 8 processor. It’s light with a customizable menu and great ergonomics. It’s also the first Canon M camera to feature 4K video, and offers additional video features like high speed and time lapse. We sent photographer Dan Gold through Manhattan and Brooklyn to test out the M50 with 15-45mm and 55-200mm kit lenses.

Design

There’s a lot to celebrate with the M50 design. “It’s a really good travel camera because of its size, weight, and versatility,” says Gold. “You could use it for a lot of different applications.” At 390g, it’s lighter than its competitors, like the 529g Sony a6300 and the 453g Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85. Plus, the touch functionality extends past focus – it’s the whole menu. While the buttons are seemingly small to tap, Gold found them nevertheless expertly functional. “I was really surprised at how precise it is even though my finger was going over one or two of the menu items,” he says.Canon M50 ReviewThe buttons themselves are customizable, too. “You can take things you really want to choose between and stuff them into a customized menu,” says Gold. “I also create new folders when I shoot, so I can easily separate different days or different times of day. All of those things that I normally use and have to hunt for, I put them all into a customized menu and have them available in one screen.”

The rest of ergonomics, meanwhile, are excellent. The record button, for example, is in a very intuitive place next to the shutter release. Plus, “the size of the camera is really good in that if you’re holding the grip with your thumb on the shutter release, it’s not a stretch to change the focus points on the screen.”

ISO, Image Quality and Dynamic Range

The Canon M50 features a 24.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with a native ISO range of 100 to 25,600 (same as the M5) – expandable up to 51,200.  “The image quality is really good,” says Gold. “I was pretty impressed with what it was able to shoot. It really holds up. You can crop, and you don’t see a lot of loss.” At the same time, the image quality starts to suffer around ISO 1600 or 3200. “I saw more grain in the M50 versus Sony cameras. I felt like I could push the ISO in my A7II or even a6000 versus what the M50 was capable of.” With the kit lenses, too, low light can be tricky. “The bottom range of the 15-45mm lens is only F3.5, and the top range is only 6.3.” Something as low as a F2.8 is more standard. If you want to shoot a portrait at sunset, for example, you’re going to lose quite a few stops.Canon M50 ReviewHowever, especially for a beginner camera, the dynamic range recovers a lot of detail. “I shot a lot of things around sunset,” says Gold. “I was able to drag the shadow slider farther up than I’m used to, and still recover a lot of the data.”

Autofocus

“The autofocus is really good, even with the kit lens. It didn’t ever let me down,” says Gold. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF system features 143 points, which covers 88% of the horizontal image area and 100% of the vertical image area. You can change focus points on the touch screen directly, and the M50 also offers Eye Detect autofocus (new for Canon) to track the eye so long as it remains visible. “I imagine that’s actually a really good feature for video when you want to track a subject walking toward you or walking away,” says Gold.Canon M50 Review

Video

Thanks to the new DIGIC 8 processor, the M50 offers 4K video at up to 24fps. With the 4K, however, there is a restrictive 1.6x crop.  “It’s negative if you want something wide that a 4K,” says Gold. “But if you are lacking an 85mm that you want to use for B roll or 4K interviews, then that 50mm lens is perfect. The crop can be used to an advantage.”

There’s also time lapse and 120fps (high speed) video. Unlike Sony, whose time lapse options are confusing to some, the M50 is intuitive. “The M50 is really nice because it gives you the entire time lapse,” says Gold. “You can touch the screen, hit play, then watch your entire time lapse and see how it went. Then the camera puts the video in the same directory as your image files, so it’s really easy to find, too.” The High Speed option also provides some interesting variation. “I shot a bunch of different water fountains,” says Gold. “I also shot people walking. For what it’s worth, they walked slower.”

Plus, the front facing flip-out screen and microphone socket makes the M50 a desirable choice for vloggers. “I think the mic placement does interrupt the screen, but you can easily swivel around it,” says Gold.

Battery Life

While some reviews have criticized the M50 for its battery life, Gold found it suitable for his purposes. “I shot for an hour or two in Bryant Park. I shot for an hour or two on the promenade and maybe an hour somewhere else. I didn’t charge the battery, and it stayed at three bars,” he says. “I think that battery life is really subjective to who’s using it. With this camera, I was shooting a lot of stills. I have a pretty generous shut off mode. I think it was whatever the default was – a minute or two minutes. I was using the screen. I was using all the touch features and switching between the viewfinder. But I imagine with using video, it only lasts a few hours.”Canon M50 Review

GPS

Cameras that receive GPS signals mark pictures with a location and time of day. The M50 connects to a GPS app on your phone. “It was easy to connect with the app. Better than I’ve seen in some of the cameras I’ve used. You have the app. You connect it. You can connect your phone to the camera Wi-Fi, which is standard,” says Gold. “And then there’s a button on the camera that triggers GPS that enables this feature, and gives you the prompt. Then your phone shows that it’s using the camera’s GPS, so you know when you’re using it.Canon M50 ReviewWith a small, versatile design, the Canon M50 is great for beginners bumping up from a point and shoot or smartphone, or even more experienced photographers looking for a travel camera. It’s Canon’s first 4K mirrorless, but the restrictive crop is a bit of a challenge. However, intuitive high speed and time lapse features – plus microphone jack and front facing flip-out screen for vloggers – make up for it. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF system is reliable, along with Eye Detect AF and tracking. Image quality is really good up to 1600 or 3200, when noise starts to suffer.  Battery life is agreeable, depending on your usage. Overall, the ergonomic M50 is a solid choice among its competitors.

 

60 Second Photography Tip – Getting started with video

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Focus Camera
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This weeks photography tip, we give you the rundown on shooting video. 1. Set your shutter speed to 2x your frame rate to ensure smooth playback. 2. If you don’t have a tripod, stabilize your shot by tucking your arms close to the body. 3. Shoot with a polarized or ND filter to control the amount of light that hits your sensor. GEAR: Sony a7SII Mirrorless Camera Canon 50mm f/1.4 Lens

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