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In this article, I’ll go over a common question beginners have when they start photography: How can I get closer-up photos of my subjects? I recently saw a comment from someone who just got their first camera. They were excited but realized the lens they received couldn’t capture things up close. So, let’s break down what that means and how to address it.  Understanding Reproduction Ratio One of the key specifications to look at when figuring out how close you can get to your subject is the lens's reproduction ratio, also known as magnification ratio. This is typically represented as 1:1 (or 1x) for life-size magnification, while a ratio like 1:2 or 0.5x indicates less magnification. Both formats represent the same concept.  Part of the comment I had seen. For example, if you want to capture close-up details of a subject, you need to consider the reproduction ratio of the lens you're using. Kit Lenses and Their Limitations The Sony mirrorless kit lens. Let’s start with the bas...

Here's a quick Tip for Nikon Users: Easy Firmware Updates with NX Studio. In this article I go over the process of finding firmware updates for your Nikon camera as well as lenses.  If you’re not already using NX Studio , which is available for anyone who owns a Nikon camera, you should check it out. One of its helpful features is the ability to easily find updates related to firmware. Don’t forget that lenses also have firmware, not just cameras! So, it's a good idea to check if you have the latest version.  The NX Studio website page. For example, I noticed recently that both the 40mm F2 and 28mm F2.8 lenses had firmware updates. With NX Studio, it’s pretty straightforward. It’s functional, and in my experience, it works well for this. Here’s how you do it: The firmware list in NX Studio. Here's the main process in the current version of NX Studio:  Go into the "Help" menu and select "Check for updates." It may take a little while for the window to sho...

Links in this post might go to my affiliates where I earn from qualifying purchases! I’ve had multiple comments on my videos recently asking me how to get photos from old cameras, or more recent cheaper cameras that don’t support connecting wirelessly to a smartphone.  There are various ways to do it, but here I’ll cover the few I tend to use. Here’s a link to the combo USB memory card reader on Best Buy I showed in the video. I haven’t personally tried it but it looks versatile. Make sure it has the port and memory card types you need before considering it. Search for memory card readers: B&H Photo Video Amazon Adorama Best Buy ebay Connecting a smartphone to a normal USB memory card reader with a USB-C to USB-A adapter. Probably cheaper than buying a dedicated reader. Here are the ways I tend to use: Use a computer between the camera and phone. This is the most common and foolproof way. Besides buying a dedicated memory card reader you can usually connect your camera directly to...

Two cameras with kit lenses. I have a pair of 15-45mm kit lenses. One came from a used Canon EOS M5 that I bought on eBay . The other came with one of my M50 bodies . After checking firmware versions I found out that the older lens had 2.0.0 firmware instead of 3.0.1 of the newer one. Checking the Canon website I was able to download the newer version and decided to go through the update process. (Links are affiliated, I earn from qualifying purchases!) The video with details on the process. DISCLAIMER: ATTEMPT FIRMWARE UPDATES AT YOUR OWN RISK. FIRMWARE CHANGES ALWAYS COME WITH A CHANCE OF FAILURE THAT WILL RENDER YOUR EQUIPMENT NOT FUNCTIONAL. DON’T COME AT ME COMPLAINING THAT YOUR LENS OR CAMERA ARE BRICKS. BEST CASE THERE WILL BE HAVING TO SEND THE GEAR TO CANON FOR REPAIR. As of the making of this video and article, Canon USA’s website is down due to a ransomware hack. We will be using the Canada website, but if I remember later on I will update this page with the USA link as wel...

After making a recent video, it seemed like a good opportunity to detail the process I do when making YouTube thumbnail images. People tend to judge a book by its cover, so it’s a good idea to put your best effort into making that video “cover” look nice.  Links are potentially affiliated in this article, I earn from qualifying purchases!  My video on the subject. When I’m out recording for a video I try to take photos that might work as a thumbnail image. If it’s a gear related video, I’ll do a self portrait with the piece of equipment. They don’t always work out, but it’s good to have potential source material.  It’s good to try different poses in the hope that one will work out later. This works because I usually have two cameras and a tripod or two with me to produce the video itself. Usually the video camera will have a wide angle lens. That’s the one I use for the photos. Besides simply pressing the shutter button, there are a few other methods depending on the look...