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Photography to get even more expensive in the USA in 2025?

Update 4/15/2025: I'm not sure I should be saying who, but one of my affiliates said they will be dropping commissions until at least May.  Retailers are concerned. To me, this happening at least feels like a good general data point to gauge economic direction that people can add to their research.  Something most reddit users wouldn't necessarily look for or have access to. I don't want to say the specific store, but my current list of affiliates are: B&H, KEH, Acdsee, Best Buy, Walmart, Adorama, Moment, and Amazon. Only of a few of those use Impact-dot-com for their affiliate program.  I posted on reddit and someone pointed out that it could be due to the retailer using any reason to cut rates, which might be true. I'll at least say that the company seems to be smart to lower their expenses right now, but from my perspective it lowers my interest in promoting them in video descriptions and such.  My viewership isn't large enough to get actual paying sponsors b...

A Look at the Polaroid Go Generation 2 Instant Camera Kit

I recently picked up a Polaroid Go 2 instant camera kit and wanted to share my thoughts and experiences with it.  Take a look at the related YouTube video this article is based on for a lot more examples and information on the camera:  First, a quick note about this specific kit. I found this one locally at a heavy discount (you can see the sticker in the video if you are curious how much I paid), which probably means this particular bundle with the photo album and wrist strap might be discontinued or harder to find online. I did see other kits that come with the camera and film, but maybe not these exact accessories as a bundle. If you really like the little photo album featured in the video, I did see that available as a separate purchase in black instead of red. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this look at the camera itself! It was a fun video to make.  Look for the Polaroid Go 2 camera and various accessories through my links:  Moment: https://partner.shopmoment.com/GK...

Optimizing my video recording setup again.

I've been working a bit on my hands-on video recording setup again. It's a simple mod, but every little change helps refine how well it works in practice. Let's take a look!  Check out the video on YouTube : The 3-pack of USB 2.0 extension cables:  https://amzn.to/3XNWDzP   The powered microphone:  https://amzn.to/4iGnGFe   Atomos Ninja V recorders:  https://bhpho.to/3R5FH48 https://amzn.to/4bLJlcS As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases!  The packaging for three USB extension cables. The package included five hook-and-loop straps, which is always handy for cable management. There are three cables in total. You'd think 3 or 6 ties would make more sense than 5, but whatever. The hook-and-loop straps. I've been using a shorter USB extension cable to power a AA to USB battery power adapter for a microphone that I use with my camera setup.  My camera setup with a microphone, monitor, and various accessories. The connector on m...

Moving to all Sony Alpha cameras for my video work.

Lately, I've been shifting more towards Sony equipment for my video work, and there are a few key reasons behind that decision. Check out the video on YouTube going into more detail and with more visuals than the website article:  F1TP NP-FW50 DC Coupler AC Adapter Kit:  https://amzn.to/41vIyYR    The Sony ZV-E10 Camera:  https://bhpho.to/3DinRYz   Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN for Sony:  B&H: https://bhpho.to/4cv83gk   Amazon: https://amzn.to/46Y5en1   As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! What I link isn't important, but rather the time from click, which tends to be 24 hours with shops like Amazon.  A close up of the video rig. I initially tried using the Nikon Z30 as a replacement for my Canon EF-M equipment I sold a while back. While I knew of users saying the Z30 can overheat, I wanted to test that for myself so I gave the camera a chance.  Unfortunately, it consistently overheated after about 25 min...

Anime Magic 2024: Convention Cosplay Photography

This year I attended Anime Magic 2024 on Saturday. I'll be going over my experience there, the photography aspect and interacting with people. Usually, I talk about the technical aspects of photography first, but I wanted to switch things up. Check out the related YouTube video for a lot more photos and such. Nikon Z5 Digital Camera: B&H: https://bhpho.to/39tFgdr ebay: https://ebay.us/bKxFRk Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 Lens:  B&H: https://bhpho.to/44vC6lK   Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JRxcWP   ebay: https://ebay.us/Z0U1fW   As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! Keep in mind it doesn't matter what I link but rather time from the click, which is usually 24 hours.  Anime Magic: A Growing Convention with a Unique Vibe Anime Magic is a relatively new convention, and while it's growing, it still maintains a smaller convention atmosphere. I've found that it fills a void left by larger conventions like Anime Central (ACEN), which have moved...